MACMILLAN BLOEDEL SUES GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS

Greenpeace vows to continue battle against logging giant

Vancouver August 12th, 1996 3:00pm local time

Greenpeace announced today that MacMillan Bloedel is pursuing a lawsuit, injunction and restraining order to try to stop Greenpeace protests about the clearcutting of the temperate rainforest.

The legal action stems from a series of protests Greenpeace carried out last week against the MacMillan Bloedel log barge the Haida Brave. The barge carries raw logs from the temperate rainforest to Southern British Columbia and is one of the world's largest log barges carrying up to 400 logging trucks worth of wood each load.

Contrary to MacMillan Bloedel's statements there is no "truce" between Greenpeace and the logging giant. "MacMillan Bloedel is the #1 rainforest destroyer in Canada and we pledge to stop this destruction. Public protests of this kind are a critical part of the democratic process" said Steve Shallhorn, Greenpeace Canada Campaign Director.

In response to MacMillan Bloedel's claims that they are acting out of concern for the safety of the activists, Karen Mahon, Greenpeace forests campaigner named in the lawsuit said, "I do not believe that suing a single mother of one for trying to save the rainforest is motivated by 'safety concerns'. It is an act of intimidation and we refuse to be intimidated".

Greenpeace and MacMillan Bloedel will appear in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on Friday August 16th.

Greenpeace is calling for a moratorium on logging in the remaining intact areas of rainforest.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Mahon or Steve Shallhorn at 253-7701, or Steve Shallhorn by cell phone: ++ 416-451-9354

Tamara Stark and Patrick Anderson at Greenpeace Canada: ++ 604 924 0283.