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The devastating impacts of climate change are already being felt in BC, and our government has a shameful role to play in this. Their neglect to properly monitor and protect our old growth forests (OGFs) means there is only about 3% productive old growth left in BC https://veridianecological.ca/publications/#OAFA.
These ancient trees soak up carbon, propagate biodiversty, and offer respite from the heat for plants, animals and humans alike. Stepping into an OGF is like entering a portal to our past, and one of the few links we have to the magic of our ancient lands.
The deferrals announced in June are not enough. We want a guarantee of OGF protection, and it is insane that we, the people, have to do so much to fight for it. These trees are worthy of respect in their own right, but now our lives depend on them, and we won't stand for it any longer!
Enter, BUZZCUTS AGAINST CLEARCUTS!
Sometimes radical change, requires radical action. That's why Dianne, a woman who has rocked long hair her entire life, is offering to give up her locks and shave her head. All in an effort to raise funds for the Rainforest Flying Squad, the land defenders who are actively protecting Fairy Creek/Ada'itsx and other OGFs on Vancouver Island. Learn more about their heroic actions here: https://laststandforforests.com/
"After spending some time at Fairy Creek I was so inspired
by the courage and efforts of the people on the front lines. How they
are dedicating their time, energy and bodies to stop Teal-Jones from
logging, and with such peace and passion... my hair is no big deal in comparison."
How you can Help:
1. Sponsor Dianne to shave her head! A little slice of decolonization in action.
First $3,000 Funds: An elders camp
so that our wise ones will continue to have a presence and be cared
for throughout this movement. We need their wisdom, truth and comfort
on site.
Action: Dianne gets an UNDERCUT!
Additional $4,000 Funds: Supplies for the frontline
land defenders (tools, backpacks, [both are confiscated by the police]
food etc.). This is as direct as it gets. They are physically stopping
trees from being logged every day.
Action: Dianne gets a SIDECUT!
Final $5,000 Funds: Legal Fund. Knowing that the
community has their back emboldens our peaceful protestors to hold
their ground in the face of arrest, cars-towed etc.
Action: Dianne gets a CLEARCUT!
2. GET YOUR HEAD SHAVED, or a funky piece of it! Watch for our pop up buzz stands at various events. The uber talented Khadija Jaii https://www.instagram.com/liberated_locks/will be shaving hair starting Monday Aug 9th 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the Legislative Assembly, Victoria (Part of the anniversary celebration of Rainforest Flying Squad defending our forests) See https://www.facebook.com/events/340017030943009 for more on this.
Our truest hope: That Premier Horgan will implement a stop
logging order for all remaining old growth for good and there will be
no need for this campaign at all!
Check out: https://laststandforforests.com/get-involved/ for
more ways you can support.
This is not about ending logging, this is about demanding that government implement changes that make BC's foresty more sustainable and economically beneficial for our local loggers. This is about land, indigenous and human rights. This is about our survival. Now cut your hair like your life depends on it!
Here is a great doc to help you get educated and an inside look on what is happening at the Fairy Creek blockade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-DitozPh98&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1RL2_AQ423E2HG1qP13noI_yJbU4dycT21qVmvqdqzcmy91G15G_TLO8s
SEPT 3 UPDATE:
Wow! Look at the successes of The Last Stand at Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek so far!
- The old growth trees in the Ada’itsx watershed are safe and standing!
- Old Growth is now an election topic at the federal level, with parties including old growth protection in their election campaigns.
- Policy makers are aware of the growing public expectation that they implement the fourteen recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review 1 .
- We brought attention to the lack of police oversight and the unlawful, careless and violent tactics that these forces have been using (i.e., dropping protestors from trees, setting up unlawful blockades 2 , refusing to wear their badge names and numbers, using unnecessary force through pepper spray 3 etc.).
- Hundreds of diverse people got to practice living in right relationship with the land and each other by abiding by matriarchal, egalitarian and reconciliatory principles while at camp.
I want your money to make the biggest difference possible. Given that camps are regularly being destroyed by police, funds will no longer be going towards an elder camp, but rather to tools and supplies to support the ongoing building of blockade infrastructure and the movement’s mounting legal fund. As someone who has stood on front lines with the threat of having my car impounded and being arrested, I know that legal fund support has been integral in emboldening our forest defenders, and saving trees!
If you are hesitant to support, you might be asking:
Q: Didn’t the government grant a deferral for Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek? Why does the blockade continue?
A: The deferral does not go far enough. While, importantly it protected the fairy creek watershed, there are still “2,000 hectares of unprotected old growth with a massive quantity of approved logging and road building” in the Ada’itsx area (As per Josh Wright, who has been monitoring forest maps and data for over a year).
We know that the blockades have made a difference, and government officials are now paying attention. The RFS is leveraging this power to hold the government accountable to real and immediate change that honours indigenous sovereignty and fights climate change. The Splatsin, Kwakiutl, Squamish, Tla’amin and the Gitxsan Wilp Git’luuhl’um’hetxwit first nations have been requesting deferrals for over a year, and those have not been granted. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs have also called for immediate deferrals across BC in their Protect our Elder Trees Declaration. It states,
“Our people and Nations must have a greater role in all decisions about forests -- about their conservation and their use. This requires immediate, fulsome, and resourced engagement with our Nations about what we want to happen to elder trees and their forests in our territories. However, it also requires an immediate halt to logging in many areas where the majority of elder trees and their forests have already been logged, because, at current rates of cutting, much of the most valuable and important elder trees will be lost in the coming months and years.”
“ We support and call for the implementation of the fourteen recommendations of the report from the Old-Growth Strategic Review, and again stress that the ability to fully implement this report and achieve the “paradigm shift” of prioritizing ecological and cultural health the report calls for requires the immediate protection of Old-Growth forests.”
Until that immediate protection occurs, and the government has a plan to apply the fourteen recommendations, our work is not done.
Q: Didn’t the local First Nations, the Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht, and Pacheedaht ask the protestors to leave? How is the Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek movement respecting indigenous sovereignty?
A: The Adait’sx/Fairy Creek movement is led by Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones and elder Rose Henry who lives in Le’kwungun Territory. It is supported by the (disputed) hereditary chief Victor Peter and upholds traditional indigenous principles of right living with the land and the interconnectedness of all beings. Some members of the Pacheedaht first nation have been leaders and supporters of the movement. It’s fight to uphold the requests of the other First Nations requesting deferrals, supports indigenous sovereignty.
Finally, the movement itself operates by matriarchal principles, values its elders and attempts to always uphold and privilege indigenous voices (admittedly imperfectly, as you can imagine any movement with diverse people, opinions and skills might be). Come to camp! You will see the beautiful truth and healing work being done through art, workshops and ceremonial spaces.
References:
2 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-fairy-creek-court-case-1.613935
3 https://www.straight.com/news/video-rcmp-pepper-sprays-fairy-creek-protesters
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