Sometimes a picture is worth a 1000 words. Nova Scotia artist Virve Whiteway created this wonderfully intricate editorial cartoon on the issues raised by Jacob Fillmore and the response by Lands and Forestry minister Chuck Porter.
Violet Rosengarten interviewed Jacob Fillmore on the 15th day of his hunger strike. “I think the future could go one of two ways. We could be living in an idyllic world where everyone is provided for or a post-apocalyptic hellscape.”
Letter to Minister Chuck Porter: “I am Sasha Fillmore, I am 14 years old. My brother Jacob Fillmore has been protesting for almost 4 months. He camped in a tent in the middle of winter. He has had rallies, petitions and he has even gone on a hunger strike for 23 days. If that isn’t enough to get your attention, I’d like to know what would.”
After occupying a Lands and Forestry office in Halifax, and her subsequent arrest, Kathrin Winkler writes an open letter to Minister Chuck Porter, the man in charge.
“And then the free-for all began, harvesting this last great wood basket in the most biodiversity rich and carbon storage rich area of Nova Scotia…” Biologist David Patriquin gives anti-clearcutting protesters at Province House a concise history lesson on the last 15 years of plunder and the forestry policies that supported it.
After 23 days Jacob Fillmore is ending his hunger strike in support of a temporary clearcutting moratorium. But it ended with a bang, with rallies and government office occupations across Nova Scotia, with organizers warning the government that there is much more to come.
Marian Whitcomb on the need for an undiluted Biodiversity Act. “Passing this act is not a path to government overreach. It is the only path to saving our forests from what is to come. If we give no one the responsibility and the authority to protect our greatest treasure…no one will do the hard stuff. Our traditional native food sources are diminishing fast, and not just in the forests.”
“Mr. Porter, my son has not eaten for 18 days. It is ludicrous that it takes these extreme measures to (not) even get a meeting. I hope you will forgive me for my language; surely you can imagine that I am feeling quite emotional about this.”
After committing to meeting Jacob Fillmore yesterday, minister Chuck Porter changed his mind and quickly left town this morning.
There were some 150 people at today’s anti-clearcut protest at Province House, much more than double the number of people who showed up for last week’s rally. Momentum is growing, but maddeningly, on this 16th day into Jacob Fillmore’s hunger strike, the stakes are getting much higher as well. 16 days is a very long time not to eat solid food.