Protect Howe Sound Flotilla
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
My Sea to Sky and Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative have partnered with Patagonia for the Protect Howe Sound Flotilla on August 26, 2017
British Columbia – My Sea to Sky, Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative and Skwomesh Action are organizing a Protect Howe Sound flotilla at the mouth of Howe Sound (Atl'ḵítsem in the Squamish language) supported by Patagonia Vancouver on August 26, 2017 at 8:00 am. Participants will meet at the traditional village of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people before taking to the water to show unity around the significance of protecting and preserving Howe Sound.
Backbone Campaign, who specialize in water-based direct action, will lead the flotilla of watercraft (motorized boats, kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards) on the water to unveil a message on the importance of this ecologically rich and recovering area.
The significance of this demonstration lies in the increased opposition to the industrialization of Howe Sound that threatens the return of herring, orcas, and a multitude of marine life, after decades of massive recovery efforts. Howe Sound provides critical ecosystem services: exceptional conservation, ecological, recreational, and aesthetic values. The Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative is leading the campaign to have Howe Sound nominated as a UNESCO Biosphere Region and designated by 2020.
Howe Sound has the potential to be an outstanding model of sustainability and ecological health, providing a place for people to live, work, and play, now and in the future.
“Biospheres are regions of global ecological significance that make an ongoing commitment to the United Nations to strive for sustainability. They are not parks and aren’t a new layer of regulation. They are places people are inspired to find ways to live and work in harmony with nature. We look forward to building the best future possible for Howe Sound.” -- Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative.
My Sea to Sky has been advocating since 2014 against the industrialization of Howe Sound with data driven evidence on the health, environmental, and economic impacts of LNG development in the Sea to Sky. My Sea to Sky’s expertise has been invited around the province to provide educational support to communities facing LNG export development.
“This is a very important day as we launch our Protect Howe Sound campaign to the public. We are living in one of the most ecologically diverse areas of our province where unsustainable projects like Woodfibre LNG have significant negative implications for human health in our region as well as the upstream implications of increased fracking and freshwater use. The ramifications are far reaching.”
The flotilla will launch promptly at 8:00 am and be completed by 10:30 am. My Sea to Sky and Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative would like to thank Patagonia Vancouver for supporting this event and for the support of Skwomesh Action. This event takes place on unceded Coast Salish territory and the traditional territory of the Squamish Nation.
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CONTACTS
Tracey Saxby -- My Sea To Sky
604.892.7501 tracey@myseatosky.org
Drew Copeland -- Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative
604.892.4046 drew@storiesandsuch.ca