We’ve been hearing great reviews about the evening of the Farmed Salmon Exposed presentation. Damien’s film was very successful in tying together the broader international scope of fish farming problems, utilizing footage from Norway, Chile, Scotland, and other countries to make the case. After the film was over, four excellent panelists introduced themselves and took questions from the audience. Many of the questions were thoughtful and heartfelt and the discussion was lively. You can view select portions of the evening below:
An attendee expresses one portion of the evening as follows:
“As the middle-aged First Nation woman stood up from her wheelchair to speak, the hundred or so people in the room went mute. The tension was palpable. Somehow we knew that we were about to catch hell.
My name is Telquaa, she started with a broken voice. I don’t look very strong but I like to think of myself as a woman warrior. When I was a kid I fished salmon with my mother. There were salmon everywhere. My mother would carry two huge salmon at a time on her shoulders. I never thought we would see the end of the salmon. I am happy to see so many people gathered tonight for the salmon. But you are waking up too late. Well, wake up more! Don’t let that fish farm thing scare you. Your people brought this upon our people. Now you need to work very hard to bring the salmon back. You have ways, money, knowledge, legs, brains, but what you need is a heart. You have to do it for us. Our people need this bad. Help us!
After that, the only person brave enough to pick up the mike was a humbled Rafe Mair who said that this was the most important speech he had heard in years. The rest of us could only respond with thunderous applause.” – Ivan
As more questions followed, members of the Wild Salmon Circle walked through the crowd and handed out paper, pens, and envelopes as riding maps and names of MPs were projected at the front of the room. In all about 90 letters were collected and sent to MPs.
Another attendee wrote this letter to us after the meeting:
“The film and the discussion which followed was very informative. I was particularly touched by the emotional appeal of the first nations lady and gentleman in the audience regarding the huge impact on their community and the wildlife. I have just finished watching the DVD with all 3 documentaries produced by Damien Gillis and this weekend I will be writing a letter to our MP. I am also thinking of writing a letter to our MLA even though I realize that the coastal fishery is within Federal Govt. jurisdiction (DFO). The problem as I see it is that the social and environmental impact of the fish farms directly affects the people and wildlife of British Columbia so the BC government has a responsibility to stop this madness. A few dollars of tax revenue (which is only temporary until the fish farm industry self-destructs) does not justify the continuing damage caused to our beautiful Province.
You and your group (Wild Salmon Circle) are to be commended for the excellent presentation last night and for continuing your crusade to protect our environment from this real threat. Thanks for inviting me – it was a real eyee opener. I will be telling my friends about it and asking them to write letters to their MP’s.” – Glen
