Crown drops all charges against five Spencer Road protesters

(The article is misleading as it does not clarify that Luke and Noah’s charges were stayed, while Ingmar and Nancy’s were dropped. The crown is not proceeding, but they can later. The threat of prosecution still hangs over their heads. And Ben’s court date is not until tomorrow, as far as we know.
So it’s a [...]

No Charges for Bear Mountain Tree-sitters

-from Zoe Blunt
The Crown won’t proceed on mischief charges for the people arrested at
the site of the Bear Mountain Interchange in Langford. Charges were
stayed for tree sitters Luke Woodyard and Noah Ross, and no charges
were laid against Nancy Powell and Ingmar Lee. Ben Isitt will find out
his fate on Thursday morning.

“Mischief” Delays Bear Mountain Blasting

by Zoe Blunt Guerrilla News Network
One year ago, a small group of environmentalists set up a tree sit in the path of a highway project. They demanded recognition of First Nations heritage sites and sacred caves and protection for wetlands and endangered species. This small act of civil disobedience has snowballed into a region-wide rebellion [...]

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 [...]

Environmentalist stakes claim on Bear Mountain

Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
An environmentalist’s claim to mineral rights under the Bear Mountain resort and Langford’s new highway interchange likely won’t disturb much earth, but it is digging up more headaches and marks for creativity.

Bear Mountain Road Foe Grabs Mineral Rights

‘Bare Mountain’ claim could test mining law nuisance provisions.
Andrew MacLeod TheTyee.ca
Tree sitters opposed to the expansion of the Bear Mountain development outside Victoria could soon be trading their ropes and climbing gear for pick axes and hard hats.
Just weeks ago, RCMP arrested protester Ingmar Lee for attempting to block construction of a highway interchange to [...]

The unintended consequences of suing protesters

(I’m always ranting that the police state is spreading across the land like a bad mold. Even policing will be for-profit some day, straight outta Sci-Fi. Looks like it could happen right here with us…
Jesse Lobdell and Jason Gratl, Special to Times Colonist
Published: Friday, March 21, 2008
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association watched with interest [...]

Great Short Film:Scarred Landscape

(On a random keyword “Bear Mountain” search I found this short film from IndakazProductions. Thanks y’alls. I’m going to let this video do all my talking today. See you tomorrow.)

A short movie about logging and construction in BC
inspired by the Bear Mountain tree-sitters, the Lorax and Kristine Bresee who all speak for the trees because [...]

Langford mayor under fire for threats

(I’m one of the 6 people (not 12) who were ‘evicted’ from the forest that day. Sure, go ahead Stew, we’d love to see you in court. Our lawyers are itchin’ to go. Or maybe you’d prefer this be the last article to make the National news. I think enough precedents have been set already.
Even [...]

Civil Liberties Group Urges Langford Mayor to Retract Lawsuit Threat

NEWS RELEASE
British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
For immediate release
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association today sent a letter to Mayor of Langford Stewart Young expressing its concern over a public threat to recover policing costs from individuals protesting construction of the Bear Mountain interchange.