Congratulations to Elizabeth May and NDP MP Kennedy Stewart for their stand at Kinder Morgan's Burnaby site. May, especially, is a beacon for those who consider Earth's health as the most important issue for the human race. We're not going anywhere else. A handful may colonize Mars, but the rest will be staying here.

Other stars are just too far away to reach. Either we care for our planet or we perish.

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Tar sands bitumen, mixed with toxic solvent should never cross water. Surface spills that float are destructive and difficult enough to clean up, but this stuff sinks. If it spills (and it will sooner or later) or a tanker runs aground like the Exxon Valdez, the damage will be permanent. Ship it to the Gulf via the XL pipeline or refine it in Alberta.

Elizabeth May is our only federal Green MP.

If Canada had proportional representation where every citizen's vote counts, in my opinion, up to 15 per cent of Canadians would vote Green. Out of 338 federal seats, the Greens would receive 51 seats and the planet would have a voice in Ottawa. Let's hope B.C. can show the way for PR as it did in 2009 when 57.7 per cent voted in favour.

Then May will have lots of company and Canada will have to consider Green policy in its legislation.

Donald A. Fraser

Prince George