WILDERNESS COMMITTEE CALLS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT OF INTERFOR WOOD PRODUCTS
An environmentalists prays on his knees as Interfor loggers gather on the North Side of the Lava Creek Bridge (in the distant background) on Infamous September 15, 1999 in the Elaho Valley. A short time latter the loggers attacked destroying the peaceful conservationists' camp, beating them up sending three to the hospital.
Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC) is calling on its members, supporters, and the general public to boycott International Forest Products (Interfor). "We have done nearly everything possible that can be done within democratic bounds to get Interfor to change. Yet Interfor is not improving. It's actually getting worse as it targets the most sensitive ancient groves in the Stoltmann and oldgrowth rainforested valleys left on the B.C. coast. Our last resort is to convince consumers not to buy Interfor's ecosystem-destroying forest products. A successful boycott will force this company to change or go out of business," said Joe Foy, WCWC Director and Stoltmann campaigner.
Boycotts and organized market pressure in the global economy are becoming extremely effective tools in bringing about peaceful change in democratic societies. Boycotts of South African products helped bring an end to apartheid in that country. Market pressure on MacMillan Bloedel paper products sold in Europe and the U.S. was a key factor in getting MB to stop logging the intact valleys in Clayoquot Sound.
Logging in summer 2000 obliterates endangered Spotted Owl habitat north of Lava Creek.
"If you are building a picnic table or renovating your house this year, please take the time to make a principled consumer choice and ensure that Interfor wood is not used in your project. If you notice Interfor wood products in your local building supply store, talk to the managers and, if the store continues to stock Interfor wood products, take your business elsewhere," suggests Foy.
Greenpeace, the Coastal Rainforest Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council and Rainforest Action Network are actively urging U.S. and European retailers to phase out their purchases of wood coming from endangered forest ecosystems and to immediately stop buying any wood products from Interfor. Already major home building and building supply companies like Home Depot, Lowe's Compa- nies Inc. and 83 Lumber Ltd. have made the commitment to do this.
The Wilderness Committee has produced and is distributing an informative "Boycott Interfor" poster (see page 8). Free copies to put up on public bulletin boards can be ordered via phone or mail or downloaded from WCWC's website
