{"id":82515,"date":"2016-10-06T03:17:00","date_gmt":"2016-10-06T03:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resourcework2.devstudio.work\/?p=82515"},"modified":"2024-11-26T13:53:49","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T13:53:49","slug":"ban-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resourcework2.devstudio.work\/?p=82515","title":{"rendered":"Why do you get more attention calling for a ban than for better understanding?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
There are campaigns to ban beef, microbeads, pit bulls, Minecraft nudity, animal gas chambers, credit card surcharges, assault weapons, and “all political parties”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are even campaigns to ban bans<\/em> themselves (though it seems that the only people seeking anti-ban bans are doing so in support of assault rifles and pit bulls).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Campaigning for a ban with the megaphone of social media has become a staple element of the modern activism toolbox. Those pursuing the clarity of a ban may be well aware that nuanced understanding is often the first thing out the window – followed by other things that responsible professionals seek: collaboration, negotiation and evidence-based decision making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A slew of ban campaigns dominates the natural resources agenda in Canada today: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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In Vancouver, City Hall is pursuing a ban on natural gas, much to the consternation and surprise of everyone from homeowners to Sichuan chefs. Though the City eschews the term ban, it is difficult to see how proscribing this fuel category is anything other than a ban.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
On Vancouver Island, the long-running pursuit of a ban on \u201craw\u201d log exports continues. This is a very tender topic that can quickly cause tempers to flare \u2013 and for God’s sake don’t dare mention the existence of international markets. \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
A ban on crude oil tanker traffic on the north west coast of B.C. is now seemingly coming our way courtesy a campaign-trail promise by the federal Liberals. A less formal ban is being called for in opposition to increased oil tanker traffic in southern B.C.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Last week in Victoria, a motion on old-growth logging was passed by delegates at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) \u2013 notwithstanding the objections of First Nations who have been logging old-growth for thousands of years and have no intention of stopping.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
The various campaigns to ban fracking for natural gas that come on and off the agenda in various parts of Canada.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If all of these things were banned, the cost to Canada\u2019s economy would be staggering. Sadly, in a system that should be based on knowledge and collaboration, it\u2019s entirely possible that some of these ban quests could be successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Media coverage tends to go to the perceived underdog. Last week, for example, a rare show of unity brought together 13 mayors and councillors from smaller communities across north western and north eastern B.C. and the Interior, and also including the Fraser Valley (Abbotsford) and Vancouver Island (Campbell River). They drew an audience of 150-200 people to the steps of the legislature in Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their message \u2013 that the province’s resource economy is worth supporting \u2013 was passionate, fresh and determined, and definitely one not heard often enough in that location. It was clearly a refreshing change for a number of press gallery members who turned out, though the event did not get much news coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following day, also during UBCM, three mayors from south west B.C. staged a thinly attended news conference to highlight their opposition to the twinning of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline. One member of the media present seemed chagrined they had nothing new to say, but that did not stop the story from getting wider pickup than the resource-positive mayors event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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