Sunday, December 21, 4:30-6:30 pm, Church of Truth, 111 Superior St.
Agenda:
4:30 pm: Doors open
4:45-5 pm: Introduction to the gathering’s purpose and intention
5-5:15 pm: World Meditation Day silent meditation. For 15 minutes we will join globally with an International Sit for Coherence
5:15 pm until closing: hort presentation + community brainstorm + music and movement + coordination of commitments to action
Facilitating: Sally Ross
Drumming: France Cyr
On southern Vancouver Island we have a serious, heartbreaking situation happening right now in the Walbran Valley.
Since late August, a small group of protesters has been working passionately for Mother Earth and for the health of All Beings. Until three weeks ago, through blocking logging road access and tree sitting, the Land Defenders have held back the massive chainsaws of the forestry company who holds legislated rights to log eight cut blocks (for clearcutting) in Tree Farm License 44. TFL 44 covers about 232,000 hectares of Old Growth in the Upper Walbran, encompassing the Walbran/Cayacuse watersheds.
But now, owing to an injunction by the Supreme Court, police violence and arrests, keeping at bay the individuals and machines who trade these ancient, vital and irreplaceable “lungs of the planet” for fiat currency and jobs is becoming impossible.
The War in the Woods that began in the late 80’s on Vancouver Island continues and has reached a critical moment for us all. Ancient Trees (some up to 1500 years old), these Walbran forests—along with the untold, diverse numbers of interconnected land/air/marine ecosystems that depend on them remaining intact and standing—are at threat of complete collapse.
Meanwhile, the public is mostly unaware of what is going on and what this means. The extent of ecosystem destruction is hidden from the public eye until the irreversible damage has already been done.
This moment is an unprecedented juncture of our history, in which the People of BC/Turtle Island/Salish Sea have the opportunity to invite the world into our refusal to feel powerless anymore. Can we choose to contribute en masse to stopping the cutting of the Upper Walbran Ancient Old Growth?
We need to act much more creatively now, as writing letters to provincial officials and making phone calls is not working. Solutions exist. Acting in solidarity is a start. Please forward this invitation to others who would be eager to join. Doors will be locked at 5 pm for the Sit.