Documentary Reflection
November 28, 2023 By: Kelsey Kozak
The article I have chosen to write about is regarding a situation that happened during the 2023 Bush Creek Fires just east of Kamloops, my hometown, earlier this year. The B.C. Wildfire service temporarily re-assigned wildfire fighting crews, while protesters tried to ‘overwhelm’ the RCMP Blockade, that had the road shut down to the area. The BC Wildfire service received reports from RCMP the area was unsafe for wildfire personnel. The protesters motives were unknown other than they did not believe the RCMP was legally allowed to block access to the road, preventing them from using it. While some residents decided to disobey wildfire evacuation orders, to say back and protect their property with their own firefighting means, officials in the BC interior warned they are putting their lives at risk as well as “compromising firefighting strategies”. I don’t believe the protest brought any positive change to the situation, if anything further exacerbating useful resources in a dire time of need for the province. In a situation where someone decides to stay to defend their own property is their personnel prerogative. I don’t believe these protesters were returning to the area to do so, moreover they could’ve potentially caused more harm to the area; looting, further ignition of fires or potentially more.
Civil Disobedience:
The old growth logging protest at Fairy Creek in 2021 is now being known to be the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian History [1]. The public is attempting to take action against the government, who has refused to act on protecting old growth forests, and protecting the ecosystems surrounding it. The RCMP states that “Anyone found to be aiding or abetting those breaching the B.C. Supreme Court injunction can also be charged”. While the protests seemed to temporality halt logging, by way of blockade and deferral of logging in the area, there is no long-term action. These protests may have seen a short-term positive impact, by voicing the opinions and voices of local first nation communities. If anything, these protests and acts of civil disobedience at Fairy Creek show parallels to the story shared in the documentary “If a Tree Falls: A story of the Earth Liberation Front”. While the fairy creek protests seemed to be a more “peaceful” act of Civil disobedience. Daniel McGowan and members of ELF took things to the next level by acts of eco-terrorism and committing arson. Most notably an incredible amount of government resources had to be used in both instances to stop and arrest these movements.
[2] Curry, Marshall. Director, writer, producer, and Sam Cullman, Co-Director, Producer. “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front.” 2011. Marshall curry Productions, 1:25:40.