Canadian Coast Guard Rams Seal Defender Vessel

-from Sea Shepherd
The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Des Groseilliers twice rammed the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Farley Mowat today.
The Coast Guard had ordered the Farley Mowat to not approach the area where seals are being slaughtered. When the Farley Mowat did not comply, the Coast Guard rammed the vessel near the port aft [...]

Bear above, Bare below

Environmental activist buys subsurface mineral rights to Bear Mountain, Spencer interchange properties
By Edward Hill - Goldstream News Gazette - March 28, 2008
It’s a crazy world.
Ingmar Lee, a vocal opponent of Bear Mountain and the Spencer interchange, has purchased the subsurface mineral rights to about half of Langford — including below Bear Mountain and the Spencer [...]

Gabriel Villeneuve under arrest, again

(Animals rights activists campaigning against Huntington Life Sciences have been specifically targeted for non-violent activities, such as the SHAC 7, who were imprisoned simply for running a website. According to this press release from SHAC Canada, Gabriel’s current arrest is completely unjustified, as he seemed to not be breaking any of his bail conditions at [...]

Eco-Warriors Or Eco-Terrorists? Rulings seen in NW cases of three eco-activists

by Marlena Gangi
Portland Indymedia
Court cases of three environmental activists have recently reignited discussion regarding definitions of the word “terrorism.” All three cases involve acts of arson. While arson is a crime punishable by law, one still must question the heavy handedness of prison sentences handed down as well as proposed sentences in the following cases. [...]

Earth Warriors Win One! Nanning Creek Treesit Declares Victory

(Oh yeah!! Shout out to my brothers and sisters taking a stand for the trees!! Great news!)
Who says Treesitting doesn’t work?
by Jeff Muskrat
We won! Read about Nanning Creek Treesit’s inspiring story! Thank you to all who helped us!
Apparently, Pacific Lumber missed the boat to refile the “Bonanza” THP in Nanning Creek, home of “Spooner” [...]

What About Red? City of Victoria Attempts to Oust Panhandler

-from Rose Henry
“Red is scheduled to appear in provincial court on Monday March31/08 in Victoria. He is the first of an estimate 20 panhandlers that the city of Victoria and the Downtown Business
Association are trying to oust from the streets.
I think there should be a show of support for Red and the issues he represents. [...]

The Urban Druid

Pride, Patience & the Prophecy of Tent-Cities
in the Moral Philosophy of David Arthur Johnston
by cyampascal
Mr. Johnston is an urban druid — his scraggly Celtic beard and his old walking staff were my first clues. His complexion is ruddy, his styke us anachronstic and he insatiably paces this earth pondering every imaginable spiritual mystery. [...]

Library Mediation begins today

Library workers in the city of Victoria have been locked out since February 17, and they haven’t been the only ones.
Not many people realize it, but libraries play a crucial role in the lives of homeless, poor, disabled and elderly people. This lock-out has meant one less safe, warm, enlightening place for people living on [...]

Housing homeless is cheaper: study

By Rebecca Aldous - Victoria News
Housing Victoria’s 1,200 homeless could save the province nearly $22 million a year, according to figures from a Ministry of Health-commissioned study.
The 149-page paper calculated the average homeless adult with severe addictions and/or mental illness costs the provincial public system more than $55,000 per year.
But providing adequate housing and [...]

Marie Mason released

-from Support Marie (Indymedia)
We are happy to report that despite a mind numbing amount of red tape and drama from the probation dept. and the associated electronic tether, Marie was released from jail Tuesday. She is under house arrest at a relative’s house and only able to go outside with permission 2 hours a week. [...]