Thoughts on the Mackenzie Rally

By Submitted Article

by John Grogan

I recently traveled from the Robson Valley to show support for the people of Mackenzie and what they are going through with massive layoffs. My community went through and continues to suffer similar hard times with the closing of the local sawmill last year, and it is after all the working families that end up paying for the economic hangover.

The Mackenzie Rally may have been prompted in part by the occasion of the Forestry Roundtable roadshow making a stop in Mackenzie. This in part was a reason why I drove the 300 km (one way) from the Robson Valley to Prince George to get on a bus at 7 a.m. in order to travel the additional two hours to Mackenzie. I wanted to voice my utter contempt for a process that excluded public access to the discussions taking place behind closed doors. This is what deMOCKracy looks like! For decades industry blamed environmentalists for any downturn. Road apples! I blame government mismanagement which enables unchecked corporate greed.

The Mackenzie Rally was an historical event in British Columbia. The anti corporate globalization protests as previously held in Seattle and other large cities worldwide has come home to the heart of British Columbia, and the people of Mackenzie should be proud of what they did that day. It may well be the spark needed to fire up a rebirth of common purpose. Remember the Wobblies?!

Mackenzie is NOT a dead-end road from which lumber and profits leave to build empires on the city skyline. It is home to people with dreams, ambitions and bills to be paid. Mr. Coleman... are you listening?

After the speeches in the parking-lot were said and done, the crowd marched three blocks north to the Catholic Church were the Forestry Roundtable was taking place. It was a most well-mannered crowd, sans the anarchists and the “black-watch” typical of urban demonstrations; but the contempt for this abuse of power and process by this government was palpable. The person with the bull-horn repeatedly called for Minister Coleman to come out (being that there was a police presence to ensure that we did not come in). We brought with us “the people's resolutions” (see below) to be considered by those behind closed doors in their (not our) Forestry Roundtable. “Mr. Coleman... are you listening?

In typical Canadian fashion it was a polite crowd that marched to the Forestry “roundtable” but it was a most cowardly Minister of Forestry that pretended not to hear the people outside, or perhaps was too busy with his corporate bosses to be bothered with the pions outside with their bullhorn and their silly resolutions. It is exactly this lack of access to process that prompts some to use more destructive means... (I did not see any “Micky D” in Mackenzie... thank goodness)

The crowd standing outside the church calling for Mr. Coleman showed respect for property and most did not even step in the grass, but stood instead at the curb... curbed by a sense of decency and respect that was not reflected by the Minister of Forest Companies. Mr. Coleman... are you listening?

Just wanting to be heard... a singular courageous woman walked up the sidewalk to the front door of the church with our “resolutions” for the “roundtable's” consideration. She was met by a man of some “authority” who received the resolutions, who then went inside with them. Our duty to democracy having been done, and nothing else to do, we marched back to the parking lot where a community BBQ was in progress. The BBQ was good, but Mr. Coleman's behaviour left a bad taste in my mouth.

It was not until the bus ride home that it came to me the significance of bringing the “resolutions” to a closed door at the church. The powers that be had effectively retreated to SANCTUARY to protect themselves, and at the same time had locked the people out of their church. Mr. Coleman... are you listening?

The image suddenly came to me of religious reformer Martin Luther tacking his infamous 95 Theses to the door of the church nearly 500 years ago. Mr. Coleman, I am past caring if you are listening. You showed your true colours by failing to come to the door when the people knocked. You continue to sell your indulgences to your corporate bosses at your own political peril and those with whom you sit.

One last thought. This whole experience reminds me of Dr. Seuss' fine children's book "Horton Hears a Who" in which we learn that "a person is a person, no matter how small", that it takes all the voices in the choir in order to be heard and that "WE ARE HERE... WE ARE HERE... (we need YOUR voice here) WE ARE HERE!

Hyperbole or not, that is my story and I'm sticking to it...

John Grogan

John Grogan is a community activist living in the Robson Valley.  He has been active in media community access, labour,enviromental and peace movements. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grogan_(Canadian_politician)

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