Saturday: Sprawalpalooza - rally and festival against urban sprawl
Victoria, BC - A super-group of environmental defenders is hosting a
rally and free music festival against urban sprawl in the Capital
Regional District on Saturday, April 30. Up to 1000 people are expected
to converge at Sprawlapalooza, according to organizers at
Dogwood Initiative, Wilderness Committee and Forest Action Network.
A controversial proposal to build nearly 300 houses along the Juan de
Fuca trail (and similar applications for reckless development) sparked a
widespread movement to stop sprawl and save forests and farmlands on
the South Island.
The Saturday event will pressure the Capital Regional
District Board and the province to take action against reckless
development.
3 to 9 pm, Saturday, April 30
Centennial Square, Victoria
Bands:
Kuba Oms and the Velvet Revolution
Rocky Mountain Rebel Music
Everybody Left
Shipwreck Capital
Vital Hands
The festival arrives in the wake of yesterday's decision by Ida Chong, BC Minister of Communities, Sports and Tourism, to veto the CRD board's request for a fair voting system for the rural resource lands. The new system would have allowed the whole board to vote on proposals affecting the rural resources lands, which occupy two-thirds of the CRD and contain the region's drinking watersheds. Currently, five CRD directors have the power to make all the land-use decisions for the Juan de Fuca area.
Performers Rocky Mountain Rebel Music, Kuba Oms, and Everybody Left promise hours of danceable reggae, ska, and worldbeat with a message to "protect the land we love," according to Cam Gray of the Wilderness Committee.
Andrew Murgatroyd, guitarist for Rocky Mountain Rebel Music, knows every inch of the Juan de Fuca trail. He said the 45-km park is a
sanctuary for elk, bears, and sea lions, all of whom need plenty of room to roam and plenty of privacy to mate and raise their young ones.
"Development will seriously disturb these huge animals, and certainly bring a lot of unnecessary human traffic to this refuge," he said.
Murgatroyd said the whole band is "thrilled" to support the work of Forest Action Network, the Wilderness Committee, Dogwood Initiative, and other community groups in bringing sanity back to local land-use planning.
"Everybody in Rocky Mountain Rebel Music is behind you one hundred percent, and we are honored to play at Sprawlapalooza," he said.
Kuba Oms agrees. "We want to protect the Juan de Fuca trail, and enhance our region's food security," he said this week. The
award-winning songwriter ("How Much Time," "Never Meant to Hurt You") is tuning up his eco-justice lyrics. "Join up next Saturday, April 30th as we rally for the health of the planet!" he commands his fans.
The no-sprawl movement has exploded in the past year, Gray adds. "People question why ex-urban growth is still permitted, when it's become obvious that sprawl is a net loser that inflates land values and drains resources. Sure, there are short-term jobs for awhile, but it's like a sugar high for a diabetic – it does more harm over the long run, for the environment and the economy."
August Thomas of the Esquimalt First Nation will perform traditional welcome songs to open the festival. Stacy Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation will address indigenous rights and title in the Juan de Fuca region and the need for a moratorium on development. The elected chief and council support the resort proposal, but many members strongly oppose it, stating that council has not consulted with the band or disclosed its financial benefit from the developer.
Photo opportunities:
3:00 pm - August Thomas of the Esquimalt First Nation performs
traditional welcome and honour songs.
3:20 pm – Stacy Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation addresses
indigenous rights and title in the Juan de Fuca region and the need
for a moratorium on development.
3:40 pm – A community mural about protecting the Juan de Fuca region,
created by more than 200 people, will be presented to CRD directors.
Photo opportunities:
3:00 pm - August Thomas of the Esquimalt First Nation performs
traditional welcome and honour songs.
3:20 pm – Stacy Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation addresses
indigenous rights and title in the Juan de Fuca region and the need
for a moratorium on development.
3:40 pm – A community mural about protecting the Juan de Fuca region,
created by more than 200 people, will be presented to CRD directors.
Photo opportunities:
3:00 pm - August Thomas of the Esquimalt First Nation performs
traditional welcome and honour songs.
3:20 pm – Stacy Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation addresses
indigenous rights and title in the Juan de Fuca region and the need
for a moratorium on development.
3:40 pm – A community mural about protecting the Juan de Fuca region,
created by more than 200 people, will be presented to CRD directors.Photo opportunities:
3:00 pm - August Thomas of the Esquimalt First Nation performs
traditional welcome and honour songs.
3:20 pm – Stacy Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation addresses
indigenous rights and title in the Juan de Fuca region and the need
for a moratorium on development.
3:40 pm – A community mural about protecting the Juan de Fuca region,
created by more than 200 people, will be presented to CRD directors.Photo opportunities:
3:00 pm - August Thomas of the Esquimalt First Nation performs
traditional welcome and honour songs.
3:20 pm – Stacy Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation addresses
indigenous rights and title in the Juan de Fuca region and the need
for a moratorium on development.
3:40 pm – A community mural about protecting the Juan de Fuca region,
created by more than 200 people, will be presented to CRD directors.
|
