loafers and hangers-on, but there is a new mix of people each day .The dynamics change, the atmos- phere changes. Some of the original Peace Camp contingent have become tired, stressed, disillusioned. Some of the original vision or intent has perhaps been lost in the daily grind of trying to keep the Camp operational. Literally thousands of people have passed through the Camp since its inception on July first of this year, and the strain of having to continually deal with new people asking the same questions has taken its toll. But new blood, and new energy is essential. | recently received an enthusiastic phone call from a fellow | met at the Peace Camp who was from Vancouver. He had just quit his job here and was on his way back to help build a huge geodesic dome for the Camp common area in preparation for the winter months ahead. There are people who are committed to staying until there is positive change, and the way the trials in Victoria are progressing, it will be a long, long time. So, the point of this article? A common accusation is that the Camp is full of “welfare hippies” with nothing — better to do with their time. | personally was surprised by the diversity of livelihoods | encountered : doctors; physiotherapists, electricians, computer programmers, teachers, journalists. | do realize that many, many people who support the cause cannot or choose notto ‘stay atthe Peace Camp or participate in the blockades or be arrested for a variety of reasons. The people at the Camp have made extraordinary sacrifices in order to be there, and must continue to do so particularly if they have been arrested. For the arrestees, there are two mandatory pre-trial appearances in Victoria be- fore the trial itself ,which may take weeks. Forallofthe protesters in general, there are the blockades, for which the Peace Camp exists. Waking up at 3:30 am, five days a week, is work. It is no wonder that the protesters look dishevelled and unkept on the evening news .!amamazed at how good they look for that time of the morning after sleeping in a sooty clearcut with zero shower facilities. These people must be commended for their dedication, and personally | feel relieved and hopeful knowing that they are there, watching. | do not, however, believe that | should somehow feel let off the hook, or that there is nothing | can do to help from my insulated shelter in the city. This article is just about one little experience in the life of one little person who is currently trying to keep from drowning in a sea of (mis)information and de- spair. Some nights | go to bed hoping that | won't wake up in the morning. But | do wake up, and | must face the day and consider my existence and my place in this system, as well as the responsibilities that go with it. | am not telling you what you should do. By printing this article on a paper product, | am supporting the forest industry. | am not against logging - | am against unsustainable logging practices. You will receive, if you have not already, wild and conflicting “facts” from both sides. You will be busy with the mere business of trying to get through each day. Other issues have already pushed Clayoquot out of the spotlight. Every- day we are reminded that there is much in our lives over which we have no control. Such is life. But there is one thing | know that | as an individual can do, and that is choose how | wish to live with myself. And that choice is entirely mine, and mine alone, to make. take action | PEACEFUL DIRECT ACTION CODE 1. Our attitude is one of openess, friendliness, and respect towards all beings we encounter. 2. We will not use violence, either verbal or physical, towards any being. 3. We will not damage any property, and will discourage others from doing so. - 4. We will strive for an atmosphere of calm and dignity. 5. We will carry no weapons. _ 6. We will not bring or use alcohol or drugs. Premier Michael Harcourt Legislative Buildings Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Fax: 387-0087 Tel: 387-1715 or 1-800-663-7867 Your MP House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Robert Findlay, CEO MacMillan Bloedel, 9925 Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V8C 3L2 Tel: 661-8000 W.L. Sauder, CEO Intemational Forest Products P.O. Box 49114, 1055 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, BC V7X 1H7 Tel: 681-3221 Friends of Clayoquot Sound Box 489 Tofino, BC VOR 2Z0 Tel: 725-4218 Westem Canada Wildemess Committee (WCWC) 20 Water St., Vancouver, BC V6B 1A4 Vancouver Temperate Rainforest Action Coalition (VTRAC) Box 124, 1472 Commercial Dr. Vancouver, BC V5L 3X9 Tel: 251-3190 loafers and hangers-on, but there is a new mix of people each day .The dynamics change, the atmos- phere changes. ‘Some ofthe original Peace Camp contingent have become tired, stressed, disilusioned. Some of the original vision or intent has perhaps been lost in the daily grind of trying to keep the Camp operational Literally thousands of peoplehave passedthrough the Camp since its inception on July frst of this year, and the strain of having to continually deal with new people asking the same questions has taken its toll Butnew blood, andnew energy isessential. | recently received ‘an enthusiastic phone call from a fellow | met at the Peace Camp who was from Vancouver. He had just quithis ob here and was on his way back to help build a huge geodesic dome forthe Camp common area in preparation for the winter months ahead. There are people who are committed to staying until there is positive change, and the way the trials in Victoria are progressing, it willbe a long, lng time. 0, the point ofthis article? A common accusation isthat the Camp is full of “welfare hippies" wth nothing betterto do wth heirtime. | personally was surprised by the diversity of iveinoods | encountered: doctors, physiotherapists, electricians, computerprogrammers, teachers, joumalists. | do realize that many, many people who support the cause cannot or choose not to stay atthe Peace Camp or participate inthe blockades cr be arrested for a variety of reasons. The people at the Camp have made extraordinary sacrifices in order tobe there, and must continue to do so particularly i ‘they have been arrested. For the arrestees, there are two mandatory pre-trial appearances in Victoria. be- forethetrialitself, which may take weeks. Forallofthe protesters in general, there are the blockades, for which the Peace Camp exists. Waking up at 3:30 am, five days a week, is work. It is no wonder that the protesters look dishevelled and unkepton the evening news. lamamazedat how goodthey look forthattime of the morning after sleeping in a sooty clearcut with zero shower facilities. These people must be ‘commended for their dedication, and personally Ifeel relieved and hopeful knowing that they are there, watching. | do not, however, believe that | should somehow feel lt off the hook, o that there is nothing I can do to help from my insulated shelter in the city. This article is just about one ittle experience in the life of one litle person who is currently trying to keep from drowning in a sea of (mis)information and de- spair. Some nights | goto bed hoping that | won't wake up inthe moming. But | do wake up, and | must face thedayandconsidermy existence andmy place inthis system, as wellas the responsibilities that go with it. | ‘am nottelling you what you should do. By printing this article on a paper product, | am supporting the forest industry. | am not against logging - | am against unsustainable logging practices. You will receive, i you have not already, wild and conflicting facts” from both sides. You willbe busy with the mere business of trying to get through each day. Other issues have already pushed Clayoquot out of he spotlight. Every- day we are reminded that there is much in our lives ‘over which we have no control. Suchis lif. But there is one thing | know that las an individual can do, and that is choose how | wish to live with myself. And that choice is entirely mine, and mine alone, to make. take action ! PEACEFUL DIRECT ACTION CODE 1. Our attitude is one of openess, friendliness, and respect towards all beings we encounter. 2. We will not use violence, ether verbal or physical, towards any being. 3. We will not damage any property, and will discourage others from doing so. 4, We will strive for an atmosphere of calm and dignity 5, We will carry no weapons. 6. We will not bring or use alcohol or drugs. Premier Michael Harcourt Legistative Buildings Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Fax: 387-0087 Tek, 987-1715 or 1-800-663-7867 Your MP House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario KIA 0A6 Robert Findlay, CEO MacMillan Bloedel, 9925 Georgia St., Vancouver, BC vaC aL2 Tel: 661-8000 W.L. Sauder, CEO Intemational Forest Products P.O. Box 49114, 1055 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, BC VIX 1H7 Tel: 681-3221 Friends of Clayoquot Sound Box 489 Tofino, BC VOR 2Z0 Tek 725-4218 Westem Canada Wildemess Committee (WCWC) 20 Water St., ‘Vancouver, BC V6B 1A4 Vancouver Temperate Rainforest Action Coalition (VTRAC) Box 124, 1472 Commercial Dr. Vancouver, BC VSL 3X9 Tel: 251-3190