Dear Editor:
Politics, they say, is the science of the possible triumphing over the power of ideology and optimism. When one looks at the policy the B.C. NDP has created in regards to fracking, one has to assume that this was what the saying meant.
Fracking is the process of injecting large amounts of water into a rock formation in order to release petroleum products. In the case of Northern British Columbia, it produces liquefied natural gas, which the NDP supports.
This is not what progressives and British Columbians should consider acceptable.
Forty years ago, Dave Barrett's government started laying the groundwork to protect our natural environment, starting with the Agricultural Land Reserve and continuing with other projects through his term. New Democrats protected our environment, even if it hurt businesses.
In 2007, the party again came to the conclusion that the environment should be protected, through the adoption of the Sustainable B.C. program.
It is a shame to see what the party is willing to do in order to avoid being labelled as "radical." Do you know what's radical? Blowing up part of the earth's crust in order to sell toxic gases to China, all done on the middle of the ring of fire. That's radical for you.
They've sold their souls, all to line pockets in silver and appease those who will never vote for them.
It's bad politics and bad for B.C.; committing to renewable, emission-free resources is what must be done, not a continued reliance on exporting poisons to the world.
Trevor Ritchie, Burnaby
