QUEBEC CITY, July 27 /CNW/ - Two teams of Greenpeace activists have been
arrested for blockading the offices of the Quebec Ministry of Natural
Resources today to protest against the ministry's approval of the destruction
of the last remaining intact forest areas in the province.
The first group of eight activists blockaded the offices at 5 a.m. Some
chained themselves to the front doors, others set up a banner reading "Boreal
Forest: the Destruction Starts Here." They also dumped a load of lumber made
by AbitibiBowater, the biggest and most destructive logging company in Quebec,
at the entrance to the building. This group was arrested at 1:30 p.m.
As the first group was being arrested, a second team of eight activists
blockaded the two entrances of the building's parking garage. They locked
themselves together with metal tubes around their arms. The eight were
arrested at around 3:30 p.m.
"For many years Greenpeace has asked the Minister of Natural Resources to
take significant action to protect the Boreal Forest in Quebec," said Nicolas
Mainville, Greenpeace forest campaigner. "Instead of doing this, the Charest
government has put forward a new forestry law (Bill 57) that, in its current
form, will mean the further degradation of these forests and the eventual
disappearance of woodland caribou."
The blockade at the ministry offices has had an effect. Greenpeace will
meet with Minister Nathalie Normandeau on Wednesday at her offices in
Montreal.
"We hope the Minister will commit to changing the law and preventing
further destruction of the Boreal Forest by companies such as AbitibiBowater,"
said Mainville.
For high-resolution photos of the action: www.greenpeace.ca/gallery
For further information: Nicolas Mainville, Forest Campaigner
Greenpeace: (514) 214-0843; Isabelle Monette, Media Officer, Greenpeace: (514)
212-5749
