STEP 1: COPY + PASTE EMAIL SUBJECT: SAVE OLD GROWTH NOW!

STEP 2: COPY + PASTE THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESSES:

premier@gov.bc.ca; FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca; ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca; IRR.Minister@gov.bc.ca; justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca; pm@pm.gc.ca; Seamus.ORegan@parl.gc.ca 

STEP 3: ADD YOUR MLA’s email address, can find it here: https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members

STEP4: COPY+PASTE EMAIL SCRIPT


Dear Government Officials,

I am writing to you to express my concern with your Provincial/Federal governments’ actions and severe violations, namely:

  1. The BC Supreme Court passed an injunction that allows Teal Jones to cut old growth trees in at-risk old growth ecosystems, including the Fairy Creek Watershed & the Caycuse Valley. This contradicts promises made by the BC government to protect old growth forests in BC as per the Old Growth Strategic Review (OGSR) released in 2020 and the 14 recommendations that were made in it (see link below).
    (    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/forestry/stewardship/old-growth-forests/strategic-review-20200430.pdf)

    This also negates promises made by the Federal government to protect the environment, as expressed by Justin Trudeau who said, "We know that not only can we protect 25 per cent of our land and 25 per cent of our oceans by 2025, but we must. It is an essential part, not just of protecting biodiversity, not just of fighting climate change, but of also ensuring that future generations have the opportunities we've had growing up and the economic opportunities that come with biodiversity and investments in ecotourism in general. We know that this is the path forward for Canada and that's why we're going to do it."
    https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-park-conservation-trudeau-2019-1.5297893

  1. The BC government has not been transparent regarding coordination that has taken place between its government and some members of the Pacheedaht Nation to release a statement that included a request for land defenders and blockaders to cease their efforts to protect at-risk old growth forests.
    https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/province-pacheedaht-fairy-creek-statement-coordination

    Given this, and the unequal     power dynamics that exist between Provincial/Federal governments and Indigenous governments resulting from a long history of colonization, there are a lot of questions around the actual position of the members of the Pacheedaht Nation who signed the statement.

  1. Context matters, and yet the government continues to ignore the historical context of colonization, and the resulting  power differential that exists between the Provincial/Federal governments and the Pacheedaht Nation. By not acknowledging these crucial elements- including the ways in which members of the Pacheedaht Nation have been economically affected by colonization- your governments are failing to take into account ways in which members of the Pacheedaht Nation may feel coerced to collaborate with your governments so as to survive the poverty and challenges they experience in this colonial reality. With no alternative option for Indigenous communities forced to choose between poverty and old-growth logging, your governments leave Indigenous Peoples economically reliant on the logging industry, with an expiration date. In this way, your governments continue to be complicit in oppressive practices and processes that are not in alignment with the recommendations provided in the OGSR cited above. As well, it is not up to the BC Government nor the Federal Government to decide who is or what is hereditary, or a non-colonial governance. All of these actions perpetuate colonization and oppression of the Pacheedaht Nation and Indigenous Peoples. These actions violate the promises and principles your governments have made to respect Indigenous Peoples and recognize their rights as a foundation for transformative and reconciliatory change.
    https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/principles-principes.html
    I therefore urge you to immediately reconsider your governments’ negotiation processes with the Pacheedaht Nation. As well, I urge you to implement the recommendations of the OGSR, calling for conservation financing and economic alternatives- including an end to all old growth logging- to establish a thriving economy for the Pacheedaht Nation that isn't reliant on an unsustainable industry of old growth logging. Lastly, I urge you to re-evaluate what your governments are doing right now with respect to Indigenous Peoples, and the ways in which concrete actions must be taken now to authentically renew your governments’ efforts and commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
  2. As well, there are many members of the Pacheedaht Nation who have not been heard by your Provincial/Federal governments (see statement by Bill Jones here: https://laststandforforests.com/news-media/elder-bill-jones-kati-george-jim-respond-to-pacheedaht-request-third-parties-leave-pacheedaht-territory/)
    This demonstrates that your governments are not recognizing that Indigenous self-government and laws are critical to Canada’s future,     and that Indigenous perspectives and rights must be incorporated in all aspects of this relationship. It also shows a lack of genuine interest, and a lack of authentic commitment to achieving reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. As per your governments’ Principles Respecting the Government of Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples, the foundation of transformative change is based on “establishing relationships with Indigenous Peoples that are based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership”.
    https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/principles-principes.html

  1. Police brutality has been observed and documented during the enforcement of the Fairy Creek Blockade civil injunction. Your governments’ silence and lack of action in response to this has been exposed to BC residents, Canadians and people from all over the world. To add to this, rubber bullets have been and fired at peaceful land defenders. As if this were not enough, unqualified RCMP have proceeded with attempts to retrieve tree sitters unsafely. Police are also restricting media and legal observers so as to protect your government from facing the proper scrutiny that must be facilitated by law. Arrests are being censored and police violence is being covered up intentionally with blue tarp and other tactics. The Canadian Journalist Association has decried media censorship and prevention of legal observers from witnessing arrests of land defenders, and has called on courts to limit RCMP powers when granting injunctions, (https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/caj-calls-on-courts-to-limit-rcmp-powers-when-granting-injunctions-825147370.html)
    and yet, your Provincial and Federal governments have not listened nor acted.

    The BC Civil Liberties Association has described the RCMP exclusion zone near Fairy Creek Blockade as unlawful (https://www.straight.com/news/bc-civil-liberties-association-describes-rcmp-exclusion-zone-near-fairy-creek-blockade-as)
    and yet your Provincial and Federal governments have again remained unresponsive and silent.

    We urge you to ACT NOW to STOP and correct these unlawful processes and human rights violations. Unjust and inaccurate charges against peaceful land defenders who were arrested must be DROPPED NOW.
  2. Teal Jones workers have been falling trees in close proximity to tree sitters, placing them at risk. This is absolutely unacceptable and the people of BC, Canada and the global community are watching the Provincial and Federal governments’ failure to take responsibility and hold the RCMP and Teal Jones accountable for keeping peaceful land defenders and blockaders safe.  We urge you to ACT NOW to help protect peaceful BC residents & Canadians who are asking your governments to implement the recommendations they made and promised.
  3. Finally, Teal Jones is at risk of contravening the Wildlife Act since logging is placing Western Screech Owls in the Caycuse Valley at risk. We urge you to halt logging NOW to protect these owls. (https://sierraclub.bc.ca/teal-jones-risks-destroying-fragile-western-screech-owl-forests/)

I am urging you to TAKE THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIONS NOW to address the various violations and concerns that I have expressed above. I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing your response on these issues and concerns. BC residents, Canadians and the international community are carefully watching your Provincial and Federal Governments’ response to these events.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

[WHERE YOU ARE FROM]

STEP 5: Make sure you’ve included your name and location, then hit SEND!