The Editor:
Some of the best ideas may seem wonky at first and then they surprise us by working really well.
Take the New Westminster Public Library’s scrapping of overdue book fines. Some of us thought that this change “let people off the hook” and would result in fewer books being returned and a big dent in the library’s finances.
But the library has reported that, since it paused fine charges during COVID, there was no difference in terms of the overall return rate, and the fines that were collected in the past made up less than one per cent of the library’s budget. And now no one is turned away from book borrowing.
Surprised?
How about the city’s upcoming motion to join other municipalities in suing big oil?
Some people might think suing big oil companies will not be successful and just be a waste of money. As a member of the New Westminster Climate Action Hub, here’s what I think.
The Sue Big Oil campaign addresses climate change in two important ways.
First, it aims to help cities like New West cover the growing costs associated with climate change, such as water conservation, cooling centres, misting stations, flood prevention and wildfire preparedness.
Second, it seeks to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in promoting and producing fossil fuels. This feeds into shareholder concerns and other market forces that will transition us away from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Burning oil, gas and coal has resulted in about 70 per cent of the overheating our planet is experiencing today.
The corporations producing these fuels have known since the 1950s and 60s that burning their products would cause climate change.
Sound familiar?
Just like the tobacco companies knew smoking caused lung cancer and eventually they were sued and paid.
The cost is minimal — just a pledge of one dollar per resident, a very small portion of our city’s overall budget. And lawyers from West Coast Environmental Law do think that the lawsuit could be heard in the Supreme Court of British Columbia which has the authority to award damages caused by international corporations.
Similar cases are happening across the world.
In another bold move, Vermont has recently passed a law to hold oil firms responsible financially for damages caused by climate change and other states are considering similar laws.
Winning this lawsuit would provide New Westminster with the necessary funds to prepare for the current and future increase in global temperatures and the resulting unnatural disasters that threaten our citizens, properties, and infrastructure. Joining the Sue Big Oil campaign is a practical move for the benefit of our citizens and our future.
You may be interested to know that more than 70 U.S. cities and states, including Chicago, Honolulu, New Jersey and California, are also suing Big Oil.
Let’s join Burnaby, Port Moody, Cumberland, Gibsons, Qualicum Beach, Sechelt, Slocan, Squamish and View Royal in this important initiative.
I support New Westminster joining the Sue Big Oil campaign — for all of us, for justice and for our kids’ future.
- Karen Crosby, New Westminster
