Breen (right) speaks on Saturday, April 23 prior to being sent to hospital by friends and family during his hunger strike. (Save Old Growth)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

URGENT CARE

Nanaimo man hospitalized during old growth hunger strike

Apr 24, 2022 | 7:51 AM

NANAIMO — A man on day 24 of a hunger strike was taken to hospital overnight after complications began to set in.

Howard Breen, a 68-year-old activist who has been a prominent figure in a string of highway blockades related to Save Old Growth, was taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital after family grew concerned for his well-being, according to a statement from Save Old Growth.

Breen also stopped taking fluids Thursday evening in an escalation to his strike was apparently suffering kidney pains, blurred vision and arrhythmia. His condition in hospital is unclear, however Save Old Growth said it was likely he’ll be placed on an IV drip.

His strike is in a bid to bring B.C. forests minister Katrine Conroy to a public discussion on the government’s strategy for old growth forests.

Conroy has spoken with both Breen and Brent Eichler, a Lower Mainland man conducting a similar strike, but has not agreed to a meeting.

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“I conveyed my distress for their well-being while listening directly to their concerns. I urged them to protect their health as we continue the important work to protect old-growth forests,” she said in an emailed statement from the Forests Ministry.

Breen called the conversation “polite,” but said other action taken by Save Old Growth, including recent blockades of bridges and major roads, points to the seriousness of the “climate emergency” linked to logging.

However, he denied some commuters were angry about the group’s tactics, saying there is widespread support for those participating in various forms of protest while risking arrest.

Two people were taken into custody last week after allegedly chaining themselves to a 227-kilogram barrel placed in the middle of the Malahat highway, causing tempers to flare and considerable delays.

Breen said in a video, recorded Saturday, April 23, the hunger strike will continue as will Save Old Growth’s public demonstrations.

“We’re now collecting names of individuals who wish to pledge of resistence, that is to be arrested in the coming months in the Save Old Growth campaign, either here or at Fairy Creek,” Breen said. “Some will actually be going to government offices next week and police stations to [demand action] in person.”

Breen was also one of two men who glued their hand to the front door of the RBC branch at Brooks Landing in Nanaimo earlier in April during a protest related to the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

He was arrested and subsequently held in custody in Victoria for several days, before being released pending further court dates.

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