Forest Defenders Converge to Protect Old Growth: Only 2.7% Remaining on Vancouver Island - Friends Of ...
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Celebrating the Frontlines of Environmental Conservation Movement Building & Actions for 40+ Years!
FREE SUMMER NEWS 2021 // www.focs.ca // info@focs.ca // Twitter: @clayoquotfriend // Instagram: @friendsofclayoquotsound // Phone: 250-725-4218
Forest Defenders Converge to Protect Old Growth:
Only 2.7% Remaining on Vancouver Island
Photo: TJ Watt @tjwatt
Over 90% of British Columbians want to see an end to old growth logging. #EnoughIsEnough #WorthMoreStanding
S WHAT’S UP
ince re-election of the BC NDP in Over 90% of British Columbians
2020, the war in the woods has want to see an end to old-growth
reignited. What’s happening at logging. Yet, BC NDP government policy in this issue
the Fairy Creek Blockades is near and forestry practices fail to address
deja vu of the Clayoquot Blockades that this or the realities of the global climate
Friends of Clayoquot Sound organized emergency and the 6th mass extinction. 3rd Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
in 1993, where over 900 people were We need the BC NDP to implement an Member Shot by RCMP in 1 Year!?!
arrested protecting the ancient rainforests immediate moratorium on old-growth
of Clayoquot Sound. Similarly, thousands logging and lead a just transition to a
of people are mobilizing to protect the more sustainable second growth industry,
Climate Change Driving Health
old-growth trees on Vancouver Island. sustained by conservation financing Costs and Inequities
With over 200 arrested for defending for Indigenous Nations, especially
the endangered old-growth ecosystems the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. But DFO Study Confirms PRV Salmon
around the Fairy Creek and Caycuse currently, the BC NDP are facilitating Virus Spread From Salmon Farms
watersheds, international spotlights economically exploitative environmental
are back on BC’s unsustainable logging destruction and missing the opportunity
practices. for reconciliation based ancient forest
Ocean Restoration by 2050
protection. Learn more on Page 2...
Confronting the BC Government’s
“Talk & Log” Conflict of Interest
Photo: Fairy Creek Blockade @fairycreekblockade
Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones has led the Rainforest Flying Squad in defending the ancestral rainforests of his family at Fairy Creek. #MayTheForestBeWithYou
L
ast fall, prior to the election, the BC with the Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, and south on Vancouver Island -- including the
Government announced logging Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations with the Pacheedaht, Ditidaht, and Huu-ay-aht First
would be deferred [paused] provincial and federal governments. Nations -- face increasing pressures to allow
for over 350,000 hectares of The opportunity is for governments the giant old growth in their territories to
forests provincially, including 260,000 to recognize the Land Visions of the be logged. With record breaking lumber
hectares in Clayoquot Sound. The Nations and restructure the existing prices, corporations like Teal Jones and
logging deferral, a first in colonial Tree Farm Licenses into Indigenous Western Forest Products hope to profit
history, signaled that the BC NDP were Protected Areas. This is the new wave from turning the ancient forest into lumber.
beginning to respond to the most of environmental justice, integrating Without a ban on old growth logging, the
actionable recommendations of the Old protection and reconciliation, resulting BC Government benefits from these short-
Growth Strategic Review expert panel: to in part from the political leverage term, profit driven, extractivist agendas --
commit to partnering with Indigenous gained by the Meares Island and collecting income from Tree Farm Licenses,
Nations, and to defer old growth logging Clayoquot blockades of the 80s and 90s. stumpage fees, and taxes.
at risk of irreversible loss. However, outside of Clayoquot Sound,
In Clayoquot Sound, the 2 year the tone is not as optimistic.
logging deferral supports negotiations Nuu-chah-nulth relatives to the
Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones vs. Teal Jones Logging
I
n the weeks before the BC of Teal Jones. At that time, Friends of After 9 months of peaceful direct action, a
Government’s announcement, Clayoquot Sound and BC EcoNews court injunction moved the RCMP to begin
Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones released joined the Rainforest Flying Squad arresting forest defenders. Unfortunately
an official letter of invitation to onsite in responding to the invitation this also resulted in the RCMP assaulting
Indigenous and non-Indigenous forest of Elder Bill Jones to help prepare and young Indigenous land defenders,
defenders to unite on his territory to get the word out. arresting members of the media, and
defend the ancestral rainforests of Since then, thousands of threatening to use rubber bullets and tear
his family -- the unlogged Ada’itsx / courageous forest defenders have gas against peaceful tree sitters. Over 200
Fairy Creek headwaters. His invitation responded to the call and prevented forest defenders have been arrested and
followed the discovery of logging Teal Jones from logging the ancient thousands have marched past the police
road construction by a subcontractor forest by blocking logging equipment. lines and into the injunction zone.
2 P R O T E C T W H AT Y O U L O V E !
Solutions Exist for Permanent Protection
of Ancient Forests
for 2000 hectares, less than 1% of what
was deferred in Clayoquot Sound, and
less than 0.002% of the total 1.3 million
hectares of old growth threatened across
BC. At the end of the two year deferral
period, thousands of hectares of old
growth could be lost and gone forever.
According to the independent
Photo: Fairy Creek Blockade @fairycreekblockade
research of the Rainforest Flying Squad,
the Pacheedaht First Nation only
receives less than 1% of the raw log
value extracted by Teal Jones for the Tree
Farm License in Pacheedaht territory.
Yet from the perspective of the climate
crisis, the ancient rainforests provide
incredibly valuable ecosystem services
Canada needs to allocate funding to Indigenous Protected Areas and just transition for workers. #WorthMoreStanding in their ability to store more carbon per
W
hectare than any other ecosystem in
hat started as a fight to 200 people arrested within BC Premier the world. But when clear cut, around
protect the Fairy Creek Horgan’s own riding protecting the 80% of the carbon stored in the old
headwaters has expanded very trees Horgan had promised to, the growth is released. The forests that are
into a fight to protect the government deferred some of the old replanted are monocultures with limited
last 2.7% of old growth, with numerous growth logging areas, at the request of biodiversity and drastically reduced
active, mobile blockades preventing the Pacheedaht, Ditidaht and Huu-ay-aht carbon storage.
logging. By mid-June, with more than First Nations. However, this deferral is only
Canada Commits $2.3 Billion to 25% Protection by 2025:
Funding for Indigenous Protected Areas is Necessary
T
he Government of Canada has
committed to conserving 25%
of lands and 25% of oceans in
6 ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE
Canada by 2025. In the 2021 FOR OLD GROWTH FORESTS
1. Support Indigenous led protection camps and actions on the ground.
Federal Budget, Canada committed
$2.3 billion to conserve up to 1 million
2. Organize local solidarity actions.
square kilometers more land and inland
waters -- including through Indigenous
Protected Areas and national wildlife
Call / send emails to the Premier, the Forests Minister, and local MLAs.
3.
areas -- to achieve Canada’s target.
Premier John Horgan / 250-387-1715 / premier@gov.bc.ca
If divided amongst the provinces
Forest Minister Katrine Conroy / 250-387-6240 / flnr.minister@gov.bc.ca
and territories, BC’s portion of the
Clayoquot MLA Josie Osborne / 250-720-4515 / josie.osborne.mla@leg.bc.ca
funding would be between $200 and
$300 million. Instead of subsidizing
controversial climate disasters like 4. Sign the bcgreens.ca and change.org petitions - search “Old Growth”.
$20 billion tar sands pipelines, Canada
can redirect funding to Indigenous 5. Amplify by sharing and resharing in social media.
Protected Areas, and a just transition for
industry workers, to protect the most
threatened and valuable ancient forests.
6. Donate to the Rainforest Flying Squad, FOCS, and organizations working to
protect old growth forests.
P R O T E C T W H AT Y O U L O V E ! 3
3rd Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Member
Shot by RCMP in 1 Year!?!
W
e are all hurting from the approximately 5% of the population said Lydia Hwitsum of the First Nations
shooting of a Tla-o-qui- in Canada, yet -- as the Globe and Mail Summit Political Executive.
aht mother by the RCMP found -- over a 10-year period, more Indigenous men account for
who survived in a coma than 36% of RCMP killings involved 30% of federal inmates incarcerated
on the Mothers’ Day weekend. This Indigenous people. and Indigenous women account
was the third shooting by the RCMP “What will it take to make for 42%. Experts note that poverty,
of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation members the tragedies stop? The use of lethal socioeconomic status, abuse,
in the last year -- including Chantel force by Canadian police forces against violence, housing, mental health,
Moore and Julian Jones who were shot Indigenous peoples is a deadly epidemic access to healthcare, education, and
to death by the RCMP. Each shooting in Canada. There have been numerous environmental health are key social
incident is absolutely determinants of
unacceptable. incarceration. A holistic
Chief Moses approach to health
Martin of Tla-o- centers social justice as
qui-aht First Nation a unifying solution.
communicated in “When people are in
a statement “Our crisis, we know that
community and our what they need is care,
families are completely not confrontation with
devastated. The woman an armed officer. We
who was shot by the know that the threat of
RCMP is in critical violence exacerbates
condition and this is the distress. We know that
third recent shooting by care should take the
the RCMP of one of our form of de-escalation,
people - our population crisis counseling,
is approximately 1,150 and connection to
people. Needless to say, resources.” - Doctors For
we are experiencing Defunding the Police
heavy trauma and The RCMP’s Gross
shock. We are frustrated Spending for 2019-
that we are being 2020 equals $5.1
Graphic: Rising Tide @risingtidena
told to wait for the billion, with 60%
investigation, which spent on Indigenous
could take months. We will be seeking inquiries, studies, reports, and a First policing. Meanwhile, the Canadian
support for the family and we will Nations Justice Strategy in BC created Medical Association Journal estimates
also be seeking interim measures to address the need for justice reform. a $3.1 billion annual funding gap for
with the RCMP and the Independent Despite this, our citizens continue to mental health services. Re-allocating
Investigations Office.” be the victims of unnecessary police taxpayer funds from increased policing,
Collectively, we must consider violence leading to serious injury or militarization, criminalization, and
the bigger picture of systemic racism. death as a result of police shootings. incarceration to first responders and
According to recent polls, only 15% The lack of action on implementing crisis intervention, clean water, housing,
of Canadians believe that the RCMP proposed solutions will only lead to and health services could help to
does not have a problem with systemic more of our citizens being injured or create more livable, healthy, and caring
racism. Indigenous peoples account for dying. The time for police reform is now,” communities.
Learn More @ defundthepolice.org
4 P R O T E C T W H AT Y O U L O V E !
Climate Change Driving Health Costs and Inequities
Graphic: Extinction Rebellion @extinctionrebellion
A
s the world takes stock of Canada remains the largest If other nations followed
how the COVID-19 pandemic per capita public financer of fossil Canada’s lead we would miss
continues to impact the most fuels, exemplified by the purchase of stabilizing temperatures at 1.5
vulnerable, a new report the Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline. degrees of temperature rise,
from the Canadian Institute for Climate Additionally, Canada is criminalizing devastating millions of people,
Choices warns that climate change will land defenders who oppose new species and entire countries. Unless
similarly worsen health inequities and pipelines and old growth logging, both all the governments take bold
significantly increase costs to Canada’s of which increase climate impacts. action by investing in prevention
health system and economy without Meanwhile, Bill C-12 - the Canadian Net- and preparation, climate change will
bold government action. The researchers Zero Emissions Accountability Act - is worsen existing health inequities
project the health costs of climate change bogged down in debate in the Canadian and increase costs to Canada’s health
in Canada to be over $250 billion by 2100. Parliament. system and economy.
Banking on a Better Future?
T
he big 5 Canadian banks have more shares someone owns, the greater
provided $700 BILLION in fossil influence they have over the decisions
fuel financing through loans and that are made by the bank. Alternatively,
investments since 2016, while Credit Unions are not-for-profit financial
globally we are set to burn 50% more cooperatives, designed to serve their
fossil fuels than is consistent with staying members and members’ communities
below 2 degrees warming. But our banks because they are member owned. This
continue to finance fossil fuel expansion. means that any depositor is a member
Without enormous loans from banks, (as and gets an equal vote in board member
well as support from big insurance firms) elections regardless of the amount of
the projects would not be possible. This their deposit.
is why we demand the banks divest from Remember, when it comes to
fossil fuels and stop enabling fossil fuel your personal banking, the big 5 are
production. not your only option! When managing
Graphic: bankingonabetterfuture.org
Commercial banks, like the Big your money, you actually have two
5, are for-profit institutions owned by options: commercial banks and credit
their shareholders. This means that they unions. To learn more about divesting
operate with the intention of turning your bank from fossil fuels or moving
a profit for those shareholders, and are your money to a credit union, visit:
often traded on the stock market. As bankingonabetterfuture.org Graphic representing the Big 5’s fossil fuel financing. From left to right:
with most for-profit corporations, the CIBC - $87 billion, BMO - $126 billion, Scotia Bank $148 billion, TD - $157
billion, RBC - $208 billion.
P R O T E C T W H AT Y O U L O V E ! 5
95% Reduction of Sea Lice on Wild Salmon
Following Removal of Salmon Farms
“F
ollowing Fisheries Minister
Bernadette Jordan’s
December 17, 2020 decision
to prohibit restocking of 19
fish farms in the Discovery Islands, this
spring’s out-migration of juvenile salmon
are the first to swim through a fish farm-
free Okisollo Channel in over 25 years and
we’re seeing extraordinary results. The
Photo: Alexandra Morton @alexmorton4salmon
number of sea lice infecting juvenile wild
salmon in Okisollo Channel has declined
by 95% between 2020 and 2021. We
are beyond excited to report that most
”
of the young salmon look pristine, with
iridescent scales untouched by sea lice!
Project crew: Tavish Campbell, Deirdre
The removal of salmon farms in the Discovery Islands at the north end of Vancouver Island have significantly reduced Leowinata, Farlyn Campbell, Jody
numbers of sea lice infecting juvenile wild salmon. Meanwhile in Clayoquot Sound, Cermaq plans to apply around 1 million
litres of pesticide to control sea lice infestations on salmon farming operations in Ahousaht territory. Eriksson, and Alexandra Morton.
Collaborative DFO Study Confirms PRV
Salmon Virus Spread From Salmon Farms
P
iscine orthoreovirus (PRV) – Mordecai, a viral ecologist with UBC farming towards farming technology that
which is associated with lethal Science and researcher with UBC doesn’t allow disease transfer between
kidney and liver damage in Medicine, who led the study. farmed and wild salmon, protecting BC’s
Chinook salmon – is continually The study shows that wild wild Pacific salmon from serious risk in
being transmitted between open- Chinook salmon are more likely the process,” says study co-author Dr.
net salmon farms and wild juvenile to be infected with PRV the closer Andrew Bateman, of the Pacific Salmon
Chinook salmon in British Columbia they are to salmon farms, which Foundation.
waters, according to a new genomics suggests farms transfer the virus to
analysis. The collaborative study from wild salmon. Further
the University of British Columbia analysis of PRV
(UBC) and the Strategic Salmon Health genomes generated by
Initiative (SSHI) — a partnership the study suggested
between Fisheries and Oceans Canada that there has been a
(DFO), Genome BC and the Pacific growth in the number
Salmon Foundation — traces the of PRV infections in BC
origins of PRV to Atlantic salmon farms over recent decades.
in Norway and finds that the virus is This corresponds
now commonplace in salmon farms in with the growth in BC
BC. salmon farms and high
“This study’s genome rates of viral infection
Photo: Amy Romer.
sequencing clearly indicates PRV is in salmon farms.
not native to BC waters—it originated “The PRV
in the Atlantic Ocean and has been findings, in particular,
spread around the world through support calls to Dr. Emiliano Di Cicco and Dr. Andrew Bateman (co-authors of the study) sampling wild
Pacific salmon. #DefendWildSalmon #ResistExtinction
salmon aquaculture,” said Dr. Gideon transition from open-net salmon
6 P R O T E C T W H AT Y O U L O V E !
Ocean Restoration within a Generation:
What’s Possible by 2050
Photo: Marcie Callewaert John @westcoastsoul
Orcas are one of the many species threatened by the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion that would increase west coast oil tanker traffic by 700%.
A
scientific review of the The scientists say there is now Among the success stories
world’s oceans published the knowledge to create an ocean are humpback whales that migrate
in the scientific journal renaissance for wildlife by 2050 and with from Antarctica to eastern Australia,
Nature concluded that the it bolster the services that the world’s whose populations have surged from
world’s oceans can be restored within people rely on, from food to coastal a few hundred animals in 1968, before
a generation. Through rampant protection to climate stability. The whaling was banned, to more than
overfishing, pollution and coastal measures needed, including protecting 40,000 today. In the Baltic Sea, both
destruction, humanity has inflicted severe large swathes of ocean, sustainable grey seal and cormorant populations
damage on the oceans and its inhabitants fishing and pollution controls, would are soaring. While here in the Pacific,
for centuries. But conservation successes, cost billions of dollars a year. But the sea otters have risen from just dozens
while still isolated, demonstrate the scientists insist benefits would be 10 in 1980 to thousands now.
remarkable resilience of the seas. times as high.
Make Throwaway Go Away…
W
hen we are asked “paper Single use products - from paper. “We need to see radical change
or plastic” that choice packaging to food containers, to in how products are delivered to
involves poisoning oceans disposable cups and cutlery - have people, without the use of harmful and
with oil-based plastics or caused widespread damage to polluting packaging.”
devastating forests. We have a better marine and ocean ecosystems and are Friends of Clayoquot Sound
choice. It’s time to move beyond single responsible for mass deforestation and joined Canopy Planet and 188
use paper and plastics to reusable degradation of the world’s forests. Single environmental movement allies from
and zero-water systems -- and make use items are also a key contributor around the world in calling for an end
throwaway go away. to the 2 billion tonnes of waste that to single use packaging as the United
“Single use items are quite humans produce every year. That Nations Environmental Assembly
literally destroying oceans and forests,” number is projected to increase 70% by discusses global sustainability. The
said Jeh Custerra, Friends of Clayoquot 2050. joint call “From Single Use to Systems
Sound Campaigner. “It’s time that all “We’re depleting the very Change”, highlights the massive
levels of government stepped in to life support systems that we all need impact that disposable products are
end the age of single use for the good to survive, simply for the supposed having on the natural environment,
of the climate, the planet, and the convenience of single-use products,” wildlife, human health, and vulnerable
people, plants, and animals who live said Tamara Stark, Campaigns Director communities and calls on leaders to
on it.” of Canopy, one of the authoring bring about a much needed systemic
organizations of the joint position change.
P R O T E C T W H AT Y O U L O V E ! 7
Protect What You Love!
Friends of Clayoquot Sound is a
grassroots organization advocating
protection for the ancient temperate
rainforest ecosystems of Clayoquot Sound.
We are part of an international movement
calling for a shift of consciousness in the way
humans relate to the Earth. We need your support
to continue to educate and inspire people.
Please send in your donation today to help protect
one of the most spectacular places on Earth.
Visit our website to find more ways to help: www.focs.ca
Send your donation to:
Friends of Clayoquot Sound
Box 489, Tofino, BC,
Canada V0R 2Z0
Phone: 250-725-4218
Office: 1160 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino
Email: info@focs.ca // Twitter: @clayoquotfriend // Instagram: @friendsofclayoquotsound
Sustain Our Legacy! Join the FOCS Coast Action Team by becoming a monthly donor!
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Sound have relied on donations
from people who love this place. Monthly donation: $10 $40 $100 Other
We have immense gratitude for our
donors, who are the true sustainers
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thrives here. Become a donor today! (please attach a VOID cheque)
Editors: Jeh Custerra, Eileen Floody, & Robert Zurowski.
focs.ca/donate
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