WILL A LOT OF PEOPLE GATHER IN SAINT JOHN FOR ATLANTICA???

asaf, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

An Opportunity for the People as They Gather on the Streets of Saint John – It Must Go Beyond a Three Day Movement

By Asaf Rashid from Fredericton

[Worker-Owner of The Underground Café and Alternative Bookstore worker’s coop; member of the UNB-STU Social Justice Society; PhD Forestry student at UNB(F)]


“.. We can do this by NOT waiting for our governments to deliver us a dignified existence..”


As we show up, from all over the Atlantic Region (the Atlantic Provinces and the Northeastern States), to gather in Saint John, I hope we have the presence of mind to recognize the unique moment that will be upon us. It is shaping up to be an enormous gathering of people from all over the region who are looking for a different reality than the one that is being put forward through the name “Atlantica” (see above for description). The word is that people will be coming from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, PEI, Maine and from all over New Brunswick—and organizing efforts are continually drawing in more communities. The people who will gather for the counter-summit and protest (see above) will be showing up though a desire to protect their region and future generations from exploitation that will further stratify our society and drive daggers deeper into the environment we all depend on.


Speaking only about the exploitation I am aware of in my home of New Brunswick, just a piece of an entire region characterized as “depressed”, it is clear that we – workers, indigenous, unemployed, (poor) youth, (poor) seniors – are already pushed into a corner, with means to survival being pushed over the edge in front of our eyes. Just a look at the forests reveals that the area of Crown forests in the province containing mature Acadian forest (traditional forest type) has already dropped below 45 percent and is now officially one of the most endangered forests in North America (www.conservationcouncil.ca). What will be left for the next generation? As well, in the northern New Brunswick town of Belledune, there sits a toxic waste incinerator that was denied a permit in Massachusetts, British Columbia and Ontario, yet it was considered acceptable in Belledune, due to the low property values (i.e. the people are considered to be worth less money), as well as the fact that the government maintained very low environmental standards, which included the complete bypass of a proper Environmental Impact Assessment. The toxic machine sits ready to begin full operation, only awaiting a full dose of poison to burn after testing is completed (www.stopbennett.com). There is also the First Nation community of Burnt Church, who only a few years ago faced an assault by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the RCMP; their only crime was attempting to survive from their traditional fishing economy that was suddenly made “illegal”, since it was deemed to be at the wrong time of the year. There is also the horrendously low level of social assistance that people of New Brunswick have to endure. A single person gets only $264 per month, an impossible sum to live on. These are all examples of oppression, and there are many more examples throughout the (held) depressed Atlantic region. The People’s gathering to counter Atlantica offers the chance for a turning of the tide.


If we maximize on the opportunity that will be at our feet, we will not only be making a stand; we will then travel in the other direction, towards sustainable solutions. The point is, if we are to truly realize the potential that will be upon us, we must continue to move because there is so much ground to cover. The broad Atlantic representation and spirit of resistance that will be present in Saint John from June 8th – 10th offers the chance to build new interdependencies between movements, organizations and communities. We must consolidate a movement that will build solidarity through ongoing exchanges between struggling communities, something that goes beyond just a gathering for three days. We must build connections between us that will create a new regional economy based on solidarity, equality and

participatory planning from community-to-community. We must work towards not only stopping the Atlantic agenda, but work to fix the inequalities and oppressions that create a fence both between and around us. We must make connections with those we have not interacted with before to create new community interchanges.


Thinking practically is important. We must identify the possibilities we have for land redevelopment, towards value-added industries that maximize the value of all the natural resources we consume. Using the forestry example, we must move away from turning trees into mostly pulp – then simply shipping it abroad – as our primary activity in the forest and focus instead on producing multiple wood products; extracting oils and resins; and, planting hemp for alternative sources of fibre in cleared areas. We must also look towards supporting such initiatives as the Renewable Energy Coop that has been established near Sackville New Brunswick (www.renewcoop.net).


Most importantly of all, in order to truly establish the June 8th – 10th gathering in Saint John as the start / consolidation of a significant people’s movement in the Atlantic Region, we need to act to protect each other from the infringements of our environmental and social rights. We can do this by NOT waiting for our governments to deliver us a dignified existence, but we have to create and consolidate the redevelopment ourselves, keeping in mind the principles of solidarity, equality and participatory planning. If we wait, and don’t maximize on the great opportunity will be in front of us, transnational capital – which waits for no one -- will push us all off the edge. Now is the time for the people.