Exercise 4
February 16, 2023 By: Siyuan Ge
One of the current environmental issues in British Columbia (BC) is the logging of old-growth forests, particularly in the Fairy Creek watershed on Vancouver Island. This has led to protests and blockades by Indigenous leaders, environmentalists, and concerned citizens. The government of BC has announced a deferral of logging in some areas, but many are calling for a permanent end to old-growth logging. More information can be retrieved from the article B.C. government announces additional logging deferrals for at-risk old-growth trees with the linkhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/old-growth-deferrals-bc-april-2022-1.6406017
This recent announcement by the B.C. government includes additional temporary measures to protect the province’s old-growth trees. Approximately 1.05 million hectares of forests at risk of irreversible loss will now be off-limits to logging for at least two years, with new deferrals covering 619,000 hectares (Pawson, 2022). The deferral process was announced in September 2020 to better manage old-growth trees and the land around them to protect biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Despite this, the government of BC has been criticized for its slowness and lack of transparency in taking action on the issue. The protests and blockades at Fairy Creek reflect a growing concern among many British Columbians about the impact of industrial activities on the natural environment. The logging industry provides jobs and economic benefits, but environmentalists argue that old-growth forests are crucial for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and tourism.
I support the protest and blockade launched by Indigenous leaders, environmentalists, and concerned citizens and also believe that the logging of the old-growth should be banned due to the social and ecological significance of these old-growth trees and the role civil disobedience has played in the history of environmentalism.
From an ecological perspective, old-growth forests are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, many of which are unique and not found elsewhere. Logging these forests would cause irreversible damage to the ecosystem, leading to the loss of many plant and animal species. Old-growth forests are also important carbon sinks, meaning they absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Protecting these forests can help mitigate the impacts of climate change by reducing carbon emissions.
From a cultural perspective, old-growth forests hold immense cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous communities, who have relied on them for generations for food, medicine, and other resources. Logging these forests would not only damage the environment but also disrespect and disregard the cultural significance of these places.
Considering the role that civil disobedience has played in the history of environmentalism, protests and blockades launched by Indigenous leaders, environmentalists, and concerned citizens can draw public attention and turn crises into opportunities. The documentary “How to Change the World: The Revolution Will Not Be Organized” by Jerry Rothwell demonstrates that protest campaigns and civil disobedience are powerful movements that can initiate changes and promote non-conventional means to solve the problem. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, for example, led to the passing of the first National Environmental Policy Act.
In addition to the protest blockades against the logging of old-growth forests in the Fairy Creek watershed in BC province, there is another ongoing protest against the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in northern British Columbia, Canada. The pipeline, which is being built by TC Energy, would transport natural gas from the province’s northeast to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the coast, but it would also cross through Wet’suwet’en territory, a First Nations community ( Proctor & Trumpener, 2022).
The protests, which began in 2019, include blockades of roads and rail lines and have resulted in several arrests. The protesters argue that the pipeline would have negative environmental impacts and would violate Indigenous sovereignty and land rights. They are calling for the pipeline to be halted and for the rights of Indigenous communities to be respected( Proctor & Trumpener, 2022).
The protests have drawn international attention and have led to discussions about the balance between economic development and environmental and Indigenous rights. The case has also highlighted the importance of Indigenous-led resistance in the fight against climate change and the need for reconciliation and collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in environmental decision-making.
References
Pawson, C. (2022, April 2). B.C. government announces additional logging deferrals for at-risk old-growth trees | CBC news. CBCnews. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/old-growth-deferrals-bc-april-2022-1.6406017
Proctor, J., & Trumpener , B. (2022, December 13). Coastal Gaslink protesters sentenced after pleading guilty to criminal contempt | CBC news. CBCnews. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/coastal-gaslink-protestors-contempt-1.6679244