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Clayoquot Comments		Version 2.1 July 17, 1993
�1993, Stephen Samuel	[(604)876-0426 or samuel@cs.ubc.ca]

                  Clayoquot Comments

Collective Copyright � 1993, Stephen Samuel.  All rights 
reserved. This text may only be freely reproduced, 
transcribed, duplicated and/or re-transmitted under the the 
provisio that such reproduction, transcription duplication 
and/or retransmission be done in its entirety, including 
this statement.  Any other use may be in violation of 
copyright and subject to prosecution.  All edits must be OKed 
by me.

The reason for this restriction is that I promised all of the 
people named here, whose comments I transcribed that their 
words would be reproduced as is, except for grammatical and 
spelling correction. 
The night before the concert, I mentioned to a fellow 
protester that I had my PowerBook with me, and I would like 
to type in verbatim thoughts of participants during the 
return trip on the Ferry.  A friend of this protester (Geoff 
Skinner, the first commentator) recognized me (using my 
powerbook at the time), and asked me how many comments I had 
gotten. I said "Hunh?" (having had little sleep in the days 
before), and he reminded me of the original conversation. -- 
Thank you Geoff. The rest of the ferry trip was spent typing 
in the comments of everybody who was at the concert that 
would give me a comment.  As you will see, the fluffiest of 
the comments here is above the average of what I had 
expected.
Some quick notes:
1) With the exception of myself and Rob Wickham, All of the 
commentators appeared to be in their teens, or early 20s. 
2) For most Vancouverites, the trip to the concert site is 6 
hours in each direction. Many people drove through the night 
to be there.
3) The promise I made to everybody was that their comments 
would be broadcast as-is with no editing.  I have included 
ALL the comments that I could, and from ALL of the 
participants who talked to me (limited only by my typing 
speed, and - when my batteries ran out again - my writing 
speed).
4) Even though I had a good idea as to what kind of people 
were at the blockade, I was completely blown away by the 
difference between the comments that I received and the 
impression one gets of most protesters from the general 
media.  Thus, I feel the copyright statement at the top is 
necessary to avoid possible corruption of these sometimes 
eloquent words..
5) The notes below are what I typed in. My comments are in 
double parens ((like this)) The rest are quotes. I asked 
people if they would be willing to have their names attached 
to their quotes, but did not require it.
Stephen Samuel, (604)876-0426   (samuel@cs.ubc.ca)  July 17, 
1993,  00:30
_____________________________________________
((Geoff Skinner))
It was great to see the amount of people to show up for the 
protest, and to have such an activist such as Garrett to help 
draw the crowd with his presence.
About the peacekeepers:
I have to applaud all the peacekeepers for their dedication 
and their willingness to commit themselves for such a 
political issue that most do not find the time to.  It was 
good to see that their support for all the people who came 
out and showing us things that we really haven't seen before.  
We see it in the papers and on the news but you can't really 
understand what's really going on, until you make the effort 
to stand up beside them and run the risk of being arrested.  
However, some loggers who were out there did not seem to 
understand that we are not opposing logging but clearcutting.
We would have liked to have stayed to protest longer, but 
unfortunately, as I said before, not everybody has the time 
to .. but we should be back
(( I asked why he had shown up, he said 
 A FRIEND of his had gone up on the first protest on
Canada Day, but another friend had discussed what was 
happening and last week mentioned that  Midnight Oil was 
playing, and he had the days off so they came up. ))
________________________
((Jason Booth))
Wonderful experience! Finally some action is being done. 
Maybe the BC government will  finally sit up and take notice.
Came in WCWC van.
((not directly associated with WCWC. He also commented that 
if he had been a member of WCWC, he would be asked to leave, 
because he had taken part in the blockade.))
________________________
Shannon Mendes ((somewhere in here, I started getting
more people throwing in comments, including)
Panos Grames))
I thought it was great. Everything seemed to go really 
smoothly. The energy was really strong.  It seemed like the 
SHARE guys stood out because they were a little drunk.. 
I think that people went away with a feeling that there was a 
chance to make a change -- to stop the clearcutting. Everyone 
was beaming
It wasn't the concert or the group. it was that people needed 
the date-- the excuse -- that they could say it was that date 
and they could book it off. It was that people needed to have 
that date to work with something.  It was a date that people 
could just take off and work around and make a collective 
statement with.  If there wasn't something like this fixed 
date, people would just put it off and put it off...
There's power in numbers.
I think the moment was proved when the process server 
discovered that there weren't enough copies of the injunction 
to serve to the thousands of people that were there.
I think that the process server has got to have children at 
home that are saying "Daddy, why are you cutting down all the 
trees?"..
And if that's what we need all the pulp and paper for is to 
print these injunctions, then there's better use for the old 
growth.
There was a sign that SHARE had up that said "No logging --No 
pulp and paper products -- No wood "  That was a SHARE sign.
((my comment -- they had it backwards -- No wood, No pulp & 
paper, No logging (i.e. No jobs) ))
I think the solidarity seemed to  ((I lost this comment))
I mean that when the SHARE people weren't screaming, they
seemed to have a blank look on their face like they didn't 
believe what was going on,
I think that one thing that the media isn't likely to cover 
is that the people who were there weren't in out small 
-British Columbia, in Vancouver
(I fell behind comments here.. I actually had 3 people making 
comments at once)) that it was international issue and that 
we are acting on the wishes of people around the world..
I think the media is going to focus on that there was a rock 
concert and that people came to see  Midnight Oil. but I 
don't think that there was anyone there what would have left 
if it would have compromised the blockade.
One of the pro-tree protesters made the comment that the 
Canadian government had spent $6 million on anti-environmental 
propaganda in Europe, at that point, one of the SHARE 
protesters, who was sipping on his beer can, shouted "What a 
waste of money".  I think that he was the one who shouted 
"That's bull shit you assholes"
I think it was a good thing that all of the peacekeepers had 
pink armbands and all of the people who were inebriated had 
yellow ones.
(( Yellow armbands are worn by SHARE BC members � apparently 
a reference to yellow armbands worn by Gulf War and Iran 
Hostage  supporters - which were themselves a reference to 
the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree"))
On the first day ((This protestors first day on the 
blockade??)) I saw when we were coming down the road --when 
the Mac. Blo. logging trucks were coming down  -- (which in 
itself seemed like a nightmare) someone in the personnel 
bus/truck opened the door onto a group of people -- they 
didn't hit them --in an attempt to either frighten or strike 
one of the protesters on the road.  The truck following it 
was a big, huge logging truck and it was just cruising ... 
Everyone was running to the side of the road, because it was 
coming early.
I think one thing that's really important is that everyone 
who was there was representing ten or more of their friends 
and relatives who wanted to come but couldn't because of the 
distance..
((I asked why people had shown gone to the concert))
((Panos Grames)) Both my mother and my grandmother wanted go. 
and they both made it very clear that they were willing to be 
arrested - but my grandmother, who is 76 years old, was too 
sick to go.  That was the kick in the ass that got me to go.  
'cause when I was out there, and I was looking at the -- how 
many thousand were out there?- that they were really tens of 
thousands of people in spirit.  -- and I think that these 
people are on their way, or they will be on their way if it 
becomes necessary.
There's the stereotype that it's just young kids, or slackers 
who want to go out, but, families are often unable to go 
because they have children to take care of or financial 
pressure.. Another point, my brother has two kids and he 
couldn't make it because he has responsibility to his kids, 
and he asked me to go in his place.
((Shannon)) I was inspired to go -- my dad in Ontario said 
that if he was out here, he would be out there ((on the 
blockade)) in a second -- That's what inspired me to go..
We actually decided to go before the concert
____((Unknown female)____
You know the whole time I was at the blockade, I was taking 
pictures ((of the photographers), and most of the time I was 
at the concert I was looking for my luggage..
There were some really rad speakers talking there..
They were playing for about an hour and they ended with a 
great rendition of " Beds are Burning" and they really 
whipped up the audience with it.
________________________
Jami Feller
it was really good.
((Why was he there??))
A little of both -- to try and get people out there to do 
something about the trees and to see  Midnight Oil.  My 
friends were going so they made me go.
________________________
Mira Burke, Chetan Bagga ,  Scrubby. ((in parallel))
It was an incredibly spiritual experience because everybody 
wanted to be there. It was very positive and nobody did 
anything violent or radical.
Even if people showed up just because of  Midnight Oil it was 
good they showed up, because we got victory over the loggers 
and everybody there was useful and we'd like to see them 
again..
We got victory and the loggers weren't taking it too well --
it's the first day that they've been shut down like this and 
they're going to continue to be shut down.
and yesterday was their last day logging..
I thought it was an empowering impassioned response to the 
need for refreshing energy to confront the forest companies 
on the issue not confronting them in a negative way  or a 
violent way.  It was a event that held great solidarity and 
it proves that this issue isn't a fringe issue -- it's a 
mainstream issue
that a mainstream band was able to alter the way that the 
public perceives the  notions of the people who are involved 
with the protesting.
The band is part of the more broadly based people power 
orientation of individuals and concerned citizen groups 
against harmful logging practices that are endangering jobs 
and the environment at the same time...  in other words 
endangering our future.
((why did they come?))
It was my father who's an environmentalist and also friends 
and television.
People who came back from July first rally to say it was 
happening  ((and encouraged him to come??))
((The group came with the Mira's dad....  He works for Kapers 
Foods (sp?).)
________________________
Rob Wickham, 28, a security officer and  Midnight Oil fan:
I thought it was a great weekend, a great number of days.. It 
was a great couple of days.
I'm not a member of Greenpeace, but I believe in what they're 
doing -- what they represent.. I think it's sickening the way 
the government thinks that they can control us.
((He mentioned that he is a security guard and he deals with 
conflict all the time.))
It was good to see so many people come together for a common 
goal without conflict.
The music was great, and last night the music was great.  We 
were down by the second overflow camp and there were some 
guys playing the bongo drums and singing.
I talked with Garrett ..... he said "thanks for a great day"
I even hugged a tree.  I couldn't get my arms more than a 
quarter of the way around it...
One of the loggers had a sign that said "Born to clearcut". 
What an asshole.
((In conversation, I mentioned that if you had told me two 
months ago that I would be standing on a blockade, I would 
have said you were nuts..))
We need more people like us
(("Oh, you neither?"))
No! Never, never, ever in my life have I ever done something 
like this, and it was GREAT - and you can underline GREAT. I 
had fun.
	(( End of comments))
Text below may be used as you see fit as long as it is 
properly attributed. The restricted copyright section ends 
HERE.
                         -30-

                   A short history:

 On July 15, 1993 at about 8:00AM, the Australian rock band " 
Midnight Oil" gave a short, free concert at "The Black Hole," 
a (relatively speaking) small(?) clearcut along the Port-
Alberni-Tofino highway on Vancouver Island, in BC, Canada.  
This was in support of a blockade which took place at 6:00AM  
near the Kennedy River bridge.  The blockade is designed to 
help publicize the clearcutting of the Clayoquot sound area - 
The largest remaining temperate forest ecosystem remaining on 
Vancouver island, and one of the largest in Canada. The 
blockade started, this year, on July 5 with 15 protestors 
refusing to leave the road � including Svend Robinson, a 
Canadian MP, and NDP party member. Numbers have slowly grown 
since.  On Wednesday, July 14, the number of people at the 
blockade roughly doubled to 157. On July 15,  the entire 
clearing was filled with people, many of whom were willing to 
risk arrest by staying on the road in violation of a BC 
Supreme Court Injunction issued at the petition of MacMillan 
Bloedel Ltd.
In the normal course of the blockade, protesters would leave 
their Black Hole camp at 4:30 each morning and arrive at the 
blockade site approximately 1/2 hour later to prepare for the 
arrival of the first MacMillan Bloedel (MB) truck - which 
usually arrived between 6:00AM and 6:18. The first MB truck 
was usually a small truck carrying a person who's purpose is 
to read the injunction to the protesters, and then call in 
the RCMP when protesters refuse to move from the road.  RCMP 
would then arrive a while later, verify that the protesters 
on the road refused to let the trucks pass, and then arrest 
the protesters.  The number of people defying the injunction 
on any day was usually in the single digits. Two exceptions 
have been July 5th (the first blockade) when there were about 
15 conscientious objectors and July 15th when there were 
dozens (possibly hundred).  Those days were also exceptions 
because the objectors were not arrested.
The concert was originally scheduled for 6:00AM at the 
blockade site, but was moved to 8:00AM at the Black Hole by 
request of local native leaders. Response to the call by 
Midnight Oil for people to attend the blockade/concert was 
far beyond original expectations.  As late as July 12, 
Greenpeace changed their estimates from 300 to 1500.  The 
actual number of participants is not known (no tickets were 
sold), but at about 9PM July 15 one report I received was 
that BC ferries had a two--sailing wait and were adding 
ferries to handle the traffic from the mainland to the 
blockade site. Each ferry carries 250-400 cars and 1000-1500 
passengers. There is normally 1 ferry per hour and from 
greater Vancouver to Nanaimo. Total trip time for to the 
concert site for most Vancouverites is 5 to 6 hours.
________________________
                          Glossary
CD: -- Civil Disobedience Training -- also referred to as Non-
Violent Action training. This training is STRONGLY suggested 
for anybody taking part in Greenpeace Civil Disobedience 
actions. The primary focus of the training is the avoidance 
of violence or confrontational action, and how to maintain 
your cool in scary situations. My training was approximately 
4 hours long.
Clayoquot Sound -- The largest remaining intact piece of 
temperate rainforest left on Vancouver Island. It represents 
approximately 2% of the available logging land in British 
Columbia.
Friends of Clayoquot Sound: -- A group of people dedicated to 
the preservation of Clayoquot sound. Based in Tofino, BC., 
they may be reached at (604) 725-4218(voice), (604)725-
2527(fax), or focs@web.apc.org (email). They currently have 
only one phone line with call waiting, so please be patient 
if you call their voice line.
Greenpeace: -- A world-renown environmental foundation which 
organized the  Midnight Oil Concert. Their Vancouver office 
may be reached at (604)253-7701(voice) or (604)253-0114(fax)
MB (also Mac. Blo.) -- MacMillan Bloedel. One of the largest 
logging companies in BC and the company that requested the 
injunction that is the basis for the arrest of protesters.
Midnight Oil: An Australian rock band well known for it's 
activist views and excelent music.
Peter Garrett --  Midnight Oil band leader, and a director of 
Greenpeace International.
Peacekeeper training: -- A course on how to defuse high-
conflict situations. The prime activity of peacekeepers at 
this action was crowd control. In this case, the training 
focused on the possibility of aggressive confrontation 
initiated by members of SHARE BC. CD training is a 
prerequisite to Peacekeeper training.
Peacekeepers:  -- Anybody with peacekeeper training, willing 
to act in such a role. They were identified by their pink 
armbands.
SHARE: -- A pro-logging group. It's purpose seems to be mostly 
to counter the activities of groups such as Greenpeace and 
Friends of Clayoquot Sound.
The Black Hole: -- One of the few recent clearcuts which are 
clearly visible from a well-traveled road. It is on the Port 
Alberni-Tofino highway, near Ucluelet, and has been a rally 
point for many local residents who oppose clearcutting.
WCWC: -- Western Canada Wilderness Committee - Rather like 
Greenpeace, except for the fact that they refuse to support 
illegal actions.

-- 
-- 
Stephen Samuel 		(604)822-9248		samuel@cs.ubc.ca
In biblical times, rome was known for it's great cedars.
What rome did to Lebanon, we are now doing to BC.