Macmillan Bloedel Places Private Interests Above Those of the Public
9/3/96
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/* Written 8:40 PM Sep 3, 1996 by nobody@xs2.greenpeace.org in igc:gp.press
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Subject: 9/03 MacBlo Injunction Puts Private Interests Above Public
Date: Tue, 3 SEP 96 22:13:54 GMT
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Original-TO: World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-TO: The.Greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org
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MACMILLAN BLOEDEL INJUNCTION PLACES PRIVATE INTERESTS ABOVE THOSE
OF THE PUBLIC, GREENPEACE SAYS
(Vancouver, B.C.) Tuesday, 3 September, 1996 -- A decision by the
Supreme Court of B.C. supporting logging giant MacMillan Bloedel
is a clear sign that the courts are acting to protect private
business interests rather than the interests of the public,
Greenpeace said today.
MacMillan Bloedel sought an injunction prohibiting Greenpeace,
two individuals, John and Jane Doe and Persons Unknown from
protesting two of the world's largest log barges after two
actions against the Haida Brave in August. The Haida Brave and
its sister ship the Haida Monarch each visit coastal communities
two or three times a week and, when they leave, they leave
carrying the equivalent of 400 logging trucks loaded with
rainforest wood.
Greenpeace blockaded the Haida Brave on August 1 and again on
August 8 to highlight the overcutting of the old-growth
rainforest and the fact that half of the Canadian rainforest has
already disappeared. MacMillan Bloedel is the largest logging
company operating in the rainforest and controls approximately 1-
million hectares of public rainforest land.
"The old-growth rainforest is on land belonging to the public and
yet is being decimated by private corporations such as MacMillan
Bloedel," said Tamara Stark of Greenpeace Canada. "It's a sad day
for Canadians when the financial interests of a private
corporation are placed above those of the public in general."
On August 8 Greenpeace voluntarily suspended the blockade of the
Haida Brave but, despite this, MacMillan Bloedel has been able to
use the courts to prevent the potential of future protests.
"In this case, MacMillan Bloedel is using the courts to quell not
just public dissent but even the possibility of public dissent -
a fundamental principle of a democratic society," Stark said. "So
long as the rainforest remains under siege, we will remain
committed to stopping this destruction."
Since its inception in Vancouver in 1971, Greenpeace has been
committed to the principles of non-violent civil disobedience to
stop environmental degradation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Tamara Stark, Greenpeace Canada 604-253-7701