Citizens mobilizing to protest the Northvolt site gathered to take water and soil samples of the effluent run-off from the Northvolt site, on Saturday, September 21st. The event was organized by one of the citizen groups supported by the Legacy Fund, CAC-Northvolt (Le Comité Action Citoyenne-Northvolt). The event was co-organised with la Société pour vaincre la pollution (SVP), one of Canada’s oldest environmental defence groups, founded in 1970.
Daniel Green, co-president of SVP, trained a cohort of ‘citizen scientists’ over two weekends on how to properly gather samples, to prevent contamination, and on safety measures. About 20 volunteers participated.
“Luckily for me, I forgot my billy boots, so I got to be the note taker! It is a much safer job!” noted Jason Prince, citizen scientist, urban planner and president of the Legacy Fund. About 10 teams were formed, of three volunteers. One gathered the sample, the other helped that person, and the note-taker took notes and photographs of the process. Any strange things that occurred were duly noted on the report sheet.
“All of our water samples were excellent,” noted Prince, “We were very careful with the rubber gloves and followed protocols for rinsing the containers before gathering the samples.”
Getting soil samples were a bit more tricky.
“Sure, sure, our sample taker was wearing rubber boots! But she was perched very precariously on the edge of the water, with a long telescoping pole! At one point, she tottered and swivelled and nearly fell in!” said Prince.
Politicians are scrambling, investors are worried and there are big stakes at play around the proposed Northvolt battery plant. Even over the last few days, multiple articles have appeared in newspapers criticizing the project. A devastating cartoon was published by Le Devoir, Quebec’s most influential newspaper, showing the letter t in Northvolt, falling off.
“I don’t think this project will go forward, in the end,” said Campbell Stuart, founder and vice president of The Legacy Fund. “The tides are turning. People don’t want it.”
How can the Legacy Fund help?
The Legacy Fund is delighted to collaborate with environmental citizen groups to coordinate and finance biodiversity studies for the preservation of the natural areas they defend. We have an extensive network of professionals who can help you obtain, publish and defend your environment through a properly conducted biodiversity survey. Please email us at admin@legacyfundenvironmental.org to discuss a potential partnership, fill in the form on the Propose a case page of our website and/or make a donation by clicking the following link.
We look forward to hearing from you!
