34 — Wednesday, April 21, 1999 ~ North Shore News

Logging
threatens

From page 32

of the island may have helped
the gene variation survive.
Now that isolation, and the
bears with it, may be threat-
ened.

Western Forest Products
has options to log on Princess
Royal Island. And that, says
Jackson, can not be allowed.

“This is the lase intact habi-
tat of the spirit bear. 1 don’t
think there's room for com-
promise.”

He want: the government
to turn the island into a nature
conservancy, aid he’s backed
up his words with actions.
He’s written letters to govern-
ment and to public figures,
gained the support of Chief
Leonard George and wildlife
activists Jane Goodall and
Wayne McCrory.

He’s sat down with staff
from the Ministry of the
Environment and the deputy
minister of forests, as well as
officials from forestry compa-
nies.

He’s done his research —

. he spills out a dizzying list of
facts and figures about the
bears, about the area. He even
has ideas on how to minimize
job losses if the area is protect-
ed from logging.

But even more than pitch-
ing his ideas to government
and . forestry companies,
Jackson has been appealing to
other young people in B.C. As

well as speaking to students in
schools, he has formed the
Spirit Bear Youth Coalition.

He believes the power of
youth shouldn’t be underesti-

mated.

“This is our province, our
bear, our future.”

In 1997, Jackson had the
rare pleasure of travelling to
the island.

“Within half an hour of
arriving this white bear started
walking down a log towards
us. I felt awe-inspired, for cer-
tain. I didn’t feel threatened at
all.” Because the bears have
had little contact with humans,
they are unusually trusting.

“I feel like we have a
chance here to make up for
many of our past mistakes with
bears.”

And to fulfil an ancient !eg-
end. Kitasoo and Kitsquata
people say that at the begin-
ning of time the whole world
was white with ice and snow.
Then the raven came from
heaven and made the world
green. But he wanted to
temind himself of the begin-
ning and its whiteness. So on
this island, the one where pco-
ple have never lived, he went
among the black bears and
made every tenth one white.
And then he issued 2 decree:
the white bears would live here
forever in peace.

Reach Simon at 926-3358.

WEST Vancouver stu-
dent Simon Jackson
believes the youth of
today will have a say in
how the bears of tomor-
row are protected.

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NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge

FAX LETTER |

| Dear Mr. Bullis:

To: Bill Buliis
Title: President
Company: BCAA
Fax #: (604) 268-5585
Phone # (604) 268-5000

A recent editorial in the Vancouver Sun (April 1 12, 1999) had the
heading “Companies must tend to their grassroots.” It went on to say
that “When members voted down a merger involving the Surrey Metro
Savings Credit Union, they sent a message to the B.C. Automobile
Association regarding information and trust.”

Mr. Bullis, that is not the first message you received regarding your
proposed sale of BCAA’s insurance corporation to a subsidiary of the -
Dutch giant, the ING group.

| Indeed, prior to your annual general meeting, hundreds upon hundreds

of BCAA members delegated their proxy vote in opposition to the sale.

: For you to claim that the members indicated strong support for the sale

is, at best, misleading. If you really had strong support, then you would

| have gone ahead with the vote.

| Under the circumstances, now is the time for you to provide the real
| information regarding your proposed sale. You should admit that the -

current business is profitable and today, profits and jobs stay in British

| Columbia. If you do this, I am confident that the members of the BCAA
| will vote to keep the ‘BC’ in the BCAA.

Office and
Professional Employees
International Union (Loc. 378)