this message is from cfuv radio in victoria, british columbia.
we're in the middle of this story about a unique section of
temperate rain forest on vancouver island's west coast--clayoquot
sound.
the sound has already been over 20 per cent clearcut. then
there's the landslides and blowdowns and roads. . .the land is
ahousaht and clayoquot nations' territory, governed by their
hereditary chiefs, which are under the umbrella of the nuu-chah-
nuulth tribal council.
their land title is still (except for token rhetoric)
unacknowledged by the province and canada. the province has
recently decided to allow logging in almost two thirds of the
clayoquot, much to the dismay of anyone with a heart, a sense of
justice, or a brain larger than a pea.
i witnessed the destruction to date and it is horrific. ecocide
is a word that comes to mind--and with it comes continued
genocide for the native nations. and they are actively resisting.
negotiations are abating logging road blockades, but the road
blocks are expected to begin any day and to attract thousands of
people to clog an already overworked legal/court/jail system.
last summer there were just under 100 arrests for road building.
and everyone fears SLAPP suits--strategic lawsuits against public
participation from the corporate monolith killers.
the province who's decided this attrocity allowed, is supposedly
socialist-democratic. ha!, say many of their supporters who are
burning their membership cards, joining blockades and feeling
generally betrayed.
from june 5-7, an unprecedented (to my knowledge) meeting of
different ecological groups participated together in civil-
disobedience training and in rousing support for resisting
logging the clayoquot. earth first!, friends of clayoquot sound,
greenpeace, western canada wilderness committee, and the
environmental youth alliance (west coast) all came together in
common devotion to reversing the government's decision.
we're rushing around to cover this story, and hope to put more
time into getting the word out through the web in a more
readable, story-like way. time, time, does nothing but fleet.
the province recently announced they would try to get the
Clayoquot designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve, but they can't
since the logging will leave less than half the preserved area
necessary for such a designation. oh, well, some people catch on
a little slow.
greenpeace has made clear the recognition of native title is
priority number one; and they have organized 14 countries to
protest Canadian embassies on july 1 about the matter, and the
allowance to log the clayoquot.
please cover this story, it is extremely pertinent and
significant.
you can get us by e-mail at cfuv@sol.uvic.ca.