[Indigsol] Thurs Jan 13, noon - Save Ottawa's old-growth forest!

[ipsmo at riseup.net]

PROTECT THE BEAVER POND FOREST IN KANATA

We demand the City of Ottawa, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and
the Province of Ontario to hold the development of the Beaver Pond Forest!

The Beaver Pond Forest is on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin
Territory.  All levels of the government - the City of Ottawa, the NCC and
the Province of Ontario must respect the requests of the Algonquin First
Nation communities as well as the local Ottawa community to do a full
archeological assessment of possible medicine wheels and artifacts dated
back 10,000 years ago.


~~ RALLY! ~~
Noon, Thurs Jan 13
Meet at the Human Rights Monument, Elgin at Lisgar, next to City Hall


GOAL

This is a rally to demand that the City of Ottawa, National Capital
Commission (NCC), and the Province of Ontario step up and do their job:
order Urbandale Corporations and KNL Development Inc. not to clear-cut or
blast any of the Beaver Pond Forest at least until spring when an
archaeological assessment can be re-done.

This is for ecological, archaeological, cultural, spiritual and humane
reasons. All levels of government could halt development based on new
evidence that the archaeological assessment needs to be redone. But none
is taking responsibility. So we are taking action to remind them to do
their jobs and make the City of Ottawa a better place to live, for us now
and for future generations.


PLAN for Thurs Jan 13:

- 12pm (noon): Assemble at the Human Rights Monument at corner of Lisgar &
Elgin, next to City Hall

- Bring your own signs, we also have some made which will be used in a
subsequent Activist Art show (first come, first served ;-)
- statements will be read, letters delivered, songs shared. We will march
to the NCC Office at 40 Elgin Street, past their Info Ctr across from,
Parliament Hill, and end back at City Hall. Exact schedule TBA.
- Be musical (bring instruments & noisemakers!)
- Main Message to City Hall, NCC, & Province: Take Responsibility! Do the
Right Thing: Save Beaver Pond Forest!



MORE INFO

"Some twelve thousand years ago the South March Highlands where the Beaver
Pond Forest is found was an island surrounded by the waters of the ice age
created Champlain Sea. As the water receded, a rich and fertile land
renewed its relationship with the winds. The birds, insects, animals and
people living on the highlands at that time carried the seeds of trees and
also pollen of the island's plant life further and further into their
ever-widening territory." - Algonquin elder Albert Dumont

Now the developers are set to destroy the forest in order to build a
subdivision. The commencement of destruction is immanent - we need to take
a stand NOW!

About the Forest:
http://www.ottawasgreatforest.com/
http://www.southmarchhighlands.ca/

Community voices:
http://the5thc.blogspot.com/
http://candle4kindness.wordpress.com/

A letter from Grandfather William Commanda, Algonquin Elder, to the
relevant public officials:
http://www.ottawasgreatforest.com/Site/Algonquin_Information.html

Details on inadequate environmental assessment & storm waster management
plans: http://renaud.ca/wordpress/?p=716


TAKE ACTION:

Who to write to:
http://www.ottawasgreatforest.com/Site/Contact.html

Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, Jim.Watson at ottawa.ca
Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, dmcguinty.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org
Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of NCC, marie.lemay at ncc-ccn.ca
Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Culture, mchan.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org
Peter Evans, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister for Culture,
Peter.Evans at ontario.ca
Chris Bentley, Ontario Minister of Aboriginal Affairs,
cbentley.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org
Gordon O’Connor, Federal Cabinet Minister and MP for Kanata,
oconng at parl.gc.ca
Norm Sterling, MPP for Kanata, norm.sterlingco at pc.ola

Also write to the developers to hold the development of the Beaver Pond
Forest and do a full archeological assessment of that area:
* Urbandale: mjarvis at urbandale.com - 613-731-6331- http://urbandale.com/corp
* Richcraft: info at richcraft.com - 613-739-7111 - http://richcraft.com

Petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Do-Not-Cut-Beaver-Pond-Forest-or-SMH/

Join the network to help protect this precious land:
- email info at ottawasgreatforest.com and ask to stay updated
- or on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46087029890


UPDATES
Any updates will be on the FB Event page
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155983114454420 - and at
http://candle4kindness.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/save-beaver-pond-forest-rally-at-city-hall-13-january-noon/