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After meeting with the group of 6th and 7th graders from White Rock Elementary, from Canada, I learned a lot more about the expansion of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline in British Columbia. I was truly amazed by how prepared the canadian students were, because they delivered an absolutely amazing presentation that left all Brazilian students speechless and with no questions about their case study.
Similarities between the cases: Large Company from another country (USA) - Both cases are linked to big US corporations: Kinder Morgan, one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America; and the Harvard Endowment Fund, one of the largest investors in Farmland in the world
Affected areas have high biodiversity and important water sources- The Pipeline construction goes through untouched wilderness in BC’s Temperate Rainforest and Mountains, in addition to the fact that oil spills threaten biodiversity on land and in the Ocean, and will poison the water table; Regarding the Harvard Endowment Fund case,deforestation threatens the Cerrado biome, a tropical savanna with high biodiversity and river systems, in addition to the fact that pesticides poison farmland, crops and can contaminate water sources.
Affects human health- There are concerns about the liberation of toxins from oil products and by-products due to the pipeline expansion, specifically when it comes to Bitumen, a derivative from oil that has waterproof properties. Oil spills poison important water sources and its fumes are considered a health risk; Pesticides are not healthy for humans and can lead to chronic health effects. Agrotoxins poison drinking water and cause problems for the ecosystem (death of fish), and it tampers with food growth.
Government more worried about the Economy- Although many groups have protested and Indigenous groups denied access to the land, the canadian government bought the pipeline from Kinder Morgan and are determined to finish construction; there is the feeling that the jobs created and the ability to transport oil for export outweigh the environmental risks. Agrobusiness is 21/1% of the Brazilian GDP, making it unlikely for the government to take a stand against it.
Indigenous Groups opposed- 130 First Nations opposed to the pipeline expansion. NGOs and Indigenous groups have protested against the acquisition of more farmland by the Harvard Endowment Fund.
Implications of COVID restrictions on protests- In British Columbia, there are no public protests; hampers fundraising; money for construction diverted to COVID relief and funding.Many brazilian groups are on hiatus until COVID is over.
Differences between the cases: the cases involve different climate related issues: the Pipeline expansion is related to oil extraction and transportation, while the Harvard Endowment Fund case is related to the devastation of territories for agricultural expansion.
Overall, it was a great bi-lateral experience and I believe both groups learned a lot from each other, which makes me really happy.
