Woman swims across reservoir that supplies her city’s water to protest coal mines that could put it at risk: In B.C., open pit mines have leached selenium into rivers in the Elk
Valley area for years. Selenium is a metal that is safe in water in low
levels, but in high levels can cause nausea or even neurological
problems from long-term exposure.

“The way the province rescinded the coal policy from the ’70s, they
did it with no public consultation and it happened really quietly,” she
said.

“I get that we need jobs and I get that we’re struggling, but I think
that even in a desperate time we need to think long term and not forget
that what we do today will impact 50 to 100 years down the road and
it’s not just about the next 10 to 20 years.”

Woman swims across reservoir that supplies her city’s water to protest coal mines that could put it at risk: In B.C., open pit mines have leached selenium into rivers in the Elk
Valley area for years. Selenium is a metal that is safe in water in low
levels, but in high levels can cause nausea or even neurological
problems from long-term exposure.“The way the province rescinded the coal policy from the ’70s, they
did it with no public consultation and it happened really quietly,” she
said.“I get that we need jobs and I get that we’re struggling, but I think
that even in a desperate time we need to think long term and not forget
that what we do today will impact 50 to 100 years down the road and
it’s not just about the next 10 to 20 years.”Read More