RIVERVIEW, N.B. – People worried about shale gas development learned about the concerns of other Canadians through a special live video broadcast Saturday.
The event was organized by Kairos. The group represents churches and religious organizations working towards ecological justice and human rights.
At the Saint John The Baptist Anglican Church, dozens of people heard presentations from as far away as Vancouver.
Jennifer Henry speaks for Kairos.
“We wanted to bring voices together as best we could from different parts of the country because we think they see similar concerns,” she said.
One of the people who attended was Alma Brooks. She represents the Maliseet Grand Council and says her members are worried about shale gas development and they wanted to hear from others.
“People have come now and they want to unite with indigenous people and forge a way forward together,” she said. “It’s not the gas and it’s not the product but it’s the process of developing the product that is the risk.”
Hydraulic fracturing is a chemical process used to extract shale gas from the earth. The process is better known as fracking and it has been a controversial issue in the province.
New Brunswick has been under a fracking moratorium since last December. The moratorium will stay until certain conditions can be met.
But Brook says despite the debate, there is no place for fracking in New Brunswick.
“If they drop the moratorium and think they’re going to continue they’re going to have a fight on their hands,” she said.
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