Shawna G Sued for Defending Water!
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Shawna Green is an eco-warrior, a friend, and an indigenous mom on Vancouver Island, BC. She is standing up to a local company that's dumping contaminated soil in her community's drinking watershed.
In November 2015, that company sued her for $50,000 in damages and threatened her with arrest.
At the same time, a record-setting rainfall flooded the dump site, and muddy sludge started pouring into nearby Shawnigan Lake. The public health service raised the alarm and sent an alert to residents warning them not to use the water and to keep animals away from the lake. This is exactly the worst-case scenario that environmentalists like Shawna were warning about.
The community is frightened and frustrated. This same company (South Island Aggregates) has been tied up in court for years over permission to dump the contaminated waste in the first place. The Shawnigan Lake Residents are petitioning the court to throw out the dumping permit.
But rather than allow that case to be heard, the company is on the offensive trying to shut down those who are protecting the water, including Shawna.
The bullies are charging Shawna with obstructing their dump trucks full of toxic soil. Shawna was not given notice of the hearing and the court handed the dump company an injunction. Now Shawna faces arrest if she sets foot on the road where the dump trucks enter.
Every day, more trucks are arriving and dumping contaminated soil in the Shawnigan Lake watershed. Community members are rallying at the site. The local Member of Parliament is calling for the company's permit to be revoked. We're waiting for independent laboratory results about the silt and mud that poured into the lake.
The next court hearing for Shawna is December 3 and our goal is to get the court to reverse its earlier decision and support the water defenders.
The funds we raise will be used for Shawna's legal representation and court costs. It's the only way she can make applications to stop the dumping. Winning this case will help the Shawnigan Residents and thousands of others who rely on this watershed.
We're here in soldarity with Shawna and all who stand up for land and water. Please join us!
- Eco Warriors Legal Trust
http://wildcoast.ca/legal
In November 2015, that company sued her for $50,000 in damages and threatened her with arrest.
At the same time, a record-setting rainfall flooded the dump site, and muddy sludge started pouring into nearby Shawnigan Lake. The public health service raised the alarm and sent an alert to residents warning them not to use the water and to keep animals away from the lake. This is exactly the worst-case scenario that environmentalists like Shawna were warning about.
The community is frightened and frustrated. This same company (South Island Aggregates) has been tied up in court for years over permission to dump the contaminated waste in the first place. The Shawnigan Lake Residents are petitioning the court to throw out the dumping permit.
But rather than allow that case to be heard, the company is on the offensive trying to shut down those who are protecting the water, including Shawna.
The bullies are charging Shawna with obstructing their dump trucks full of toxic soil. Shawna was not given notice of the hearing and the court handed the dump company an injunction. Now Shawna faces arrest if she sets foot on the road where the dump trucks enter.
Every day, more trucks are arriving and dumping contaminated soil in the Shawnigan Lake watershed. Community members are rallying at the site. The local Member of Parliament is calling for the company's permit to be revoked. We're waiting for independent laboratory results about the silt and mud that poured into the lake.
The next court hearing for Shawna is December 3 and our goal is to get the court to reverse its earlier decision and support the water defenders.
The funds we raise will be used for Shawna's legal representation and court costs. It's the only way she can make applications to stop the dumping. Winning this case will help the Shawnigan Residents and thousands of others who rely on this watershed.
We're here in soldarity with Shawna and all who stand up for land and water. Please join us!
- Eco Warriors Legal Trust
http://wildcoast.ca/legal
Organizer
Zoe Blunt
Organizer
Duncan, BC
