MACMILLAN BLOEDEL INJUNCTION PLACES PRIVATE INTERESTS ABOVE THOSE OF THE PUBLIC, GREENPEACE SAYS

Vancouver, BC. September 3rd, 1996

A decision by the Supreme Court of B.C. supporting logging giant MacMillan Bloedel is a clear sign that the courts are acting to protect private business interests rather than the interests of the public, Greenpeace said today.

MacMillan Bloedel sought an injunction prohibiting Greenpeace, two individuals, John and Jane Doe and Persons Unknown from protesting two of the world's largest log barges after two actions against the Haida Brave in August. The Haida Brave and its sister ship the Haida Monarch each visit coastal communities two or three times a week and, when they leave, they leave carrying the equivalent of 400 logging trucks loaded with rainforest wood.

Greenpeace blockaded the Haida Brave on August 1 and again on August 8 to highlight the overcutting of the old-growth rainforest and the fact that half of the Canadian rainforest has already disappeared. MacMillan Bloedel is the largest logging company operating in the rainforest and controls approximately 1- million hectares of public rainforest land.

"The old-growth rainforest is on land belonging to the public and yet is being decimated by private corporations such as MacMillan Bloedel," said Tamara Stark of Greenpeace Canada. "It's a sad day for Canadians when the financial interests of a private corporation are placed above those of the public in general."

On August 8 Greenpeace voluntarily suspended the blockade of the Haida Brave but, despite this, MacMillan Bloedel has been able to use the courts to prevent the potential of future protests. "In this case, MacMillan Bloedel is using the courts to quell not just public dissent but even the possibility of public dissent - a fundamental principle of a democratic society," Stark said. "So long as the rainforest remains under siege, we will remain committed to stopping this destruction."

Since its inception in Vancouver in 1971, Greenpeace has been committed to the principles of non-violent civil disobedience to stop environmental degradation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Tamara Stark, Greenpeace Canada ++ 604-253 7701