The Great Bear Rainforest has come up in the news a few times in the last year or so. Most recently was news of the federal government's pledge to commit $30 million towards the 'protection' of the forest. That was matched by the provincial government and other sources, taking the total amount to $120 million. Also, last year there was a deal made to protect 5 million acres, and allow 10 million acres to continue to be clearcut. Even though these things are portrayed to Canadians as successes, the on-the-ground reality differs greatly.

The Nuxalk nation, who are the indigenous inhabitants of the region, and their hereditary chief, Qwatsinas, have been co-opted and lied to by both the Big Greens (Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, et al) and the government. Not a single piece of land in BC (or the rest of Canada) has been legally ceded, yet clearcutting is increasing. It was bad enough before, but forests are being destroyed at a faster pace so that the logging companies can get all they can before 2009, when they will be forced to scale back. On top of that, the Great Bear Rainforest is home to a very unique albino black bear, and it is this beautiful animal, along with innumerable others, who's very existence is threatened by the continued deforestation.

Here I interview Zoe Blunt, who provides her perspective on things as a journalist as well as a participant in the efforts to save what's left of the Great Bear Rainforest. She goes into detail about the particular deals made between 'environmental' organizations and the government, and talks of other ecological issues in BC, including the Haida Gwaii, and Burn the 2010 Olympics. Zoe wrote an excellent article on this issue, if you'd like to read something as well. It is called Great Bear Rainforest: The Clearcut Truth. Zoe also has an excellent blog with lots of her writing and interviews, as well as other news.