Daily Digest: BC approves gas pipeline, grocery workers approve strike, & Black joy in Kubota Garden
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BC approves controversial LNG pipeline
According to the CBC, the British Columbia government has approved construction of a new liquified natural gas (LNG) pipeline that would span 900 km from northeast BC to Prince Rupert. The controversial project, a cooperation between the Nisg'a First Nation and a Texas-based company, has been opposed by environmental groups and the Gitanyow First Nation, which put up a blockade to the project last August. The Narwhal reports that the project will cross 1,000 waterways, including salmon-bearing streams and that the Gitanyow and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs are firmly opposed. Last year I wrote a feature for the Tyee about the Gitanyow's fight to protect salmon habitat and their court battle to gain title over their lands. A blockade of a previous BC gas pipeline project by the Wet'suwet'en in 2020-2021 highlighted the conflict between First Nations and fossil fuel projects.
Puget Sound grocery workers authorize strike
Puget Sound-area grocery store workers represented by UFCW 3000 voted yesterday to reject a contract from Fred Meyer, QFC, Albertsons, Safeway, Haggen and Saars and authorize a strike by some 30,000 workers. The potential strike is part of a national organizing effort to gain better wages from the grocery industry, which is in the midst of huge mergers and consolidations. Meanwhile, more Bartell Drug pharmacies are expected to close as the longtime Washington company, acquired by Rite Aid goes through bankruptcy. Eugene Weekly looks at the crisis of pharmacy closures locally, a result of a national trend after pharmacy corporations were required to pay huge penalties for involvement in the opioid addiction crisis.
Fate of Idaho initiative restoring abortion rights in courts
Idaho Capital Sun reports that a citizen initiative that would restore the right to abortion in Idaho is waiting for court rulings regarding ballot titles and descriptions before it can be put on the ballot. The effort gathered sufficient signatures and submitted its proposal last August. Abortion was criminalized in Idaho in 2022 after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the US Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Tyee reports that an effort by university students to buy billboard ads supporting the right to abortion in Kelowna, BC have been rejected by all billboard companies in the area, which have long posted anti-abortion ads.
A dance of Black peace in Kubota Garden
The South Seattle Emerald has a great feature about a dance performance that took place at Seattle's Kubota Garden, a public Japanese garden that's an oasis for many people in South Seattle. The article, accompanied by gorgeous photos, looks at how dance composer dani tirrell transformed Kubota for three days into a majestic, peaceful refuge for Black joy.
Have a great weekend! – Andrew Engelson
