Thoughts on BC Politics and More

I realize it’s easier to armchair quarterback than to police protests. If police arrest protesters causing minor disruptions, they risk breaching the Charter rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. If they don’t arrest protesters who are clearly breaking laws, they encourage more disorder. But, as a former journalist who now works for a charity defending constitutional rights, it’s my job to critique the police, and I’m frustrated to see them continue to make the same mistake. Police tend to underreact to illegality at protests initially. Then, when the public gets frustrated with the lack of enforcement, they overreact, which compromises constitutional rights ... CLICK HERE to read the full commentary

I don't care what you think. I am politely requesting you think it consistently, though. CLICK HERE for the full story

Vivian Krause leads fight against Americans who have landlocked the oil sands David Staples   ~~   Edmonton Journal   ~~   November 14, 2018 It’s not often that powerful American interests are completely open about their success at thwarting a foreign economy , but that’s what happened a year ago when Michael Marx talked up his achievements.   Protesters and activists have two goals -- keep Canadian oil in the ground, and if not, then keep our oil landlocked “From the very beginning, the campaign strategy was to land-lock the tar sands so their crude could not reach the international market where it could fetch a high price per barrel . This meant national and grassroots organizing to block all proposed pipelines.” …   co-ordinated two major American charitable foundations, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and The Tides Foundation, in their anti-oilsands fight … campaign has supplied tens of millions in U.S. dollars t...

Well I must say it has been some time since a reporter, outside of the Kamloops area, has sought me out for comment.   It happened today however, and it had to do with seven Greenpeace protesters who took it upon themselves to hang from the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge, and block a tanker which was legally about to head out to sea.   This demonstration of course to protest the ALSO LEGAL Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion. Seeking me out was David Ball, a reporter for the Star in Vancouver.   He emailed the following to me: Good afternoon Mr. Forseth, I am a reporter with The Star Vancouver newspaper and covering yesterday's illegal bridge protest and arrests. I noted that hundreds of social media users have used phrases such as "cut their ropes," and that you used the phrase as well: Alan Forseth, BC Reform Party MLA candidate for Kamloops North Thompson -- 1996 General Election "Damn shame they couldn't have just...