[news] Cattermole Destroys Elk Creek Tree Sit

[resist collective]

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday December 23rd
Cattermole Destroys Elk Creek Tree Sit as Trucks Ordered Off of Nixon Road

Early this morning Cattermole employees carried out their orders to
destroy  the Elk Creek tree sit.  This callous act was carried out while
the forest  protectors continued their efforts to inform Nixon road
residents of the  danger posed to them by Cattermole's
undisclosed plans to haul 800 huge logging trucks down their narrow, windy
  road.

The tree sit had already lost its strategic relevance, having 
accomplished its goal of preventing the construction of a proposed 
logging road at the top of Marble Hill.

"This clearly malicious act was further evidence that Cattermole Timber
has  as little regard for diversity of opinion as it does for the
ecological  diversity it is crushing at Elk Creek," said Jen Harris from
the forest  protection camp.

Meanwhile, Cattermole was being ordered by the City of Chilliwack to 
halt logging operations on Nixon road until a new public input forum 
could take place at City Hall.  This development vindicates the position 
of forest defenders and the EC3 that Cattermole's industrial logging 
operations at the  top of Nixon road are an illegal and dangerous 
attempt to circumvent the  public input process.

Forest protector Stefan Schmidt said "Cattermole has blown its cover 
this time.  It is now plain to see that they consider public input, 
safety, and the interests of the local people to be merely an 
inconvenience that should  be ignored, if at all possible."

In spite of all this, the RCMP continued to act as personal escorts for
Cattermole trucks while suppressing the political expression of 
concerned people.  They have failed to lay charges over violent assaults 
in which people were injured, but have acted swiftly to manhandle and 
intimidate protesters. The police have repeatedly acted with force to 
help Cattermole Timber turn a quick profit, while declaring open season 
to attack forest defenders.

Nearly two months after formal complaints were filed, no charges have 
been laid against loggers who assaulted non-violent forest protectors 
with a
bundle of metal spikes and forcibly stole and destroyed a video camera 
and eye-glasses.

"Something is terribly wrong here," said forest protector Marissa 
Bourgeois. "The property and profits of a corporation are receiving 
higher police priority than the physical safety of people who have been 
attacked and injured.  The Constitutionaly protected Right to Protest is 
being trampelled  on by police who are protecting an illegal and 
dangerous industrial  operation. "

A lone forest protector sleeping in the camp was awoken by three
Cattermole  employees carrying their axes.  The forest workers had
recently been  legislated back to work from an IWA strike action
attempting to protect  wages and benefits like pay for travel time to
remote sites.  A crew of six  disciplined workers, who said they had 
been called to work late the previous  night, proceeded to fell the tree 
sit, cut up the climbing ropes, then to  'select' and slay the best of 
the trees in the area.

Two vehicles used by forest protectors on Nixon road were found, after
short  periods of travel, to have flat tires.  The CAA worker who 
repaired the tire  said that the valve had been "deliberately tampered 
with."  By the time  forest protectors could return to their camp, the 
whole area, habitat to  four endangered species, was in shambles.  Trees 
lay uprooted across what  was once a clear-flowing stream.  Many of the 
trees left standing bore large  scars from the impact of falling trees, 
and a beetle was already observed  attacking one such wound.

Some large trees fell within 20 meters of the tents in the camp, with 
one crashing tree showering the lone forest defender with debris. 
Workers are prohibited by Worker Compensation Board Safety Regulations 
from falling within two tree lengths (or 90 meters) of other people.
Now is a critical time to say enough is enough!  We cannot continue to
allow  profit-driven corporations to pillage our planet's sacred life
support  systems.  With the last intact ecosystems and the potential for
reaching a  meaningful resolution to First Nations' Title issues hanging
in the balance,  it is high time that we overhaul our approach to 
forests in a way that  acknowledges First Nations' Title and culture, 
ecosystem health, recreation,  and community jobs secured by sustainable 
long-term forest practices. Decision makers in BC must wake up and act 
swiftly to resolve this  long-standing issue.

It is not too late to plot a better course for the pristine old-growth
headwaters of Elk Creek, Dunville and Nevin Creeks, and undeveloped
Chipmunk  Ridge.  Our common future depends on our ability to respond
quickly and  sincerely to the profound challenges posed by the broader
ecological and  social crises that are manifesting themselves so
poignantly in Elk Creek.

Released by the Elk Creek Action Group.

For more information contact:
Elk Creek Action Group - Marissa Bourgeois    604-689-5076  (leave a
message)
Cheam elder June Quipp                604-794-5715
Elk Creek Conservation Coalition
Diane Moen 604-794-3812,  Verna Pigou 604-794-3111
Western Canada Wilderness Committee -  604-683-8220,  604-880-2580