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Hundreds Protest Canada’s Forest Destruction At Global Forest Summit
by WCWC Media •
Wednesday June 01, 2005 at 05:36 AM
June 1, 2005, Vancouver - Hundreds of concerned citizens and activists from across Canada and the United States rallied today outside the world’s largest forest industry gathering to demand more forest protection and a shift to ecosystem-based logging practices for all of Canada’s endangered forests and endangered species habitat. Demonstrators, dressed as caribou, salmon and bears, highlighted the discrepancy between the summit’s message of sustainability and the ongoing, widespread forest destruction occurring across Canada.
For Immediate Release The Global Forest and Paper Summit drew 500 senior forest industry executives and government policy-makers from 17 countries to Vancouver with the goal of creating a ‘vision’ of sustainability for their industry. “It is ironic that more than 20,000 acres across Canada, an area almost the size of Vancouver, will be logged during this three-day forest summit on sustainability,” said Tzeporah Berman, ForestEthics’s program director. “This summit is not about creating real change - it’s a forum for the same empty talk we’ve been hearing for years.” In British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, five years of collaboration among industry, environmental organizations, First Nations and stakeholders resulted in one of the most innovative packages for forest protection ever presented, including protecting one-third of the region from logging and fully implementing Ecosystem-Based Management. However, industry has yet to live up to its commitments and clearcutting continues. “The forest industry endorsed a vision years ago and supported a solutions package for the Great Bear Rainforest, but as a result of government and industry inaction to date nothing has changed on the ground,” said Amanda Carr, Greenpeace forest campaigner. British Columbia is also presiding over the decimation of the endangered mountain caribou, of which only 1,670 remain (down from 2400 only eight years ago). Companies like West Fraser Timber, Tolko Industries and the British Columbia government’s Timber Sales Program are cutting down the old growth forests on which these animals depend. The fate of caribou across Canada is threatened because of the increased logging of Canada’s boreal forest. “As the forest industry talks about ‘vision’ to enhance its public relations activities, more endangered species habitat is being destroyed,” said Gwen Barlee, Western Canada Wilderness Committee policy director. Meanwhile, the marketplace is changing. Major wood and paper customers like Staples and Home Depot have committed to stop buying wood that comes from ancient forests, old growth or endangered forests, and to purchase wood that is logged sustainably. -30-
WCWC marches with Chainsaw Massacre Banner
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:02 PM
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WCWC marches with Chainsaw Massacre Banner WCWC members and volunteers marched along with rest of the folks, all dressed like various forest creatures who are at risk of dissapearing because of continued logging in their habitat. Photos by J.P. LeFrank for WCWC
Rallying to protect ancient forests
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:11 PM
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Rallying to protect ancient forests We marched from the Vancouver Art Gallery to the Global Forest Conference, which was held at the Bayshore.
There was dancing in the street...
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:16 PM
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There was dancing in the street... Some people dressed up as endangered species, Like BC's Mountain Caribou. Some people danced.
Some of the Caribou made beautiful music
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:19 PM
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Some of the Caribou made beautiful music The protesters were in high spirits as they marched toward the Global Forestry Conference.
Rally in front of the Global Forest Conference
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:25 PM
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Rally in front of the Global Forest Conference The people and endangered species gathered in front of the Bayshore Inn to hear about how the world's timber companies are killing off species both at home and abroad.
Tzeporah Berman from Forest Ethics spoke to the crowd
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:29 PM
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Tzeporah Berman from Forest Ethics spoke to the crowd Tzeporah pointed out that the rapid rate of logging in Canada is placing many species at risk of dissapearing.
Lots of cool signs in the crowd
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:35 PM
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Lots of cool signs in the crowd Everywhere in the crowd were signs calling for better forestry practices, more community control of local forests, an end to oldgrwth logging and for the protection of endangered species habitat.
Ancient forests or toilet paper?
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:38 PM
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Ancient forests or toilet paper? One person came as "former ancient forest"
Pulp Fiction
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:42 PM
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Pulp Fiction People are tired of greenwash and company lies.
Canada Logs too much too fast!
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:47 PM
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Canada logs too much too fast! Canadians are second only to Sweden in per capita logging rates amongst developed nations.
Grizzlies nailed by road building and logging too
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 04:56 PM
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Grizzlies nailed by road building and logging too In addition to Mountain Caribou, there were also Grizzly Bears at the rally. The Grizzly's habitat continues to shrink as logging roads continue to carve up BC's remaining pockets of wilderness and hunters continue to pick them off.
Spotted owl makes a surprise appearance
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 05:00 PM
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Spotted owl makes a surprise appearance The most endangered bird species in Canada flew in from a forest near Lillooet BC to attend the rally. The BC government is the largest logger of this birds Canadian oldgrowth habitat. Its population is in steep decline because of the logging.
John Seed sings for the crowd of people and creatures
by Joe Foy •
Thursday June 02, 2005 at 05:04 PM
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John Seed sings for the crowd of people and creatures The great John Seed, recently arrived from Australia, sang one of his songs "Tonka Toys" for the assembled forest defenders. It was a great spirit lifter!
left as a criminal
by ms. lorax •
Sunday June 05, 2005 at 08:43 PM
i came dressed in toilet paper, and left in a paddy wagon in handcuffs. we all chanted outside. we all heard eachother. we were preaching to the converted, but it is nice to know we are not alone in our concerns. as groups, ngo's, orgs, non profits, people are busting there asses to do things legally. but what is happening? why are the forests disappearing faster then ever??? why is Canada exporting $40 billion in forest product a year, but only seeing $ 1.5 billion??? because we are silence by security guards, money, laws, fasicm. spotted owls can hoot there last hoo-hoo-hoot, so long as someone profits. rushing the stage of the global forest summit amounted to me being charged with "causing a disturbance". i was taken out by 6 police men. locked in a ceramic tiled shit hole. strip searched. threatened with having my children removed from me. have a grapefruit sized bruise on the back of my leg. will be appearing in court on July 6. why??? for speaking about something other then the bottom line. $$$ all the money in the world can not save us from ourselves. TREES FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!
TREE HUGGER.
TREE LOVER.
AND PROUD!!!
atomonomy.blogdns.net
stop using wood for your pickets and cardboard hats!
by Nat Coe •
Saturday January 14, 2006 at 03:30 AM
Looks like a bunch of hypocritical, welfare applying, shrubbies prancing around with wooden post with oversized paper/cardboard signs protesting a renewable resource. Put your effort on the crimes to humanity in places like Uganda and you will impress and educate me. If i ever find one of those pickets thrown away after your little parties I will be sure to recycle it as a bat to beat some common sense into you hippies/shrubbies/stinkies/dummies/morons.
Wood You
by Bobo Brazil •
Friday May 19, 2006 at 11:20 AM
I'll never get past the fact that so many protesters believe dressing and acting like idiots will ever accomplish change. Look, if you want to have a party, just have a party and stop annoying people.
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