The Narwhal | News on Climate Change, Environmental Issues in Canada https://thenarwhal.ca en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal News Society Tue, 05 May 2026 19:48:50 +0000 The Narwhal | News on Climate Change, Environmental Issues in Canada https://thenarwhal.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/the-narwhal-rss-icon.png https://thenarwhal.ca 144 144 Are YOU on Stephen Harper’s #EnemyList? https://thenarwhal.ca/are-you-stephen-harper-s-enemylist/?utm_source=rss http://localhost.com/narwhal/2013/07/18/are-you-stephen-harper-s-enemylist/ Thu, 18 Jul 2013 18:38:35 +0000

As political journalist, Susan Delacourt, reported in the Toronto Star, Conservatives won’t say WHO is on “enemy” lists. No wonder!! It has chilling echoes of Tricky Dick, and Watergate. But as the author of a new book, Banned on the Hill: a true story about dirty oil and government censorship, it did NOT come as any shock to me that Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper keeps an #‎EnemyList. 

I am on it.

Illustration Harper's Enemy List by Franke James

The evidence has been piling up. Over the past 2 years, I've obtained 2,172 Access-to-Information documents — all related to me — from 4 different federal departments.

ATIPdocs_GamesBureaucatsPlay_700

They REALLY don't like me talking about climate change.

 

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Jean-Bruno Villeneuve said in an internal email, "The artist's work dealt mostly with climate change and was advocating a message that was contrary to government policies on the subject." That statement is a chilling example of how free expression in our democracy is being squashed.

If Art has to agree with government policies, then 'Art Equals Government Propaganda'.

I still find it shocking that the Canadian Government warned people not to show my artwork. I first realized what they were doing in Spring 2011…

Alice_VlatkaWarnsNektarina What happened to me is political interference — bureaucrats were just following orders from Ottawa. Just like the newly leaked "Enemy List" email. It clearly shows that the Prime Minister's office (PMO) is instructing bureaucrats to identify and freeze out "enemies."

LEAKED EMAIL FROM THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE Reported by Global News, Toronto Star, PostMedia and CBC:

July 4 2013 Leaked email from PMO's officeInterestingly, the PMO's office is out of reach of access-to-information requests. The only reason we are seeing the email is because it was leaked. Whereas, the evidence I have is through access-to-information requests. See the internal government email below which is heavily blacked-out for reasons of "international security" and conversations with, or about, a minister. Note the disturbing subject line and then imagine what is hiding under the black marker. (The Office of the Information Commissioner is currently investigating the legitimacy of the redactions.) Bureaucrat Thomas Marr's redacted email feautured in Banned on the Hill by Franke Jamesembiggen FrankeJamesisYourFault500ThomasMarrBlamesVlatka500ThomasMarrAmbassador_500GreenMonster_BannedOnTheHill Harper_BigStink Ambassador_ScottHeatherington_email

So how can Canadians show the Prime Minister that putting people on #EnemyLists is Evil? (And against democracy)

Use social media!! On July 16th at about 11pm, a friend direct messaged me: "Do you know of anyone making up "I'm on Harper's Enemy List" or variants T-shirts? Otherwise if I have art I can print iron-on decals…" I responded within minutes: "Clever. Great idea. Let me talk to Bill. We could do it on Cafe Press." By 1:45am, we had created the t-shirt using an illustration of mine of Harper from my book, Banned on the Hill: a true story about dirty oil and government censorship HarperEnemyList_custom_tshirtBF

We crafted the slogan so that it picked up on Twitter's use of hashtags and also used @pmHarper to be in tune with the platform. (It also works well that Harper announced his cabinet shuffle on Twitter showing that it's a platform he uses.) Buy the #EnemyList T-shirt or Tank top on Cafepress: www.cafepress.com/frankejames Here are some of the tweets that show it's reception…

I want one!!! MT @stephenlautens Gotta love @frankejames's #EnemyList tee What to wear on tours of the Hill pic.twitter.com/m6mhI157hI #cdnpoli

— deBeauxOs (@deBeauxOs1) July 17, 2013

Gotta love @frankejames's #EnemyList tee shirt – Good to wear on tours of the Hill http://t.co/zUCYvZPwz6 pic.twitter.com/UTu2WLrq48 #cdnpoli

— Stephen Lautens (@stephenlautens) July 17, 2013

@frankejames A fashion statement for Free Expression, perfect compliment to my new book, Banned on the Hill.#cdnpoIi pic.twitter.com/wf2fdx7EsM

— Stephen Elmy (@StephenElmy) July 17, 2013

All the cool kids are going to want one of @frankejames t-shirts: http://t.co/FVx7UAruO4 #cdnpoli

— Angella MacEwen (@AMacEwen) July 17, 2013

@Belgraves @TraceyKent Of course @frankejames is the one to come up with the tshirt!

— Matthew Barlow (@Matthew_Barlow) July 17, 2013

@frankejames seen #TrickyDick Nixon's Enemies List? The inspiration for #SleazySteve Harper's #enemieslist http://t.co/ZFuxUT89xV

— Pete Quily (@pqpolitics) July 17, 2013

Are YOU on Harper's #Enemy List? Wear it proudly! Get your own t-shirt or tank top! http://t.co/XJNSeDLIqm #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/TX2tS3yMA1

— Franke James (@frankejames) July 17, 2013

Update: #EnemyList is now trending!

#EnemyList is now trending in Canada http://t.co/HWDJesNrux "I'm on Harper's EnemyList" shirts http://t.co/Sy3QmUdygQ pic.twitter.com/BFUiVwdlFR

— Franke James (@frankejames) July 18, 2013

Dying to know if I'm on the #HarperGovt #EnemyList. People are now having #EnemyList parties… what if I'm not invited?? Woe!

— Margaret E. Atwood (@MargaretAtwood) July 18, 2013

"If Art has to agree with government policies, then ‘Art Equals Government Propaganda’" via @frankejames http://t.co/ar3VuAb4R1 #EnemyList

— Kaitlin McNabb (@kaitlinmcnabb) July 18, 2013

"Are YOU on Stephen Harper’s #EnemyList?" http://t.co/Eyp96QRMIc A great piece from @frankejames

— A.T. Kingsmith (@akingsmith) July 18, 2013

HaHa! Look who's on Harper's #EnemyList! (Author unknown). My related blacklist post http://t.co/qW1TXbIi3A #CDNpoli pic.twitter.com/6wFSX6KscO

— Franke James (@frankejames) July 18, 2013

Buy the #EnemyList T-shirt or Tank top on Cafepress: www.cafepress.com/frankejames (There are 4 styles to choose from.)

Are YOU on PM Harper's ENEMY BLACKLIST? You could be if you are part of an environmental group, a non-profit organization, or civic and industry associations and have views which are different than the Harper government's. Wear your new ENEMY status proudly! Buy a tank top or t-shirt designed by blacklisted artist Franke James. Get people talking about democracy and freedom of expression!! (Global News, Postmedia, The Toronto Star, CBC News all reported the leaked email from Prime Minister Harper's office asking staff to include a list of "friend and enemy stakeholders" in their transition binders for new ministers appointed in Monday's cabinet shuffle.)

BUY Banned on the Hill: a true story about dirty oil and government censorship

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

]]> Artist Franke James Live and (Actually) Uncensored (Since, Apparently, She Refuses to Be) https://thenarwhal.ca/franke-james-live-and-actually-uncensored-she-refuses-be/?utm_source=rss http://localhost.com/narwhal/2013/06/28/franke-james-live-and-actually-uncensored-she-refuses-be/ Fri, 28 Jun 2013 15:00:00 +0000

In 2011, Toronto-based writer, artist and environmental activist Franke James was asked by Croatian non-profit Nektarina to feature her artwork on an European tour. Unsurprisingly, James agreed, only to have the tour cancelled when the Canadian embassy in Croatia withdrew funding that it denied ever giving Nektarina, and made the non-profit aware that James “speaks against the Canadian government.”

James was not one to be silenced, as her new book reveals. Banned on the Hill: A True Story about Dirty Oil and Government Censorship catalogues the entire ordeal of being blacklisted by Harper’s government for speaking out against the tar sands, and puts the paper trail Canadian diplomats left of their censoring ways on display.

DeSmog: You’ve been spreading a message of environmental awareness that runs counter to the Harper government’s pro-oil stance since 2003. Did you have any inkling that something like the government’s squashing of your European tour might eventually happen?

Franke James: No! Who would ever think you could get into trouble for writing to the Prime Minister asking that we make polluters pay? Is this Canada or the Kremlin?

I've been very openly criticizing the Conservatives for their short-sighted 'economy versus the environment' stance for years now. But I never expected them to lash out at me as an individual citizen because we live in a democratic country where free expression is protected under the Canadian charter. When I discovered what they were secretly doing behind-the-scenes I realized I needed to dig for evidence.

And that led me on a two year journey of collecting evidence, applying for access to information documents, and writing Banned on the Hill. This story needs to be told. It's shocking and it's very undemocratic. Canadians need to know the extreme message control that the Harper government is exerting over ordinary, law-abiding citizens. Our fundamental right to speak up and disagree with the government is at risk – and that is so wrong.

DeSmog: You won a big victory against censorship by successfully crowdfunding a campaign to bring your “Do Not Talk About Climate Change: It Is Against Government Policy” posters to the streets of Ottawa, and you’re on your way to achieving stretch goals to bring the posters to other cities. Could you tell us a bit about the posters?

FJ: Thanks! Yes, it's very exciting to see my  posters up on the streets of Ottawa – and the animated online ads on The Hill Times. That is the government’s favourite “insider-news” website. So it was a real kick to buy space there and use the government spokesperson’s own very chilling words in the ads, “the artist’s work dealt mostly with climate change, and was advocating a message that was contrary to the government's policies on the subject.”

I’m sure the visual of the Parliament Buildings dropped into the tar sands caused a few Cheerios to be spat out. I made that image to emphasize an important point – if that really was the surroundings for the Parliament Buildings, it would not be tolerated. They would not permit the air and water to be polluted that way because it would endanger the health of the Prime Minister and the MPs.

DeSmog: How do you think crowdfunding changes the face of arts/media resistance to government censorship?

FJ: The opportunity for activists to fight government censorship – and communicate positive social messages – through crowdfunding media space is tremendous.

It's essentially a judo-flip on Big Brother message control.

Our voices joined together have the power to change governments – and by that I mean we can leverage mass media to speak up and tell the government what issues are important to us and why. If we make a big noise that climate change is an issue that voters care about, then our so-called “leaders” will follow and bring in laws to put a price on carbon. That would be a game-changer for every business because it would send a message that they can no longer pollute the atmosphere for free.

And on an individual level, crowdfunding is transformative. People who contribute to a crowdfunded campaign can see that by taking action they can make change happen.

So, crowdfunding is a tremendous activist tool. It gives power to anyone with a message to take it out to the world. It is a very democratic system. The catch is you have to be able to persuade people that your message is worth funding. Before “crowdfunding” existed artists and activists had to rely on funding from government, non-profits and corporations. But censorship is a problem with all of those entities.

DeSmog: On a related note, did you face any government-related intimidation or resistance to the crowdfunding campaign and the outdoor posters in Ottawa?

FJ: The Indiegogo campaign running now in Ottawa is the second crowdfunded show I've done and in both cases I’ve taken measures so that the shows did not get blocked or censored. (I know of climate activist media campaigns in the US which have been censored.)

I did not announce publicly where or when the show was going live. This was a good strategy because I am sure if the government had known the show was going up on November 2, 2011 in Ottawa, they never would have released the first batch of Access-to-Information documents on Halloween, 2011. Those initial 165 pages were extremely advantageous to me when I was speaking to the media, because they proved that the government was not telling the truth about the funding. The funding had been approved internally, but was killed by the Deputy Director of the Climate Change office, Jeremy Wallace. The 2 documents are in Banned on the Hill on pages 174-175 (pictured below).

Also, in my November 2011 outdoor show in Ottawa, I had the creative of six posters pre-approved by senior executives at the outdoor company before I put any money down. This was necessary because they had a clause in their contract that said they could pull the artwork, and you’d still have to pay for the space. For the new show in May-June 2013, there was only one poster design, and that was pre-approved too.

DeSmog: Has their been a positive response to the campaign from the public?

FJ: Excellent response. Lots of people are concerned as I am with the silencing of environmental voices and the erosion of our democratic rights. As of today, 206 people have contributed over $12,300.

DeSmog: Do you have any further plans for the use of crowdsourced funds, aside from putting the posters on the streets of other cities?

FJ: Yes! Some fun stuff is being planned! But right now we don’t know which city is next. Vancouver or Calgary is within reach – and possibly Washington, D.C. if we raise enough money.

There will definitely be fun new ways for people to participate and see their impact. We need to get the message out that it is essential to talk about climate change – and take immediate action.

People can help make it happen by contributing. The Banned on the Hill campaign ends on Indiegogo Friday afternoon, June 28, at 11:59pm PST.

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

]]> The Scary Canada-China Trade Deal That Will Haunt Us for 31 Years https://thenarwhal.ca/scary-canada-china-trade-deal-will-haunt-us-31-years/?utm_source=rss http://localhost.com/narwhal/2012/10/27/scary-canada-china-trade-deal-will-haunt-us-31-years/ Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:20:54 +0000 Illustration FIPA Harper by Franke James

hat's the scariest thing happening just after Halloween? Is it the stomachaches our children will have from eating too many sweet treats? No, it’s the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), which will automatically come into force on November 2nd, binding Canada for 31 years to come.

Shockingly, the most significant trade agreement since NAFTA is set to automatically go into effect — without a single debate or vote in Parliament. Our political representatives have not even had the chance to say "Boo".   The deal was signed in secret by the Harper Government on September 9th, and quietly tabled in the House of Commons on Sept.26th. No press release to the Canadian media. No briefing to our MPs to announce the details. Just a clock ticking off the 21 sitting days until FIPA comes into force on Nov.2.   But surely the Harper Government has protected Canada’s interests? Unfortunately, no.  

FIPA will delight the oil companies, but it places Canadian taxpayers at grave risk for billion dollar lawsuits launched by Chinese investors. And maddeningly, the lawsuits won’t take place in Canadian courts. They will be decided by international tribunals, in secret, behind closed doors. No Canadian or International court will be able to overturn the tribunal's decision.   Why on earth is the Harper Government ceding control? How can it make sense to delegate our sovereignty to international arbitrators in secret tribunals? Isn’t anyone concerned about this? Osgoode Law Professor Gus Van Harten is. His expert opinion is that FIPA may be unconstitutional — the provinces have not agreed to it and Parliament has not been given the opportunity to debate it. Van Harten has called FIPA a straitjacket which will tie future government's hands (for 31 years) from taking responsible action on the environment.   Curiously, the oil sands industry will be prevented from enacting strict environmental and health regulations — lest they be sued for billions by Chinese investors who can claim that the rules have changed and adversely affect their investments.   How convenient! Canada will be ‘off the hook’ as we blame China for preventing us from taking responsible action to reduce carbon emissions. Sadly, this is one more sign of the Harper Government's refusal to accept the reality of climate change and the need to make polluters pay.   FIPA is in essence a sweet deal for corporations but it puts public policy at risk from costly, secretive lawsuits. (Belgium is currently facing a $3 billion lawsuit from one of China’s companies because of a similar foreign investor agreement.) As the Council of Canadians says, “It undermines basic notions of democracy."   What is the solution? Council of Canadians suggests we look to Australia… Against a backdrop of investor challenges to public health measures (which opposed environmental regulations on coal-fired plants) they decided to opt out. They took a firm stand and refused to negotiate these radical investment protections in trade deals. They told big business to take out insurance rather than foist the financial risks onto Australian taxpayers.   Great idea! Let’s do the same thing in Canada. But first we have to get Prime Minister Harper to allow a debate in Parliament.   If you are concerned about FIPA, call the Prime Minister today. And then call your MP, too! Demand that Parliament have the opportunity to debate and make changes to the treaty — or to rip it up and start over. FIPA is a bad deal that will haunt us for 31 years. Let’s do business with China – but let’s make sure it’s in Canada’s best interests.   FOUR WAYS TO TAKE ACTION: 1. Call your MP and the PM! 2. Write a Letter to the Editor of a major newspaper. 3. Sign the petitions below. 4. Tell your family and friends why FIPA is the Frightening Investment Protection Agreement. (Further reading below)   Sign Petitions:   LeadNow: Stop the Canada-China FIPA and Nexen takeover Council of Canadians: Harper must tear up the Canada-China investment treaty The Green Party: Stand up against the sellout to China Clayton Ruby, ForestEthics: AN OPEN LETTER TO HARPER: STOP FIPA   News articles:   Rabble: Open letter to Stephen Harper: Fourteen reasons the Canada-China FIPA needs a full public review   DeSmogBlog: China Investment Treaty "a Straitjacket" for Canada: Exclusive Interview with Trade Investment Expert Gus Van Harten, Part 1 DeSmogBlog: Interview with Gus Van Harten Part 2 DeSmogBlog: Interview with Gus Van Harten Part 3   The Globe and Mail: Gus Van Harten – What if the Canada-China investment treaty is unconstitutional?   The Tyee: China Trade Deal a '31-Year Ball and Chain' on Canada   The Tyee: BC Premier Urged to Consider Fast Legal Action Against China Treaty   Rabble: David Suzuki – China deal and budget sacrifice democracy to short-term goals

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

]]> What is Harper Afraid Of? https://thenarwhal.ca/what-is-harper-afraid-of/?utm_source=rss http://localhost.com/narwhal/2012/05/31/what-is-harper-afraid-of/ Thu, 31 May 2012 16:37:26 +0000 By Franke James

UPDATE: Watch the animated video version here.

Hey Mr Prime Minister What are You Afraid of

Are you afraid of rivers that turn black and run into the sea, writing and illustration by Franke JamesAre you afraid of birds falling from a heavy sky, writing and illustration by Franke JamesAre you afraid of people fleeing from a toxic land, writing and illustration by Franke JamesOr are you most afraid of Alberta tar sands oil being labeled dirty, writing and illustration by Franke JamesI can tell you what I am afraid of, writing and type-illustration by Franke James, photo by Ian McAllister, Pacific WildI am afraid of your plans to build the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline through the Rocky Mountains, writing and type-illustration by Franke James, photo by Ian McAllister, Pacific WildAnd the Great Bear Rainforest, writing and type-illustration by Franke James, photo by Ian McAllister, Pacific WildDoes that make me a radical? No way, writing and type-illustration by Franke James, photo by Ian McAllister, Pacific WildBut Joe Oliver says anyone who questions the pipeline is a radical. That is radical, writing and type-illustration by Franke James, Scan of Joe Oliver flyerFear not! I did not take that name-calling to heart. I sent Joe a Valentine asking for a meeting. On March 3rd my husband and I met with Joe, Valentine illustration by Franke James, Photo of Joe Oliver by Franke James, photo of Franke by Billiam JamesI asked Joe a Fundamental question, what bothers your green conscience, Photo-illustration of Joe Oliver by Franke JamesJoe said 'I don't think in those terms. My impact as the Minister of Natural Resources is much bigger than as an individual, Photo-illustration of Joe Oliver by Franke JamesWhich is Exactly what I am afraid of, Writing and illustration by Franke JamesWith all the changes you're making, list of changes, Writing and illustration by Franke JamesWe could be hit with some major environmental catastrophes, Writing and Black Swan Canada Flag illustration by Franke JamesIt is like you have declared war on Mother Nature, Writing and Harper Oil Barrel War on Nature illustration by Franke JamesIt is like you have declared war on Mother Nature, Writing and Harper Oil Barrel War on Nature illustration by Franke JamesJoe told me, 'I am someone who likes to gather the facts, Joe Oliver Facts illustration by Franke JamesJoe told me, 'I am influenced by what objective scientists have to say, and you know government policy has to be grounded in a factual basis'; Quote from March 3, 2012 meeting, Joe Oliver Facts illustration by Franke JamesWhich all sounds great but then why is the Harper Government muzzling scientists, Muzzled scientists illustration by Franke James

Joe says he likes facts, so I shared some facts with him --- like how the B.C. coastline has had a 40 year ban on tankers because the waters are so treacherous; writing and type-illustration by Franke James, photo by Ian McAllister, Pacific WildAnd how the tankers are as long as the Empire State Building is tall.; writing and type-illustration by Franke James, photo of Empire State Building by Daniel Schwen via WikimediaAnd how the route to Kitimat is very skinny with many hairpin turns which are tricky for big tankers; Living Oceans Map of Tanker route to Kitimat; writing and type by Franke James, map illustration by Living Oceans Map in detail And Joe replied, 'I don’t know the answers to that question. I’m not a scientist, so that’s why we’re getting an independent evaluation.'; Quote from March 3, 2012 meeting, Joe Oliver illustration by Franke JamesThe independent evaluation sounded good -- but since then you've squashed their power.; Alice illustration and writing by Franke JamesAnd now Joe and your cabinet are making the final decision; Harper with cabinet illustration by Franke JamesBut Joe is not qualified to decide; Joe Oliver and Alice illustration by Franke JamesEverything you discuss in cabinet is SECRET; Secret cabinet illustration by Franke JamesAlberta and Big Oil will be making trillions; Harper Dirty Oil illustration by Franke James, Photo Syncrude 2007 -12 Photo © 2007 David Dodge, CPAWSBut B.C. will be facing huge risks; type illustration by Franke James, photo of Great Bear Rainforest Fog by Ian McAllister, Pacific WildOne big spill could wipe out B.C.’s entire tax revenue of $1.2 billion -- which is forecast over 30 years; writing by Franke James; Dogwood Initiative 'No Tankers Loonie Decal'; Photo of tshirt with Sinking Feeling About Enbridge courtesy Living Oceans OrgOne big spill could wipe out B.C.’s entire tax revenue of $1.2 billion -- which is forecast over 30 years; writing by Franke James; Dogwood Initiative 'No Tankers Loonie Decal'; Photo 'Ultimately, US citizens ended up paying the additional costs.' source: What’s at Stake? the Cost of Oil on British Columbia’s Priceless Coast; Raincoast Conservation Foundation. 2010.Queen of the North illustration by Franke James based on archival photographsAnd the real truth is... clean up costs cannot bring the birds, fish and whales back to life. Writing Franke James; Photo of oiled Birds killed as a result of oil from the Exxon Valdez spill. Photo courtesy of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council; Wikimedia.Or the Spirit Bear who is dependent on the salmon; type and fish illustration by Franke James, photo of Spirit Bear by Ian McAllister, Pacific WildThere's a whole circle of life that includes people.; Circle of Life illustration by Franke James, Photo Wikimedia NOAA Oil Sheen From Valdez Spill So, here's a question for you... Would you let your family eat the fish or drink the water from the Athabasca River? Illustration by Franke JamesWhen I asked Joe, he told me, 'I do not know enough about the Athabasca River. I would want to know from the government whether it is safe to do that.' Quote from March 3, 2012 meeting, Joe Oliver illustration by Franke JamesIsnt it Joes responsibility as the Minister in charge of the oil sands mining to know if his oil sands are polluting the air, land or water?; Alice illustration by Franke JamesHow Can Joe Not Know Photo-Illustration features Alice illustration by Franke James with photo of Suncor upgrader complex adjacent to the Athabasca River © 2002 Chris Evans, Pembina InstituteTake a look at this Environment Canada report on the oil sands pollution. It’s labeled 'secret'; Alice illustration by Franke James Link to secret report When I showed it to Joe, he said, 'Its secret to me too.' At first Joe said it must have come out before he was appointed. And then he said, 'Its not my Ministry.' Quote from March 3, 2012 meeting, Joe Oliver illustration by Franke JamesSo I reminded him that the news of the contaminated fish was reported in 2010. And then Joe admitted, 'Yeah, yeah Ive heard something.' Quote from March 3, 2012 meeting, Joe Oliver riding a fish illustration by Franke James. Fish photo research archive David SchindlerIn 2010, Dr. David Schindler presented evidence of deformed fish. Schindler told me he would NOT drink the Athabasca River water near the tar sands. Photo of Dr David Schindler by Ed Kaiser, Edmonton JournalThe internal government report says, 'Contamination of the Athabasca River is a high-profile concern... elevated levels of pollutants near mining sites raise questions about possible effects on health of wildlife and downstream communities.' photo-illustration by Franke JamesMr. Prime Minister, This is a BIG problem. And this secret report shows that Environment Canada KNOWS it is a big problem; photo-illustration by Franke JamesJust recently, a BBC news article reported that the Cree Lake Nation are taking fish out of the water that have cancerous tumors on them; photo-illustration by Franke JamesIt seems that the government has been hiding from the truth; photo-illustration by Franke James, Tar Sands photo background: Syncrude 2007 -12 Photo copyright 2007 David Dodge, CPAWSThe fact is, you’ve got people who are eating contaminated fish. And that’s wrong; photo-illustration by Franke JamesThe fact is, you’ve got people who are eating contaminated fish. And that’s wrong; photo-illustration by Franke JamesMr Harper I know what you are really afraid of; photo-illustration by Franke James, Tar Sands photo background: Syncrude oil sands plant at night; Photo copyright 2005 David Dodge, The Pembina InstituteYou’re afraid of dead ducks -- illustration by Franke James You are afraid of spirit bears because they inspire everyone to care about Canada's wilderness. (And say no to the pipeline.); Spirit Bear illustration by Franke Jamesyou are afraid of killer whales because First Nations are asserting their rights to protect their land, water and way of life; Killer Whale illustration by Franke James. Photo of First Nations protest courtesy Living Oceans OrgBut you’re most afraid of beavers. (that's us hard working Canadians who are toiling away like busy beavers). Because we are waking up... Harper Dirty Oil and Busy beaver illustration by Franke JamesBut you are most afraid of beavers. (that's us hard working Canadians who are toiling away like busy beavers). Because we are waking up... Harper Dirty Oil and Busy beaver illustration by Franke JamesPlease Mr Harper Don't Put the Pipeline Through the Great Bear Rainforest. Photo Ian McAllister, Pacific Wild, type illustration by Franke JamesPlease Mr Harper Stop Polluting the Pond. Photo David Dodge, type illustration by Franke James

Make Harper really afraid, illustration by Franke JamesCall your Member of Parliment! illustration by Franke James

Visual Essay Credits

“Hey Mister Prime Minister, What are You Afraid Of?” © 2012 Franke James Writing and illustration by Franke James (see additional photo credits below). Transcript: Features quotes from Franke James’ March 3, 2012 interview with Joe Oliver, Federal Minister of Natural Resources.

Franke James is an award-winning artist whose illustrated essays on environmental and social issues have been reviewed and showcased around the world. In November 2011, James' art show "Banned on the Hill" appeared in Ottawa, around the corner from Parliament Hill. The crowd-funded billboard show protested the silencing of environmental voices by the Harper Government. James is the author of the illustrated book, Bothered by My Green Conscience, and a member of the Writers Union of Canada, PEN Canada and CARFAC. She has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria and lives in Toronto. For more information see: http://www.frankejames.com. Franke on Twitter: http://twitter.com/frankejames

TAKE ACTION:

The Green Party of Canada: Sign the Petition to Stop Bill C-38 Lead Now: Tell Finance Minister Jim Flaherty: Stop the Budget Bill from Selling Out Canada’s Natural Heritage and Economy Dogwood Initiative: Sign the No Tankers Petition Avaaz Petition: No Enbridge Tankers/Pipeline in BC Great Bear Rainforest! Support Environmental Groups: Blackout Speakout on June 4th Pacific Wild’s Action Tips: Writing Letters to Local and National Newspapers

Thank you to the following organizations for photos and resources:

Pacific Wild All Great Bear Rainforest photos © Ian McAllister, Pacific Wild

How did they vote? Member of Parliament “look up” API technology: How did they vote?

Living Oceans Society Living Oceans photo: T-Shirt with “I have this Sinking Feeling about Enbridge” Living Oceans photo of First Nations “We say no to Enbridge” protest Living Oceans Map of Proposed Tanker Route to Kitimat

Pembina Institute Tar Sands Mining Photo: © David Dodge, Pembina Institute Photo: Suncor upgrader complex adjacent to Athabasca River © 2002 Chris Evans, Pembina

Dogwood Initiative: No-Tankers Loonie decal

Additional photos used with permission Dr David Schindler photo: Ed Kaiser, Edmonton Journal Syncrude 2007 -12 photo © 2007 David Dodge, CPAWS Empire State Building photo © Daniel Schwen, 2008, Wikimedia Oil Sheen From Valdez Spill photo Wikimedia © NOAA Dead Oil Covered Birds Photo © Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council; Wikimedia.

Selected Background Research:

Oil Sands Pollution, Pipelines and Tankers:

Silencing the Scientists (The Shortlist)

Silencing Franke James

RESEARCH, NEWS AND REPORTS:

2012:

2011 News:

2010 News:

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

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