| Tree Massacre | |||||||||||||||||
| Tree Buffer area uprooted in Burnaby BC, Canada | Service Corporation International ignores local bylaws | ||||||||||||||||
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March 4, 1999 Burnaby BC Canada Local Burnaby City council was preparing to pass a bylaw preventing the cutting of trees on private lands in Burnaby when the owner of Forest Lawn and Ocean View Cemeteries ripped out 5 square acres of old growth forest. Jon Beenken, Vice president of SCI Canada claimed that a pre-emptive strike was needed to protect the assets of his company. Area residents were shocked at the callous disregard for existing tree cutting bylaws, and the speed at which SCI moved to destroy the environment. City council then fast-tracked the bylaw adoption Wednesday night. Unfortunatly a great portion of the trees were smashed down with heavy machinery by the time the order was served. In the preceding hours 4 people were arrested by the RCMP for defying a Canadian Supreme court injunction. City councillor Lee Rankin spoke of his outrage at the emergency meeting at BBY City hall Wednesday night. He duly noted the actions which had lead to the tree massacre and laid blame on the destructive action squarely with SCI. He said he had never seen such poor corporate attitude to the people and municipality of Burnaby. |
SCI is a Texas company which had stepped over the line in Canada. They can be contacted at the phone numbers and addresses below. Anyone who believes that multi-national mega-corporations must stop destroying the natural tree environment is encouraged to call the company and make your opinion known. Service Corporation International 1929 Allen Parkway Houston Texas 77019 phone 713 522-5141 ask for customer services, or compliants! Investor Relations PO BOX 130548 Houston Texas, 77219-0548 Website is at http://www.sci-corp.com | ||||||||||||||||
| SCI Reports Profits from Death, with Glee | |||||||||||||||||
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From the Annual General Report of SCI: "SCI's cemetery segment generated revenues of 422.3 million, an 18.8 percent increase over the first six months of 1997. Cemetery profits rose $38.3 million to $172 million, an increase of 28.7 percent, reflecting improvements at existing North American cemeteries.." Are the public to deduce that the corporation is gleaning profits at the expense of the living local nieghbourhoods? Does the corporation think that ripping down all the trees at "FOREST" Lawn Cemetery constitutes an "improvement". Make your views known, and email this website, your local MLA or MP. The bylaw has been passed, and the company must now remediate the area. WE will be watching to ensure that the law is obeyed, and the trees replanted, even if it takes 50 years. SCI screwed themselves by doing this, as they cannot use those areas for plots until approved by the BC government. Between the possible Workers Compensation Board violations, Department of Ocean and Fisheries and Ministry of The Environment (BC and Canada), Burnaby City council and all the other govenment officials who were brought in, it will be a hot day in December before SCI recovers its civic respect. | |||||||||||||||||
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