| Transcript |
- It became clear to us that the thoughts and rumours circulating amongst
"organizers" was, "Oh my god! It's an EF! Roadshow! THey must be inciting
people to monkeywrench and tree spike!" Several people came to shows before
it reached their own towns on missions: What are we saying? Would their
worst fears be realized? Certainly not! Everyone who has come to the show
has left happy and inspired. We have not heard any different. There were
however some concerns. EF! claims "no compromise" but we do indeed compro-
mise. Due to fears of a "high profile" EF!, we have taken down the EF! ban-
ner which we hung over our lit table. It has not hung since the third show
on Salt Spring. In Tofino we did not put out any literature or t-shirts that
had "Earth First!" on them until the media was just about to leave. Even
then we withheld our bumpersticker that reads "I'ld rather be monkeywrench-
ing". We have not spoken about the EFt movement at all on stage, except to
dispell media bullshit and to talk about who the real terrorists are. We
have not even talked about the Aug. 3 Day of Action at any of the shows. We
have made concessions. But, we will not go as far as to withdraw literature.
We believe in freedom of speech. Do you?
The EF! connection has been apparent and known since the beginning. No one
has voiced any objection to this while I was organizing the Roadshow. During
the Roadshow and, in one case, a half hour before the show, is not the time
to decide that EF! is a problem. At this critical time in the rainforests,
it is important that we see through the bullshit, work. in solidarity, and
proudly proclaim what it is we stand for. Don't let yourself fall into the
media trap.
I believe that the real issues for the local organizers who want to silence
us are wrapped up in ego and personal politic games. These people think they
are speaking for entire communities and that they know best. They aren't and
they don't. Some of these people clearly do not believe in damaging property.
That's okay. Vancouver EF! and Terra Prima! (a TRAC member group need I
remind you?) do not engage in property destruction. I strongly feel that a
lot of this "conflict" is based on power issues - control of the movement.
TRAC has spent a lot of time and energy on unlearning oppression workshops,
but a lot of you have not learnt anything. The roots of oppression are fear,
ignorance, intolerance and, subsequently, marginalization. These are the
very things which myself, Mira, Vanessa, and Dana have been dealing with on
this Roadshow. Some of you need to get your shit together in a serious way.
I'm not saying that I'm all pure, but, I have never lied, misrepresented
myself or the Roadshow, or have in any way been unclear about what I was
doing. Instead I have received no trust, and enormous~disrespect from some
of you. You know who you are. I am angry and to you I say "Fuck You". To
those of you who have expressed your support for us, I am very grateful. In
this critical time it's important to know who your allies are. I look
forward to working with you in the future.
For the Earth,
David Barbarash
Box 21521, 1850 Commercial Dr.
Vancouver, BC V5N 4AO
294-0566
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