/* Written 7:37 AM Aug 9, 1996 by nfnena in nfn.tempforest */
F O R E S T A C T I O N N E T W O R K
August 7, 1996
FOREST ACTION NETWORK SHUTS DOWN INTERFOR LOG SORT
Early this morning 22 members of the Forest Action Network shut
down Interfor's log sort at Taleomey River, in a remote region about
60 km south of Bella Coola.
Two FAN members have locked their necks to immobilize Interfor's
machinery and a third is suspended between two trees with a
banner that reads "LOG EXPORTS EQUAL JOB EXPORTS". The other
activists have set up their tents on the log sort.
This action highlights the export of jobs that rightfully belong to the
Bella Coola community and the Nuxalk Nation. Over 95% of the trees
cut by Interfor are exported out of the region, with no processing.
None of Interfor's 9 mills are located within the Mid-Coast forest
district, so logs (and jobs) are transported 400 kilometers south to
Vancouver. Interfor sends out approximately 50 fully laden barges
per year from the region.
The occupation effectively stops Interfor from shipping logs
stockpiled at the log sort. "Every barge load of logs that is shipped
south takes away ten full time processing jobs from the local
community" said FAN spokesperson Simon Waters.
This action builds on FAN's 2 years of work to save the Great Coast
Rainforest. The Great Coast Rainforest is a region of coastal temperate
rainforest on the west coast of Canada, stretching up to the Alaskan
border. It encompasses some 2.5 million hectares of pristine
wilderness - ten times the size of Clayoquot Sound. The development
crunch has moved full force to put pressure on this remote and
extraordinary area of the coast. The remaining temperate rainforest
is being cut at an alarming rate for short term profits and at the
expense of local jobs, the local economy, and the long term future of
the local community.
"We call on the government of BC to stop issuing any further logging
permits in this unceded territory, and instead begin the long-term
task of changing to community-based ecoforestry in already
disturbed areas." states Greg Higgs who was at the blockade.
Video tape of the action is available on request.
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***** / . / /. / |/. F O R E S T A C T I O N N E T W O R K *****
* *
* Vancouver: Box 155, 1895 Commercial, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5N 4A6 *
* (604)739-4782, (604)736-7115 fax *
* *
* Bella Coola: Box 625, Bella Coola, BC, Canada V0T 1CO *
* (604)799-5800, (604)799-5830 fax *
* *
* http://www.alternatives.com/fan/index.html *
* *
************ CAMPAIGNING TO SAVE THE GREAT COAST RAINFOREST
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Information transferred via:
NATIVE FOREST NETWORK
Eastern North American Resource Center
POB 57
Burlington, VT 05402 USA
(802)863-0571
(802)863-2532 Fax
email: nfnena@igc.apc.org