Militancy

A few anti-coal activists attended the shareholders meeting of Aurizon Rail and informed the assembled investors that they were prepared to escalate their tactics to the point of disrupting coal train traffic if need be. This threat outraged a company spokesperson: "I am absolutely appalled at the suggestion lives would be put at risk for ideological beliefs!" She cried. Ah Yes, it is just unconscionable, beyond the pale, really, that one could even entertain the notion of risking objective violence (stopping a train?) over some abstract idea (preventing ecocide) Why, such an act might even terrorize someone, and we all know what that can lead to. Let's just relegate all violent impulses towards video games, shall we. Of course the subjective violence of poisoning the commonly held atmosphere can never be part of this conversation. And the market price of fossil fuels has nothing to do with ideology. Suffering in the periphery doesn't even count as a cost of doing business, while any damage here in the Center will only cost a little more PR. Well within the budget.This fast and loose talk of "disruption" can be managed by the state and the taxpayers can pick up that tab. Meanwhile, "Major operating companies have announced expansion plans and foreign entities are investing significant amounts of capital to buy oil sands interests, in many cases forming partnerships with Canadian companies." Canada National Energy Board 2013 Outlook Nothing violent about investing.It's how things get done.