Hello Elders,

This is the week that leaders gather in Glasgow to try to hammer out an accord to save our burning planet. And an overwhelming body of research shows the link between logging — especially old-growth logging — and climate change. A new report released this week by a coalition of environmental groups  shows how Canada fails to include the huge impacts of logging in its emission calculations. Dave Broadland, in a recent Focus article calculates just how many CO2 emissions the Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek forest protectors have prevented from being sent into the atmosphere during the past year.

One can only wonder when governments will stop prevaricating and start acting to save the planet. (On the bright side, the new Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, merits an enthusiastic thumbs-up from Elizabeth May, who writes: “…he is as well-known and iconic an environmental leader in Quebec as David Suzuki is in English Canada.”)

Meanwhile we’re doing what we can to support those courageous folks hanging in there through the cold, the wind, the rain, and police brutality to boot. This Saturday, the Elders, along with Parents 4 Climate, are organizing a Family Day at Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek, and we need you there. Please read the Action of the Week below, and sign up for the bus or come in your car. It’s so important, as the cold, wet days of fall roll in, that we continue to support forest protectors as they struggle to slow the logging of this irreplaceable ancient forest.

Yours,
Susan & Jackie

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ACTION OF THE WEEK

GET ON THE BUS SATURDAY, NOV 6, FOR FAMILY DAY AT ADA’ITSX/FAIRY CREEK!

This event will be a bit different from our past Elder trips. This time we’re teaming up with Parents 4 Climate, so we can expect lots of little people as well. We’re hoping for a strong presence. The frontline protesters are getting tired, cold, and sometimes discouraged. They need to know that we’re there supporting them.

The plan for the day includes sitting in a Return to Eldership circle with Elder Bill Jones, a sing-along, and a trip out to Eden Grove. See details below.

If you plan to come (on the bus or in your vehicle), please email oldfolksforoldgrowth@gmail.com with the subject line FC Family Day. Include your phone number, and the number and names of people coming. Deadline Friday noon, Nov 5. Don’t wait till the last minute!

The bus will leave town at 8:15 and travel by way of Port Renfrew, picking up folks at:
*   St, Luke’s Anglican Church, 3821 Cedar Hill X Rd at Cedar Hill at 7:45am
*   BC Museum at 8:00, leaving 8:15am
*   Sooke Park and Ride at 9:15am
(More specific details will be sent to those who register)

**  Cost: about $25 each, plus a driver tip, depending on numbers
**  All riders must be double-vaxxed and wear masks
**  Bring your own lunch and water for the day (7:30 am to 7 pm)
**  Bring a folding chair (if wanted), warm clothes and rain gear
**  Wear your Elders yellow circle
**  (We’ve heard the defenders are well supplied for now)

As well as families and elders, we’ve invited local MLAs and MPs to this event. We’re not sure they’ll come, but it would be great to encourage them. Here’s the invitation we sent, and here’s the list of invited representatives. If your MLA or MP is on the list, it might be an idea to phone and/or write them and urge them to go to Fairy Creek to see why we’re so concerned.

A suggestion from Bev Bacon one of the Elders for Ancient Trees:
The new Federal Minister of Public Safety, Marcos Mendicino (replacing Bill Blair), is encouraging people to contact him. I’d like Minister Mendicino to hear from us about RCMP abuse of defenseless, limp protesters. I’d like Minister Mendicino to agree that “pain compliance” is torture, and we don’t allow torture in Canada.
Email marco.mendicino@parl.gc.ca or phone: 1-613-992-6361. Please copy Mike Farnworth, BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General: mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca; Chris Manseau, RCMP Media Relations Officer: chris.manseau@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Put your name on a confidential list: If you are an elder and inclined to risk arrest at Ada’itsx, under safe conditions, add your name to a confidential list for a possible future option. Email jlarkin@gddc.com

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Upcoming Events

Nov 2, Tuesday, 6 – 7:45pm: Join a panel of Fairy Creek biologists for Ecological Discoveries at Fairy Creek, at Cowichan Library or by Zoom link.

Nov. 3, Wednesday, 3 – 5pm, Wednesday Rally for Ancient Forests+Forest Protectors, BC Legislature, Government+Belleville corner. At ~4 pm, we will once again circumnavigate the legislature buildings. Bring your songs and instruments. Signs available.

Nov. 5, Friday, 3 – 5pm, Forest Friday, RCMP Building, Topaz+Blanshard (street address is 2881 Nanaimo St.). Signs available.

Nov 6, Saturday, Family Day Trip to Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek Meet at Granite Main at 11am. PLEASE COME – WE NEED A CROWD. Oganized by Elders for Ancient Trees and Parents 4 Climate.
If you plan to come on the bus or by car, please email oldfolksforoldgrowth@gmail.com, subject line: FC Family Day. Include your phone number, and the number and names of people coming.  Deadline Friday noon, Nov 5. Don’t wait till the last minute!

Nov 6, Saturday, 11am, Global Day for Climate Justice, Centennial Square. Organized by Climate Justice Victoria.

From the Front Lines of Ada’itsx

The winds and waters of the Earth have been speaking loudly to humans this past week, signalling the consequences of the destruction that extractivist economics wreak upon our home planet. Each day we hold the land defenders and forest protectors in our hearts, hoping they stay dry and warm in such challenging conditions. Each day we give gratitude to those on the front line for their courage, love, fortitude and their defence of Indigenous land rights. Each day we grieve for the old-growth trees, the ancient ones that are being felled rapidly by loggers working for Teal-Jones.  We mourn the precious lichen, the owls, the Murrelets who are being destroyed.

News from Signal Thread

Saturday Oct 25: Two hard-block protestors were arrested at Waterfall and charged with contempt of court. The remaining campers came back to regroup. Ridge Camp was being reinforced in anticipation of RCMP enforcement.  A hard block at the entrance to Granite Main was blocking industry. A callout was issued for more feet on the ground.

Smiley, a protector for many weeks remained missing.  Many searches have been conducted.

Tuesday, Oct 26: Supplies and gear recovered from the RCMP HQO and Heli Camp raiders were sorted and dried out at R&R camp. 40 RCMP were spotted arriving at Victoria airport. (Oh, the tax dollars being spent!) Eight protesters were arrested at Roadside in the morning and RCMP headed up to River and made two more arrests. During the extraction, both sides of Pacific Marine at Roadside camp were blocked by cops.

Wednesday, Oct 27: 1142 arrests to date + over 300 ‘catch and release.’ Day 444 of direct action.
No arrests. About 17 cops, mostly unidentified, came snooping through R&R (the base camp outside the injunction area). RCMP maintained a hold on the red gate at Granite Main at Roadside/old HQ, where there was a great deal of vehicle traffic. 

A Peace Pipe Ceremony brings hope and prayers. RCMP attempted to keep elders, land defenders, protestors and allies from entering through the gate where Grand Elder Raymond Robinson was to complete a pipe ceremony. After much persuasion, the ceremony group walked through the RCMP line to Salmon camp for the ceremony. His words were posted: “Do you even know the person staring back at you in the mirror?” Grand Elder Raymond Robson beseeched the circle gathered under a big tarp at Salmon Camp. “Are they honourable, respectful, honest, kind, compassionate?” We contemplated this over the sounds of a roaring river beneath us and persistent beating of raindrops on the tarp above us.

Bill 23 – Amendments to Forest and Range Practices Act announced by Forests Minister Conroy

Excerpts from a Tyee article A New Bill Could Put BC ‘Back in the Driver’s Seat’ for Forestry by Zoe Zunker analyzes amendments introduced by the Forests Minister:

….“The act lists a set of provincial objectives for forestry, including protecting things like biodiversity, soils, water and visual quality. In the corresponding regulations, the government provides some guidance on how to meet those objectives, but only so long as the accommodation does not “unduly reduce the supply of timber from British Columbia’s forests.” This clause, advocates say, is a loophole that can allow companies to disregard environmental considerations if they impact their bottom lines.

And: “While the amendments contained in Bill 23 signal a departure from the professional reliance regime, it’s still unclear what that means for the health of B.C. ‘s forests. That’s because the amendments continue to define ecological values in broad terms like “biodiversity” and “soils,” leaving out key details around how those values will be upheld by the regulations the government writes after the legislation is passed. 

For example, B.C.’s Old Growth Strategic Review Panel found that ecosystems that fall below 30 per cent of their natural abundance with old trees present a high risk for biodiversity loss. It’s unclear whether the province intends to create regulations to protect biodiversity by preserving ecosystem types.

Meanwhile, the “unduly reducing supply of timber” clause — seen by many First Nations and environmentalists as a linchpin of B.C.’s deregulated forestry regime — remains.”

*  Also see Proposed changes to forestry ‘only a start,’ says BC Forests Practices chair says
*  And from Sierra Club BC’s Jens Weiting on Twitter: “Amendments to B.C. #forestry laws are insufficient. Change must speed up. The current regulation weakens protection of ecological and cultural values with the requirement to not “unduly reduce the supply of timber from British Columbia’s forests.”
*  Listen to Sonia Furstenau in the House – long, but worthwhile.
*  Be sure to read this comprehensive analysis by Yves Mayrand, forest advocate with a legal background, that clearly outlines what IS covered by Bill 23 and what IS NOT covered.
* As well, see this important critique of Bill 23 from Forests critic MLA Mike Morris, showing the appalling history of mismanagement and destruction of biodiversity and BC forests.

In the News

Nov 2, BBC News, World leaders promise to end deforestation by 2030

Nov 2, CBC Radio’s The Current with Matt Galloway: interview with Suzanne Simard on the secret societies of trees, Fairy Creek, and the moral obligation to protect old-growth forests.

Nov 1, Capital Daily, INVESTIGATION: RCMP misled public about pepper spray incident at Fairy Creek  OR here, if you’d rather listen.

Oct 30, Focus Magazine, Fairy Creek forest defenders have cut through the endless inaction on carbon emissions (A must-read article by Dave Broadland linking Teal-Jones logging to climate change)

Oct 29, The Tyee, A New Bill Could Put BC ‘Back in the Driver’s Seat’ for Forestry (A comprehensive overview of the new NDP forestry legislation by Zoe Zunker)

Oct 28, CBC News, Canada is underestimating carbon emissions from forestry sector, environmental groups allege

Oct 28, Open letter from the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI), signed by 275 forestry/labour leaders, putting forth the argument to continue old-growth logging

Oct 28, CBC Radio interview with COFI CEO Susan Yurkovich backing up the COFI open letter

Oct 27, Camilo Ruiz (independent photojournalist covering protests and politics in southwestern BC): Sergeant at Fairy Creek Blockade Found to Have History of Disrespect, Mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples, Documents Show:

Oct 26, Times Colonist, Disappearance of Smiley

Oct 25, Sierra Club BC reacts to BC Government ‘Roadmap to 2030’ Clean BC Announcement:

Oct 22, Global News, Conservationists press B.C. government on old-growth logging ahead of COP26 climate summit

Oct 20, The Walrus, Can the RCMP be Saved? This is all about the RCMP, not old-growth logging, but it is a very well researched piece with strong historical context.

Oct 20, Hakai Magazine, Salmon Need Trees An interesting article on impacts of logging on salmon.

July 21, Ecojustice, citizen complaint calling for an investigation into the Canadian Standards Association Sustainable Forest Management Standards. Old news but important, calling out how buyers of forest products are misled. CSA/SFM certifies and promotes wood products from logging operations – including in BC’s old-growth forests – as sustainable. Be careful what you buy!