|
Spotted Owl Loses Court Battle
by Joe Foy •
Tuesday July 08, 2003 at 04:43 PM
joe@wildernesscommittee.org (604) 880-2580 227 Abbott Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K7
Vancouver- Canada’s endangered Northern Spotted Owl is one step closer to extinction today, as the BC Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that allowed logging in the owl’s old-growth habitat. The decision, after a two-year court battle by Sierra Legal Defence Fund and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC), allows logging in some of the last remaining large old-growth forest stands in the Chilliwack forest district, north of Hope, British Columbia and may sound the death knell for remaining owls.
owlconf_devon_at_court-sm.jpg, JPG image, 200x225
Media Release: Spotted Owl, Logging
July 8,03.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIERRA LEGAL DEFENCE FUND
WESTERN CANADA WILDERNESS COMMITTEE
__________________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release July 8, 2003
Spotted Owl Loses Court Battle - BC Court of Appeal upholds decision to allow logging in Spotted Owl habitat Vancouver- Canada’s endangered Northern Spotted Owl is one step closer to extinction today, as the BC Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that allowed logging in the owl’s old-growth habitat. The decision, after a two-year court battle by Sierra Legal Defence Fund and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC), allows logging in some of the last remaining large old-growth forest stands in the Chilliwack forest district, north of Hope, British Columbia and may sound the death knell for remaining owls. Sierra Legal Defence Fund brought the appeal on behalf of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC) after the BC Supreme Court ruled that BC’s laws would not protect critically endangered species from the risk of extinction posed by logging in their habitat. “I’m very disappointed with the decision,” said Sierra Legal Defence Fund counsel Devon Page, “but I believe there really was little the court could do when confronted by BC’s astoundingly weak laws when it comes to species protection.” Page added, “It should not have had to come to this – the BC government deserves utter condemnation for its failure to protect this species.” Page was alluding to the fact that the Spotted Owl is Canada’s most endangered bird, with an estimated 25 pairs remaining in the wild. Although BC government biologists confirm that the owl population is in the midst of a rapid population decline and place much of the blame on fragmentation and destruction of its habitat by industrial logging, the government continues to allow logging and has reduced staff and budgets for monitoring the owl. “It’s now clear that there are no laws in BC to protect endangered species,” said Joe Foy, Campaign Director for the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. “Minister Joyce Murray has promised emergency interim measures, she must put them in place now or this owl will face death by logging. This will put the species one step closer to extinction in this province.” In its decision The BC Court of Appeal held that the district forest manager is entitled to weigh economic interests against the well being of an endangered species. It is therefore, in the BC courts’ opinion, appropriate to approve logging that poses a risk to the Spotted Owl. For further information contact: Devon Page, Sierra Legal Defence Fund (604) 685-5618 (w); (604) 313-3132 (c) Joe Foy, Western Canada Wilderness Committee (604) 683-8220; (w) (604) 880-2580 (c)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
News Conference on steps of Supreme Court, Vancouver BC Canada
by Joe Foy •
owlconf_foy_at_court.jpg, JPG image, 720x713
Wilderness Committe campaign director Joe Foy speaks to the media regarding the loss of the spotted owl Court Appeal.
Anderson Creek forest
by Joe Foy •
newsconf_devon_in_forest.jpg, JPG image, 720x960
Devon Page and assistant in the Anderson Creek spotted owl forest.
DOLLARS OVER SENSE
by KAT STEWART •
Thursday July 10, 2003 at 08:52 AM
ONCE AGAIN THE "ALMIGHTY DOLLAR" RULES OVER COMMON SENSE. HUMANS AS THE SUPPOSEDLY "SUPERIOR SPECIES" MAYBE SHOULD TRY TO SHOW MORE COMPASSION TO OUR FELLOW LIVING CREATURES SUCH AS THE
SPOTTED OWLS. MAYBE PICTURE YOURSELF
DROPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND SEE HOW QUICKLY YOU COULD ADAPT TO YOUR NEW ENVIRONMENT. HUMANS WERE GIVEN THE INTELLIGENCE TO ADAPT TO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND MAYBE EVEN YES A
DIFFERENT JOB. SADLY GREED USUALLY RULES
OVER COMPASSION, CARING OR CONSIDERATION
FOR OUR SUPPOSEDLY LESS SUPERIOR SPECIES AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTS.
student
by Peter Klesken •
Sunday July 27, 2003 at 10:56 PM
klesken@hotmail.com
The Northern Spotted Owl is the most endangared species in Canada. Consider that !!!!!!!
| 
