When Yvonne Blomer initially heard about plans for the controversial Kinder Morgan pipeline that would carry crude and refined oil from Alberta to the West Coast, a feeling of helplessness washed over her.
Having lived on the Island since she was a teenager, Blomer has seen many changes in the Pacific Ocean. SheB次元官网网址檚 watched as the starfish vanished from the Breakwater downtown, noticed the decline of fish in the ocean due to unsustainable practices, and grew more concerned for the decrease in whale populations because of rising temperatures and noise created by ships.
The idea of increased tanker traffic that could potentially endanger the Pacific Ocean even more was a thought she couldnB次元官网网址檛 bear.
B次元官网网址淚t feels like such a slow process to get us to change,B次元官网网址� Blomer said. B次元官网网址淚t left me feeling quite frustrated and little bit helpless.B次元官网网址�
ThatB次元官网网址檚 when Blomer, the City of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 poet laureate, sprung into action and decided to combine her passion for poetry with her concern for the environment. The result is Refugium: Poems for the Pacific, which launches this week.
Here is a press release for our October 5 Event at the Maritime Museum of BC
B次元官网网址� YYJ Poet Laureate (@YYJPoetry)
Consisting of works from 82 poets from across Canada, California, Alaska, the Yukon, the U.S. and even one from New Zealand, the anthology highlights humansB次元官网网址� connection to the Pacific Ocean and their concerns for the health of the ocean.
B次元官网网址淚 know a book is a commercial thing, but for me, itB次元官网网址檚 beyond that, itB次元官网网址檚 the ocean,B次元官网网址� said Blomer, who received more than 260 poetry submissions for the anthology. B次元官网网址淚 wanted to create a kind of conversation and community through the book.B次元官网网址�
Among the poets who have lent their voices to the cause is ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 Dan MacIssac and View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 Terry Ann Carter. CarterB次元官网网址檚 poem, Oceans Child, compares her then unborn granddaughter, Sophie, in the womb to a sea animal floating in the ocean.
B次元官网网址淚n the embryo, itB次元官网网址檚 kind of like she is in an ocean. The beauty of the sea and what the sea gives us is something I want to hold on to,B次元官网网址� Carter said. B次元官网网址淚 just feel we have to speak out and make sure that everything thatB次元官网网址檚 possible is being done to keep our waters safe, to keep them clean so that little Sophie, when she grows up, will have ocean water, will have fish and have everything that the ocean provides us.B次元官网网址�
The of Refugium: Poems for the Pacific takes place at the Maritime Museum of B.C. (634 Humboldt St.) on Thursday, Oct. 5 beginning with a pre-reception at 6:30 p.m. There will also be readings and a performance at 7:30 p.m., followed by a post-reception, which includes drink and appies. Money raised from the launch will be used for environmental education programs through the museum.
The anthology will be available to MunroB次元官网网址檚 Books and the maritime museum.
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