Old growth rally at David Eby’s office!
Oct. 19, 2022
Last night, news broke that the B.C. NDP is holding a vote in just a few short hours where they'll likely decide to disqualify climate champion Anjali Appadurai from the party's leadership race, leaving just one candidate in the race.
It’s now almost a guarantee that the next Premier of B.C. will be David Eby – granting him the power to tackle the many intersecting crises facing people across this province. But when he first put his name forward for this position, he said he wouldn't be making big changes to the Horgan government.
We cannot allow status quo politics to continue. November 2 will mark a year since the province released maps outlining which areas should be urgently protected, but the most rare, at-risk old growth is still falling. And in some key cases, this logging is happening to pave the way for fracked gas and tar sands pipelines, including Coastal GasLink in Wet’suwet’en territory. David Eby has been meeting with his constituents for the last two years about the old growth crisis, and has told them time and again that he is supportive of stopping old growth logging. But now it’s his turn to really deliver.
Here is all you need to know:What: Rally – David Eby: Will you stop old growth logging now? Hosted by: Local constituents and Stand.earth
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The climate crisis isn’t at our doorstep – it’s moved in. We need an overhaul of current status quo policies and approaches to address that, while tackling all the overlapping issues that are connected at the root. The system that dishonours Indigenous rights and sovereignty and has allowed old growth to be razed to the ground is the same system that’s enabling the expansion of fossil fuels.
Coastal GasLink (CGL) is a prime example of that. Our most recent research found that stands of old growth have been logged close to the Wedzin Kwa (the river that is sacred to the Wet’suwet’en people) specifically to make way for the CGL fracked gas pipeline. In fact, TransCanada – which owns CGL – is ranked number 4 on the list of corporations with logging permits for the most at-risk remaining old growth.
The gas being transported through the CGL pipeline is first extracted on Treaty 8 territory in Northeastern B.C. And as you may know, the fracking process brings devastating impacts for the land, water and people living in this area. If we don’t also fight to end fracking in B.C., old growth will continue to be logged for fossil fuel expansion, Indigenous rights will remain threatened, and the climate and our communities will suffer.
That’s why we are committed to raising these overlapping issues at next week’s rally to protect old growth. If the B.C. government kept its promise to protect old growth, laying this pipeline in the ground alongside the Wedzin Kwa shouldn’t even be possible. And now is the time to communicate this message loud and clear. David Eby’s constituents have been vigilant in bringing our collective demands to his table, and this is our moment to stand with them and amplify their efforts.
This incredible Stand.earth community is growing by the day, and it’s been so heartening to witness the frontline resistance building across the province. Thousands of you have stood in solidarity with land defenders by writing emails, making phone calls, meeting with your MLAs and rallying in the streets. We have come so far on this file in spite of the frustrating pace. Lasting change takes time. If we keep at it, we’re confident that we’ll see a long awaited transition away from old growth logging to forestry management that enshrines Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
Let’s not forget that the Stand community is now over half a million people strong and growing. With this much people power, we know we can keep incredible old growth forests off the chopping block and build a just future for all.
Thank you for rising up,
Tegan Hansen
Senior Forest Campaigner
Stand.earth
