Exercise 4

January 25, 2025 By: Riley Greer

Links: https://www.thenarwhal.ca/bc-logging-without-authorization

https://www.cbc.ca/radiointeractives/features/the-fallout-of-fairy-creek 

An issue that has been taking place across the province of BC in recent years has been logging companies harvesting on land they lack authorization to cut on. According to the report I found, over 170 infractions occurred across the province between 2021 and 2024. It is clear to me that the province has not punished these corporations in ways that would curb this kind of reckless behaviour. Many of these large industrial corporations feel they are above the law, they can harvest wherever they feel fit. It is frustrating to see how widespread the issue is in the province. These companies harvesting just out of their blocks, in what they call small amounts, leads to a slippery slope. If they are continually mildly punished for these infractions, they will become emboldened, taking more and more with each passing year, only exacerbating the problem. 

Civil disobedience has not occurred due to this illegal harvesting. Maybe the most prolific example of civil disobedience in the province occurred in 2021 on Vancouver Island with the Fairy Creek protests. Despite protests lasting for months, many of the objectives of the protestors didn’t come to fruition. They successfully managed to slow the harvesting of the old growth forest, and get temporary deferrals for some old growth, but the key areas they were attempting to protect have been logged in the years since the protests. This is a similar outcome to that of the ELF in “If A Tree Falls”. Despite the arson attacks the group committed, they were unable to create any long term changes in any of the companies they targeted. This is why I believe these acts of civil disobedience are commendable, yet doomed to fail. The “enemy” these people are facing are simply too large and powerful, with too many resources for small disenfranchised groups to make much of a difference. Perhaps it simply takes more individuals to join these acts to have real power. Despite the sizes of both the Fairy Creek protests and the ones shown in the film, these acts are still of a rather small scale.