The ongoing blockades in the Fairy Creek watershed on Vancouver Island, that are aimed at preventing old-growth logging in the area, have received online support from one of ‘The Avengers.’
American-born actor Mark Ruffalo, widely known for his role as the Incredible Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has put his support behind protesters who are fighting to save the British Columbian old-growth trees.
In a tweet sent out on Thursday, June 3, Ruffalo backed the efforts of the Fairy Creek blockades, while also encouraging his network to sign a change.org petition on the matter.
“Join me in supporting the #FairyCreekBlockade where Indigenous Peoples & activists are stopping the logging of #OldGrowth forests in British Columbia,” reads Ruffalo’s tweet.
“Sign the petition to tell [John Horgan] & [the BC NDP] to protect these ancient forests w/ 2000 years old trees!”
As of Thursday afternoon, the post had been liked by over 700 people and retweeted more than 100 times.
Ruffalo’s Twitter account, that describes him as “a climate justice advocate with an eye out for a better, brighter, cleaner, & more hopeful future,” has more than 7.5 million followers.
The petition that ‘The Avengers’ star shared in his tweet has received over 55,000 signatures in support of ending the old-growth logging that is taking place in the Fairy Creek watershed.
“Around 64 million tonnes of carbon emissions can be linked to logging every year, and the second-growth forests being replanted aren’t enough to combat the amount of carbon held in old-growth forests being released as they are logged,” reads the petition description.
The B.C. Supreme Court granted an injunction to the Teal-Jones Group back in April to remove the protestors and blockades and BC RCMP has since begun enforcement.
As of Thursday, a total of 158 people have been arrested for breaching the injunction that allows Teal-Jones to resume logging in the area.
Mounties say seven people were arrested Wednesday for breaching the injunction after officers found a large group blocking both directions of a forestry road in the Braden Creek area near Port Renfrew.
The blockade has been in place since August 2020, organized in part by members of the Rainforest Flying Squad, to stop the logging company from building a road into the Fairy Creek area and prevent old-growth logging.
Pacheedaht First Nation’s traditional unceded territory includes the land the Fairy Creek watershed is located on.
The judge, in delivering his decision, said Teal-Jones’ activities are “lawful.” The protesters are “misguided, their conduct is illegal and undermines the rule of law,” he said.
Join me in supporting the #FairyCreekBlockade where Indigenous Peoples & activists are stopping the logging of #OldGrowth forests in British Columbia. Sign the petition to tell @jjhorgan & @bcndp to protect these ancient forests w/ 2000 years old trees! https://t.co/CkLT7L5sqc
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) June 3, 2021
Graham Cox
