EUROPEAN RAINFOREST PROTESTS BUILD Blockade in Great Bear Rainforest Continues for Second Day

Bern, Switzerland and Roderick Island, B.C. 22 May 1997

International concern against the destruction of Canadian rainforests moved to Switzerland today with a protest at the Canadian Embassy in Bern. Meanwhile, activists entered their second day of blockades on Roderick Island in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia.

In Bern, Switzerland, Greenpeace activists have successfully returned clearcut rainforest pulp to the main entrance of the Canadian Embassy by building a wall consisting of tree stumps and 2.5 tons of pulp from British Columbia. The Swiss activists, who met with Embassy officials, are demanding protection of the remaining intact rainforest valleys and an end to clearcutting in the area. This demonstration follows on the heels of a 24-hour vigil in front of the Canadian Embassy in Vienna, Austria, as well as demonstrations in Seattle, Boston, and Washington, D.C. last week to protest the destruction of B.C.'s rainforest.

We don't want our toilet paper made from rainforest pulp,' said Christoph Weidmer of Greenpeace Switzerland. 'Canada simply isn't doing enough to protect its forests. We are asking the consumers of Switzerland to consider where their paper and wood products are coming from and to stop buying from destructive companies like Doman/Western Forest Products.'

Switzerland imports between 50,000 and 60,000 tons of Canadian pulp per year, a significant portion of which comes from the rainforest of British Columbia. The main customers are companies such as Tela and Zieglerand Cham-Tenero.

On Roderick Island in the Great Bear Rainforest, activists from Austria, Germany and Canada continue to blockade clearcut logging by Doman/Western Forest Products for the second day. Greenpeace has sent its vessel the MV Moby Dick to the Great Bear Rainforest and erected a floating base camp in order to maintain an ongoing presence in the rainforest and bear witness to the destruction .

'We're holding our ground against rainforest destruction. We hope our presence here will be a wake-up call to the world that we are on the verge of losing these incredible forests forever.' said Tzeporah Berman, Greenpeace Forests Campaigner from Roderick Island, site of the clearcut logging by Doman/Western Forest Products.

Still photos of the action on Roderick Island are available by calling Greenpeace Vancouver.

Still photos of the Bern action available from Reuters International wire services.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

MARY MACNUTT: 604 253 7701; 416 505 1792 (cell);

KAREN MAHON: 604 253 7701; 604 220 7701 (cell);

IN SWITZERLAND: CHRISTOPH WEIDMER: 011 41 79 404 14 32

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