Clearcut Business Not Rainforest
British Columbia seems a distant land from the U.K, the screams of the chainsaws can’t be heard; the fall of the forest giants and their replacement with the barren world of clearcuts and tree farms, appears removed from life over here. But in terms of world economics Britain is involved, we are a customer importing 13% of our board and paper and 20% of our pulp from Canada.
Timber trade concerns, in this country and elsewhere, are always looking for expansion, British Columbia House in London, are encouraging a growth market for Temperate Rainforest products in this country. On the 22nd of February Earth First! with a 12ft walking, talking tree in tow brought a bit of truth and carnival to the drab habitat of B.C House in down-town Regents Street. About 30 protesters came along handing out leaflets and waving banners, the tree staggered about, crossing back and forth across the busy streets, puzzling tourists and stopping traffic.
As the media arrived we chatted for a while, pointing to the seriousness of the situation in B.C, less than 10 years before the remaining unprotected rainforest is logged, blah, blah, blah. As we talked I watched their eyes roll upwards, boredom! I turned around, to a brilliant sight, a large green and orange banner, reading “Canada’s throwaway forests?", was being pulled up the front of the building by two intrepid Earth First! climbers. The press became excited, the tree jumped up and down, and we cheered as the banner swung up high for all to see.
Our observant police guardians finally realized what was occurring, calling up reinforcements and arresting the climbers as they came down. Later the tree followed the cops to Vine Street police station, walking in and demanding "what have you done with my protectors", until it was thrown out by an irate copper. The two arrested were later bound over for the sum of hundred pounds for six months.
This action attracted headline news across Canada, (and created some debate in trade magazines), showing the forest destroyers and those in power that it’s customers are becoming aware and getting angry.
In a follow up action to this Earth First! attended the B.C House arranged reception for a "Living with Cedar" trade fair. Their propaganda stated that Cedar was an "ecologically sound" product? Us "misdirected" enviro’s had to be contradictory though, Cedar is a temperate rainforest tree, we argued. Practically all of the cut comes from Old Growth forest (irreplaceable) and the plantations won’t be ready for harvesting’ for another 70-100 years, very responsible forestry! The argument that large areas of the remaining old growth should be saved for it’s own intrinsic sake as a wilderness area was not even part of the agenda, trees equal money to these greedheads.
We had planned direct action for the reception, but security guards, a barred door and low numbers ruled it out. So we had to be content with leaflets and talking and arguing with the timber trade and embassy people as they left. Some support for us was voiced and some interesting contacts were made, but the majority of timber people still seem intent on generating a growth market in the U.K. (and elsewhere) for their products. When the source of this growth is unsustainable then this insane mentality must be confronted. Upcoming actions to turn the tide of forest genocide include; hounding the trade outlets of endangered B.C tree products, these include picketing trade fairs, making trade specifiers aware!, (companys that are usually being encouraged to use Cedar are one’s that specialize in outdoor products, greenhouse’s, porches, garden furniture, etc, keep your eyes open!).
On the 3rd of August, 92 all hell breaks loose worldwide as an international Earth First! day of action shuts down Temperate rainforest imports. A dock blockade and other things are in the pipeline, sssch. Peter (Lea Valley)