Vancouver Area Relocalisation Network

This is wonderful! Talk about pooling together!

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Dear friends and supporters of Betty,

We would like to tell you about a wonderful new initiative that emerged from our community during the recent wave of sentencing in relation to Eagleridge Bluffs.

In January 2007, 16 people arrested at the Bluffs were found guilty of contempt of court by Justice Brenda Brown. In addition to $1,000 in legal costs, protesters had to choose between :

- paying a fine to the BC Supreme Court ($250, $500 or $5,000);

- or performing non-environmental community service (25, 50 or 250 hours).

There are many tough choices in life, but this wasn’t one of them. Almost everyone chose community service. After all, serving communities is not exactly what we call punishment! We served our community at Eagleridge Bluffs and are happy to continue to do that elsewhere.

But something unexpected happened along the way. While we were still at the courthouse, friends and family came forward and said: "If you're going to perform community service, we will do the time with you."

And so, Operation "Doing Time" was born!

We invite you to join a growing wave of friends, neighbours, and supporters who have pledged to perform volunteer service with the organization of their choice in dedication to Eagleridge Bluffs. They are using this positive initiative to express their strong disagreement with the court's recent decisions. And they are dedicating their hours to the two mighty great-grandmothers who fought at the Bluffs, Harriet Nahanee and Betty Krawczyk.

The support for this operation has been overwhelming. In total, the judge imposed 1,775 hours of community service. We were hoping to match that number and collect 1,800 hours of volunteer time pledges. But only three weeks after launching the campaign, we have already collected over 3,300 hours!

While Eagleridge Bluffs 'defenders' are not permitted by the Court to perform their service for an "environmental" cause, our supporters are under no such restrictions. You may choose any cause you like.

Doing time has never been so simple! Just go to http://www.eagleridgebluffs.ca/dotime. Follow the link called "I want to do time" and make your pledge on the online form.

Choose any cause or organization that you want, or check the "help me find a suitable organization" box, and we will hook you up with a group. We have great organizations on board which will gladly welcome you as volunteers. Some have supported our action at the Bluffs since day one, such as the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, the Green Party of Canada, and the Sierra Club.

Many supporters have asked if it's okay to report volunteer hours that they were already planning to give before the sentencing. The answer is Yes, of course! Indeed, we are not Madam Justice Brown and you should not be penalized for already being generous with your time. (Past hours, however, cannot be counted.)

A counter has been set on the website to track the number of hours pledged. Together, let's find out *how many times over* we can match the sentence. Let the courts know what you think of Justice Brenda Brown's judgment. Be a good citizen, do time!

Don't forget to direct your friends and family to the website of Operation "Doing Time":

www.eagleridgebluffs.ca/dotime

(Clayoquot "Hero" cartoon presented to Betty on her 78th birthday: Betty Krawczyk, In Case of Emergency. Celebrating with Betty is Adriane Carr of the Green Party of BC and Paul George, founder of Western Canada Wilderness Committee. Aug 4 2006, Photo: Monika Marcovici)

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