British Columbia Environmental Network
British Columbia Environmental Network (BCEN) is yet another Eco-Radical group that connects to us via the Friends of Wild Salmon
In their own declared history they are the successors of an organization called the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation or SPEC
The Society Promoting Environmental Conservation or SPEC, began in the home of Gwen and Derrick Mallard in 1969. Under the leadership of Derrick, SPEC began with four campaigns: offshore oil drilling, strip mining, pollution in Burrard Inlet and pesticides. Activists and academics from Simon Fraser University formed the nucleus of SPEC in those beginning days.
It begs the question of what kind of University professionals are we hiring if our university’s are where radical environmentalism is born. Do not mistake that comment for the honest above baord people who love and care for our environment. I was a born environmentalist, but when I seek to protect anything I do as respectful people do, we go though the proper protocal of making it a community issue, not with money we get under the table from the USA competitors in the energy industry.
NOTE: This Society holds no charitable status, so its just another online website catering to the environmentalists listed below.
From their website, sort of says it all about the who is who running it.
Chair: Rod Marining, rmariner-at-aol.com Society Targeting Overuse of Pesticides (S.T.O.P.)
Co-Founder of Greenpeace International. Sailed on the first voyage of the Esperanza, Greenpeace’s newest vessel. Arrested in Europe in 2003 four times for protesting the importation of Amazon Rain-forest Mahogany logs (one of the Greenpeace actions resulted in the three day shut down of the main loading terminal in the Netherlands. The resulting 20 million law suit was thrown out of court because Mahogany importation is illegal due to the fact that it is an endangered species under CITIES) . Director of the Quenel River Watershed Alliance; Campaign Coordinator of PATH, (People’s Action for Threatened Habitats); Participant in the Mtn. Caribou RIG-Recovery Implementation Group sponsored by the Province of British Columbia; Participant in Species At Risk Advisory Committee meetings sponsored by the Federal Government.
Andy Sinats andy-at-sinats.ca The Peace Valley Environment Association (PVEA)
Andy is a print-maker and graphic artist. He produces posters, t-shirts, publications, and art print editions. His work is in public collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the CBC and the Bibliotheque Nationale. His productions have figured in many campaigns from Save the Whales, Rainbow Warrior, Nuclear Free B.C., Clayoquot Mass Trials, to Making Waves for an Oil-Free Coast. He founded and directed Greenpeace Graphics, and has produced designs for hundreds of campaigns, blockades, demonstrations, tree sits and Stop Site C Dam.
Damien Gillis damiengillis1-at-gmail.com Farmland Defense League of BC
Damien Gillis is a Vancouver-based documentary filmmaker with a focus on environmental and social justice issues – especially relating to water, energy, and saving Canada’s wild salmon. His film “Farmed Salmon Exposed” was premiered around the world during the Global Week of Action on Farmed Salmon, presented by the Pure Salmon Campaign. He has worked with organizations such as Save Our Rivers Society, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, and BC Citizens for Public Power. He is a board member of the Haig-Brown Institute, and a director of the Farmland Defense League of BC. Damien was also a co-editor of an online journal with his colleague, the late, Rafe Mair – The Common Sense Canadian, at https://commonsensecanadian.ca/.
David Boehm davidfboehm172-at-gmail.com (Treasurer) Friends of Cathedral Grove
David is both a scientific researcher and an active environmentalist. He holds a B.Sc. (Zoology, UBC). David has been involved in many important environmental conservation campaigns (stopping: aerial spraying, gas fired Hydro plants, the Cathedral Grove Parking lot, and even a bridge to Gabriola Island.) As a director of the B.C. Environmental Network, David contributes towards the enhancement of sensible, ecologically based perspectives across the province and helps to build a responsive BCEN.
Doug Gook gookmirth60-at-gmail.com Forest Protection Allies
An advocate for cooperatives, credit unions and for strengthening community democracy. He operates a biodynamic garden and apiary near Quesnel and is a director of Spirit Dance Cooperative, an intentional community that operates a market garden, orchard, and forest woodlot in the Cariboo. Since 1978 he has worked with community groups and First Nations through Silvequus Selection Systems and has a consultant practice that works to implement employment intensive ecoforestry such as selective logging with horses.
He has served on the board of the Canadian Environmental Network and as the BCEN representative to the Treaty Negotiations Advisory Committee. Doug is a member/director of no fewer than ten co-operatives, “I think the history of the co-operative movement in BC has a fundamental role in a system change that will lead us to greater sustainability and democracy. Participatory Economics offers solutions to the failings of the current unjust and collapsing systems.”
Daniel Rubin dlrubin-at-telus.net (Secretary) Phone: 778-557-9993 (Mon—Fri 10am – 5pm) BC Pathways / LandWatch Facilitator
Dan has a BA (Sociology, Hon.) and two Associate Degrees (Chemistry and Sociology). He has been an environmentalist and social activist for 44 years. He has worked in several direct-action oriented ENGOs and also as the Earth Editor of the Peace Earth and Justice News Service. Dan currently resides in Victoria. His personal motto is, “The better I listen, the more I learn.”