Creekers Fight Alberta Government to Stop Clear-Cutting

A large crowd gathered outside the Bragg Creek community hall Saturday (May 12,2007) to kick off the Tag A Tree program in a desperate attempt to stop the clear-cutting of eastern Kananaskis.  After the rally, featuring well-known scientists from the University of Calgary, politicians (notably not conservative) and program organizers, people left carrying armloads of biodegradeable wooden tags saying 'Save Kananaskis.  It's Worth It' and headed into the forests to hang them from trees.  During the past year, Ted Morton, Alberta Minister of Sustainable Development, ignored thousands of letters and emails pleading with him to stop the deal and went ahead to sign an agreement with Spray Lakes Sawmills to clear-cut 16 hectares of forests from the eastern Kananaskis slopes every year.  The Tag A Tree program is an attempt to drive home the extent of damage that will occur to this much-loved recreational area, important watershed factor and wildlife habitat.    Very specific directions were given to participants as to where they could hang the tags in order to avoid being charged by a Conservation Officer.  The irony that one could be charged for hanging a piece of wood, in the woods, with a message to save the woods, should not be lost.