Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:27:58 -0700
From: Scott Frederick <scott451@gmx.net>
Subject: [KCUTS] Huge environmental protest encircles Victoria legislature
Hello Kootenaycuts,
Huge environmental protest encircles Victoria legislature
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=64ae3caf-4c3e-41d0-b8a0-aa4728aebde1&k=65134
Judith Lavoie Victoria Times Colonist
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Environmentalists and forestry workers marched on the legislature to
demand protection for B.C.'s old-growth forests and a ban on raw log
exports.
VICTORIA -- There was a unique dance Saturday as about 1,300
chanting protesters shuffled their feet and stretched out their arms
to hold hands as they encircled the legislature.
Then came the victory yell as the human chain extended twice around
the buildings in the biggest environmental protest since Clayoquot
Sound rallies 15 years ago.
For Ken Wu, Western Canada Wilderness Committee campaign director, who
was keeping his fingers crossed for 1,000 participants, it was a
moment of triumph.
The turnout should show the provincial government that the fate of
forests and forest jobs can bring out committed crowds more than any
other issue, he said.
"For the vast majority of British Columbians it's a no-brainer that we
should save the remaining old-growth forests on Vancouver Island and
the Lower Mainland and protect forestry jobs by ensuring a sustainable
second-growth logging industry and banning raw log exports," Wu said.
The numbers received a boost from about 100 Crofton and Harmac
millworkers, members of the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada.
"It's an issue for working communities," said Mark Noonan, who has
worked at pulp mills for 32 years.
Log exports should be stopped and companies should use local resources
to provide local jobs, he said.
"The companies were given the land to provide jobs for communities.
They didn't buy it," he said, referring to a 2003 government decision
that logs no longer had to be processed at mills in the area where
they were harvested.
The government is only harming itself, said Wilfred Phillips from
Harmac.
"People are losing jobs and they're taking away jobs with wages like
mine, at $72,000 a year, and people end up earning minimum wage. They
can't support their own government budget on that."
Valerie Langer of environmental group ForestEthics, who spoke to
protesters, admitted a sense of deja vu. Langer, a former activist
with Friends of Clayoquot Sound, was a leader of the Clayoquot
protests.
"It was a really good feeling. This was not an angry crowd, it was a
crowd that had a real sense of power. These are people who are willing
to work," she said.
"To me it's a sign of a growing, active movement that we haven't seen
for a long time."
The forest industry is going through tough times and everyone is
looking for answers, Langer added.
"Perhaps hearing what the solutions could be, from a building movement
of unusual allies, could shift government," she said.
University of Victoria students Alex Sherman and Andrew Liss,
accompanied by Buck, a rottweiler/shepherd cross, were at the rally
because they believe government has to change its forest policy.
"I think people need to be more involved," Sherman said.
Despite a cloudburst, people lined up to sign a petition asking the
government for timelines to phase out old-growth logging on Vancouver
Island and the Lower Mainland, sustainable logging of second-growth, a
ban on raw log exports and help in redeveloping mills to take smaller
logs.
"We need to do this for the climate, for endangered species, for
forestry jobs, for the coastal tourism industry, for our salmon
streams and for our quality of life. Let's hope government sees the
light soon," Wu said.
Forests Minister Rich Coleman could not be contacted Saturday.
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Only 413 organising days until the next BC provincial election.
Best regards,
Scott mailto:scott451@gmx.net
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