Saturday 18 January 2020

Moncton sociologist digs into Rexton shale gas protests

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Replying to and 49 others
Methinks I should not have been surprised to discover that this lady now works for Treasury Board Secretariat N'esy Pas?  



https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/moncton-sociologist-digs-into-rexton.html







The anatomy of a protest: Moncton sociologist digs into Rexton shale gas protests

Moncton woman probes anti-shale gas activities in Kent County for sociology thesis in Ottawa


Jennifer Sweet · CBC News · Posted: Jan 18, 2020 7:00 AM AT



Marie-Hélène Eddie analyzed New Brunswick's anti-shale gas movement for her doctoral thesis in Ottawa. (Submitted)

It's not often New Brunswickers unite around an issue across linguistic and cultural lines.

A sociologist from the University of Ottawa says that's why she was so intrigued by anti-shale gas demonstrations in the province between 2010 and 2016.

At the time, exploration was taking place and being planned in a few parts of the province.







At the height of protests in Kent County, dozens of people were arrested and RCMP vehicles were set on fire after police moved to enforce an injunction against a blockade by people protesting against shale gas exploration work.

Marie-Hélène Eddie, who is originally from Moncton, was studying in Ottawa in October 2013. She followed events in the news when Indigenous protesters and RCMP clashed violently in Rexton.

She decided to study the protest movement for her doctoral thesis at the University of Ottawa, which was published last month.

The thesis focuses on three groups — Mi'kmaq, Acadians and anglophones — and how they mobilized against development of the shale gas industry.

Protests all over the province


Eddie had the impression the protest movement was being led by First Nations people in Kent County.

One of the first discoveries she made in her research was that this was not the case.

"It was happening all over the province, not just in Kent County. It was happening in Fredericton mainly and in other regions as well."

New Brunswick saw months of demonstrations against shale gas exploration by SWN Resources near Elsipogtog First Nation in 2013. (Ossie Michelin/APTN National News)

In Kent County, however, Eddie discovered that the first group to organize was Acadian — Notre Environnement, Notre Choix — based in Saint-Louis. In English, the group is called, Our Environment, Our Choice.

They were followed closely, said Eddie, by an anglophone group called Upriver Environmental Watch, near Rexton.

Indigenous people actually joined the fight "months, if not years later," she said.



Media coverage having a role 


Eddie speculated this staggered entry may have been related to media coverage.

"Different groups can have different access to the media," she said.

French-language journalists in the province tend to be "very eager" to support the Acadian community, while Indigenous people "essentially have no media supporting them."


She documented some differences in coverage among news outlets.
Eddie analyzed 296 articles from various news outlets.

She found articles in Irving-owned publications gave precedence to voices in favour of shale gas development 53 per cent of the time. The rdate was 24 per cent for articles in non-Irving-owned publications.

Brunswick News reports cited industry sources first 30 per cent of the time. The rate in articles by other publishers was eight per cent.

 
 
 
Cars burned at the scene of a shale gas protest that turned violent in 2014. (Courtesy of Gilles Boudreau)

"Irving media had coverage that was more biased towards the industry and towards shale gas development," she said.

"It's important to research that, to see that, to discuss that and to ensure that in New Brunswick we have a variety of media with a variety of ownerships — which we don't presently have."

Eddie was quick to add that some of the differences in coverage were "subtle" and she didn't think there was any "malice" involved.

"The journalists themselves I really think tried to do their job as well as they could," she said. "That was very apparent in the interviews."
The journalistic resources on the ground in different parts of the province probably also had an impact, said Eddie.

For example, the French media more frequently have a journalist that is assigned to Kent County than the English media

"When you're covering, for example, the Rexton protest from Fredericton, it can become difficult to get people to give you interviews over the phone. ... It can be difficult to get the resources to travel to Kent County regularly. So it affects your capacity as a journalist to create relationships with the people on the ground and get the scoop and know what's going on."

Finding common ground


Eddie was initially planning to focus on the way linguistic minorities mobilize or organize beyond linguistic issues. But she had to rethink her theoretical framework to account for the broader participation.

"I kept thinking, well, are anglophones really a minority? They clearly are not a minority the same way that First Nations are. They don't have the same barriers, the same issues."

As she dug deeper, it became obvious that many of the people involved in the movement actually had a lot in common.

For one thing, supporters of the movement predominantly lived in rural areas, where exploration and potential shale gas development would take place.

And in Kent County, where she focused her research, anglophone residents had very similar socio-economic status to Acadians and Indigenous people. They were relatively poor and had relatively low levels of formal education.

"It really seemed that all three groups actually were very disadvantaged compared to the rest of New Brunswick or the rest of Canada."

Information Morning - Moncton
A PhD student looked at the opposition to shale gas development in New Brunswick and how the news media covered it
Marie-Helene Eddie made the shale gas protests the subject of her doctoral thesis at the University of Ottawa. 14:30

She was blown away at how protest leaders were able to overcome these apparent barriers to get people involved.

"I still kind of get shivers thinking about it sometimes. ...They were very aware of their audience — being people who can sometimes be intimidated by the government, or people who may think that it's impossible that they'll succeed in the fight or people, in some cases, who didn't know how to read very well."

Community meetings and information sessions were held where different aspects of the issue were explained, like the meaning of a moratorium, for example, the amount of water needed for shale gas exploration and exploitation, the known risks and the findings of the latest studies.

"Just informing people — not telling them what to think, but getting them the facts that they needed to decide by themself what they thought about shale gas."

At the provincial level, Eddie said, the protest movement built momentum and unity through the formation of an umbrella group— The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance — and the designation of single anglophone and francophone spokespersons — Jim Emberger and Denise Melanson.

Support never approached unanimity, said Eddie, but the movement still proved effective.
"It was a dividing issue and it's hard to tell how much the groups had an impact on public opinion."





With files from Information Morning Moncton









55 Comments 
Commenting is now closed for this story.








David Raymond Amos
Methinks it has been abundantly clear for years that nobody is willing to tell the whole story and they never will because of their love of money N'esy Pas?  
















David Raymond Amos
Methinks I should not have been surprised to discover that this lady now works for Treasury Board Secretariat N'esy Pas?


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Trust that I downloaded her doctoral thesis for political and legal reasons





















Amin K
I’m amazed at the ridiculousness of this study and the media in general. The point that EVERYONE misses is that there was NO Drilling or consequent FRACKING!!!! This was simply seismic shooting. What’s more ridiculous is that NB has a 20 year history with fracking without any incident. HELLLLLOOOOO
Thorough misinformation and foreign agendas..... the simple people were rallied against a boogey man. NB lost an opportunity to participate in potentially creating economic independence for there people.
Very sad..



David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Amin K: Welcome to the circus

 
Terry Tibbs 
Reply to @Amin K:
Talk about "sad"........... look in any mirrors lately?



Amin K
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: why because the facts don’t support you’re misconceptions. You have 20 years of fracking without incident. But more importantly this was seismic NOT fracking. Heller


Terry Tibbs 
Reply to @Amin K:
My misconceptions:
Foreign owned companies will locate and exploit anything worth exploiting and if we are very lucky, after inflated expenses, there will be a very, very small revenue stream given to our government to waste as they see fit, but assuredly providing small to no benefit for the residents of NB. (we haven't seen this before, now have we?)
Any construction work will be given to out of province companies for them to bring in their skilled labor leaving only few, if any, jobs for local folks.
Operating staff (after construction is done) will provide employment for a handful of NBers.
Fracking the ground will affect the water table and any chemicals will affect the quality of the drinking water for many.
Any gas harvested will become the property of foreign companies who will sell that gas to the highest bidder with little, or no concern of NBers.
Leaving the gas in the ground, where it is and not likely to evaporate, should be considered an investment, as it's value will do nothing if not increase.

But the BIGGEST misconception I have is: the gas should be harvested by NB Power, not connected to any sort of export capable system, and used locally to generate electricity on site. This will maximize local employment, provide electricity for NBers for many years to come, and provide us with electricity "made in NB" to sell.




















Jamie Knowles
In a 2 sided argument, is 53 vs 47 really biased reporting? This article goes on to say that Irving owned media cited industry sources first 30% of the time in its coverage. Wouldn't that make it biased in favor of the protesters?


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Jamie Knowles: Methinks I should be fair even though I am no friend of the Irving Clan the truth is the truth So for the record the Irving media reported a bit about my opinions about the exploitation of our Natural Resources including natural gas in June of 2004 while I was running in Fundy Royal for its seat in the 38th Parliament Veritas Vincit N'esy Pas?



David Raymond Amos

Content disabled
Here is a portion of one of the articles

The Unconventional Candidate
David Amos Isn’t Campaigning For Your Vote, But….
By Gisele McKnight
Kings County Record June 22, 2004

FUNDY—He has a pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket, a chain on his wallet, a beard at least a foot long, 60 motorcycles and a cell phone that rings to the tune of "Yankee Doodle."

Meet the latest addition to the Fundy ballot—David Amos.

The independent candidate lives in Milton, Massachusetts with his wife and two children, but his place of residence does not stop him from running for office in Canada.

One has only to be at least 18, a Canadian citizen and not be in jail to meet Elections Canada requirements.

When it came time to launch his political crusade, Amos chose his favourite place to do so—Fundy.

Amos, 52, is running for political office because of his dissatisfaction with politicians.

"I’ve become aware of much corruption involving our two countries," he said. "The only way to fix corruption is in the political forum."

"What he’s fighting for is the discussion of issues – tainted blood, the exploitation of the Maritimes’ gas and oil reserves and NAFTA, to name a few.

"The political issues in the Maritimes involve the three Fs – fishing, farming and forestry, but they forget foreign issues," he said. "I’m death on NAFTA, the back room deals and free trade. I say chuck it (NAFTA) out the window."



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: BINGO






















Joe Campbell
Shawn Graham's Liberals opened the door to exploration to SWN . The conservatives under Alward wanted to continue based on Corridor Resources development. Gallant's Liberals put an end to it and Higg's wants it back. Meanwhile Irving imports Saudi oil and now natural gas will come from the US.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Joe campbell: Methinks folks should quit laughing at me and check my work dealing with Corridor Resources et al since 2004 N'esy Pas?

TerryTibbs
Reply to @Joe campbell:
Whose oil would you have Irving use?
Keeping in mind there is really no such thing as "Canadian oil" any longer, it may be located in Canada, but it is all foreign owned.
Very same thing with any product from fracking, it might be located in NB, but to buy any you will have to buy from foreigners.

If there is any gas in the ground of any quantity it should be harvested by NB Power and electricity generated on site. But being too sensible an idea don't count on ever seeing it.


















Laurie Clark
There is always malice involved in Irving media reporting!


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Laurie Clark: There always malice in all media


Colin Seeley 
Reply to @Laurie Clark:
Same for all media .















David Peters
How much US $ was involved in the protests? Because, there are parties out there who benefit by NB not developing it's energy resources.

"...U.S. tax returns show that the Tides Foundation and Tides Canada Foundation alone have made more than 400 payments to 100 different First Nations and “environmental organizations" in Canada..."


https://www.canadaaction.ca/canadians_beware_environmental_activists_funded_by_non_canadian_sources



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @David Peters: Bingo 
 

Ian Stephen
Reply to @David Peters: People who live there wanted to protect their home. They likely looked for ways to raise funds to help do it. If some funds came from Tides, so what? Is it so hard for you to believe that people are motivated by something other than money?


Ian Stephen
Reply to @David Peters: The foreign funding conspiracy theories are getting kind of tired. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/10/03/analysis/data-based-dismantling-jason-kenneys-foreign-funding-conspiracy-theory


David Peters 
Reply to @Ian Stephen:
Did you read your own link?

"Family foundations have a tendency toward having family members in lead governance roles, whose priorities and biases can show up in granting patterns."

...and the article doesn't deny that the "Tides Foundation and Tides Canada Foundation alone have made more than 400 payments to 100 different First Nations and “environmental organizations" in Canada..."



David Peters  
Reply to @Ian Stephen:
"If some funds came from Tides, so what?"

It's always important to follow the money. How do we know this wasn't a mostly bought-and-paid-for protest? Other regions benefit greatly by having NB leave their energy resources in the ground.



David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Ian Stephen: Methinks since the Irving Clan wants our natural gas the foreign dudes won't have a prayer in New Brunswick no matter how much money they send to the Council Of Canadians et al N'esy Pas?


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Ian Stephen: BTW who do you think funds Canada's National Observer?


Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Peters:
The trouble is: NB never had any intention of developing any energy resources.
The intention was to let foreigners develop and market, with the government getting a very, very small royalty. We both know we would have been cheated, any money paid to our government would be wasted, or disappear, we, the people of NB, would not gain anything by it. So why bother?
Sounds a little like the pot business, doesn't it?



Michel Jones
Reply to @Ian Stephen: It is very hard to believe money isn't the mover, indeed..

















David Raymond Amos
Methinks we are all entitled to read this report on the RCMP after all we paid for it N''esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/shale-gas-protests-rexton-rcmp-report-1.5289213

Release report into RCMP conduct during Rexton protests, says anti-shale gas group
RCMP vehicles burned, dozens arrested in October 2013 protests in Kent County
CBC News · Posted: Sep 18, 2019 9:51 PM AT


https://www.crcc-ccetp.gc.ca/en/chair-initiated-complaint-and-public-interest-investigation-rcmp-response-shale-gas-fracking 



Laurie Clark
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Funny how one vehicle was burning on the inside with all windows up and vehicle was locked. Funny how all the burned vehicles were located so someone could set fire unnoticed. This was not the first time the RCMP committed shenanigans th3n claim someone else was at fault.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Laurie Clark: Trust that I know a lot about how they behave. Everybody knows that I testified against the RCMP actions at a Coroners Inquest in 1982 
 


Norman Albert
Reply to @Laurie Clark: That is intentional to paint the RCMP as victims that requires a violent response. Black block provocateurs


David Peters
Reply to @Laurie Clark:
I thought the car burning looked staged, too.



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @David Peters: Thats because it was


















Terry Wishart
The author is incorrect in her quote, "Indigenous people actually joined the fight "months, if not years later." If anything, Indigenous lead and popularized the movement.


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Terry Wishart: Yea Right 
 

David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Terry Wishart: Methinks you must remember me as well as I remember you N'esy Pas?


















Donald Gallant
Soon the SCC will hear more appeals and it will be time for all to honour the laws of Canadian land.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Dream on


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Here is one rule of law that the Federal Court of Appeal pulled on me for the benefit of the Queen the SCC knows it

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, pursuant to subsection 46(1)Footnote b of the Federal Court Act, hereby approves the annexed Federal Court Rules, 1998, made by the rules committee of the Federal Court of Canada on January 26, 1998.

Rule 55 In special circumstances, in a proceeding, the Court may vary a rule or dispense with compliance with a rule. 

Norman Albert
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Only the poor and expected to "honour the laws". For the rich the laws are altered to suit the required situation.



















John Smith
that protest was proof positive the 3 major demographics are very strong allies when push comes to shove and the authority was terrified


John Smith
Reply to @john smith: led by the true owners of the land and backed by thinking logical people should we have the conversation that maybe this place should be removed from trust and be governed again by the people


Donald Gallant
Reply to @john smith:
Yes. Let’s have a voting referendum on those things .



John Smith 
Reply to @Donald Gallant: i think we would need some good conversation to start public open debates lets be honest anyone can grab a jurisdiction but you need to hold it and the gov has all the power to inflict violence


John Smith 
Reply to @Donald Gallant: infrastructure needs to be in place as well i do have hopes with the maliseet movement as of recent to form coalitions and reform their natural governmental structures and the recent enlightenment from micmac parties drawing up lawsuits to claim similar jurisidctional powers


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Methinks that is the way things should be done on important matters in a purportedly "Just Democracy" N'esy Pas? 
 

















David Peters
"... ensure that in New Brunswick we have a variety of media with a variety of ownerships — which we don't presently have.""

This is why freedom of speech for individuals is so important...and notice how sneaky the resistance is to that.

Not all New Brunswickers supported that shale gas protest. Not all New Brunswickers oppose developing shale gas here in NB.



Laurie Clark 
Reply to @David Peters: Not all New Brunswickers are in favour of it, either. More against than for!


Norman Albert
Reply to @David Peters: In a true democracy we would know because we would have been asked, but for some reason we are never asked about anything. We are told....!!!!!


David Peters 
Reply to @Laurie Clark:
Wonder how a referendum would go if they tied ending the equalization transfer payments to the opposing choice...those payments come, in part, from that regions developing of their energy resources.



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Laurie Clark: Methinks the lions share of the folks didn't care one way or the other N'esy Pas?



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