This is our first earth initiative. Here at Life UNpacked we know our business cannot thrive without our planet earth - that's why we are committed to actively supporting sustainable environmental initiatives at the frontline to make real impact.

Fairy Creek Blockade:

Right now in Port Renfrew, B.C, Canada 1000 year old trees are being cut down. Ecosystems that have taken 13,000 years to develop are being destroyed... today in Canada. 

International news outlets have started to publish material about the Fairy Creek blockade, Canadian activists, Teal Jones, the Pacheedaht tribe & John Horgan's Provincial Government, the problem is the information is unclear & misleading. 

This post is not a news release or opinion, just simple facts, links (see below) to original source documents & one important call to action.

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The Project:

Life UNpacked is going to Fairy Creek to gain understanding & explore possible solutions to save these 1000 year old trees & 13,000 year old eco-systems.

However, given the multiple stakeholders involved, we seek to give Canadians clarity on this issue before any detrimental decisions are made, and Canada's last unprotected old growth watershed is clear cut.

We are raising $5000 to amplify the message, increase the quality of information on the issue & give Canadians from coast to coast a meaningful voice that will help save our old growth forests. 

Donate to Amplify Your Impact Today >>>

(All donations will be matched by Life UNpacked up to $1000)

Key Points about Fairy Creek:

• An entire watershed of old growth is unprotected and actively being logged in Canada.

• The logging company (Teal Jones) claims they only want some trees… but their past logging practices show logging will destroy the 13,000 year old growth ecosystem. (It's about more than the old growth trees)

• A change in paradigm for the logging industry in B.C, Canada is required.

• Thirty-two soccer fields per day of old-growth temperate rainforest, representing the last 1% of these rare, irreplaceable and internationally-significant forests are logged every day on Vancouver island, alone.

• An objective 3rd party "Old Growth Strategic Plan" was commission by the B.C Provincial Government. The 14 recommendations given where ignored.

Current Conflict:

Today the problem is apparent. The government has taken no action, the local Pacheedaht tribe is divided on the issue, Teal Jones is actively cutting down 1000 year old trees, & Canadian citizens could be arrested for saving a 13,000 year old ecosystem.  

Donate to Amplify Your Impact Today >>>

(All donations will be matched by Life UNpacked up to $1000)

Sources:

Primary Sources:

• Fairy Creek Blockade - Official
• Old Growth Strategic Report - BC Government - Original
• Pacheedaht Letter - Original
• Pacheedaht First Nation Forest & Range Consultation and Revenue Sharing Agreement - Original
• UBC April 2021 Report - Conservation Resource

Other sources:

• The Narwhal - Echoes of B.C.’s War in the Woods as Fairy Creek blockade builds on Vancouver Island 
• The Narwhal - The Fairy Creek blockaders: inside the complicated fight for B.C.’s last ancient forests
• The Guardian - Pacheedaht First Nation chiefs in Canada tell anti-logging protesters to leave their lands
  
• The Guardian - ‘War in the woods’: activists blockade Vancouver Island in bid to save ancient trees
• The Tyee - The Blockaders
• The Guardian - ‘War in the woods’: activists blockade Vancouver Island in bid to save ancient trees
• The Tyee - The Blockaders

Additional Information:

Summary of 14 recommendations made on Old Growth Strategic Review:

NONE WERE COMPLETE BY THE GOVERNMENT
1. Indigenous Involvement
2. Prioritizing Ecosystem Health and Resilience 
3. A Formalized Three-Zone Forest Management Framework
4. A More Inclusive and Stabilizing Approach to Governance
5. Public Information
Immediate Responses
6. Immediate Response to Ecosystems at Very High Risk
7. Compliance with Existing Requirements
Improve Management
8. Monitoring and Evaluation
9. Setting and Managing Objectives and Targets
10. Update Biodiversity Targets and Guidance
11. Inventory and Old Forest Classification
12. Innovative Silviculture Systems
Orderly Transition 
13.Transition Planning at the Provincial and Local Levels
14.Transition Support for Communities

Timeline of Events @ Fairy Creek

(up to April 14th, 2021)

• August 1, 2020: Discovery of Stone Pacific ( subcontracting to Teal Jones) road construction cresting the Ridge into the unlogged Ada’itsx/ Fairy Creek headwaters
• August 9, 2020: Grassroots activists from across Vancouver island meet at Lizard Lake and decide to erect an emergency logging road blockade at the end of Reid mainline, on a high ridge on the western side of Fairy Creek headwater, to prevent cutting, bulldozing and blasting activity into Fairy Creek the very next day. Notice is sent to Pacheedhat Chief and Council and Elder Bill Jones of setter-activist intentions to block road-building operations on their unceded territory.
• August 10, 2020: Ridge camp blockade turns away Stone Pacific road and falling crews. Call out to request people to attend camp to defend against logging road construction into the last unlogged watershed in the San Juan River system.
• August 17, 2020: 2nd blockade at River Camp is established at another road access point into Fairy Creek along Granite mainline in the Renfrew Creek watershed, on the east side of Fairy Creek.
• August 24, 2020: A temporary, pop-up blockade is set up on Braden Mainline aimed at halting road-building and logging of old-growth forests on Edinburgh mountain, across from Fairy Creek in the San Juan river basin.
• August 31, 2020: Ridge camp blockade is moved 7kms down the road to a new blockade location aimed at halting road-construction into Fairy Creek and logging of contiguous old-growth forest adjacent to the Fairy Creek watershed.
• September 4, 2020: Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones releases an official letter of invitation to Indigenous and non-Indigenous forest defenders to unite on the territory to defend the old-growth rainforests on his ancestral lands. An Elder’s tent is built at River Camp.
• September 6, 2020: A caravan of Indigenous youth and elders, from many territories visit the blockades to further advise on appropriate respect protocols for forest defenders taking action on the land.
• September 22, 2020: The blockade camp on Reid main is moved back to its original position at the top of the Ridge at the end of Reid main. More Pacheedaht community members visit the blockades.
• October 3, 2020: Northview Timber pulls road-building machinery off the mountain, abandoning plans to push roads through into Fairy Creek, past Ridge Camp, until after winter. Ridge camp remains for monitoring. Winterization of River camp continues, including bear-proof communal kitchen shelter, wood-heated communal tents, tool shed and a hot water shower.
• October 22, 2020: An exploratory trail is cut from the Ridge camp along the Ridge to a lookout point above Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek with a group of Indigenous youth.
• December 7, 2020: Logging road blockade is established to prevent Stone Pacific road-building crews from pushing a 2.5 km road network through an Old-Growth Management Area (OGMA) in the Bugaboo Creek watershed, Three days later the company removed their equipment from the mountain.
• December 14, 2020: Logging road blockades are set up at two more locations, preventing a back road access into the Bugaboo OGMA and a 1.5 km road into giant cedar and fir country south of Eden Grove, on Edinburgh mountain.
• January 11, 2021: Kaxi:ks/Walbran Watch Station is established in the Central Walbran valley by Rainforest Flying Squad and Friends of Carmanah-Walbran to monitor and resist approved road-building and 13 cutblocks in the Central Walbran adjacent to Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park
• February 19, 2021: Teal Cedar serves notices of an application for an injunction on River and Eden ancient forest protection camps, indicating the arrival of a court injunction intended to break the blockades. RFS organizers prepare for a protracted civil disobedience campaign
• March 6, 2021: Two hour injunction hearing in Vancouver (over zoom). Judge adjourns proceedings, giving the Flying Squad the opportunity to present our case on March 26th.
• April 1, 2021: BC Supreme Court approves Teal Jones' injunction.
• April 9, 2021: The Guardian & The Narwhal publishes article on events, making international news.
• April 14, 2021: The Pacheedaht tribes letter is released.
• April 15, 2021: Life UNpacked heads to Fairy Creek.
• April 18, 2021: Life UNpacked returns from Fairy Creek & prepares for Earth Day
• April 22, 2021: Life UNpacked continues to support blockade, releases an anthem for the movement (see below in 'extras'), and plans next steps.
• April 30, 2021: Rainforest Flying Squad appeals the injunction. 
• **May 15: Life UNpacked expected return to Fairy Creek to film & produce mini-documentary on issues for Canadians

Extras: 

We wrote, recorded & produced this song on our first visit to Fairy Creek after meeting with the Rainforest Flying Squad. 

Donate to Amplify Your Impact Today >>>

(All donations will be matched by Life UNpacked up to $1000)