This post is sourced from the 350 Canada campaign calling on the Museum of History to cut ties with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). We at Below2C act in support of 350 Ottawa and 350 Canada in the divestment from all fossil fuel investments by institutions such as museums, universities, hospitals, government agencies and similar bodies supported by public funds. It’s time to Speak Up. Let’s all get on the Right Side of History.
Canada’s most iconic museum should not be in bed with the largest oil lobby group in the country. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) has undermined climate legislation, rewritten environmental laws and pushed an agenda that violates Indigenous rights. That should never be on display in Canada’s national museum.
The Museum of History needs to stand on the right side of history and end its relationship with Canada’s most notorious Big Oil lobby.
Katie Perfitt is Canada’s Divestment Organizer. In the following video, she tells the story of how the Museum of History has always been important to her, starting when she was a young girl. “Our trusted museums shouldn’t be a platform for oil companies who try to block policies to protect people and the planet,” says Katie. “That’s why I’m speaking up and calling on the Museum of History to cut its ties with CAPP.” So let’s join Katie and speak up.
Published on Mar 29, 2017
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Canada’s most iconic museum should not be in bed with the largest oil lobby group in the country. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) has undermined climate legislation, rewritten environmental laws and pushed an agenda that violates Indigenous rights. That should never be on display in Canada’s national museum. The Museum of History needs to stand on the right side of history and end its relationship with Canada’s most notorious Big Oil lobby. (Source: Video)
As one of the most well-known and trusted cultural institutions in the country, the Museum of History has a responsibility to refuse dirty money from Big Oil — an industry representing companies including BP, Exxon, Chevron, and Shell. These are companies that are responsible for wrecking the climate, poisoning our water and land, and violating Indigenous rights.
Why the Museum of History
There are 3 principal reasons why the Museum of History cannot continue its association with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP):
1. The Museum of History is a trusted institution: Over 1 million guests visit the museum every year. And that is exactly why the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) is using this museum as a platform to normalize the dirty business plans of Big Oil.
2. CAPP is trying to cover up its dirty dealings: For years, CAPP has sponsored exhibits at the Museum of History. This includes a massive three-storey exhibit which will be a centerpiece of the Canada 150 celebrations that will draw millions to the National Capital Region.
3. The museum’s values are in conflict with CAPP: The mission of the Museum of History is to “enhance Canadians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of events, experiences, people and objects that reflect and have shaped Canada’s history and identity.” And the Museum strives to be “a source of inspiration, research, learning, and entertainment that belongs to all Canadians”.
CAPP’s mandate, on the other hand, is to block action on climate change, undermine environmental protections, and push an agenda that violates Indigenous rights. Its mandate is to advance Big Oil despite science and history. These two missions are inherently at odds.
Why Is CAPP So Dangerous?
One of CAPP’s most insidious actions is spending millions of dollars to undermine the science of climate change and to glorify Big Oil on TV, print, and online advertising over the years — everywhere from children’s classrooms to museum halls.
In addition to this, CAPP advocates for the expansion of the tar sands and building massive oil pipelines like Energy East and Kinder Morgan. Scientists have made it clear that in order to avoid more than 1.5°C of global warming, more than two thirds of known fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground. Building these projects would mean abandoning Canada’s global climate commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.
CAPP has also spent decades delaying emissions regulations for the tar sands. Today, as governments have increasingly taken up calls for climate action, CAPP has doubled down its efforts to ensure new legislation is weak, and that Big Oil still benefits — recently going so far as to suggest that federal carbon tax revenues should be cycled back into Big Oil.
The bottom line is that tar sands expansion is incompatible with a livable climate. We need to move away from this sunset industry, not shackle ourselves to it.
Published on Oct 18, 2016
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Canada’s oil industry lobby group the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) has been misleading Canadians with bad math for years on the need for new pipelines. Every year since 2012, CAPP wrongly forecast we would run out of pipeline capacity within a year. The truth is that Canada doesn’t need any more pipelines if we intend to keep our promises to fight climate change. the
Speak Up! Sign the Petition
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers is the official lobby group for Canada’s oil and gas sector. Its membership produces 90% of all of natural gas and crude oil in Canada, making it the most powerful fossil fuel lobby group in the country.
CAPP is anti-climate action, anti-environmental protection, and pushes an agenda to violate indigenous rights. Our trusted museums shouldn’t be a platform for companies trying to destroy policies that protect people and the planet.
Sign the petition today to ask the Museum of History to cut its ties to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).
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