ACTION ALERT! Stop Industrial Clearcut Logging of Canada's Temperate Rainforests
02/17/01
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY
by Forests.org
Canada's coastal temperate rainforests are among the most rare and endangered forests on earth. The campaign to stop the industrial clearance of Canada's ecologically priceless temperate rainforests is again escalating. Greenpeace yesterday took its message about Canadian rainforest destruction to Government House in Hong Kong, launching a major protest while Canada's Prime Minister Chretien was inside discussing trade issues. Greenpeace is urging the Hong Kong government and businesses not to buy rainforest destruction from Canada. While the Chinese government is taking substantial steps to protect the country's last remaining ancient forests, the market for Canadian wood products has dramatically increased in Hong Kong and China. China's demand for forest products (along with the US and Others) threatens most remaining old-growth forests.
Much of British Columbia's (BC) old growth rainforests have already been destroyed. There are fragments remaining on Vancouver Island, but the largest, intact, unprotected area of temperate rainforest in the world is the Great Bear Rainforest, which covers some 3.2 million hectares. Much of this area is slated for clearcut logging in the next 5 to 10 years. Logging companies have been clearcutting their way across British Columbia at the rate of one acre of ancient forest every 66 seconds. International Forest Products (Interfor) continues to ravage the last intact valleys in the Great Bear Rainforest through highly intensive logging. This logging, for excessive consumption by industrialized countries, is the biggest reason that the Great Bear Rainforest is endangered. These priceless ancient ecosystems are being liquidated for such critical purposes as making toilet paper in Italy (also the target of a recent Greenpeace protest). We must join with those protesting the liquidation of BC's irreplaceable Great Bear Rainforest - including Betty Krawczyk, a 72- year-old Canadian grandmother whose peaceful protest lead to imprisonment for several months.
One current target is Lanoga Corporation in the United States, parent company to Lumbermen's, United Builders Centers, Home Lumber Company, and Spenards. Lanoga has a policy to "eliminate wood from endangered forests". However, they refuse to end sales of wood from Interfor, despite the fact that nearly all of Interfor's products come from critically endangered forests. It is critical that the recent declarations by home improvement stores and other sellers of timber to stop their purchase of endangered forest products (some also pledged to only buy and sell FSC certified products) be rigorously monitored. Lanoga must be held to their word. Please respond to an action alert written by ForestEthics, a Canadian NGO, asking for emails to Lanoga demanding an immediate ban on sale of wood from Interfor! Below is the alert, as well as a press release from Greenpeace and press coverage of their protest from Reuters.
As Betty, the courageous Canadian grandmother, wrote while in prison: "We need a revolution in our forests... the alternatives are complete corporate rule and a trashed, logging -induced desert of a continent to leave to our grandchildren." Get those emails out and keep involved in this exciting campaign!
g.b.
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
ITEM #1
Title: Italy and Hong Kong Interfor actions
Source: Greenpeace International
Date: February 16, 2001
For Immediate Release
Hong Kong - Greenpeace today took its message about Canadian rainforest destruction to Government House in Hong Kong. While Prime Minister Chretien was inside discussing trade issues, activists outside constructed a four-tonne wall of ancient rainforest lumber clearcut by International Forest Products (Interfor). Greenpeace is urging the Hong Kong government and businesses not to buy rainforest destruction from Canada.
While the Chinese government is taking substantial steps to protect the country's last remaining ancient forests, the market for Canadian wood products has increased in Hong Kong and China. In 1999, Hong Kong and China were the world's third largest purchasers of Canadian pulp, paper, newsprint and lumber, with sales totaling $690 million. Greenpeace in China has begun a public awareness campaign to highlight the fact that while China has protected it's ancient forests, their demand for wood is causing the destruction of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest and other global ecological treasures.
"At present, when companies buy forest products from Canadian logging companies such as Interfor, they are buying rainforest destruction. Their purchases support the devastation of some of the world's most endangered forests. Their purchasing dollars are fueling the chainsaws," said Catherine Stewart, Greenpeace Canada forest campaigner.
Ancient forests around the world are rapidly being destroyed. One- half of the earth's original forests are gone, much of which was destroyed in the last 30 years. Only one-fifth of the planet's original forest cover remains in large tracts of relatively undisturbed forest - tracts that are large enough to still support wide-ranging species such as grizzly bears and wolves.
"The Forest Practices Code in British Columbia is woefully inadequate as it fails to ensure logging is done in a responsible and ecologically sound manner. The government of Canada is failing to enforce its own Fisheries Act and failing to protect endangered species. And both levels of government have made false claims over the years about their commitment to protect forests and biodiversity. The ongoing destruction must be stopped before it's too late," Stewart added.
Much of British Columbia's old growth rainforest has already been destroyed. There are fragments remaining on Vancouver Island, but the largest, intact, unprotected area of temperate rainforest in the world is the Great Bear Rainforest. Standing at 3.2 million hectares it is about 32 times Hong Kong's total area. Much of this area is slated for clearcut logging in the next 5 to 10 years.
"We want Hong Kong and China to realise the true environmental cost of their forest product purchases. Canada should live up to its international commitments and protect significant, representative tracts of these globally endangered forests. Any responsible government or customer should demand wood products that are derived only from truly sustainable, ecologically responsible forest practices," said Leon Ko of Greenpeace China.
"The Chinese government should take the lead and phase out the import of forest products derived from non-sustainable logging practices anywhere in the world," Ko stressed. "Canada should outlaw destructive logging practices and take immediate actions to protect rare and endangered forests." ./page2
Meanwhile in Italy, a team of 40 Greenpeace activists boarded the Norwegian flagged vessel MV "Star Harmonia", while it was entering the harbour of Livorno. The ship was said to be carrying several thousand tonnes of pulp from the companies Norske Skog and Canfor, both major buyers of Interfor wood extracted from British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest. Four swimmers placed themselves in front of the ship to prevent it from docking while others opened a banner: DO NOT DESTROY THE ANCIENT FORESTS. Other activists chained themselves to the buoys.
"Italy is the fourth largest pulp importer from British Columbia, with annual imports of 191 million dollars," said Sergio Baffoni from Greenpeace Italy. "This pulp is destined for Italian paper mills producing goods such as paper tissues and toilet paper. We are literally flushing these last temperate rainforest down the toilet. Greenpeace urges the Italian industry to stop using pulp from companies that do business with Interfor."
The ship eventually left port, unable to unload its cargo. Eleven activists have been detained by Italian authorities.
- ends -
For more information, please contact: In Vancouver: Gavin Edwards (604) 253-7701 ext. 16 or cell: (604) 761-4782 In Hong Kong: Catherine Stewart 011 852 9549 1699 or Leon Ko at 011 852 9223 1013 In Italy: Sergio Baffoni: 011 39 0333 644 8922 Or visit www.greenpeace.org
ITEM #2
Title: Greenpeace tries to upstage Canadian PM's Hong Kong visit
Source: Copyright 2001, Reuters
Date: February 16, 2001
Greenpeace activists tried to upstage Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien's visit to Hong Kong on Friday with a protest calling for an end to excessive logging and destruction of Canada's temperate rainforests.
Chretien, who flew in late on Thursday for the last leg of his nine- day China tour, met Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa and top civil servants on Friday morning at Government House, the seat of Hong Kong's former British colonial masters.
Arriving in a motorcade of some 20 cars, Chretien was treated to the sight of the environmentalists in bright orange overalls outside the mansion, holding aloft a giant green banner with the words: "Ancient forest destruction. We don't buy it."
Chretien is not expected to raise with Hong Kong leaders the politically sensitive issue of human rights as he did with Chinese leaders in Beijing.
Instead, business will dominate Chretien's agenda with the expected signing of some 30 deals between Hong Kong and Canadian businesses on Saturday covering education, small and medium-sized enterprises, high-technology and aerospace.
Accompanied by most of Canada's provincial premiers, international trade minister and a 600-strong trade delegation, more deals may be concluded before Chretien leaves on Sunday.
Canada is Hong Kong's 11th largest export market and 20th largest import source. In 1999, Canadian exports to Hong Kong totaled US$712 million, while imports from Hong Kong stood at C$1.3 billion.
Contracts and letters of intent worth C$5 billion Canadian dollars were signed between Chinese and Canadian businesses in Beijing on Tuesday.
ITEM #3
Title: HELP CONVINCE LANOGA CO. TO STOP BUYING WOOD FROM THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST!
Source: ForestEthics
Date: February 2, 2001
Last week, a great grandmother was released from her one-year sentence for the "crime" of standing on a logging road to protest the liquidation of BC's irreplaceable Great Bear Rainforest.
Meanwhile, the corporation she's been protesting, International Forest Products (Interfor) continues to ravage the last intact valleys in British Columbia. Interfor has been logging the Great Bear Rainforest, the world largest remaining temperate rainforest. Interfor's logging is the biggest reason that the Great Bear Rainforest is endangered.
Read her letter and then write Lanoga Corporation at mailto:bmarvin@lanoga.com to keep their promise to stop selling wood from endangered forests by immediately banning wood from Interfor!
LETTER FROM A BRITISH COLUMBIAN JAIL: November 29, 2000
"I'm writing from prison, a long way from the mists and moss of the ancient forests in British Columbia that I have been imprisoned for trying to protect. British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Glen Parrett has sentenced me to one year in prison without parole. My crime? I stepped out on a road in the Elaho Valley to stop the logging trucks of International Forest Products (Interfor). (The Elaho contains thousand-year old trees and is home to the southern- most population of grizzly bears on the west coast of north America.)
"A solid year is a big whack out of a 72-year-old great-grandmother's remaining years, but I accepted that possibility the morning I stood on the road to try to protect some of the last intact temperate rainforests on the planet. At 72, some people think I'm too old to risk a jail sentence, but I tell them the temperate rainforests are a lot more fragile than I am and at much greater risk.
"These coastal Canadian forests are among the most rare and most endangered forests on earth. I will do what I can to protect them. We need a revolution in our forests. Here in British Columbia tree farm' licences are still given out to the largest corporations. Not only do they get the right to liquidate our ancient forests, but taxpayers have to pay for cleaning up the mess they leave behind in the forests and salmon streams. And, to add insult to injury, we have to pay for the lengthy mass trials brought against protesters like me, but which are speedily taken over by the government - which in turn results in lengthy prison sentences also paid for by the taxpayers. The eco- systems on this continent are extremely fragile. And so is democracy. If we really want these twin wonders, these incredible gifts that make life worth living, then we must fight for them over and over again. If we don't, the alternatives are complete corporate rule and a trashed, logging -induced desert of a continent to leave to our grandchildren. These forests are a global treasure and a legacy to the planet. I want to be home with my family. But I'm prepared to spend a year of my remaining life in jail for the crime' of defending these ancient forests from the corporate clearcutters. Please, will you spend 10 minutes of your time to help as well? Write to the CEO of Lanoga. Ask them to protect Canada's remaining temperate rainforests from the ravages of industrial logging. Ask them for a moratorium on logging these last intact valleys. And please ask them to stop criminalising people trying to stop the destruction."
Betty Krawczyk, was recently released from the Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women.
ACTION ALERT JANUARY 31, 2001
Logging companies have been clearcutting their way across British Columbia at the rate of one acre of ancient forest every 66 seconds. In the coastal temperate rainforests, logging will penetrate every untouched and unprotected rainforest watershed within the next ten years.
According to the World Resources Institute, temperate rainforests are one of the most endangered forest types on earth. U.S. demand for forest products is the driving force behind the destruction of the last remaining old growth temperate rainforests.
Over the past year, public outcry has successfully convinced eight of the top ten US wood retailers to commit to phase out wood from endangered forests, BUT THEY MUST KEEP THEIR PROMISES OR THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST WILL BE DESTROYED!
One U.S. retailer needs more motivation to keep its promise. Lanoga Corporation, parent company to Lumbermen's, United Builders Centers, Home Lumber Company, and Spenards, has a policy to "eliminate wood from endangered forests", but when asked, has refused to end sales of wood from Interfor, despite the fact that nearly all of Interfor's products come from critically endangered forests.
This is a critical moment in the history of conservation negotiations in BC. Interfor must halt logging in intact rainforest valleys and re-join the conservation solutions negotiations, or lose market access to environmentally responsible retailers.
Let Lanoga's companies know that you expect them to show leadership in protecting the ancient temperate rainforests of coastal British Columbia. Their commitments to end the sale of wood from endangered forests must be put into practice now, not after the magnificent ancient forests are gone forever.
YOU CAN HELP! Visit a Lumbermen's, United Builders Centers, Home Lumber Company, or Spenards near you and ask the store manager why they are still carrying wood from the Great Bear Rainforest. Find a store near you at http://www.lanoga.com/divisions.htm
And, use the form below to send a fax to Lanoga Corporation today!
If you want to get more involved in the campaign call me: Liz Butler 202-319-2404 or email liz@coastalrainforest.org
SAMPLE LETTER TO LANOGA CORPORATION
Michael R. Morehouse, EVP/COO The Lanoga Corporation 17946 NE 65th St. Redmond WA 98052 Tel. 425-882-5897 Fax. 425-882-2959 mailto:bmarvin@lanoga.com
Dear Mr. Morehouse:
I am writing to urge you to immediately seek alternatives to buying wood products sourced from International Forest Products (Interfor), a logging company devastating key endangered forests in British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest.
U.S. demand for forest products is the driving force behind the destruction of the world's last ancient forests. Please join other responsible companies, such as Lowe's and Home Depot, and make good on your promises to protect endangered forests, not hasten their destruction.
Sincerely,
Liz Butler
National Organizer
ForestEthics formerly Coastal Rainforest Coalition
202-319-2404 work
202-285-6758 cell
509-471-6884 fax
liz@coastalrainforest.org
5215 Ballard Ave. NW
Seattle, WA 98107
###RELAYED TEXT ENDS###
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving forest conservation informational materials for educational, personal and non-commercial use only. Recipients should seek permission from the source to reprint this PHOTOCOPY. All efforts are made to provide accurate, timely pieces, though ultimate responsibility for verifying all information rests with the reader. For additional forest conservation news & information please see the Forest Conservation Portal at URL= http://forests.org/ Networked by Forests.org, Inc., grbarry@students.wisc.edu