Both sides of the old growth logging issue came to a head in Campbell River on Thursday morning.
What was originally going to be a small demonstration against logging old growth in solidarity with the campers at Fairy Creek, expanded as a counter-protest of pro-forest industry supporters who came out in numbers.
While both sides were adamant in their convictions, the majority acknowledged that there needed to be a middle ground struck between the two camps.
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B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not deforestation, we practice forestry,B次元官网网址� said Carl Sweet, who had come out in support of the industry.
Sweet was speaking with Rod Burns, who supported stopping old growth logging. Burns explained his side, saying: B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not against logging, weB次元官网网址檙e against current forestry practices.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ou have a sign that says B次元官网网址楩orestry Feeds My Family,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he continued. B次元官网网址淲ell forestry feeds ALL families.B次元官网网址�
Both convoys made their way from the Logger Mike statue in Spirit Square to MLA Michele BabchukB次元官网网址檚 office. Babchuk was not present in Campbell River at the time. A sizeable contingent from the forestry side of the debate brought two logging trucks, along with a large number of demonstrators to counter protest.
City councillors Charlie Cornfield, Kermit Dahl, Ron Kerr, Sean Smyth and Colleen Evans were present, with City of Campbell River-branded placards proclaiming their support for the industry.
While tensions did not boil over into violence, many demonstrators from either side argued and debated their points in the street in front of BabchukB次元官网网址檚 office. The old growth protectors took up the space in front of BabchukB次元官网网址檚 office, while the counter protesters stood in the street in front of the building. The two logging trucks were parked in front of the office for some time, but moved on to allow traffic to flow.
However, not everyone was in agreement. Charlie Forrester came out in support of logging, said that B次元官网网址渋n my opinion, environmentalists have no place at the table.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淯ntil they stop all this with the harassment, intimidation and threats of violence, they have no place at the table,B次元官网网址� he added.
Richard Hagensen, from the old growth defence side, said, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really important to say that weB次元官网网址檙e not against logging. WeB次元官网网址檙e against old growth logging. ThereB次元官网网址檚 lots of second growth and third growth that can be logged. It will involve building more sawmillsB次元官网网址� to process that lumber here.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in the hands of a small handful of large logging companies that are basically ruling the roost and in charge of most of the logging in B.C. Things have to change.B次元官网网址�
Hagensen, a representative of the Campbell River Council of Canadians chapter, left a letter at BabchukB次元官网网址檚 office calling on the government to defer logging in all high productivity, rare and intact old growth forest.
After roughly an hour, the two protests ended and people dispersed.
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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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