The forest’s voice of reason

VICTORIA — On February 3 this year, the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation aired David
Suzuki’s Voices in the Forest, and quite predicta~
bly, all hell broke loose’on the industry front.

Fletcher Challenge said the program was one-
sided, promoted a narrow preservationist point of
view and had more than a dozen errors. MacMil-
lan Bloedel reacted in much the same way,
launching a blistering attack on Suzuki in MB
Journal, a publication that goes mainly to employ-
ees.

Among all the screeching, there was one voice
of reason, and it didn’t come from what could be
considered an impartial quarter, but from one of
the top people in the industry, — Adam Zimmer-
man, chairman of Norand Forests Inc. and former
chairman of MacMillan Bloedel.

In a letter to MB Journal, Zimmerman chides
the company’s over-zealous approach to the
program. It is important enough to be given a
wider airing. Here are excerpts from that letter.

“T am called on almost daily by the media and
try to choose my spots where to answer. I believe
it is best to answer these requests directly and
honestly, even when you know the risk of being
edited.

“This is a particular danger with TV. For
instance, I was interviewed for the subject pro-
gram for two hours. What you saw was perhaps
one and a half minutes out of all this, so imagine
how bad editing could have made me look. I
would have looked even worse if I had refused the
interview,-which several others did.

“After filming, I invited Suzuki and his
producer Jim Murray to stay for a drink (or two).
We had a lively and constructive conversation
which I believe (and Murray says) moderated the
tone and slant or bias of the program.

“My comment to Murray after the airing was
not to compliment but just to say, as you reported,

that it had been better than expected. There was
lots of time given to our loggers and foresters, and
the lady environmentalist was pretty reasonable.

“I know Suzuki is extreme, dubious and often.

incredible. He also has a particular thing about

our forests. On the other hand, he has a huge:

following of believers and the more we dump on
him, the wider the gulf between us and thosé we
would like as supporters.

“Accordingly, I believe we should be articulate,
objective and reasonable and work towards a
rapproachment with those who believe differently,
We are not all right more than they are, even
though they have moved us to a much more
environmentally responsible and responsive pos-
ture than we had five or 10 years ago.

“Had COFI’s (Council of Forest Industries)
response been less immediate and extreme than it
was, there would have been a fighting chance for a
more moderate reprise. As it is, I think the
industry objections to that particular program
have fallen on stony ground.”

Nobody could have said it better. I agree that
Suzuki is to be regarded with some caution, but

_ like Zimmerman says, he’s got a huge following.

In a real sense Suzuki is one of the most
high-profile spokesmen of the environmental
movement. To attack him unnecessarily is to
invite a public backlash rather than narrow the
gulf between the industry and its critics.

For some years now, I have considered myself a
rather constructive critic of the forest industry. I
have had little use for the environmental fringe
element. I have taken the industry’s side at times
and spoken out against the industry at others.

Above all, I have always believed strongly that

confrontation will not solve any problems and-

have advocated tolerance. For that reason, I find
Zimmerman’s reaction to the Suzuki special a
refreshing change of attitude.

TheReview Wednesday, May 15,1991 — A7

DR. FREDERICK G. DAY

F.R.C.S. (Canada), FR.C.S. (Scotland),
FI.C.S. M.Ch Orth. (Liverpool)

Is Continuing to Practice
Orthopaedic Surgery at
202 - 9755 4th St., Sidney, B.C.

Please Phone Direct to 656-5441
OF 656-5218 for Appointment

A CHILD IDENTIFICATION program will be
held Saturday with the joint cooperation of
Sidney RCMP, Block Parents and Video Impact.
This event is absolutely free at the Sidney Centre
mall from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Bring your children
to have them fingerprinted and photographed for
identification purposes and your records. The
program is also sponsored by Sidney Pharma-
save and The Review. For information, call
655-1984.

* Kx

ALSO THIS WEEKEND is the May Day
Slo-pitch Tournament presented by the Penin-
sula Celebrations Society and the Ron’s Dis-
posal-Mixed Nuts slo-pitch team. Most of the
daytime action will be in the Sanscha Park area,
then ball players and fans will gather in Sanscha
Hall Saturday night for a dance that will also
celebrate Sidney’s 100th Birthday.

* *K *

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE was recorded
by the Sidney Museum last week in response to
its request for information about a weird-looking
object. The slender, two-sided object is called a
spoon slick and was identified by five visitors
and seven knowledgeable telephone callers,
assistant curator Susan Kilpatrick said. Mean-
while, in other Sidney Museum news, a volunteer
coordinator is sought to look after operations of
the gift shop: Interested persons are asked to call
656-1322.

KK *K

THIS WEEK THE Vancouver Island Multiple
Sclerosis Society is asking residents to “Make a
donation — wear a carnation”’ during the annual
Carnations Day Campaign. The Island’s goal this
year is to raise $115,000, up from about $71,477
that was raised last year. In Canada, MS is the
most common disease of the central nervous
system. For information on how to get involved,
call the society at 388-6496.

* * *

IT WAS A GOOD WEEKEND for the Sidney
Lions/Review Food Bank. A dahlia sale held by.
Les Moore at his Llewellyn Place home (8662-)
Saturday raised a total of $310. Half the proceeds

G

are going to the Canadian Red Cross, “an

urday

organization that works and works very quictly
and doesn’t get too much recognition,” with the
second half donated to the food bank, Moore said.
A whopping 205 tubers were sold at $1,50 each
and about 40-50 remain for a second sale this
Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Simultaneous-
ly, the folks at NRS Peninsula Properties washed
over 100 vehicles at Mt. Newton Crossroad to
raise well over $500 in five hours (10-3), again for
again for the Sidney Lions/Review Food Bank.
Spokesman Keith Watson said: “People were very
generous” to the hearty group of real estate
salespeople that soaped the fenders and shone the

chrome.
*x * *

IT WAS A SIMPLE white envelope, but the
contents were enough to stop Review reporter
Valorie Lennox short — very short. An investiga-
tive snoop by a co-worker resulted in the
awe-inspiring revelation that a Mensa Canada
examination resulted in her eligibility for mem-
bership. Lennox’ score was 98 per cent better than
that of the general population on the School and
College Ability test. The only criterion for
membership in Mensa is an intelligent quoticnt
(1Q) in the top two per cent of the population. The
result was a pleasant surprise, as Lennox sat for

the exam “as a lark,” she said.
kK OK

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... lo all my clients who helped make the past year
so successful and enjoyable. | hope you are
enjoying your new homes, and please call me
anytime! Thanks also to the following professionals.
lt was a pleasure working with you!

Allan Trelford Remax Camosun

Carol Lawson Remax Camosun

Glen Myles david burr ltd.

Michael Newmann Pacific Coast, Sidney
Michael Emerson NRS Block Bros.

Eric Charman Charman Pacific

Eric Reiter Remax Ports West

Jin Wong Canada Trust, Fort

Doug Menzies Pemberton Holmes, Sidney

Jean Dunn Realty World, Sidney

Michele Holmes Pemberton Holmes, Sidney
Craig Walters NRS Peninsula Properties

Syl Shumka Canada Trust, McKenzie

George Puharich Century 21 Islands

Mike Fowles DFH

Luella Hillmer Remax Ports West

Rob Angus Ocean City, Hillside

Brian McQuarrie Pemberton Holmes, Government
Brian Scott-Moncrieff Scott-Moncrieff & Co.

lan Morley Scoit-Moncrieff & Co.

Terry Swan Jones Emery

Bob Glazier Johns, Southward, Glazier & Walton
Valerie Wise Royal Bank Mortgage Broker
Margaret Osbourne Pacific Coast, Brentwood Bay
Richard Flader Pinch, Flader & Greene
Peninsula Building inspections

Gerritt Looman Building Inspector

Staff at Central Saanich and North Saanich
Municipal Planning Departments