This is an open letter to the Whistler community.

There are only two reasons for killing 300-year-old living organisms: ignorance

and greed.

Yet that is exactly what Whistler is about to begin doing in its local forests – cutting down ancient trees.

This despite the fact that there will be zero value to future generations from old-growth stumps except as evidence of earlier generations’ short-sighted arrogance. And little value for the community: less than $30,000 for about 500 logging trucks of second- and old-growth trees per year.

Now, so far, (in spite of the best efforts of some members of the community) our politicians, senior bureaucrats and business community have shown no interest in stopping the cutting of Whistler's old-growth forests.

Council members give impotent shrugs. Tourism Whistler has nothing to say. Whistler Blackcomb has been silent; the Chamber of Commerce invisible.

So we've decided to offer them some motivation. And it seems the best way to do that is to use the one language they all understand: money.

Perhaps if they are made to see that cutting down 300-year-old trees could hurt their bottom line, they will find their voices and use their influence to intervene. Perhaps. There's only one way to find out.

Which is why we have started a campaign urging British Columbians, Canadians and the international community NOT to visit Whistler until the Mayor promises that the old-growth trees will not be cut.

We realize this community forest issue has been very cleverly structured so that no one has to accept responsibility for killing the trees. And that’s very convenient for the sake of guilt-free sleep.

But no matter how many excuses people offer that make it easier for them to look in the mirror, the result will be the same: these ancient trees will die. And with the resulting soil erosion and our changing climate, they will never come back.

So no excuses are acceptable. No pleadings of “I’m only doing my job” or “It's in the contract” or “Our hands are tied” will do when it comes to killing 300-year-old living organisms.

We are wiser than this. At least, we should be.

To view our video calling for the boycott of Whistler, go to YouTube and type in “Whistler Old Growth.”

Oly and the Fat Cats

And Van Clayton Powel

Whistler