Day 28 of RCMP enforcement, 222 arrests and counting

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Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00

Written by editor

We are honoured to do this work as guests on traditional territory of the Pacheedaht and Ditidaht First Nations. We work with utmost respect for the land and all its relations, human and nonhuman.
We're not standing down
Despite last week's announcement by the Province of British Columbia, which defers logging in key areas in Fairy Creek and the Central Walbran, the majority of what we've been defending is still on the chopping block. Because this announcement will convince many people that the fight is over, we need you now more than ever.

RCMP enforcement continues, with increasingly dangerous extractions of land defenders, including teenagers. Today the RCMP sent 47 overt officers, at least two special ops officers in camo in the woods, and an unknown number of undercover officers to arrest eight forest defenders. Despite set-backs earlier in the week and ongoing police intimidation and arrests, WE HAVE HELD OUR GROUND! Brave forest defenders of all ages continue to delay industry by chaining themselves to the earth, to logs, to gates, to each other, and suspending themselves high above the earth at the tops of their beloved trees or up in tripods. On Friday, hereditary leadership travelled from Fairy Creek to Victoria to join hundreds of supporters on the steps of the legislature. They expressed their outrage at the BCNDP for its ongoing colonial violence and for failing to act on the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review.
Elder Bill Jones has said unequivocally that now is not the time to stand down.
In the past few days we lost Eden camp, and logging is happening up 2000 road. We need more people - please join us on the ground. If you can't come to camp, look for a local action in your area below.

Thank you for standing strong with us.
COME TO CAMP We need your help. Please forward this to any friends or family you feel would like to be involved or learn more. This newsletter will be a source of new information about this once-in-a-lifetime movement. JOIN OUR LIST Support land defenders on the ground. DONATE TO RFS DONATE TO SUPPORT INDIGENOUS LAND DEFENDERS UPCOMING EVENTS + ACTIONS

• SUN JUNE 13, VANCOUVER: Hunger Strike for Old Growth
• SUN JUNE 13, TORONTO: Fairy Creek Solidarity Rally
• SUN, JUNE 13, TOFINO: Protect Old Growth Forests
• SAT JUNE 19, ONLINE: Summer Blessings Fundraiser

What does the deferral do?
In Fairy Creek watershed itself, the deferral only impacts one km of approved road building at the headwaters. However, in the greater adjacent intact rainforest area surrounding Fairy Creek, currently 40 hectares of old growth logging and over five km of road building is already approved. Large-scale logging could still occur in old-growth forest directly adjacent to Fairy Creek, and in parts of the Central Walbran not included in the deferral.

The new deferral in the Central Walbran only impacts 14.6 of the 21.6 hectares of old-growth logging approved in the Central Walbran, and only impacts 0.5 km of the 4.3 km of approved road building in the central valley.

In his press conference the Premier stated that “all of the old growth” in the Central Walbran and Fairy Creek would be protected. If Premier Horgan had been serious about protecting these areas, he would have included a 2,080-hectare deferral at Fairy Creek (containing the entire rainforest contiguous with the valley) and a 2,600 hectare deferral in the Central Walbran.

About Rainforest Flying Squad

The Rainforest Flying Squad is a volunteer-driven, grassroots, non-violent direct-action movement, committed to protecting the last stands of globally significant ancient temperate rainforest on Vancouver Island. The Rainforest Flying Squad/LastStandforForests stands in solidarity with Elder Bill Jones and other members of the Pacheedaht First Nation who want the forests protected.

More information at laststandforforests.com.

Photos by Mike Graeme + Owen Perry

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