Re: Why seek arrest, pipeline protesters? (Our View, Oct. 24)
Your latest editorial is either misguided or glaringly ignorant.
When B.C.’s citizens find themselves victims of governments and corporations who refuse to listen to the commonwealth (the majority of British Columbians oppose the Enbridge pipeline), acts of peaceful disobedience with the conscious goal of getting arrested on principle has proven historically, very effective.
Just look at B.C.’s current forestry industry. My recent talks this past August with a licensed B.C. forestry engineer confirmed the success of changes in the industry, that came about precisely because of the arrests of hundreds of peaceful protesters back in the ‘90’s “War In the Woods.”
From the Occupy Movement, to the Battle In Seattle, to the Civil Rights movement of the ‘50s and ‘60s, back to its origins of Gandhi’s original nonviolent protest, the act of conscientious objection by civil disobedience leading to arrest has proven the last – albeit effective – resort, when democracy no longer serves the people.
Kenji Fuse
Saanich