Regular readers of this blog know that we don’t very often talk about our own situation. That’s by design, as we never wanted any of this to be about us personally. Plus, we know that there are many homeowners along the path of Line 6B whose situations make ours look lucky by comparison, people whose lives have been and will be disrupted and damaged in ways far worse than ours.
Still, there’s a lot about all of this that stings. And today, as we were digging up and moving plants out of the path of imminent Enbridge destruction– rescuing them, you might say– we were feeling a little bitter about two things:
First, Enbridge won’t be compensating us for the terrible anxiety their construction on our property is going to cause our very cool, very good, but very timid, dog Sam. Nor will they be compensating us for the doggie daycare he’ll have to attend to avoid all the loud, scary sounds that will totally freak him out. (Oh, and yes, every one of those trees you see in the background, and more, will be taken down to make room for that shiny new pipe.)
Secondly, Enbridge also isn’t compensating us for this big, beautiful oak tree. What’s worse, they also won’t be compensating us for the displacement of the wonderful green herons that nest in it (I wonder if anyone at Enbridge cares about green herons?). The herons won’t be compensated either. One of them was up in the tree today calling to us again and again while we were digging up our perennials. I’m not an ornithologist, so I can’t say with any certainty, but I’m pretty sure it was saying, “This sucks!”
Poor Sam. Poor trees. Poor herons. It does suck.
So sorry to see you guys endure this. It’s wrong.
This just breaks my heart. And I think it is right to share your personal situation — stories are what help change people’s hearts. Unfortunately, no matter what the Supreme Court says, corporations — having no conscience — are not people.
This is all very sad!
My heartbreak is lessened just a bit by the incredible job of raising awareness that has been done by you two.
Yes and that is one example of how Enbridge does not treat people fairly.Fairly does not necessarily have to mean treating each person exactly the same. Maybe some circumstances are different for different land owners. BUT fairly also means members of the human race should deal with one another in an honest, ethical manner, without coercion, aggressiion and deceit. People should realize that other’s needs matter, not just their own wants or needs. This is how Enbridge has not treated people “fairly”. They do not treat other human beings the way they would want to be treated in the same situation.