Dear Editor,
I like to think that we live in a democracy in which elected politicians first listen to citizens and then do their best to represent the majority of constituents. But maybe I’m just naïve. As Undercurrent readers know, Jordan Sturdy—our MLA—recently described Bowen islanders who do not support the Woodfibre LNG proposal as “short-sighted”, apparently unable to “look beyond (their) borders.” I also have this bad habit of keeping up with the scientific evidence for climate change and why we must (and can) transition to a low-carbon economy to maintain a livable planet. Plus, as a marine biologist, I happen to know that Howe Sound is tenuously recovering from past abuses and any new stressor that we add to its waters deserves careful scrutiny. But as Mr. Sturdy points out, I am just stuck within my narrow borders (Earth’s ecosystems and global climate) and short time horizons (the next many centuries affected by fossil fuel combustion). But now that the record is straight, I promise to grow up and do as Mr. Sturdy suggests by ignoring science and the basic tenets of democracy.
Alejandro Frid
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Dear Mr. Sturdy,
I would like to add my voice and support to Alejandro Frid’s response to Jordan Sturdy’s condescending and frankly mindless quip about Bowen Islanders. I’ve spent my life travelling the world as a photojournalist. I’ve witnessed, first hand, the effects of climate change on people in places Mr. Sturdy knows nothing about. From where I sit it is he that lacks perspective. I’d be happy to chat with him about broader perspectives anytime he wishes.
Robert Semeniuk
