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Thank you for bearing with our piecemeal press kit. We are way too busy just keeping up with the essentials, let alone proper communications.
If you could please forward the following info on, that would be appreciated.
- Each day, events escalate rapidly. There is now a concern that without an immediate resolution that there may be a dangerous situation occuring. Media presence would help keep things safe, as currently all events are happening under a veil.
- Over 300 people attended a rally at the SCRD office today to demand the board issue a stop work order. the chair (who seems to be in a conflict of interest) was not overly cooperative.
- There is another large protest scheduled at the SCRD office on Field Rd for 11:30 am Friday. This will follow an emergency meeting of Gibsons Town Council at 8:30 am. The only item on the agenda of this meeting is whether to Instruct the Gibsons SCRD Rep. to back a stop work order.
- Continuing on the ground citizen inspections of the steep slopes below the cut blocks (and above the creek) have found extremely unstable debris chutes, overflowing with loose rocks, silt, and broken logs from past logging. These debris piles and soil are a mudslide waiting to occur when heavy runoff conditions occur. Runoff is expected to increase dramatically if the cutting plan is completed. Mudslides into the creek would dramatically affect water quality, and may block the creek, creating a dangerous flash flood and creekbed damage for a great distance. It is thought that Forestry and Logging Company environmental monitors and consultants have not even been onsite for inspections, despite reports authorizing cutting.
- for the fourth straight day, teams entered the woods and disrupted falling for most of the day. The fallers have resumed cutting after contact with protesters on the cutblocks, continuing to operate even with people in the immediate area.
- Ministry of Forests, SCRD and Work Safe BC have all responded to the complaint of this and other dangerous action by the fallers (and others) by directing complaintants to call the RCMP.
- The RCMP have not been receptive to any requests for help from protesters, and in fact seem to be operating as agents of the company. I will attach an email detailing such an event.
- It has become a question of how the exceptionally heavy police presence is being funded in such a small town. It is wondered whether Western Forest Products is paying for RCMP overtime, thus putting the police in conflict with evenly upholding the law.
- RCMP K9 units have been seen in the area of peaceful protest in public spaces. All protesters have been peaceful in their actions while Logging company employees have been physically threatening with: chainsaws, heavy equipment, vehicles (crewcabs and logging trucks) even on public roadways.
- The lack of coverage for such an important and precedent setting story in this province leads the question of whether the CBC has enough funding to properly cover the news.
Regards,
Jay
Thank you for bearing with our piecemeal press kit. We are way too busy just keeping up with the essentials, let alone proper communications.
If you could please forward the following info on, that would be appreciated.
- Each day, events escalate rapidly. There is now a concern that without an immediate resolution that there may be a dangerous situation occuring. Media presence would help keep things safe, as currently all events are happening under a veil.
- Over 300 people attended a rally at the SCRD office today to demand the board issue a stop work order. the chair (who seems to be in a conflict of interest) was not overly cooperative.
- There is another large protest scheduled at the SCRD office on Field Rd for 11:30 am Friday. This will follow an emergency meeting of Gibsons Town Council at 8:30 am. The only item on the agenda of this meeting is whether to Instruct the Gibsons SCRD Rep. to back a stop work order.
- Continuing on the ground citizen inspections of the steep slopes below the cut blocks (and above the creek) have found extremely unstable debris chutes, overflowing with loose rocks, silt, and broken logs from past logging. These debris piles and soil are a mudslide waiting to occur when heavy runoff conditions occur. Runoff is expected to increase dramatically if the cutting plan is completed. Mudslides into the creek would dramatically affect water quality, and may block the creek, creating a dangerous flash flood and creekbed damage for a great distance. It is thought that Forestry and Logging Company environmental monitors and consultants have not even been onsite for inspections, despite reports authorizing cutting.
- for the fourth straight day, teams entered the woods and disrupted falling for most of the day. The fallers have resumed cutting after contact with protesters on the cutblocks, continuing to operate even with people in the immediate area.
- Ministry of Forests, SCRD and Work Safe BC have all responded to the complaint of this and other dangerous action by the fallers (and others) by directing complaintants to call the RCMP.
- The RCMP have not been receptive to any requests for help from protesters, and in fact seem to be operating as agents of the company. I will attach an email detailing such an event.
- It has become a question of how the exceptionally heavy police presence is being funded in such a small town. It is wondered whether Western Forest Products is paying for RCMP overtime, thus putting the police in conflict with evenly upholding the law.
- RCMP K9 units have been seen in the area of peaceful protest in public spaces. All protesters have been peaceful in their actions while Logging company employees have been physically threatening with: chainsaws, heavy equipment, vehicles (crewcabs and logging trucks) even on public roadways.
- The lack of coverage for such an important and precedent setting story in this province leads the question of whether the CBC has enough funding to properly cover the news.
Regards,
Jay
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