Premier Kenney needs to stop the name-calling
By Lethbridge Herald on February 5, 2022.
GUEST COLUMN
By Lorne Fitch
You throw the term “eco-terrorists” out on a somewhat regular basis; I suppose whenever you are peeved at some concern voiced about the environment. I guess, by whatever interpretation you use for “eco-terrorists”, as a biologist and a person concerned about the environment, I seem to be one. You include in this sweeping bit of name-calling many, maybe most Albertans who speak up on environmental issues. How voicing one’s concerns on issues like water quality, landscape integrity, climate change, sustainability and biodiversity makes one a “terrorist” (and “anti-Albertan”) is mystifying.
In the hierarchy of disagreement, name-calling is the lowest type of argument and the most demeaning and insulting. Why we can’t have these essential discussions on the fate of our province without resorting to schoolyard tactics also escapes many of us.
The people you denigrate with slurs and name-calling includes bird watchers, anglers, naturalists, Raging Grannies, scientists, farmers, ranchers, parents and others who wish to breathe unpolluted air, drink clean water, maintain wildlife and support sustainable, ecologically benign economies. When questioned about their motives all say they also wish to leave something for the grandkids, other than an ever-increasing environmental debt and a toxic future.
As a group and individually they write letters, donate, demonstrate, plant trees, recycle, reduce personal expectations and consumption, or do without. To my knowledge they do not blow up things, act peaceably when demonstrating and retain an atmosphere of politeness when meeting with politicians over environmental issues. Hardly the actions of terrorists.
Acting as the adults in the room, we owe them for contributions to our health, safety, landscape integrity, transition to clean energy usage and sustainable forms of economic activity that work towards dealing with climate change. Just as we are asked, if we eat, to thank a farmer, maybe some recognition and thanks are due to people concerned about the environment, instead of facile name-calling.
The prevailing narrative by the name-callers, like yourself is that these “people” are “against” everything involving economic activity. Contrary to that, most are for many economic initiatives. There is support for an economy shifting from endless growth to thoughtful development, from the burning of petroleum and mining of coal to renewable energy that would still entail tremendous investment opportunities and produce sustainable jobs.
I see restoration of landscapes ravaged by inappropriate land uses, shortening supply lines and reducing energy costs by buying locally, as well as support for sustainable, restorative agriculture as other examples of economic activity supported broadly by Albertans. What most people want to understand is what the real and full costs are of something, not just the hype of inflated and sometimes illusionary benefits.
One of the great fallacies in today’s world, especially the western one, is we think we can have our cake, and eat it too, because of the perception there is always more where that came from. We think we can have unbridled economic development and protect the environment; we can ramp up the extraction and use of fossil fuels and still reduce greenhouse gases; and, we can have unrestrained off highway vehicle use of public lands and still maintain biodiversity, water quality and quiet recreation. If it seems too good to be true, it is. Ask someone with an environmental background.
Mr. Premier, words matter and are an indicator of behaviour. If you can’t see beyond names to a more civil discussion, you can’t see the majority of Albertans who care about their province. Many of them might well have become suspicious of anyone who resorts to name-calling.
Like many of your tactics against those who you dislike, when directed at people concerned about the environment, name-calling creates a false narrative which is offensive, one that lacks any evidence and publicly displays your antipathy to the concerns of many Albertans.
It’s time Mr. Premier, to move from the name-calling sandbox of your youth to the adult world, where we treat each other with respect.
Lorne Fitch is a professional biologist, a retired provincial Fish and Wildlife biologist and a former adjunct professor with the University of Calgary.
15-14
Premier Kenney needs to go.
Lorne thank you for a very thoughtful and apt Guest Column. Your highly respected career and community accomplishments, wealth of experience in administration of ground breaking range management landscape care and stream-bank reclamation among other admirable contributions to the science of caring for our natural backyard and even urban landscapes is hardly the behaviour of a terrorist.
In my opinion you are a stunningly wise mentor and a TRUE example of leadership in our province. Your reach is far greater.
Thank you once again for taking the personal time to share intelligent and well-informed reflections, actual statesmanship and leadership with us.
Brent Skidmore, Lethbridge Alberta
Mr Fitch seems to focus on energy from coal. He should focus on the steel made from coal.Put a positive swing on it.The steel is used to build windmills which produce free power, so it would be win-win in the real picture.
Certainly there is an environmental affect from mining coal but I frequent the Crows nest pass and nature has done a remarkable job on the coal mines of the past.
Huh. Looks like you don’t need coal to make steel in a post-carbon world:
https://globalenergyprize.org/en/2021/08/30/steel-production-based-on-hydrogen-launched-in-sweden/
Besides, Mr. Fitch’s (excellent) Op.Ed. was about raising the integrity bar in politics – like telling the truth and not using inflamatory, and divisive, language to jazz the base.