Pensions to Pipelines?

January 18, 2021

You may have seen recent headlines or images from the ongoing struggle of the Wet'suwet'en, a First Nations people located in the area known by settlers as British Columbia, Canada, and their resistance to the invasion of their territory by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The RCMP has been enforcing the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, a means to bring fracked natural gas from further inland to the coast. In this episode we learn from Heung member and law student, HyunGu Kang about the revival of the pipeline through South Korean capital and investment by its national pension system. We also hear other Heung members in conversation with Hyun Gu thinking through how South Koreans, members of the diaspora, and non-Korean allies are implicated in this struggle.

The second segment of this episode is framed by five questions asked of anyone looking to enter Wet'suwet'en land:

1. Who are you?

2. Where are you from?

3. What is your purpose in coming here?

4. Do you work for industry or government that is destroying our lands?

5. How will your visit benefit the Wet'suwet'en people?

Heung’s Solidary Statement with the Wet’suwet’en people.

Episode transcript here.