Before North America was found by the Europeans, while we were still living in the dark ages.
Through storms and fires, while the world was busy with many wars and went through many famines, through droughts and disasters.
The silent witness withstood so many things, and grew and flourished for 1000 years. A home to many other creatures, and part of one of the last standing rainforest's of the world......
Until last week, when a logging company downed an ancient treasure.
Sunshine Coast Citizens Concerned with Responsible Development
Some of the local citizens are not taking this lying down, its no longer only the tragedy of the decimation of one of the worlds rainforest's, its also about the public health.
The BC Government has been selling licenses to logging companies, in many old growth and sensitive areas. One being the Chapman Creek Watershed on the Sunshine Coast of BC.
The watershed supplies drinking water to 23,000 residents on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver, and they're worried how logging will affect their water quality, he said.
snip
The group wanted the Sunshine Coast Regional District board to issue a stop-work order to Western Forest Products, but the board said it won't do that unless there's concrete evidence that water quality is being compromised.
Logging threatens drinking water in Sechelt: protesters
At this point the Board of Health has "requested" that Western Forest Products, stop logging until all the data is in, the company has refused.
Photo by Garth Lenz From the site: Friends of Clayquot sound.
From a letter in the local paper:
There is a peaceful protest planned from 11am to 1 pm on Saturday the 4th, at the Chapman creek bridge, just before Davis Bay. (Thats on the main highway that covers the lower Sunshine Coast. Between Gibsons and Sechelt.)
All the organizations that are involved in protesting the logging in the Chapman Creek watershed, are urging that no one do anything dangerous, or put anyone in danger.
That's very important to remember, as this is going to heat up very quickly.
In a new development this afternoon:
Western Forest Products has voluntarily halted its logging operation in the Chapman Creek Watershed. Sunshine Coast Regional District Chairman Ed Steeves made the announcement at 5:00 pm this afternoon to demonstrators waiting outside the Board's meeting room. The SCRD called an emergency meeting at 10:00 this morning to discuss in camera the public's increasing vocal demand that the Board of Health issue an immediate stop work order to WFP. Demonstrators believe the motion passed by Gibsons Town Council earlier in the morning imploring the SCRD Board to immediately iissue a stop work order had an impact. According to demonstrators, the SCRD alternated its role as regional government and as a Health Board throughout the 7 hour meeting.
SAVE OUR WATERSHED
Lets hope that this is a sign they are ready to listen.
Thanks to the Government of BC, for putting corporate and money interests ahead of the lives and safety of the people of British Columbia. Heckuva job.
The silent witness, to 1000 years. Was gone in the blink of an eye.
Amazing facts about temperate rainforest's
Land and Resource Management Plan Essential for Sustainability
Crossposted at A Creative Revolution