Two established professional photographers, who also happen to be long-time biking enthusiasts, are about to set out on an ambitious three-week motor-cycle journey along the proposed route of the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline project.
Daniel Sikorskyi of Halfmoon Bay and Paul Fletcher of Duncan plan to be on the road for three weeks (Aug. 10 to 31). They will travel the pipeline route from Fort McMurray, Alta., all the way to Kitimat, B.C., where the pipeline terminal would be established if the controversial project is ever completed.
From Kitimat, Sikorskyi and Fletcher are looking to arrange a boat tour of the Central Coast region.
The goal of the journey is “to engage with and photograph the people who would be most affected by the pipeline and to capture the landscapes and seascape that would be negatively impacted by construction or oil spills,” according to a release about the ride. “This will require visiting many communities along the route, including First Nations, who would be most affected by the project.”
The two photographers are both committed environmentalists who have vociferously expressed concern about the impact of the pipeline project.
“This potential environmental crisis is likely to be forced on the people of British Columbia and Canada by the Harper regime, despite a huge outpouring of resistance to the project,” Sikorskyi said. “Please do not think that if and when an accident happens that you can sluff it off as ‘well … it’s not my backyard.’ Canada is our backyard, and the West Coast is our precious waterfront property.”
The duo will offer frequent updates on their website blog, The Daily Pipe, as well as Facebook and Twitter, and publish input from readers.
Messages may also be sent via the website contact page.
“Please feel free to get in touch with opinions, concerns, ideas and suggestions,” Sikorskyi added. “We want to hear from you during this important stage in our ecological history. Your input will be truly valuable.”
Sikorskyi and Fletcher are also interested in receiving ideas and information about people they could contact during their ride. These people would be invited to offer opinions, be photographed, help with logistics, even lend a hand with suggestions about where to bunk down for the night — perhaps free of charge. The two men are looking for funding to support them through their journey as well.
Readers can follow their journey at www.ridethepipe.ca.
— Submitted
