News to Make a Difference: The Environment and The 4th Estate, 1969-1977 By Lisa Corra A Thesis Submitted to Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts November, 2008, Halifax, Nova Scotia Copyright Lisa Corra, 2008 Approved: Margaret Harry Supervisor Approved: Kim Kierans External Examiner Approved: Peter L. 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Canada Abstract News to Make a Difference: The Environment and The 4th ESTATE, 1969-1977 by Lisa Corra This thesis is the first lengthy study of The 4th ESTATE, an alternative newspaper published in Halifax, Nova Scotia 1969-1977. It covers the work of journalists in both the alternative and the daily press in the 1960s and 1970s. An examination of print media in the years 2006-2008 puts the thesis into context. The editors of The 4th ESTATE thought of themselves as a new voice in Halifax and the Maritimes, covering such themes as environmentalism (which is covered in detail in the thesis), poverty, women's rights, the Black movement, mental health, and sexual orientation. The editors contended that Halifax needed a new newspaper in town, one that would be truthful and also activist in its approach. The paper became well known for giving a voice to the underdogs of society. The thesis also covers politics in Nova Scotia during the time that The 4th ESTATE was published. November 21, 2008 11 CONTENTS Abstract i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv CHAPTER ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE 4TH ESTATE AND THE THEME OF ENVIRONMENTALISM 2 The 4th ESTATE'S History: A Precis 3 Environmental Issues 8 Environmental Reality Hits Home at Last 12 CHAPTER TWO: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES 16 The Women's Movement 16 Mental Health 25 Black Power 30 Gay Rights Liberation Movement 34 CHAPTER THREE: POLITICAL BACKGROUND IN NOVA SCOTIA 38 Quebec Separatism from the Perspective of the Atlantic Provinces 38 1970s Premier ("Preem") of Nova Scotia 41 Substantiality of "Maritime Union" Debate 44 Stanfield: Conservative Legacy in Nova Scotia 46 The New Wave of Feminism and the NDP 52 The Mayors of Halifax and Dartmouth 57 The 4th ESTATE Interviews with Mayors 59 A Final Word Please, "Mr. Speaker" 64 CHAPTER FOUR: THE 1960S AND 70S AS AN ERA — AND THE PRESS THAT RECORDED THE TIMES 65 Canada — U.S. Connection 67 The Vietnam War 67 1973 As a Turning Point; in Journalism; in History 72 Idyllic Remembrance of the 1960s 73 The Seventies — Tainted with Pessimism? 75 Exuberant 60s Turn to Sober 70s 76 CHAPTER FIVE: THE PRESS — ALTERNATIVE AND MAINSTREAM 78 The Maritimes Gain a Distinctive Voice 78 "Alternative" Versus "Underground" 82 Recap of a Particular Halifax "Underground" 85 A Page from The 4th ESTATE: 87 An Alternative to The 4th ESTATE 89 "Down but Not Out" 91 Alternative Publications in the East 94 "The Volkswagen Press" 98 Comments in Commentator on Davey Media Research 101 Disillusion with Daily Print Media — Creates a Reaction 102 The Halifax Chronicle Hera«1960s/70s 106 The Halifax Media Scene — Who Plays a Social Role in the Community? 112 iii CHAPTER SIX: INDUSTRIAL AND OIL SPILL WATER POLLUTION 116 The Arrow Tank Oil Spill 116 Pulp and Paper Mills and Logging Companies — Controversy and the Hope for Action from the Nova Scotia Government 118 Scott Maritimes Pulp Ltd. and Boat Harbour 120 Bowater Mersey Paper Company Limited 127 The Elusive E. L. Rowe (or E. L. L. Rowe) 132 Anil/Louisiana Pacific in East Chester, N.S 134 LP: Louisiana Pacific 141 Brown with Anger 142 CHAPTER SEVEN: INTO THE WOODS 145 Cuts from History 146 An "Environmental Movement"??? 148 The 4th ESTATE Writes with Concern on Forestry 152 Humankind's Impact on Forestry; Clear Cutting; A 'Pulp Economy': The Ecology Action Centre 158 Into the Future One Third of a Century Later 164 Interview — "The World According to Garth" or the Forest Industry in Nova Scotia According to a Forester 176 CHAPTER EIGHT: CHEMICAL CONTROVERSY 180 Political Outrage in the Press takes Root in the Sixties 180 Ignorance Won't Prevent Danger 181 A Myriad of Chemicals 184 Environmental Journalism 186 Government in Nova Scotia 189 Ecology versus Economy 192 Advice of Scientists and Societies 193 Cancellation Versus Suspension (The U.S.) 197 Stories from around the Globe and in Nova Scotia 200 Propaganda—for Spraying 202 Who Is Most Susceptible to Toxic Harm 206 The Law 208 Political Outrage in the Press Branches Out 210 Action 214 CHAPTER NINE: THE END OF THE 4™ ESTATE 218 "I Suppose We Were All Idealists and We Weren't Being Paid Much...." 219 In between Mainstream and Underground 222 A Reader's Remarks 223 According to The 4th ESTATE ... Memos and Reports 226 Theories 228 Featured Twice in the Journal Marketing 231 REFERENCES 234 Articles from The 4th ESTATE 234 Other References 239 IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many thanks to all the interviewees who contributed to the research process of this thesis, and in particular to Nick Fillmore, owner of The 4th ESTATE, and Ralph Surette, who was editor from 1973 to 1977. I would also like to acknowledge my appreciation to the staff of Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management in making so much material accessible to me, including a complete run of The 4th ESTATE. The Brenda Large Fonds, containing the newspaper's office files, were invaluable in providing background for this study. Thanks also to the Atlantic Canada Studies program at Saint Mary's University for making this project possible and for providing so much academic support and encouragement. I would also like to thank the Gorsebrook Research Institute for the use of its facilities. The librarians at the Patrick Power Library were always enormously helpful, supplying not just research materials but also excellent advice. Special thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Margaret Harry, for being so patient, understanding, and professional during my graduate years. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family, especially my mother Sheryl Melanson, who not only provided the benefit of her own experience of Nova Scotia politics during the 1960s and 1970s, but never failed to be there for me. Note: All illustrations from The 4 ESTATE and elsewhere are used with permission. Every effort has been made to trace individual copyright holders, and these are acknowledged where appropriate. "From Harmony, from hB&m$%; harmony This universal fraiw-'yj'^li began ..." (John Dryden 1631 -1701j;^ ....and it is in harmony that we would see our city, and its people grow — our buildings, an extension of natural beauty; our industry, compatible with environment; uniting, and developing to form an agreeable whole. A city free from dissent bet­ ween man and nature. A city where we can watch our children grow in mental and physical health. A place to engender hopes, and realize ambitions. Goals that are not easy, but too precious to ignore. We will achieve them - in harmony with ourselves, and nature. Figure 1: Hope for the Environment — The 4th ESTATE, October 18,1973 (p. 15). 2 CHAPTER ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE 4TH ESTATE AND THE THEME OF ENVIRONMENTALIST! Our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy. John C. Sawhill (1936-2000) The Nature Conservancy If they blow a hole in my backyard Everyone is going to run away And the creeks won't flow to the Great Lake below Will the water in the well still be OK? Sarah Harmer Escarpment Blues 2005 3 The 4th ESTATE'S History: A Precis A New Name A New Presence in the Community Volume I, Number I of The 4th ESTATE newspaper was published in Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 17, 1969. One of the photographs on the front page is of Gerry Regan, the provincial Liberal leader who would become Nova Scotia premier on October 28,1970, better known as Gerald A.