Environmental Issues Are Getting Heated Up

Article: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2013/10/30/groups-argue-bc-not-protecting-old-growth-forest

       A conflict arose between environmentalist groups in British Columbia, and the government over the Douglas fir forest on the southeast Vancouver Island. Environmentalists argued that the provincial government is simply not doing enough work to protect the Douglas fir, which are identified to be a part of the endangered ecosystem. The article does not contain many details of the case, but an interesting point can be observed from the case itself.

      Imagine hearing this issue a few decades ago, perhaps 2-3, before the environmental issues became a point of concern. The case would not go to an extent where it would make an appearance in the provincial Supreme Court, as it would be deemed to be unimportant and trivial. Laws regarding environmental issues have been set according to the wishes of the now- outdated society. As the new millennium started, global warming, as well as other environmental issues started to slip into society. A decade and three years later, it has become the movement of the century, and has changed society's perspective of the environment entirely. It is no longer unimportant and trivial, but the exact opposite. It did not take society long to accept environmental problems to be one of their highest priorities, but the same cannot be said for the legislative branch of government.

     Laws cannot and should not undergo change as quickly as society. If it was to change so frequently, coinciding with society's impulses at every moment, laws would lose their meaning, and create chaos. Unfortunately, this nature of law is what creates conflicts like the one stated in the source article. The justice system, as well as the legislative branch are not as ready to tackle these environmental problems as society would like them to be. The final outcome of this case, as well as the others that resemble, will tell us exactly what level of preparedness the government is at about environmental issues at our current time.