rally for Nova Nada

Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 11:58:44 -0500
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
From: nspirg@is2.dal.ca (NS PIRG)
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Hi there,
the nova scotia public interest research group at Dalhousie University
would like to spread the word about a rally organized for Friday July 31,
l998 in support of the Nova Nada Monastery and to raise awareness about the
plight of Nova Scotia's forests.

Speakers will include Sierra Club's Elizabeth May and Fr. William McNamara
- the abbot of the Spiritual Life Institute.

There will also be music performed by the monks who live at Nova Nada in
southwestern Nova Scotia.
The rally will be held at St. Patrick's Church, 2267 Brunswick Ave., Halifax
public rally: 12 noon to 1pm
silent vigil: 1pm to 5:30pm
interfaith prayer service: 7:30 pm

hope to see you there!

In case you aren't familiar with the story, here it is in a nutshell:

For 26 years the monks at Nova Nada have lived lives of solitude - much of
their lives are lived in silence and in solitude - but not all. They also
spend time together and with retreatants who go there. However, there lives
have been profoundly affected by the noise coming from  nearby logging of
the well known Irving company.  In l996, Irving purchased land around the
monastery's 56 acre sanctuary and began clearcutting 24 hours a day - the
monks protested and only after the story made it to the media did Irving
agree to meet with the monks.  The monks have consistently asked for a 2
mile silent buffer (no logging at all) around the monastery.  The Irvings
have offered them a one mile buffer with what they call limited logging in
th second mile.  The monks reject this offer. They can hear logging that
takes place even beyond the two mile buffer and say they would be making a
compromise to even accept a 2 mile buffer.

The experience has transformed their lives and been traumatic for many of
the monks - and they have publically stated that they will leave by
Christmas 98 if they don't get what they require.  This would be a great
loss for Nova Scotia -
it is an indication of how a way of life is becoming endangered.
The issue is also one that highlights the crisis facing Nova Scotia's
forests. The need for wood to supply hungry sawmills, the need for
contractors to work 24 hours a day just to make ends meet after purchasing
millions of dollars worth of equipment (feller bunchers, single grip
harvesters etc), and the need to pit environmentalists against loggers are
indications that there is something seriously wrong with the way the forest
industry works.
In the case of Nova Nada, at least half the land in question (in the 2 mile
buffer) is crown land - in fact, in the one mile buffer that the Irvings
are saying they are offering, one half is crown land they have no right to
cut anyway!

The government could step in and make a trade with Irving - but they've
washed their hands of it.  They have once again placed the rights of a
corporation above the rights of individuals. They once again have been
short sighted and politically expedient not to ruffle Irving's feathers.

CU at the  rally!

Linda Pannozzo


nspirg
nova scotia public interest research group
6136 university ave
halifax, ns
b3h 4j2
902-494-6662
nspirg@is2.dal.ca
executive director : linda pannozzo
MAI info. contact : antoni wysocki, 423-2365



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