Legal Rights of Forests - Long Overdue

 


This has also been published as a letter to the editor, Muskoka Region News.

LEGAL RIGHTS OF FORESTS

There has been a lot of interest in the news about Climate Change, how it relates to our Muskoka forests and how to protect them. Some environmental experts like Norm Yan and Peter Sale believe in the 'Legal Rights of Forests' and have said that, "People being responsible to look after the environment hasn't worked well."

My husband and I protested the clear-cutting of old-growth forest for a snowmobile trail behind our home. They went ahead and cut it anyway, saying the economic benefit was more important. After our snowmobile trail protest, the Municipality of Bracebridge enacted a tree-cutting bylaw.

But it did little good. They went ahead a year later and cut down the second largest yellow birch tree in Ontario, almost 13 feet in circumference because snowmobiles kept running into it.

See the inset. Look closely. That is me, Kathy hugging the tree for the last time. This tree had no rights, not when it comes to snowmobiles.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lithium Technology - Boon for Alberta Economy

Image
  Lithium Technology - Boon for Alberta Economy A Bright Spot for Alberta – Electric Vehicles (EV's) - Remarkable It may sound incredible, but electric cars could soon be an economic driver for oil-rich Alberta. The increase in global sales for EV's has been astonishing. In 2010 there were about 17, 000 electric cars on the road but today it's estimated 7.2 million. Sales in 2019 swelled to 2.4 million. Tesla models accounted for most of the increase. General Motors announced it will go all electric by 2035. Key Component of EV Batteries is Lithium- Plenty in Alberta Lithium is a light, soft, silvery-white alkali metal. A key component of the batteries in EV's is lithium, the type found in Alberta, if you know where to look.   "There are a lot of opportunities for lithium in Alberta," said Roy Eccles, a senior consultant with Apex Geo-science in Edmonton. Lithium Needs Oil – What Kind? Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammabl...
Read more
Image
‘This is Soul’ Discussion & Sound Bathing | Muskoka Chautauqua Tuesday, August 6 @ 4:00-5:30 pm FREE Visit: ‘This is Soul’ Discussion & Sound Bathing | Muskoka Chautauqua This is Soul: An event led by Hilary Bowring, author of, ‘Find Your Soul in your heart’ with special guest, Kathy Ashby, renowned artist and author, introducing her debut book of soulful poetry, ‘From the Rim of the Bowl’. These authors share some of their own soul journeys and readings from their latest books. Also enjoy some Heart opening exercises to connect with your soul; Meditation to reveal your soul gifts enhanced by Crystal bowl sound healing with Bonnie Newell. Bring your own crystal bowls, if you have any, to join in the World Peace Blessing at the end. You’ll come away feeling inspired-lighter and brighter, with practical help to create a short daily meditation routine to connect with your soul purpose. Find Your Soul in Your Heart “The book is a timely and relevant guide in the midst of a paradi...
Read more