Dear Charles,
Thank you very much for your apology and press release condemning the mistreatment of the chickens on Tuesday March 23rd. We deeply appreciate your
taking this matter seriously and repudiating it as a strategy to help the environment.
Sincerely, Karen Davis, President, United Poultry Concerns
----- Original Message -----
From:
Charles Campbell
To:
Karen Davis
Sent:
Thursday, March 25, 2010 6:10 PM
Subject:
Re: [UPC] Environmental Group Mistreats Chickens to "Help" the Environment
Dear Karen,
Dogwood sincerely apologizes for its role in this action and takes full responsibility. Here is a statement from our Executive Director, Will Horter,
that we are releasing to the press.
http://dogwoodinitiative.org/media-centre/news-stories/executive-director-of-dogwood-initiatives-response-to-the-controversy-around-releasing-chickens-in-ida-chongs-office
Executive Director of Dogwood Initiative's response to the controversy around releasing chickens in Ida Chong's Office.
Dogwood Initiative apologizes for the release chickens in Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong's office on Tuesday, March 23 during a rally to protect
forest lands and stop reckless development on Southern Vancouver Island.
Dogwood initiative prides itself on its ability to catalyze individuals to take action on issues that concern them and when required to step outside of
conventional channels that have been proven not to work.
Although the idea of releasing chickens in response to Ida Chong's refusal to respond to community concerns over reckless development did not originate
with Dogwood Initiative, the student activists that released the birds do have an association with Dogwood and we therefore deem ourselves responsible
for their actions. Proper institutional controls were not in place to ensure that actions at this rally were appropriate. As Executive Director of
Dogwood Initiative, I accept full responsibility for this and have taken steps to ensure that appropriate checks and balances are in place in the
future.
The fact that some people feel they need to resort to unusual actions is indicative of the level of frustration that local citizens feel over the BC
government's handling of the removal of 28,000 hectares of land from Western Forest Product’s tree farm licenses.
As the Auditor General clearly stated, the government created the problem by failing to protect the public interest, deficient consultation with
affected parties, and insufficient due diligence of WFP’s finances as well as accepting the dubious rationale that making the lands available for
reckless development would protect forest jobs.
To date local Minister’s Chong and Coell have not responded to community concerns, nor taken a leading role in solving the problems their
government created. Tensions will continue to escalate until the government steps forward and works with the CRD and community groups to solve the
problem. Dogwood Initiative will continue to work with all parties to develop and implement a lasting and sustainable resolution that will protect
forest lands and stop reckless development on Southern Vancouver Island.
Concerns have been raised about the welfare of the chicken released. We have investigated and determined that the chickens were not harmed during the
event. We regret any distress that the chickens may have experienced during the event. The chickens are now Victoria’s Animal Control and we are
taking steps to ensure that the birds are adopted by a humane home.
Will Horter
Executive Director, Dogwood Initiative
Charles Campbell
Communications Director
Dogwood Initiative
www.dogwoodinitiative.org
w. 250 370 9930 ext 22
c. 250 858 9990
e. charles@dogwoodinitiative.org
