U of C prof marching to stop pulp mills

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A University of Calgary professor, battling northern Alberta forestry developments, began the first leg of his 300-km protest march from Calgary to Edmonton in an effort to stop the controversial mega-projects from being approved without public input.

U of C geology professor Richard Thomas began his 16-day Moratorium on Mills trek, after a rousing send-off at the Calgary Municipal Plaza April 7 by more than 150 supporters, including Bigstone Indian Band spokesman Dale Auger.

Auger, speaking on behalf of the Bigstone Cree, located 100 km north of the proposed $1.3 billion Alberta-Pacific pulp mill, was on hand to tell the crowd aboriginal people will be threatened with the loss of their environment. He said the livelihood of his 2,000-member band is slowly disappearing.

"The people themselves are in just as much danger as the trees. I'm a young person and my possibilities don't look that good," he said.

Auger told the diverse crowd of southern Alberta environmentalists and pulp mill critics his grandfather is a terrified as anyone about the potential devastation of the planned bleach kraft mill on his natural surroundings.

He said people like his grandfather, a Peerless Lake Native, never get asked about their beliefs.

"We live off one of the largest lakes in Alberta, Trout Lake. My grandfather tells me the government is hitting us from all sides. He is afraid," Auger said.

Thomas' trip will wind down at Edmonton's Hawerlak Park April 22 to mark the 1990 Earth Day celebration.

He will be leading a contingent of protesters through central Alberta towns drawing public support to stop future pulp mill developments until environmental assessments are conducted.

For schedule information contact Richard or Denise in Calgary at 282-5721 or Donna at 259-6407.