Stop Castle Logging

Arrests Made at Protest Site, Feb 1

stopcastlelogging — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:18:36 +0000

About 30 people and a number of news organizations showed up at the protest site before 8 am this morning. RCMP Inspector McGeough and Corporal Gopp arrived with coffee and muffins. SRD was late.

We told Inspector McGeough that we were appealing both the Enforcement Order and the Court Order that told us to leave the protest site. The Inspector indicated that, regardless, he would be enforcing the Court Order.

Shortly after 8:00 we communicated this to all those assembled at the site. Most people left to reassemble down the road by the Castle Special Management Area boundary to continue protesting there.

Three people decided not to leave and were arrested. They were held in cells for at least a couple of hours before being released by Pincher Creek RCMP.

A fourth person returned to the site some time later and laid down in front of the logging equipment. He was also arrested, and later released.

Given the uncertainty surrounding the appeal of both the Enforcement Order and the Court Order, we asked SRD to instruct SLS to stand down and not to begin any logging until the appeals are heard. Unfortunately, Spray Lake Sawmills began cutting trees and presumably building an access road.

Our appeal of the Court Order will be heard on Friday at about 10 am at Chambers in the Calgary Court Centre.

We will continue to fight this logging in the courts.

Protestors to Appeal Court Order

stopcastlelogging — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:30:47 +0000

Several of the parties named in Enforcement Order 01/2012 are appealing that order. We have a number of issues with the Enforcement Order including the draconian and undemocratic order that, “The Parties shall not occupy or use any other public lands in the Province of Alberta unless otherwise authorized to do so.”

Counsel for the parties named in Court Order 1201-00816 (January 27, 2012) will appear in Chambers at the Calgary Court Centre on Friday, February 3, 2012 to appeal the Court Order. Our counsel feels there are numerous issues relating to both the substance and the process of the Court Order.

We are asking SRD to instruct SLS to stand down and not to begin any logging until the appeals are heard. If the logging were to begin, and if we were successful on appeal, we would also seek penalties for any damage the logging caused.

Court Order Served, Monday Jan 30

stopcastlelogging — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:17:06 +0000

Around 3:30 pm today, SRD officers arrived with a Court Order directing us to cease and desist our actions.

RCMP Inspector McGeough was also on site and, using his discretion, gave us until Wednesday morning at 8 am to discuss the matter with our lawyer. After that time, the RCMP will begin enforcing the order.

We have contacted our lawyer, and will consult with him tomorrow.

The logging operation is not to be started tomorrow, but some protestors do plan to be there to continue to make passersby aware of the situation.

There is some video of today’s events at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdugF-LL6eg&feature=youtube_gdata.

Update, Sunday Jan 29

stopcastlelogging — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:39:05 +0000

Not too much new over the weekend. We had plenty of protestors today (Sunday), and lots of people waving, giving a thumbs up, and honking their horns.

Protestors will be out at the site again tomorrow. We’ll see what the morrow brings.

Please join us at the protest site if you can.

Update, Saturday, January 28

stopcastlelogging — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:25:30 +0000

Day 18 and counting.

Protestors were out again today. People stopped to chat, to take photos, and to leave some goodies behind.

We’re hoping for a good turnout at the protest site tomorrow (Sunday, January 29). Please come and show your opposition to clear cutting in the Castle. Bring a sign.

The protest site is at the Corrals, approximately 1.7 km past the Castle Special Management Area (Forest Reserve) Gate, on Hwy 774 driving towards the Castle Mountain Ski Area. (49.418126 N, 114.289171 W)

Please note there are no facilities of any kind.

Ground Rules for the Protest Site:

1. All actions are to be strictly non-violent

2. All are to be treated with respect

3. No weapons of any kind are permitted

4. No alcohol or drugs are permitted

Update for Friday, Jan 27

stopcastlelogging — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:55:52 +0000

We had expected a visit from SRD and the RCMP, but things were quiet at the protest site today except for the visit from RCMP Inspector McGeough from Lethbridge. Not sure what that means.

We’ll be out at the protest site again tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday.

Come and join us if you can. Bring a sign.

Thursday, January 26 Update

stopcastlelogging — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:19:18 +0000

It was quiet at the protest site today. Neither the RCMP nor SRD visited.

We did however, have a visit from a CTV news crew, and from “Protests r Us” catering service.

The camp is still up, and protestors spent the day holding signs and waving at the passing vehicles. As usual, the number of waves, honks, and thumbs up vastly outnumbered any negative reactions.

We’ll be back at the site tomorrow.

Given how eerily quiet it was today, we’re wondering if something might be up for tomorrow. Tomorrow’s weather looks pretty good. Please come out and join us if you can.

Protest Update, January 25, Late Edition

stopcastlelogging — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:51:01 +0000

Late this afternoon, a large number of SRD officials, Spray Lake Sawmills personnel and contractors, and two RCMP officers along with the regional staff sergeant showed up at the site. A number of our supporters also arrived.

The feller-buncher was started up, and we were asked to leave. Five or six people stood in front of the machine and said they won’t move. We were all given an Enforcement Order, and all the officials and the loggers left.

We’ve sent the document to our lawyers for an opinion and legal advice.

We’ll be back at the site tomorrow.

Protest Update January 25, 2012

stopcastlelogging — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:29:40 +0000

Contrary to what you may have heard, the Protest Camp is still up, and the Protest Continues.

Here’s a photo from this morning:

Protest, Jan 25

Yesterday, a big contingent of SRD officials, Spray Lake Sawmills and contractor personnel, along with a couple of RCMP officers came to the site. The logging equipment was fired up.

We called out for help, and a goodly number of our supporters showed up, as did the Pincher Creek Voice, and Global and CTV. Telephone interviews were done with CBC English and French.

Three protestors stood in the way of the machine, and said they wouldn’t leave. The SRD officers conferred, and then, just around noon, SRD, Spray Lakes, and the RCMP all left. One RCMP officer stopped this morning to see how things were going but, other than that, we haven’t seen any other officials.

More soon… Gotta get back to the site.

SRD Officers Expected to Show Up in Force Tuesday

stopcastlelogging — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:12:31 +0000

We’re expecting SRD officials to show up in force tomorrow to try to evict the protesters.

Please call Premier Redford’s office, and let her know that you are opposed to both this action and to clear-cut logging in the Castle.

And, if you can get to the protest site tomorrow, we could use some help.

See http://www.pinchercreekvoice.com/2012/01/castle-logging-protesters-recieve.html#more for a story about today’s events.

Also, the following media advisory:

MEDIA ADVISORY

Castle Logging Protesters Expect Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Officers to Show up in Force on Tuesday Morning, January 24

For 13 days citizens have braved the cold to protest against plans by Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS) to clear-cut log in the Castle area, southwest of Beaver Mines, Alberta.

Today, Monday January 23, a large number of Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) Officers and SLS employees and contractors were seen meeting on a side road in Beaver Mines.

Late in the day, SRD officers arrived at the protest site to serve a “Trespasser Declaration” which says that the tents that have been part of the protest are now “property of the Crown”.

Given the Trespasser Declaration and the large number of SRD and SLS staff and contractors in the area, the protesters expect to be visited by SRD officers in the morning of Tuesday, January 24. Officers may try to evict the protesters. It’s not known what time the officers might arrive, but it’s likely to be between 8:30 and 10:00 am.

Background
Despite public opinion polls showing that more than three quarters of regional residents are opposed, clear cut logging in the Castle Special Management area near Beaver Mines is about to begin. The proposed logging will not only be detrimental to the watershed, wildlife, recreational opportunities, and area wilderness-based businesses, but will be an eyesore to everyone that drives to the Castle Mountain Ski area.

Experts on grizzly bears and watershed health have spoken out against the logging, citing irreversible effects on ecosystem function and wildlife habitat quality.

Local wilderness-based businesses are concerned that the proposed logging will damage their business opportunities.

Citizens are having a hard time understanding why, after thousands of opposition e-mails, five rallies and protests across Southern Alberta, hundreds of letters and phone calls, and numerous meetings with government officials, the government insists on proceeding with this unwanted and ill-advised logging.

Citizens are not convinced by SRD’s economic or scientific justifications for the logging. Rather, it’s commonly believed that the real reasons for the clear cutting are 1. welfare logging, and 2. turf protection on the part of SRD.

Local residents feel that SLS and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development have chosen a place to begin logging that will act as a “poke in the eye” to the public.

For more information:
Stop Castle Logging Group— Peter Sherrington, 403 627 3522
Satellite Phone at the Protest Site– 011 then 8816 314 66612 (International Call)