Documentary Reflection
March 6, 2023 By: Jason Senna
I found recent reports about Teck Resources and its subsidiary, Teck Coal, a Canadian coal-mining company “facing the largest fine imposed under the Fisheries Act after pleading guilty to contaminating waterways in southeastern British Columbia.” This fine is $60 million. A CBC article mentions federal prosecutor Alexander Clarkson making a pronouncement in B.C. provincial court. “Teck Coal did not exercise all due diligence to prevent the deposit of coal mine waste, despite Teck Coal being aware that selenium and calcite could environmentally harm” the Fording River.
An ESE Magazine article mentions, “Teck Coal Ltd failing to get its Fording River south water treatment facility operational by its permits deadline, resulting in nearly $15.5 million in fines.” Teck Coal credited the postponement “to the COVID-19 pandemic and other logistical challenges.” I agree with the fines as Teck Coal Ltd were consciously aware of the harmful acts they were committing to Fording River through their mining. “Vickie Thomas of the Ktunaxa First Nation” stated that Teck Coal contaminating Fording River is “an alienation of our people from our lands and waters,” and I could not agree more. I think the Ktunaxa First Nation and those in support of them should protest at Teck Coals locations because the Canadian government fining a 30-billion-dollar corporation 60 million dollars does not affect enough positive change as civil disobedience.
The documentaries in this course unit have helped me reflect on the role of civil disobedience in the history of environmentalism. They have educated me on past environmental protests and the results of these protesting movements. An example of civil disobedience that arose in a similar situation to the one at Fording River is the Fairy Creek protests and barricades that The Narwhal and CBC touch on in two informative articles. The Fairy Creek protests are justified and bring positive change to the harmful situation arising from old-growth logging, specifically on First Nation territory.
Teck Coal fined nearly $16M for delay in getting water treatment plant online
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-fines-teck-coal-more-than-16-million-over-elk-valley-infractions
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fairy-creek-protest-largest-act-of-civil-disobedience-1.6168210
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/teck-fined-60m-contaminating-bc-rivers-1.5965646