Podcasts about wilderness committee

The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Pipeline, if built, would transport Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) 800 km, across 1,000 different waterways. Its approval is based on an inadequate, outdated environmental assessment and the youth of the Gitz'an Nation are not having it.Indigenous activist Drew Harris from the Lax-yip Firekeepers talks about stepping into a role she never imagined for herself after seeing an absence of young voices at the table. She takes us through her journey into activism, and how they've been working to bridge generation gaps, build knowledge and expand their capacity to do more.Their beginning lay in fighting the pipeline, but the youth found that, once provided with a voice, a venue and receptive ears, they had goals way beyond resisting resource extraction.Hosted by: Jessa McLeanCall to Action: Stop the PRGT Petition, via Dogwood BCRelated Episodes:An interview with organizers from Change Course Canada. Drew mentions the supports they've received from this group in their campaign against the PRGT. Climate Justice: Knowing Friend from Foe, is a candid discussion with Torrance Coste of the Wilderness Committee on having to battle even the most progressive politicians in British Columbia.More Resources: PRGT pipeline hit with warning letter for environmental violations | Penicton HeraldPrince Rupert Pipeline Resistance | Watershed SentinelThe Breach: ‘Inherently racist': Wet'suwet'en leader on the crime of defending her landLax'yip Firekeepers Links and ResourcesSkeena Watershed Conservation Coalition

host: James Steidle segment 1: Liam Parfitt, Freya Logging segment 2 - 4: Adam Patrick, Stellat'en First Nation & Doug Casimel, Stellat'en Duchen Forestry segment 5: Cedar George Parker, Wilderness Committee

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - A Federal Court ruled that Canada's Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, failed to protect habitats of at-risk migratory birds in old growth logging areas. Chief Justice Paul Crampton stated the Minister's decision to limit protection to areas where nests were found ‘was neither reasonable or tenable.' “This is specifically about the Minister's duty under the Species At-risk Act to take action to protect areas of critical habitat for at-risk migratory birds. Despite the Species At-Risk act being about 20 years old, we had never seen the Minister actually take any action under this section of the act to protect critical habitat of at-risk migratory birds. At least about 25 species of birds are affected by this section,” explained Andhra Azevedo of Ecojustice, the lead counsel representing Sierra Club BC and the Wilderness Committee. “The federal government had taken the view, through a document called the {, that the duty of the Minister to take action to protect critical habitat only applied to protecting the nests of these birds and not the rest of the habitat that these birds needed to survive and recover. That was what we challenged.” Lawyers for the Canadian government also argued that federal jurisdiction was limited by the division of powers with the provinces, but Justice Crampton found the federal government's actions ‘inconsistent' with the Species At-Risk Act. “This is particularly so where the relevant province has failed to avail itself of opportunities to take protective action in an area of joint responsibility.” Andhra Azevedo: “On February 1st we received the decision of Chief Justice Crampton, of the Federal Court, agreeing with our clients Sierra Club BC and Wilderness Committee, that the Minister's interpretation was not justified. The Species At-Risk Act and the Migratory Birds Protection Laws require the Minister to take action to protect something more than this.” In his Judgement and Reasons, Justice Crampton wrote, “The Applicants state that the Minister did not consider evidence indicating that habitat loss and degradation is a key threat to the survival and recovery of most at-risk migratory birds affected by the Protection Statement. I agree.” Judge Crampton pointed out that in September 2021, the Sierra Club and WIlderness Committee informed the Minister that ‘Marbeled Murrelet populations have continued to decline, despite being listed under the Species At-Risk Act for many years.' The two conservation groups pointed out that, “The majority of the Marbled Murrelet's critical habitat is on provincial lands and that the province of British Columbia had failed to adequately protect that habitat from industrial logging and other activities.”

In January, the Federal Court agreed with Wilderness Committee and others that the federal government had failed in its duty to protect bird habitat under the Species at Risk Act. The court said Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault needs to reconsider protection measures under the legislation. We speak with Charlotte Dawe of Wilderness Committee.

Canada's natural environment is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is home to many unique species of plants and animals and plays an essential role in our daily lives. However, these natural resources are also at risk, with human activities such as logging, mining, and pollution posing a significant threat. That is where the Wilderness Committee comes in. As one of Canada's leading environmental non-profit organizations, the Wilderness Committee is dedicated to protecting and preserving our natural environment. Find out why their work is so critical for the future of Canada's wilderness.   Listen here or find us on your favorite podcast app. Want to suppor Wilderness Committee? https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/

The Federal Minister of Environment's delay in recommending an emergency order for the northern spotted owl's protection has triggered a legal challenge by the Wilderness Committee, represented by Ecojustice Guest: Andhra Azevedo, Staff Lawyer for Ecojustice Canada Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: Our fear of Friday the 13th stems from a mixture of mythology and biblical events, which has only been exacerbated by pop-cultures fixation on its reputation. Guest: Dr. Phillips Stevens Jr., Associate Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Buffalo Seg 2: View From Victoria: We get a local look at the top political stories with the help of Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer. Seg 3: The Weekly Cecchini Check-in Representative Steve Scalise, the chosen Republican nominee for the next Speaker of The U.S. House of Representatives withdrew from the race due to party divisions.  Guest: Reggie Cecchini, Washington Correspondent for Global News Seg 4: The Federal Minister of Environment's delay in recommending an emergency order for the northern spotted owl's protection has triggered a legal challenge by the Wilderness Committee, represented by Ecojustice Guest: Andhra Azevedo, Staff Lawyer for Ecojustice Canada Seg 5: Hamas has orchestrated a hostage crisis by capturing around 150 individuals, including children, military personnel, and the elderly. This operation is a multi-faceted strategy intended to exert pressure on Israel and draw global attention to the dire conditions in Gaza. Guest: Dr. James Forest, Professor and Director of Security Studies at the University of Massachusetts' Lowell School of Criminology and Justice Studies Seg 6: The Supreme Court of Canada's recent decision pertains to the Hells Angels' appeal against the forfeiture of three of their clubhouses. This decision is significant as it validates British Columbia's efforts to combat organized crime through asset forfeiture. Guest: Kim Bolan, Crime Reporter for the Vancouver Sun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The BC government under Premier David Eby has signaled new directions on protecting BC lands. They have committed to protect 30 percent of the province's land by 2030. This includes a mandate to work with Indigenous communities to create Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. We talk about the new commitment with Torrance Coste, National Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee.

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties are taking a unique approach to addressing in hope to decriminalize personal drug use, a controversial move that has ignited global attention and debate. 20 community partners are undergoing a survey to better understand the public's opinion on the move.Sara Tryon, the program planner, spoke on the initiative. Peterborough author Erica Richmond is hoping her book, Pixie and the Bees, about anxiety could help raise funds for local youth mental health services. Richmond discussed an in-depth look at the themes behind her work. Protecting Trees in Ontario from the threat of logging is an important part of the fight against climate change. Recently, six 400-year-old trees were found in Algonquin Provincial Park located within logging zones and the discovery has sparked calls for more Forest Conservation efforts to help protect old-growth trees. Katie Krelove of the Wilderness Committee spoke on this matter.

Peter McCartney, Climate campaigner at The Wilderness Committee discusses California's new gas gouging bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Engaging in a year-long planning process to maximize reserve land's financial and social value Khelsilem, Squamish Nation Council Chair discusses engaging in a year-long planning process to maximize reserve land's financial and social value Spring wildlife is on the move! Lesley Fox, Executive Director of The Fur-Bearers discusses spring wildlife in BC. Is it actually possible to eliminate junk fees like ticket service fees? Kingsley Bailey, General Manager of VancouverTicket.com discusses whether it is possible to eliminate junk fees like ticket service fees? Liberals seek probe of Chinese influence at B.C. legislature Todd Stone, BC Liberal House Leader discusses a potential probe into Chinese influence at the B.C. legislature California's gas gouging bill signed by Governor Gavin Newsom Peter McCartney, Climate campaigner at The Wilderness Committee discusses California's new gas gouging bill. Why the Broadway corridor should have bike lanes Kit Sauder, Co-Chair of Vancouver Renters' Advisory Committee discusses why the Broadway corridor should have bike lanes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlotte Dawe is a campaigner with the Wilderness Committee who works on various issues regarding policy around biodiversity, at-risk & endangered species, old growth logging, glyphosate spraying, and many more.  Her and I caught up to debrief on COP15, the United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity in Montreal, to hear all about the good, the bad and all the goss of this global shindig, and what it all means for BC, Canada and the world.  We talk all about hurdles to protecting biodiversity, shotty old outdated legislation that stands in the way, crazy loopholes, big corporate interests lobbying for their own needs, policy failures and successes, glyphosate spraying and much much more. Learn more about the Wilderness Committee at WildernessCommittee.org or @Wildernews Each episode of Nerdy About Nature makes a donation to a non-profit of the guests choosing using funds from Patreon supporters - this episode's donation goes to Indigenous Climate Action! Learn more at IndigenousClimateAction.com Nerdy About Nature is an independent passion project that relies on support from folks like you.  If you're enjoying this podcast and videos, help me keep making them by joining the Patreon family for 1$ a month or more! - https://www.patreon.com/nerdyaboutnature  Got Questions?  Want Stickers?  Want community?  Wanna engage?  Do it all as a Patreon member, it's easy! You can also get NAN merch, resources and more information at www.NerdyAboutNature.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nerdy-about-nature/support

BC's first budget under Premier David Eby included substantial funding increases in a number of areas that will benefit British Columbians. But following a series of announcements on biodiversity, old growth, and the environment in Eby's first months, all eyes were on the budget to match talk with money. The result was mixed, but fell short in many areas for changing course on fossil fuels and the environment, and in protecting lands, waters, and species. We speak with Torrance Coste, national campaign director with the Wilderness Committee.

The federal government is proposing an emergency order to protect the only three northern spotted owls known to be living wild in B.C.'s old-growth forests. We discuss what that means for the owls and local logging industry with Joe Foy, protected areas campaigner for the Wilderness Committee; and Nathan Cullen, B.C.'s minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

On the final day of the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal in December, 196 countries reached a new global agreement to stem the stunning loss of biodiversity worldwide. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework promises key commitments to halt extinction while recognizing Indigenous People's rights and title. Charlotte Dawe is Conservation and Policy Campaigner with the Wilderness Committee. She was in Montreal and joins us to share her perspective on what was achieved and what still needs to be done.

The BC government under Premier David Eby has signaled new directions on protecting BC lands. They have committed to protect 30 per cent of the province's land by 2030. This includes a mandate to work with Indigenous communities to create Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. We talk about the new commitment with Torrance Coste, National Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee.

On November 23, the BC government released its 2022 Climate Change Accountability Report revealing that the province is on course to miss two near-term climate targets in 2025 and 2030. The government projects that it will miss the first target by 15% and the second one by at least 35%. Peter McCartney of the Wilderness Committee joins me to talk about the report and the role of LNG in preventing the province from meeting its climate commitments.

Roy L hales/ Cortes Currents - According to the government's 2022 Climate Change Accountability Report, B.C. is currently on course to meet 85% of its emissions targets for 2025. “We are making progress. I don't want to discount the effort the provincial governement has made, but they've made very clear climate commitments and they're very clearly not on track to meet them,” explained Peter McCartney of the Wilderness Committee.  “Every year the BC government is required by law to put out climate accountability reports that show their progress towards meeting emission targets. We have consistently not been on track to meet the climate commitments that the provincial government has made. This year we see that again. We are about 15% of the way from meeting our targets in 2025.” He added, “There's only a few short years to make up that gap, but also even that number is a little misleading because a lot of these Projections that they make are based on assumptions and not actual policies that are imminent or in place. They just sort of say that they'll be reducing so much from oil and gas or from transportation without actually knowing what the policies to do that are going to be.”

Most of us realize the climate crisis at hand requires urgent, transformative action. If everyone knows, then what is stopping us? Who exactly is getting in the way of Climate Justice in Canada? Besides Big Oil and Gas Executives of course. Torrance Coste of Wilderness Committee helps us wade through the politics around climate action, and the different relationships that complicate the matter. With an NDP government in B.C. one would have thought environmentalists had found an ally. Sadly, this has not been the case.Real tensions exist, even on the Left, on just what a Just Transition means. This episode explores various narratives surrounding the move away from fossil fuels and the greenwashing that can be pervasive.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents -A new report comissioned by the Wilderness Committee and Sierra Club BC found that Federal and Provincial government policy gaps have rendered their protection of species at risk ineffective. “Our study looked at terrestrial and freshwater vertebrate species in BC We needed to refine the scope a little bit just because there are so many species at risk in BC In order to do this analysis, we had to sort of narrow in on a few species to be representative. In total, we had 64 species. Of the 64 species, only two of them have had their critical habitat mapped by the deadlines. The remaining 97% have experienced critical habitat mapping delays anywhere from two to 18 years. And then there's 16 of the 64 species that still don't even have their critical habitat mapped,” explained Charlotte Dawe of the Wilderness Committee. “For example, the spotted owl: despite them requiring critical habitat maps over 18 years ago, they still don't have those maps and, because of this delay, logging has continued in their habitat unabated. There's now only one known spotted owl left in the wild. This is a very sad but obvious example of how delays in critical habitat mapping can drive extinction of a species.” Dawe said that after the recovery strategy for an endangered species comes out, the government has one year to produce the critical habitat map. In the case of ‘threatened species,' they have two years. A spokesperson from BC's new Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship emailed Cortes Currents that they have not had time to study the report and it would be premature to respond to specific questions. He reaffirmed the government's intention to implement the 'Together for Wildlife Strategy' as well as all 14 recommendations of the independent panel's old growth strategic review report, including Recommendation #2 to “declare the conservation and management of ecosystem health and biodiversity of British Columbia's forests as an overarching priority and enact legislation that legally establishes this priority for all sectors.” “We were hoping to do a deep dive into basically all of the laws in BC that can help protect species at risk. So this also included the Federal Species at Risk Act and how it is working to protect or not protect species at risk in BC, but then also, we know that the provincial government relies on saying that we have a number of different laws that add up to offer protection to species at risk under their jurisdiction of what they manage. What we found is that these laws leave huge gaps that allow species at risk to continue to plummet to extinction,” said Dawe. “For example, the Forest & Range Practices Act is something that BC commonly says helps protect species at risk, but Companies aren't even required to survey for species at risk before they lay out a cut block boundary.”

How are transportation issues and climate change affecting how you're voting in the upcoming municipal elections? CBC reporters Brady Strachan and Justin McElroy join us from Kelowna and Vancouver, respectively, to talk about the former. And in our second half, we'll hear about earth-friendly policy from Wilderness Committee's climate campaigner, Peter McCartney.

Eric Reder - Duck Mountain Interview by Wilderness Committee

Duck Mountain Interview with Members of Pine Creek First Nations by Wilderness Committee

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - One of the founding directors of the Cortes Community Forestry Co-operative says Mosaic is proposing to harvest its lands on Cortes at a rate that is roughly six times greater than what the island residents are used to. This contradicts the Mosaic brochure released at the end of January which stated quote, ‘Our planned activities will look similar to the other forest managers activities on the island.'' During the ZOOM conference it held with islanders earlier that month, a senior planner for Mosaic's north island operations said their cutblocks on Cortes would be quote ‘similar in size and scope' to those island residents are used to. “No, it's not true. I do grant them the somewhat correct interpretation of the way that they're going to lay out their cut blocks, but their cut blocks individually are larger than what we have been doing except for this last one in Von Donop, where there was a lot of root rot,” explained Bruce Ellingsen. The Community Forest's normal annual harvest rate, on a land base of 3,800 hectares, is about 3,000 cubic metres. That is less than one cubic metre per hectare every year. Mosaic is proposing to harvest between 6 and 8 cubic metres per hectare from its lands. Expressed in percentages of the average annual incremental growth, the community Forest is taking about 16% - so they are actually adding to the forest timber base. Ellingsen suggested Mosaic is probably taking roughly 100% of the annual growth. If the Community Forest continues to cut at its normal rate, he calculates the next harvest cycle will start in 500 to 600 years. That first cutblock will be full of ‘old growth' trees. Mosaic's brochure states, “Each years planned harvest is

The Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) is a non-profit conservation organization founded in September of 2018 by Canadian conservationist Ken Wu, working for the science-based protection of all native ecosystems and to support ecosystem literacy.   For over 30 years, Ken has been working to protect nature in Canada. Today, he is one of the country's most experienced working conservationists and currently serves as the Executive Director and Founder of the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance, a national organization working to advance the science-based protection of Canada's most endangered ecosystems.   He was also the Executive Director of Ancient Forest Alliance and of the Wilderness Committee's Victoria chapter, and before that ran various smaller conservation groups.  To day we chat with both Ken and Celina Starnes  EEA's operations and outreach director.   If you like what we are doing please like, share and subscribe to IMPACT @realimpactpod    This episode is sponsored by :  -       The Ocean Legacy Foundation  www.oceanlegacy.ca  and Trubeach - both helping stop the tide of trash in our oceans www.trubeach.co     Where to find EEA and NBSF Online   EEA   Website: https://www.endangeredecosystemsalliance.org/about    Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/EndangeredEcosystemsAlliance/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkf-kARJ9FglopGx9jWCbuw  https://www.instagram.com/endangeredecosystemsalliance/  https://twitter.com/EndangeredEcos    Films: https://www.endangeredecosystemsalliance.org/video    Donate: https://www.endangeredecosystemsalliance.org/donation    NBSF Website: https://www.naturebasedsolutionsfoundation.org/    Donate: https://www.naturebasedsolutionsfoundation.org/donate    #EndangeredEcosystems #environment #environmentalprotection #saveourplanet @endangeredecosystemsalliance #kenwu @kenwu #NBSF #naturebasedsolutions @naturebasedsolutions @trubeach #trubeach #greatbearrainforest #wildernesscommittee #ancientforestalliance 

The BC government has released a report on oil and gas royalties from a public consultation in November. The report showed that 77% of survey respondents wanted the government to make environmental protection its top priority in its new royalty regime. We talk with Peter McCartney, Climate Campaigner at the Wilderness Committee.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Roadside, one of the last remaining Forest Defender camps at Fairy Creek, officially closed down yesterday. In the end, it was severe weather rather than police actions that brought this about. An unknown number of Indigenous folks remain at a nearby watch camp. The last RCMP press release, posted on Lake Cowichan detachment page more than a month ago (on December 2nd), states 1,188 people have been arrested as they attempted to protect what is sometimes called the last remaining intact old growth ecosystem outside of a park. According to a Vancouver SUN expose, as of November 30th the RCMP spent $8.9 million opposing the protest. The Teal-Jones Group claims that activists put hundreds of jobs at risk and hampered it accessing $10 million worth of timber. On December 22nd, two days before the recent cold snap began, the occupants of Roadside posted a collection of video messages on their Facebook page in which: A schoolteacher explained why she feels she would not be doing her job as a teacher or a mother if she did join the protest at Fairy Creek A former loader describes the province's current logging practises as “just grabbing resources at the expense of the other peoples.” Another Forest Defender says, “I'm here because these blockades are the only thing keeping the NDP and John Horgan accountable to protecting old growth for us and committing the promises they made to the strategic old growth review report.” A series of posts on the Fairy Creek Facebook page chronicle the camp's closure: The photos from January 3rd show camp life: tents in the snow, people chopping wood, a truck that spun off the icy road Four days later a tree came crashing down beside the kitchen tent. The camp spokesperson wrote, “Snow, ice, and hazardous conditions slam Fairy Creek. As the rivers rise, the threat of flooding is imminent.” Yesterday, January 10th, pictures showing the last remaining inhabitants of Roadside packing their belongs into a U-Haul and close to a dozen other vehicles were added. The spokesperson wrote: “As we close up Roadside and start a new chapter, we reflect back on the year we've had. When we looked up at the towering cedars, spruce, and fir it gave us purpose in knowing that we protected what Elder Bill Jones refers to as our “Great Mother.” We sat in circles and ceremonies in reverence of their beauty as he reminded us that these places have always been meant for meditation and prayer. His grandfather once told him these forests should never be cut - in fact, it was his dying wish.” He added, “While it may no longer be logistically possible to block logging in such awful winter conditions, we choose to see an opportunity here. This ending also means the beginning of a new chapter – one that includes more local actions, in a city near you. The spring will bring new life; it always does. STAY TUNED FOR WHAT'S NEXT.” As Cortes Currents was completing this story, word came that the Wilderness Committee named Elder Bill Jones as this year's recipient of the Eugene Rogers award. Torrance Coste of the Wilderness Committee explained, “Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones has been a friend of our organization for almost a decade and a champion for old growth forests for much longer.” The 80-year-old former logger responded, “ I am so flattered to accept this. It's a blessing to us all to realize that we are indeed the servants and protectors of our great mother.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Wilderness Committee has just finished a survey that shows gas and oil company lobbyists are contacting the BC provincial Government two or three times a day. This is not new, they were also making overtures to the previous BC Liberal regime, but it does raise the question of whether they are shaping the policies that determine the future of all British Columbians. Climate Campaigner Peter McCartney says 14 of 15 of the top fracking companies in the province are actually receiving more in drilling credits than they pay in taxes and royalties. “Since the last election, we knew that there were some big policy pieces coming out this year that would affect the gas industry. I was interested to find out how often the industry was lobbying the provincial government. So we just looked back to the lobbyist registry and I kept a spreadsheet going of each time that gas companies, LNG consortium's, and their industry associations met with the provincial government. It turns out more than 750 times since the last election, so just over last year,” said McCartney.. He did not know how often the environmental movement has contacted the government, but thinks the Wilderness Committee may have contacted the government a couple dozen times since the last election. These meetings primarily arise when environmental groups “create a problem for them” and they want to know how to respond. McCartney explained that while gas industry lobbyists work through their behind-the-scenes connections, the environmental movement's voice “comes from the thousands of people that support us.” Some of the policies that have come up since the NDP government was reelected: The government has brought in “the BC clean BC roadmap, which was really soft and left the door open for a brand new fossil fuel industry with fracking and LNG.” The courts sided with the Blueberry River First Nation, which means government will have to negotiate all new infrastructure in the region. The current royalty review will determine how much rent gas companies will pay to access the gas that is owned by the people of British Columbia. What can the public do to ensure its voice is heard? “The lobbyist registry is a really good tool. I think there needs to be public pressure for the government to stop meeting with fossil fuel lobbyists, their only purpose is to secure their own business model and climate action. Why would we be making climate policy with the worst polluters in the room? So we put together this little Twitter bot that tweets out every time one of these fossil fuels is meeting with the provincial government,” said McCarney. “These meetings should be out in the open and accessible to all. Businesses and companies that operate in a community have an obligation to be a part of that community and make sure that local people are benefiting from the work that goes on but they shouldn't be writing policy behind closed doors.” Photo credit: BC Legislature and the Inner Harbour at night by Zemistor via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Today we are excited to have on our show from THE WILDERNESS COMMITTEE Charlotte Dawe - Charlotte's work focuses on addressing the biodiversity crisis that impacts wildlife across the our country - Please Welcome Charlotte Dawe to IMPACT.   If you like what we are doing:  Like and Share and subscribe   This episode sponsored by : Marine Mammal Rescue:  https://www.vanaqua.org/marine-mammal-rescue   Charolette works on policy related issues that impact wildlife across the country. The crisis is having cascading impacts on wildlife, ecosystems and communities. Charlotte advocates for stronger and more effective laws that hold the governments accountable and calls out industrial corporations causing harm. She works from the unceded Coast Salish Territories. Working at the Wilderness Committee gives Charlotte an opportunity to advocate on behalf of our environment and all the amazing wildlife we share this planet with as this perspective is usually missing from the decision making table. Before Wilderness Committee, Charlotte worked as a freshwater ecology and climate change researcher, a boreal forest restoration and assessment field technician and overseas to restore degraded coral reefs, find waste solutions for communities and care for orphaned wildlife in rehabilitation sanctuaries.    Donation ask:  https://civicrm.wildernesscommittee.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=2&_ga=2.201751698.28760936.1637008656-1280899410.1594317263   @wildernews @wildernesscommittee @ClimateChar #wildernesscommittee #saveourwilderness #oldgrowth #Cariboo  

On Wednesday, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs held a press conference to air their concerns with the deferral deadlines given to First Nations by the province. They say they are upset about the lack of support from the government this the announcement and that they were given consent for deferrals but not logging in their territories. UBCIC President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip joins to discuss. We also speak with Torrance Coste from the Wilderness Committee over their new updated mapping that better reflects the state of logging in these deferral areas.   Get more stories like this in your inbox every morning by subscribing to our daily newsletter at CapitalDaily.ca Check our membership opportunity at CapitalDaily.ca/MemberAnd subscribe to us on our socials! Twitter @CapitalDailyVic  Instagram @CapitalDaily  Facebook @CapitalDailyVic 

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Campbell River Chamber of Commerce is protesting the provincial government's handling of a proposed deferral of 2.6 million hectares of old growth forest. “The BC Government needs to sit down at a table with the First Nations, industry, labour and representatives from all the communities and have meaningful dialogue before they implement these deferrals. If they don't, it is going to have devastating impact on all of our communities,” said Executive Director Mary Ruth Snyder. She was citing a BC Council of Forest Industries press release, that states: “These deferrals would result in the closure of between 14 and 20 sawmills in BC, along with two pulp mills and an undetermined number of value-added manufacturing facilities. This represents approximately 18,000 good, family-supporting jobs lost, along with over $400 million in lost revenues to government each year – revenues that help pay for healthcare, education and other services British Columbians count on.” Snyder says the timing of the government announcement could not be worse. It has been only two years since the forest industry was in the midst of a devastating strike and the COVID 19 virus arrived almost immediately after that. “We are still trying to recover from the strike; we are still trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic on small and medium businesses across this province,” she said. Snyder says the NDP announcement does not reflect any of their previously stated intentions of discussing, planning and negotiating complex issues like this with all the interested parties. “It is very, very, disappointing,” she said. “There has to be conversation and dialogue before they can make any sweeping statements like they've made.” Photo credit: courtesy the Wilderness Committee

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - British Columbia is considering whether to defer logging on 2.6 million hectares of the provinces most at-risk old growth forests. Speaking as an individual, rather than Vice President of the Cortes Community Forest Cooperative, David Shipway's response to news of the proposed deferment was, “It's essential and long overdue.” According to Jens Weiting of Sierra Club BC, the government's technical advisory panel identified two thirds of the province's 11.1 million hectares of ‘old growth forests' as being at risk. These are the big trees that most of us think of, when we hear the term ‘old growth.' Roughly 5 million hectares of these large trees are unprotected and the government is proposing to defer logging on a little more than half of them. “The BC Government was pretty clear about their intentions to implement deferrals for these 2.6 million hectares, but short on details,” he said. Torrace Coste of the Wilderness Committee, commented. “For the first time we have the government basically breaking down old growth inventory based on science. In the past they've just lumped all old forests together and inflated the amount of actual iconic giant tree old growth forest. This analysis is put together by leading experts in the field of forestry and it reflects what is happening on the ground.” A much different set of statistics are cited on the Truck Loggers Association website. There are supposedly 13.7 million hectares of old growth forst in the province, 72% of which will never be logged because it is either in parks or protected areas. As three trees are allegedly planted for every one that is harvested, there will eventually be no need to cut down old growth. “Old growth harvesting will carry on into the future and the transition to harvesting a higher proportion of second growth trees will continue until we eventually fully harvest second growth,” it says. The government estimates that the proposed deferment could result in the loss of 4,500 jobs; industry claims the numbers could be much higher. Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, said, “We are committed to working in partnership with First Nations to make sure we get this right and to supporting workers and communities as we develop a sustainable approach to managing BC's old-growth forests.” First Nations have been given thirty days to decide whether they support the deferments, and were offered up to $12.7 million over three years to help them during the transitional period. Coste pointed out that the government decision to not move forward on the deferrals without agreement from First Nations is inconsistent, as this type of agreement is not sought for logging. He added, “More broadly, I want to say that the position that First Nations are placed in economically is only one parties fault - and that is the province of British Columbia. The federal government as well, but the dispossession of First Nations, of their lands, of their resources: that's been done for 150 years by the Province of British Columbia.” Coste said it does not seem fair to ask First Nations to make the decision whether to protect old growth, which the Government has already promised to do, unless they are offered adequate compensation for the revenues they would lose.

Tuesday, the provincial government announced new deferrals and actions for old-growth forests. We have Torrance Coste from the Wilderness Committee break down what the announcement entails, and Robert J. Dennis, Sr., Elected Chief Councillor for the Huu-ay-ah First Nations to hear his thoughts on the inclusion of First Nations.   Get more stories like this in your inbox every morning by subscribing to our daily newsletter at CapitalDaily.ca Check our membership opportunity at CapitalDaily.ca/MemberAnd subscribe to us on our socials! Twitter @CapitalDailyVic  Instagram @CapitalDaily  Facebook @CapitalDailyVic

On Monday, the BC NDPs released the province's new climate targets and roadmap to get us there, CleanBC. We bring on Peter McCartney, the Climate Campaigner at the Wilderness Committee to explain the plan, and go over what's missing.  Get more stories like this in your inbox every morning by subscribing to our daily newsletter at CapitalDaily.ca Check our membership opportunity at CapitalDaily.ca/MemberAnd subscribe to us on our socials! Twitter @CapitalDailyVic  Instagram @CapitalDaily  Facebook @CapitalDailyVic

Phoebe and the old-growth forest by Wilderness Committee

Roy L Hales/ CKTZ News - At their July 14th Meeting, the Strathcona District Board moved that “a letter be sent to the Minister of Forests encouraging the province to become more involved in research and distribution of science-based information.” As Mayor Martin Davis of Tahsis, who made the motion, explained, “In the last several years there has been a real drop off of participation of Ministry of Forests in providing the research and background that we would hope would be impartial. I think that is a real lack. To depend on the logging companies for our information is really not the best place to be going for this. There should be independent research we can depend on.” The idea came out of the SRD's Municipal Services committee where Charlie Cornfield, one of the more influential of five Campbell River directors that recently carried placcards at a pro-industry rally, agreed. “It has always been a problem to find an acceptable source of information,” he said. The was one of the few points that Cornfield and Davis agreed on. Photo courtesy the Wilderness Committee

The Wilderness Committee has released a report reflecting the concerns and priorities of leaders in Northern BC. “Northern Vision and Voices: What the region needs to thrive in a changing world” was written by Megan Gordon after six months of interviews in the North. The report says it's time for British Columbia to invest in building strong communities across the region. We talk with Peter McCartney, climate campaigner for the Wilderness Committee.

Old growth logging is in the news cycle again, with the Fairy Creek blockade on Vancouver Island being the latest in the persistent debate on how to manage old growth trees. Much of the media coverage is glossing over the intricacies of old growth logging – why is it more valuable, why is it a risk to ecosystems and endangered species, and what tools exist for community members speaking out. Charlotte Dawe, conservation and policy campaigner at the Wilderness Committee, joined Defender Radio for a primer on Old Growth forests and logging and how advocates can have their voices heard. Episode cover art of old growth cuts in BC photo provided by Wilderness Committee Wilderness Committee Old Growth Tools and information: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/oldgrowth Extinction Story Map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/706a64b95cbb4d9b9b6d2af60cc03b4e The Narwhal: Fairy Creek Blockades (feature article): https://thenarwhal.ca/topics/fairy-creek-blockade/ Defender Radio Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DefenderRadio/ Defender Radio Instagram https://instagram.com/howiemichael The Fur-Bearers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FurFree/ The Fur-Bearers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/furbearers/ The Fur-Bearers Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/furbearers/

Matt and Jeremy are joined by two of B.C.'s leading thinkers on forestry -- Prof. Gary Bull of UBC's school of forestry, who focuses on the economics of the forestry sector, and Torrance Coste, the leader of the Wilderness Committee, an activist organization that advocates for an end to old-growth logging. In this expansive conversation, the guests look beyond the activism at Caycuse and Fairy Creek to ponder the future of forestry in B.C. Whether it's from policy change or the extinction of old growth, the logging of ancient trees will some day come to an end. So what comes next? Along the way, Prof. Bull and Torrance discuss Indigenous land rights, the ecosystem services provided by old trees, the challenges of shifting to ecotourism and value-added products, and the impact of that now-viral image of a giant log rolling down a Vancouver Island highway. Finally, Torrance shares some nervy experiences he's had as an activist working in and with forest-dependent communities.

We discuss our blindness to the genocide we continue to perpetuate, and old-growth logging in British Columbia. Lauren interviews Torrence Coste of the Wilderness Committee about old-growth activism in BC.

We speak to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip from the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs and Torrance Coste, the National Campaign Director of Wilderness Committee to get reaction on the B.C. government’s new forestry policy intentions and how they impact old growth.  Get more stories like this in your inbox every morning by subscribing to our daily newsletter at CapitalDaily.ca And subscribe to us on our socials! Twitter @CapitalDailyVic  Instagram @CapitalDaily  Facebook @CapitalDailyVic 

Reconciliation Canada ambassador and residential school survivor Chief Robert Joseph discusses a preliminary report from the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation that found the remains of 215 children at the site of a former residential school. Retired forester Bill Dumont and Wilderness Committee national campaign director Torrance Coste discuss the future of old growth logging in BC as protests continue in the Fairy Creek area. Master gardener Brian Minter answers your gardening questions. NOTE: The first segment contains details about residential schools that some listeners may find distressing. You can reach the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866 925-4419 for support.

All Mountain caribou in Canada are at risk of extinction, and none more so than the southern Mountain Caribou of BC and Alberta. Herds have been in decline for over three decades. In March, the federal government rejected an emergency order under the Species at Risk Act to protect the threatened caribou. We speak with Charlotte Dawe, Conservation and Policy Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee.

Charlotte Dawe, conservation and policy maker with the Wilderness Committee,

This podcast is a MUST LISTEN if you are concerned about old-growth in British Columbia. In this episode of The Public Circle Podcast I connect with Ken Wu, the former Executive Director of the Ancient Forest Alliance and the current Executive Director of the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance. For the past thirty years Ken has worked on protecting high productivity old-growth in British Columbia. Starting in the Walbran and Clayquot forests, and as the former Executive Director of the Victoria Chapter of the Wilderness Committee, he is a leading advocate for old-growth protection in our province. Ken and I discuss the difference between low-medium productivity and high productivity old-growth. We highlight how government officials continue to mix and muddle the numbers in an effort to take credit for massive deferrals (more than 350,000 hectares) announced last September when in reality all but 1% of those deferrals were previously protected. We also discuss the need for British Columbia to create conservation financing and land acquisition funds to bring to the consultation table with Indigenous Nations. Otherwise, the province is simply asking First Nations to walk away from revenue and jobs that the provincial government would never consider asking any other community to do. With so little high productivity old-growth remaining time is of the essence. Please share this podcast far and wide! Thank you.

The BC government says that fracking and the natural gas industry will not only be economically beneficial for the province but also consistent with the province’s climate action plan. Peter McCartney disagrees. McCartney is climate campaigner for the Wilderness Committee and author of the just released report Planet on Fire: Let’s End Fracking in BC.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - We have a report from Burnaby on the mainland, where Trans Mountain (Tmx) plans to cut 1,308 trees in preparation for its proposed pipeline expansion. On December 7, 2020, the energy gave the city of four days to approve the necessary permits. Then Trans Mountain applied directly to the Canada Energy Regulator, which found that TMX is not beholden to the city bylaw stating they would need a permit. According to Peter McCartney, of the Wilderness Committee, (1:32) “A big chunk of the trees are along two creeks in Burnaby, just south of Highway #1. There's a fellow who's been up in a tree for two months now and was served an injunction Saturday. I talked to him last night. He seems pretty confident that they're going to move in toi remove him today. I was out at the site yesterday, and there are workers everywhere. There are security everywhere. There is police. They already cut down a couple of trees to set up a work site. The workers did tell me they want to start cutting trees as soon a s possible. I'm heading out there shortly to see what's going on.”

Chapter 1: What's being done to protect teachers? Yesterday, we got an update on provincial health orders, as they pertain to schools.  Most notably, masks are now required everywhere for students in high school & middle school. But what else is being done to protect teachers? Why are no special accommodations being made for them in the vaccine rollout? GUEST: Geoff Johnson, Columnist/A former Superintendent of Schools Chapter 2: CERB Repayment - should overpayments be forgiven? We know that many people were overpaid by CERB.  Should those people be forced to pay it back, or should that overpayment be forgiven?   GUEST: Shawn Stack, Licensed Insolvency Trustee, Bromwich & Smith Chapter 3: DNA evidence to help solve the Lindsay Buziak case We found out this week that the FBI has been called in to assist with the cold-case murder of Lindsay Buziak. What role might DNA evidence play in solving this crime? GUEST: CeCe Moore, Genetic Genealogy Expert, Founder of DNA Detectives Chapter 4: UVic has divested its fossil-fuel stocks The University of Victoria, announced Tuesday, it has divested fossil-fuel industry stocks from its $256-million investment fund.  Is this a good move, and should other universities follow suit? GUEST: Stewart Muir, Executive Director, Resource Works GUEST: Peter McCartney, Climate Campaigner, Wilderness Committee

Episode 16 Today it is my pleasure to introduce to you Ken Wu. Ken is the executive director of the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance, a new national Canadian conservation organization advocating the science-based protection of native ecosystems, seeking to engage non-traditional allies of the environmental movement, and working to support Indigenous Protected Areas. He was previously the co-founder and executive director of the Ancient Forest Alliance and the executive director of the Wilderness Committee’s Victoria bureau. So before we get into good news stories, what are some sad stories that you have seen? Here ancient forests with trees that are 2000 years old .. These are some of the oldest and biggest trees that have existed in earth’s history. These trees on Vancouver Island can be as much as 20 feet wide.. as wide as a living room and as tall as a downtown sky scraper. But for all those that we have saved, we have lost 3x as many. This is because there is so much value in these trees. Western red cedar in these days is particularly valuable for cladding houses on the outside and for decks.That is the green gold right now – propping up the old logging industry. The have already logged 99% of the Douglas Fir. There is only 1% of the old growth Douglas Fir left. The Sitka Spruce is less than 10% now. Cedar is probably around 15-20% of the old growth. So we are getting to end of the old growth forest. But there is some progress too.So as much as we have lost a lot, I think it is important for people to stay engaged and keep pushing. There has been big progress last week…Please tell us about that.Finally the British Columbia government announced deferrals or moratorium on 9 major areas of old growth forest in BC. They started up a process to develop new policies to manage BC’s old growth forests. This was decades of pushing by citizens. But we are not there yet, we have to keep expanding awareness of these ecosystems.The 9 deferral areas include Clayoquot Sound. I think a lot of your listeners at one time have been to Tofino, Ucluelet area of Vancouver Island…so just around Tofino is that spectacular set of islands and valleys …that is now on a moratorium for logging. It is the biggest track of coastal old growth temperate rain forest on Vancouver Island. So some good things are happening.Those huge trees draw in so much carbon.Yes even more than the tropical rain forest trees. Because all of the nutrients get sucked up so quickly in the tropics, but in the temperate rain forests of British Columbia, Oregon, and California, there is a lot of carbon locked in the wood that is on the forest floor, in the soil, and in the trees. The trees in these temperate forests live longer and get bigger. So that combination means that there is substantially more carbon in Canada’s old growth temperate rain forests than even in the Amazon or in central Africa.That is one of the best things we can do to avert the climate crisis is to protect not just tropical forests but temperate rain forests and all types of forests.See transcription at Treesmendus.com

Eric Reder on CJOB- Oct 29 2020- Parks Privatization by Wilderness Committee

In the green chair is Katie Krelove, the Ontario Campaigner for Wilderness Committee. Katie works to build relationships and advocate for wilderness preservation for the benefit of all in Ontario. Learn about Katie's personal journey to her current green job and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/relay-education/message

It’s season eight! We’ve got a lot to catch up on – the pandemic, the outstanding contest, what’s going on with The Fur-Bearers and more – and we will catch up on all of that with a special episode soon. This week I want to dive right into our interview because of the timeliness and need for action on this issue. Southern Mountain caribou in British Columbia are on the brink of collapse – and despite promises to create endangered species legislation, the last government continued to auction off sections of caribou habitat to logging companies. A cutblock auction is taking place in the Argonaut Creek drainage, which is home to the endangered North Columbia caribou herd. This news came as a result of an investigation by Wilderness Committee, Echo Conservation Society and Wildsight. To give us a quick overview of this long-standing issue and what the latest is, as well as how you can take action, Charlotte Dawe from Wilderness Committee joined Defender Radio. TAKE ACTION: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/take-action/cancel-caribou-habitat-destruction-argonaut-creek Defender Radio on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefenderRadio/ Defender Radio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howiemichael/ Defender Radio on Twitter: https://twitter.com/defenderradio Defender Radio Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio This episode sponsored by AnimalStone.com! Get 10% off by using promocode DEFENDERADIO at AnimalStone.com.

Episode 24 features comedian Harris Anderson.   Harris talks about his career, influences, and his worst show ever.   We also discuss his organization of choice, "The Wilderness Committee".   All episodes are available to watch on YouTube. Search Uncommon Comedy Podcast.   Hosted by comedian Brian Apprille. Connect with Brian live at www.twitch.tv/comedybrian

RUOK with fake Subway bread and swearing parrots? Peter McCartney (Climate campaigner, Wilderness Committee) chats about the promise to plant 2 billion trees in Canada. And, In Case You Missed It, featuring Melania Trump vs. Christmas  HEY, DO YOU LIKE PODCASTS? Why not subscribe to ours?find it on Apple, Google, Spotify & Tune In.

Charlotte Dawes from the Wilderness Committee.

Under cover of the COVID-19 pandemic Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister’s government is ramming through harmful legislation with no opportunity for public discussion or explanation of the impacts on the province’s forests and parks. While convening an emergency legislative session to pass COVID-19 response measures, the government is also moving forward with all bills that were introduced as the world was shutting down on March 19. That’s more than 600 pages of legislation across 25 new bills.

Eighty-one per cent of BC’s southern mountain caribou local populations have lost more habitat than what’s needed for survival. That’s the lede from the Wilderness Committee news item announcing the release of the NGO’s report, State of Southern Mountain Caribou Habitat in BC: Exceeding Disturbance Limits. The fate of the mountain caribou in this region has been spotlighted in part due to their status under the Species at Risk Act and the controversial methods the government has utilized. Wolf culls and maternity pens are in use but aren’t considered a long-term solution by advocates – and doesn’t address the clear and indisputable cause of the caribous’ perilous position: habitat destruction. The report released by Wilderness Committee measures “all destructive activities within caribou critical habitat over the past 80 years.” The results, according to the report, show that “critical habitat disturbance levels are far beyond the threshold for caribou recovery in 17 out of 21 local population units.” What that means and what Canadians can do to protect caribou – as well as wolves and other wildlife being killed in recovery efforts – is discussed with Defender Radio by report author Charlotte Dawe of Wilderness Committee. Episode cover photo by John E. Marriott: www.WildernessPrints.com Wilderness Committee Report: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/news/bc-allows-destruction-caribou-habitat-point-extinction-new-report Defender Radio on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio Defender Radio on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DefenderRadio Defender Radio on Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

On Monday, November 25, 2019, the forest management company Mosaic began shutting down its Vancouver Island harvesting operations because of “very challenging pricing and market conditions.” Approximately 2,000 people - contractors, union and non union workers, are being let go “of ahead of the usual winter shutdown.” Mosaic plans “to resume harvesting when the market outlook improves,” but some see this as the symptom of a much larger industry problem. That same day, Sierra Club BC and the Wilderness Committee planned to hold an event in Campbell River's downtown community centre. Two hours before this was to begin, the city of Campbell River cancelled it because of “the number of people anticipated, the strong potential for highly-charged emotion, and lack of time to establish a security plan for this booking.” This morning's program is about the crises in our forests.

Mountain caribou are endangered in British Columbia. It’s a big deal: the federal government has threatened to intervene if plans aren’t put in place to protect them. One plan, worked on heavily by First Nations leaders, is receiving praise. But the plan for at least one other region has huge holes and fails to address some key issues. While protecting caribou habitat may seem like a straight-forward task, the previous BC provincial government run in a majority by the Liberals and the current government run by an NDP-Green partnership is showing that it’s anything but. From literally selling the rights to cut down trees in the habitat of the endangered caribou during negotiations to killing wolves despite widespread scientific and ethical opposition to a disturbing rise in racist comments and economic disinformation, it’s been a bit of a confusing journey. As the consultation period winds down – and links to actions on that are included in this week’s show notes – I wanted to take some time to break out the points, challenge the myths, and hear opposing opinions to what industry and politicians have spouted. That’s why we connected with Charlotte Dawe, Conservation and Campaign Manager for Wilderness Committee, who patiently listened to my tangents and walked me through the last year of work on this campaign and how you can be part of the solution. Take action: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/SouthernMountainCaribou Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio Articles mentioned: Agreements mark ‘turning point’ for six B.C. caribou herds, but leave most herds hanging https://thenarwhal.ca/agreements-mark-turning-point-six-b-c-caribou-herds-leave-most-herds-hanging/ 500 dead wolves vs. 500 lost jobs: Town balks at potential cost of saving caribou in northeastern B.C. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/caribou-jobs-wolves-chetwynd-northeastern-british-columbia-1.5087317 Northern B.C. leaders pressure province to halt caribou plans https://www.princegeorgematters.com/local-news/northern-bc-leaders-pressure-province-to-halt-caribou-plans-1368244 Caribou protection plan spawns racist backlash in northeast B.C. http://thenarwhal.ca/caribou-protection-plan-spawns-racist-backlash-in-northeast-b-c/ West Moberly First Nations chief denounces 'fear mongering' over caribou protection plan https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/caribou-draft-plan-west-moberly-chief-racism-jobs-1.5102961 The 0.1% that trappers contribute to nature-based economics https://thefurbearers.com/blog/the-01-that-trappers-contribute-to-nature-based-economics  

If you read enough headlines about the environment and wildlife, it won’t be long until you see one like ‘kill wolves to protect endangered caribou.’ In simple terms, the suggested actions by some government-funded researchers or those with a vested interest in killing animals makes sense: if we remove the predator or competition, the population of an animal targeted for conservation will increase.  But that’s not how things work in the real world – particularly when policy writers and elected officials ignore overwhelming scientific evidence and focus on easy answers that won’t have a lasting positive impact. Charlotte Dawe, a campaigner with Wilderness Committee penned an outstanding article on this issue for The Straight, an online magazine recently, and joined Defender Radio to discuss the concept of killing animals to save animals, science-informed decision making, and how we can all be part of lasting, compassionate solutions for the environment. More on Wilderness Committee: www.WildernessCommittee.org The Straight Article by Charlotte Dawe: https://www.straight.com/news/1202836/charlotte-dawe-our-obsession-killing-some-animals-save-others Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio Defender Radio eMails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates  

The BC government is spending $900 million on its CleanBC plan while continuing to push ahead with a major LNG project in Kitimat which relies on fracked gas from northeast BC. Torrance Coste of the Wilderness Committee says that BC Budget 2019 simply isn’t taking the environmental crisis seriously enough.

The BC government is spending $900 million on its CleanBC plan while continuing to push ahead with a major LNG project in Kitimat which relies on fracked gas from northeast BC. Torrance Coste of the Wilderness Committee says that BC Budget 2019 simply isn’t taking the environmental crisis seriously enough.

Environment Minister George Heyman announced last week that the provincial government needs to study oil spill mitigation before it can allow diluted bitumen to cross the province. The regulations are aimed at the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Alberta premier Rachel Notley calls the move unconstitutional. We talk with Peter McCartney, climate campaigner at the Wilderness Committee.

Line In The Sands Intro by Wilderness Committee

With Cody Battershill, Founder and Spokesperson of Canadaaction.ca And Peter McCartney, climate campaigner at the Wilderness Committee. 

Guest Ken Green - Senior Director, Center For Natural Resource Studies, Fraser Institute Guest: Peter Mccartney - Climate Campaigner, Wilderness Committee

The frightening reality is that British Columbia has no species at risk or endangered species laws on the books. Species at Risk legislation is what it sounds like – policies that are put in place to protect all species that’s population is deemed, scientifically, to be in a precarious position within an environment. This can range from aquatic plant life to terrestrial mammals, and small flowers to big birds. Remarkably, British Columbia has no provincial species at risk legislation. Right now, as part of their five-year-plan to protect species at risk (which doesn’t include developing standalone species at risk legislation), BC is accepting comments on a series of topics. This unique opportunity is only available through the end of November, and getting educated is the first step to putting together compelling responses. Defender Radio was joined by Joe Foy, National Campaign Director at The Wilderness Committee to talk about species at risk legislation in BC – and how we can effectively participate in this government engagement initiative.

As Minister Coleman touts the pros of building LNG facilities in BC, the Wilderness Committee says this kind of construction NEEDS to stop. They say fracking and LNG threatens Canada's fresh water and wilderness areas - and has serious impacts on our climate.    Guest: Peter McCartney, Climate Campaigner at the Wilderness Committee

Across BC’s vast landscape is over 14 million hectares of protected lands and provincial parks. Tourists from around the world flock to these beautiful, picturesque destinations, bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy. And there are only seven people to protect it all. The Wilderness Committee, a BC-based NGO recently sent out a press release that outlined the dire straights of the BC Parks ranger program, noting that there are fewer park rangers than there are critically endangered spotted owls left in the province. To discuss what this means, what the consequences truly are, and how the public can help rescue the rangers, Defender Radio was joined by Gwen Barlee of The Wilderness Committee.

Working to protect animals isn’t always a clear cut job – and sometimes, it’s things you’d least expect that require a bit of extra attention. This week we’re hearing from two individuals who are working on issues that aren’t as visible as many others. First we’ll hear from Lucas Solowey, an advocate who works with The Fur-Bearers, who’s helping out coyotes by organizing a demonstration at a conference where a Canada Goose Executive is speaking this week. Then we’ll turn it over to Gwen Barlee of The Wilderness Committee in British Columbia, who is working to put a true endangered species policy in place in the province that prides itself on eco-tourism.

In this documentary, Leif Larsen and Eric Reder talk about the value of peat, and why the Wilderness Committee are so opposed to any kind of resource development in provincial parks.

The National Energy Board’s Northern Gateway hearings just began and are expected to carry on through the summer and beyond. Ben West of BC’s Wilderness Committee takes us through the process and tells us what to expect. Is the lockout of CAW workers at the Electro-Motive plant in London, Ontario, the beginning of an assault against private sector unionism in Canada? Labour commentator Doug Nesbitt discusses this question and offers some radical strategies for the labour movement, including occupation. What’s the real story behind the accusation that Iran is working to build a nuclear weapons capacity? Reporter Alex Kane comments from New York.