Greenpeace and First Nations Escalate Struggle to Save Rainforest
6/26/97
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Jun 26, 1997 by nobody@xs2.greenpeace.org in igc:gp.press
Subject: Greenpeace and First Nations Escalate Struggle to Protect Great
GREENPEACE AND CANADIAN FIRST NATION ESCALATE STRUGGLE TO
PROTECT GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST
(PORT HARDY)-- JUNE 25,1997 --- Five Greenpeace activists
continue their day long occupation of one of the world's
largest log barges to protest the destruction of The Great
Bear Rainforest. A further 24 activists, representing members
of the Nuxalk First Nation, Greenpeace and three other
environmental groups will appear in a Vancouver court this
morning. Their charges relate to a 19 day old blockade in
which they stopped all clearcut logging on King Island in the
Great Bear Rainforest.
Meanwhile, in Europe Greenpeace activists are protesting at
Canadian embassies in London, Brussels and Bonn.
The protests come as Canada's destruction of its temperate
rainforests come under increasing scrutiny at the United
Nations Special General Assembly Meeting on the Environment.
"How can we ask Brazil to stop the illegal logging and
clearing in Amazonia when two of the world's wealthiest
nations, Canada and the U.S., are, as I speak, logging their
last remaining rainforests into extinction," said Greenpeace International
Executive Director Thilo Bode in his address to the United
Nations late yesterday.
Satellite mapping shows that half the world's temperate
rainforests have been destroyed; the majority of what remains
is in Alaska, British Columbia and Chile. British Columbia is
cutting its rainforest at a rate thirty times greater than
Alaska.
The barge occupied by the Greenpeace activists, the Seaspan
Rigger,carries the equivalent of 400 truckloads of timber
covering an area equal to 56 football fields. The trees were
cut by Interfor. Across the top of the barge, the activists
have unfurled a banner reading "Rainforest Destruction ---
Don't Buy It." The barge, with the activists on board has
been towed to Port Hardy from Smith Inlet where it was boarded
by the Greenpeace team.
With the arrest of the 24 activists who were blocking
Interfor logging operations on King Island, the logging
company will resume clearcutting in the area which is
considered sacred to the Nuxalk people. It is the place,
according to the Nuxalk creation story, where the first woman
descended to the world. The Great Bear Rainforest is also of
extreme ecological importance because it contains the world's largest
remaining areas of temperate rainforest in the world. It contains an
enormous diversity of plant and animal species.
During the arrest Hereditary Chief Qwatsinas of the Nuxalk
Nation said "The Great Spirit is flowing upon us, here at
Ista. The Killer Whale came with its little one. They no
longer hear the trees falling, nor do they hear the sound of
logging trucks. The whales came from Him, our Great Father,
to acknowledge us for what we are doing. The Killer Whales
are standing with us. Thank you for all the support
throughout the world and for the prayers that have been said."
For further information call: Tzeporah Berman, Greenpeace
Vancouver, 604-253-7701: Michael Hopf, Greenpeace Germany: 49
4030618-0; Dr. Matthew Bramley occupying the Seaspan Rigger:
604-341-5665; Steve Shallhorn aboard the Arctic Sunrise:
416-451-9354 or 011-872-324-453-810
For further information call Mary MacNutt: 604-253-7701;
416-505-1792
Greenbase Information Services
Greenpeace International
Tel: 604-253-7701
Fax: 604-253-4990