FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY: As hunger strike enters 9th day, people rally for a
moratorium on clearcutting
WHAT: Rally for a temporary moratorium on clear cutting, in support of
hunger strike
WHEN: Tuesday, March 16, 12noon
WHERE: Province House, 1726 Hollis Street, Kjipuktuk/Halifax
WHY: Critical Habitats for Endangered Species are being destroyed while
necessary reforms are delayed
As Jacob Fillmore enters his 9th day of hunger strike on the steps of
Province House, people are rallying to support his demand of an
immediate temporary moratorium on clearcutting on crown lands in Nova
Scotia. This moratorium would stop the destruction of critical habitat
until reforms intended to protect these areas could be fully
implemented.
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BACKGROUND:
Since last October, environmental groups have been taking bold actions
to stop clearcutting on critically endangered Mainland Moose habitat.
Two blockades were set up along logging roads to directly stop the
destruction of this land, but after 2 months, a court injunction
effectively allowed the arrest and removal of the forest protectors.
Since their arrest, forest defender Jacob Fillmore has camped out on
Grand Parade Square and in front of Province house to protest the
government’s lack of action on protecting this critical habitat. After
12 weeks of this outdoor protest, Fillmore has now escalated his tactics
by refusing food until this temporary moratorium is put in place.
38,000 people have signed a petition asking for a halt to clearcutting
in the area the blockades were protecting. Additionally, the Department
of Lands has received around 10,000 postcards demanding a moratorium on
clearcutting. The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs also sent a
letter to the Minister of Lands and Forestry demanding “that any
operation at Fourth Lake halt until a full mainland moose assessment is
done.” The same letter stated that “so-called ‘clear-cutting methods” –
low retention, single age management – should only be prescribed in
extremely exceptional circumstances.”
