Blowing up pipelines -- for what?

The phrase eco-terrorist is used so loosely by the right that many, especially "social" conservatives, think anyone who wants to save some trees from wanton destruction or infill existing industrial property for commercial and residential development before precious farmland is used up must be some sort of Commie radical. But it's odd too that among the right are the original environmentalists -- hunters and farmers.

Hunters understand the need to control game before one species gets out of control and destroys the rest of the population; farmers know the imperative to stop gulleys before they get out of hand and to rotate crops and even leave some land fallow to give soil a chance to regenerate. It does become complicated when oil and natural gas is found on rural property and the hunter or farmer also becomes a supplier of energy and gets royalty cheques. He or she effectively becomes the slave of two masters.

One can't possibly understand the bind Wiebo Ludwig finds himself in -- having been convicted in the past of acts of real eco-terrorism or what is more properly called wanton destruction of property; although one can appreciate the reasons for it, among them his daughter suffering numerous miscarriages -- it is thought from the sour gas exploration in and around his commune. In the wake of several recent gas explosions all caused by tampering, the first name that came to many's minds (myself included, I have to concede) is Mr. Ludwig, notwithstanding an open letter Ludwig wrote supporting the cause but condemning the actions. Over this weekend, Ludwig was arrested for extortion but released for now as the Mounties still don't have enough evidence to detain him further.

Whoever is responsible directly or indirectly for blowing up gas pipelines -- critical to our national infrastructure -- should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. No one should condone terrorism without being right about it. I also think that the innocent should not be persecuted wrongly.
　
I also happen to believe that the "Wild West" mentality that shapes the extraction of non-renewable resources everywhere in Canada needs to be reigned in. While a lucrative revenue generator, the money won't last forever, and unlike other countries like Norway and the UAE which have huge sovereign wealth funds to invest the royalties and spend it for diversification and human benefit purposes we have been content to just put it into general revenues. British Columbia, where these attacks happened, certainly doesn't have a slush fund; and Alberta's "Heritage Fund" stopped taking in new monies long ago and was dipped into to finance the province's flat income tax -- with the result that it only has about $12 billion left, while Norways' SWF is well over $170 billion. Wind, water and solar power may not be as big of a payoff short-term, but as a general rule they do last longer. I can understand why those in the far north -- native and non-native -- are relieved that the Mackenzie Pipeline may finally be a go, but if the gas is just going to fuel the extraction of the tar sands instead of being shipped to the States for export as was originally intended then we're shooting ourselves in the foot twice.
　
If Mr. Ludwig knows the persons responsible, as he claims, he should name names. Refusing to do so is a discredit to those who actually want to protect the environment. Somehow the "Don't snitch" credo doesn't stick here. The charge of extortion is very serious, and if Ludwig did try to get money off of energy companies in exchange for money or other benefits without a legitimate purpose, then he should be re-arrested and held until trial.

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