Earth First! Roadshow coming to Humboldt!

Celebrating our 101st post to stop Cal-Trans Richardson Grove Project on Hwy 101

Proponents of the Cal-Trans project to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County, California have another fire to extinguish. One that may as well “burn-out” of control.

After Richardson Grove supporters were likened to MAXXAM’s failed recall effort by Hank Sims(The Town Dandy), commander and editor of the once community minded North Coast Journal; Hank has apparently but unapologetically changed his tone about the corrupted special interest enclave receiving Headwaters funding to promote the largely contested project.

Included in Hank’s vicious attack was The Northcoast Environmental Center(NEC), a long-term non-profit information center devoted to providing education to the public regarding industry’s role in the destruction of our planet Earth. The NEC was apparently attacked by Mr. Sims due to the center’s providing of a donation drop for the Friends of Richardson Grove, those who are opposing the destructive and unwarranted Cal-Trans project to widen Highway 101 through the State Park.

One of the ironies of the attack was the fact that the NEC was formed as a response to the accelerated destruction from MAXXAM’s plundering of Pacific Lumber. Pacific Lumber became the main focus of action in the fight to save the redwoods in a two decade+ long resistance to corporate greed and from which Earth First!, Judy Bari, Darryl Cherney, Julie Butterfly Hill and other pioneers of enviro/eco-action were conceived.

Richardson Grove State Park is considered by many as "The Gateway to the Redwoods", an archway of amazingly tall Virgin Old Growth Stands which tower above Highway 101 as you enter Humboldt County Redwoods State Park. Named after Friend Richardson(25th governor of California), the park includes the ninth largest Coastal Redwood(sequoia sempervirens), camping and fishing along the Eel River, and is the closest State Park containing Old Growth Redwoods north of San Francisco. This Cal-Trans project is only one of many ecologically sensitive projects promoted by our current "greenwashed" governor.

The controversy regarding the project began after Cal-trans submitted a controversial project to allow longer trucks into and out of Humboldt County through Richardson Grove. The issues include the fact that the project will disturb the roots of these ancient trees resulting in the probable demise of millennial redwoods, absolute and unavoidable disturbances to endangered species such as the Marbled Murrelet(brachyramphus marmoratus) and the Northern Spotted Owl(Strix occidentalis), along with the root of the issue…the gutting of Humboldt County by big business.

The bottleneck at Richardson Grove has helped prevent the commercial corporate takeover of small businesses throughout Humboldt County by limiting the length of trucks entering the grove. This is where the special interest portion of the Cal-Trans project enters into the tale. Discovered by concerned local residents Dr. Ken Miller and David Spreen, apparently over $25,000 of public grant money was spent by the Community Development Services department to sway public opinion regarding the controversial project by using print and online media. Tactics as sinister as paying citizens to submit editorials supporting the project to the local Times-Standard paper were even utilized, along with the publicly financed North Coast Prosperity website. But why and by whom?

The funding to promote the unnecessary project came from The Headwaters Fund, a triumph for environmentalists in the battle for the Redwoods against MAXXAM. The Headwaters Fund was a twelve million dollar public fund crafted after the sale of The Headwaters Forest by Pacific Lumber to the State of California. The fund was developed by the State to offset losses to timber industry jobs and the local economy after the Headwaters sale, which also included stricter environmental controls on timber practices. Imagine how those who participated in the Headwaters Campaign feel after hearing that the fund they helped fight to create was being used to destroy the Richardson Grove Redwoods, and Humboldt County!

Essentially, the fund was to be used to promote education for timber workers(never happened), local business development(low wage jobs for ex-timber employees), and rebuild and maintain community infrastructure(City of Rio Del on cease and desist for storm water pollution into Eel River). Despite the fact that small amounts of the fund have been used in the form of loans for existing and startup businesses, the bulk of what the fund has supported has been redevelopment and to fund and promote special interest projects, such as the expansion of Arcata airport and highway projects, such as this one.

Considering the fact that Cal-Trans filed an incomplete and ineffectual environmental impact report(EIR) intended to address concerns about the impacts to Richardson Grove and concerned resident species; the massive community outcry against the necessity of the project; impacts to local business from out of area corporations offering lower wages and product standards; increased traffic and pollution along Highway 101 including amplified congestion and air pollution issues in Eureka; and now…the corruption attached to the misuse of Headwaters Funding to promote an unpopular state project aimed at bringing in Wal-Mart and Home Depot trucks coinciding the corporatization of our small town county that is big on local sustainability and fair trade.

I cannot see this project going through, and if it does, we will put a stop to it through non-violent resistance.

Whew…That was lot to say! Like a big piece of blackberry pie.

In fact, I think it’s a big piece of “Humboldt pie“… just for you , Hank Sims!

Green Diamond...Clearcutting Trees and Jobs

Instead of automatically rejoicing about this great news, I took a moment to look at both sides of this issue. More unemployed workers...and their families may suffer...

Local timber companies, past and present, knew what they were doing. Instead of planning for tomorrow, they pillaged and plundered the lands. Simspon/Green Diamond/California Redwood company has a "pecker pole" inventory. Their replanted GMO trees will take decades to mature, at least the ones that survive without canopy protection(clear-cuts are now arid deserts). The last of the three log trucks came out of Little River last year. The McKay Tract is now one of a few areas left with big trees.

If these selfish corporations would have treaded a little lighter on their lands, they could have a large inventory of Old and Second growth to harvest in the future. The value of older growth redwoods could have off-set the decline of demand for...for...fourth growth?!!! Brittle small diameter worthless poles! Not even good enough for fencing...

They made their beds, and the workers were raped...again. Now they have to "Lie" in them...

PS. I would like to see projects focused on repairing the damage done by timber companies, such as road removal and diversity rehabilitation. I could even imagine a portion of the Headwaters Fund being used to fund this, creating jobs and reconciling for past mistakes in our forests. Instead, funding for the Richardson Grave project is being supplemented by the Headwaters Fund.

Let's use the fund to repair our forests, not to rip another hole in Humboldt!

Sharing is not always caring...

Redwood National Park and the Green Diamond Resource Co. will be able to use some of each other's roads to access land in the Redwood Creek area.
The agreement will prevent both the park and Green Diamond from having to build more than 40 miles of roads, according to a National Park Service news release. Redwood National Park will allow Green Diamond to use about a mile of existing park roads to access timberland adjacent to the park. In exchange, Green Diamond will allow the park to use 22 miles of its roads to access park lands.

Times-Subslandered 02/07/09

Anyone up for a hike?

The Greenwash King of California

My Hero is Captain Planet, not some Green Washed-up actor.

Arnold thinks he's green. As a matter of fact, he has a fleet of HUMMERS that run on the the same gas that spews from both of his orifices. It turns out that Arnold is not as "Earth Friendly" as much as his green washed image begs to prove.

Richardson Grove is only one of eleven CalTrans projects across the State that may be "streamlined" past State Environmental reviews. This has upset groups such as the Sierra Club and the EDF. Whether it's drilling into the Berkeley Hills or trashing ecologically sensitive areas in San Diego, the barbaric side of Konan the Destroyer is beginning to take shape. Why the sudden flip-flop from the man who was supposed to save California from it's over consumptive and unsustainable energy woes?(Anyone remember Governor "Grey Out" Davis?)

WHAT ABOUT THE JOBS THAT WILL BE CREATED FROM THESE PROJECTS?

That's what the supporters of usurping environmental regulations will argue. Please keep in mind that these are only temporary jobs, and the governors push for illegally streamlining these projects will be just enough employment to TEMPORARILY offset the states current unemployment statistic of 8.4% for a 12 year high.

ARE HIS INTENTIONS IN THE RIGHT PLACE?

Arnold wants to eliminate the 8 hour workday(Google it), providing little or no overtime compensation for California's hardest workers. Why would Arnold sacrifice principles to appease big business? "Developers and others in the construction industry have contributed $21.6 million to Schwarzenegger since he took office in 2003 after promising to take moneyed influence out of Sacramento. He's taken another $15 million from banks and other businesses, according to Consumer Watchdog."

Even actors can be boght and sold by big business special interests. We all must keep in mind that Arnold is a real live ACTOR(Ronald Reagan was a good actor too, but his presidency is debatable). The trouble is, Arnold thinks that he can cut red tape without damaging his green image. Swartzenegger is seeking help from President Barack Obama to waive Federal Reviews for these projects. How green is Obama? We shall see...

No, "They won't be back", at least when it comes to the critters that depend on the eco-systems that Arnold wishes to terminate(Apparently neither will Arnold for another term). Many of these projects are currently disputed by groups such as the Surfrider Foundation. Some smaller projects such as the tree removal project in Independence are being completed by CalTrans without State financing approval. CalTrans screwed up on a massive envronmental scale in Redding just one year ago, so why allow them cut around 2000 year old Redwoods in Richardson Grove. Along with the major responsibility of the Statewide Environmental Project of the Year in Tahoe, who the hell is in charge of CalTrans anyway?

I'd venture to say the mafia:

"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me."

From: "The Departed"

Please visit:
http://action.edf.org/campaign/CA_environmental_review to voice your opinion about these projects including the Richardson Grove expansion to multiple representatives at once. Your participation is vital and meaningful.

Work to widen Highway 101 gets under way

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!342 Redwood Trees to be axed this Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Highway widening project near Windsor apparently will go through with little or no opposition. I suppose there are no defenders south of Humboldt?
Read original article.

I found this one on Fred's Blog. And even though Fred is somewhat misinformed, I appreciate him bringing this to our attention.

Some Earth First! Journal Love for Humboldt's Redwoods...

Treesitting Works!
A Breakthrough in the Battle Against PL/MAXXAM

By Jeff Muskrat

It’s official! Or, at least as official as you can get as far as a promise from another greenwashed capitalist corporation. Nanning Creek and Fern Gully have been promised by Mendocino Redwoods Company (MRC) head forester Mike Jani to be “protected.” It’s hard to believe this news, or to accept this promise from an employee of a corporation owned by GAP (the clothing company).
Mike Jani Meets Treesitters

I have to admit that I am beyond shocked. It’s almost as if I will wake up from this dream where dedicated activists actually win the three- and six-year long battles against the infamous, now bankrupt, Pacific Lumber (PL), which was recently bought by Humboldt Redwoods Company (HRC). I’m even more shocked about how cooperative and helpful MRC/HRC has been. Good intentions and public relations aside, I only hope MRC/HRC keeps its word about not cutting our old growth. I still don’t agree with what MRC/HRC calls sustainable forestry, which actually uses mono-cropped trees along with herbicides and clearcuts to manage crippled forests.

All company politics aside, we have such a noble victory to celebrate! So many wonderful and dedicated people were involved in the Nanning Creek and Fern Gully actions over these years, whether it was local businesses who donated the bread of the movement, or specialized and daring climbers who risked their lives to be the first up in these amazing trees. Thanks to the many caring and concerned community members to equip treesitters with gear to make them safe and comfortable, and to those who spent hundreds of nights on the trails, hiking in gear and supplies instead of sleeping.

Above all (great pun), there were the treesitters. These are the true heroes and heroines of both campaigns. Imagine the patience and dedication it took for these people to stay calmly and peacefully in a coast redwood hundreds of feet above the ground to eat food that was dumpstered or sometimes half-eaten by tree critters, like pesky-but-cute flying squirrels. To drink creek water full of tannins and silt. To suffer from dysentery and persistent staph infections. To wonder how long it will be until you see someone from the ground, or sit hoping the loggers won’t return to hurl insults and shoot their guns in the air.

Not everyone involved in forest defense can be a treesitter. It takes a very special type of person. I could never stay long myself; I got too stir crazy while trying to live portions of my life on a four-by-eight-foot sheet of plywood suspended high above the ground. I, along with those others who did the ground work and understood the sanctity of what we were trying to accomplish, always felt that the sitters deserved the best that we could get for them.

Our tactics were never compromised. Our actions were always peaceful and nonviolent actions. Safety was of the utmost importance, especially concerning climbing, dealing with the cops and social interactions.

So many beautiful, wonderful and diverse activists came through these majestic forests. It’s amazing to meet people who are our universal brothers and sisters, who have the same goals and passions for protecting life and doing what is truly right. It is easier to advocate for humans and animals, because most human beings can feel compassion for both. It is harder for our society to recognize the importance of protecting all lifeforms, including trees, because most people are too busy to consider their individual impact on the larger scale of existence. There is nothing sacred, unfortunately, for the few who control us and our environment.

We had so much diversity in our movement, particularly for the Pacific Northwest. We had international sitters. We had sitters who would stay one night, others who would stay for a few years. We had visitors who climbed hundreds of feet for an interview or just to give a treesitter a hug. Complete strangers would hike out to bring food, dump out piss jugs, bury shitbuckets and have the time of their lives dodging cops and security on the way up or down steep hills. People sent up cookies baked with love and kindness. Lifelong friendships were forged. Many of us would have returned season after season, year after year and even decade after decade to defend both of the groves.

Treesitting was never a guaranteed solution to prevent the destruction of both groves. If we waited out the time limits that the groves were allowed by the California Department of Forestry (CDF), there was still the uncertainty of what would happen in the future. PL ignored offers to buy the groves, even from major conservation groups. However, PL’s plunder of the forests finally timed out.

Sadly, most of the more than 200,000 acres owned by PL has been stripped of the old growth, along with much of the second growth. In 2008, more than 22 years after MAXXAM took control of the once local and somewhat sustainable PL, 10 years after forest defender “Gypsy” was murdered by a tree faller, Humboldt forest defenders can say that treesitting does work. It seems to me that peaceful, nonviolent actions can be safer, sustainable and most effective high in the branches of the trees, protected and free from the chaos and confusion of society below.

May the forests be with you, may you be the light you wish to see in this world, and may you seize the opportunity to do something courageous, inspiring and creative to build the world we all dream of and deserve.

For more information, visit www.efhumboldt.org; www.humboldtforestdefense.blogspot.com.

Photo by David "Soul" Askaripour, http://www.forestdefenders.com/.

Mediation fails between UCSC and Tree-Sitters

Tree-sit, UCSC mediation ends without resolution

http://www.mercuryn ews.com/centralc oast/ci_11204205

J.M. BROWN - SENTINEL staff writer
Posted: 12/12/2008

Mediation between UC Santa Cruz and representatives of the Science
Hill tree-sit ended in failure late Wednesday, leaving questions
about a potential showdown when crews fell the trees, which must be
done before construction begins in the spring.

Tree-sit spokeswoman Jennifer Charles, who participated in the
mediation paid for by the university, said UCSC declined to make
concessions about development in the north end of campus.

Halting growth and its disputed environmental impacts have been the
protest's chief aim, Charles said.

The tree-sit began 13 months ago.

Charles said the university had agreed not to arrest tree sitters
willing to abandon their 75-foot high redwood perches above a parking
lot slated to be the site of a new biomedical facility.

She said the two sides also discussed concerns from demonstrators
about curtailing scientific research involving the use of animals.

"It felt productive in sharing where we were coming from," Charles
said. "It seems possible that, if given a longer amount of time, we
could have potentially reached some kind of agreement."

The two sides had agreed mediation would wrap up by the end of fall
quarter, which ends this week as students take finals.

The mediated sessions took place off campus and involved two members
of the chancellor's office and several tree-sit supporters but no
high-ranking UCSC officials, Charles said.

UCSC spokesman Jim Burns declined to say why mediation failed, but
said, "We are sorry that the discussions, which we initiated, didn't
produce a resolution. And it remains our hope that the people in the
trees will leave voluntarily. "

Charles acknowledged that tree-sitters are discussing options about
the protest's future, including leaving voluntarily, but no decision
has been reached.

Since a judge ordered the tree-sit vacated in March, both sides have
hoped to avoid a standoff that would pit law enforcement officers
against demonstrators in a high-stakes removal attempt. A tree-sit in
Berkeley ended peacefully in September after police coaxed protesters
out of an oak grove.

Political science professor Michael Urban, a tree-sit advocate, said
he was disappointed mediation failed and fears a future confrontation
between demonstrators and authorities.

"They are defending the redwoods, and they are trying to get us to
stop and think about something," Urban said. "If we at UCSC, with its
history and reputation, aren't the ones to stop and think about this,
then I don't know who might be."

Burns said tree-sitters have grossly mischaracterized the
university's expansion plans, including claims that UCSC intends to
clear-cut the north forest.

"In UCSC's 43-year history, we've developed approximately one-quarter
of the campus acreage," he said. "And, as anyone knows who has set
foot on campus, we've done it with great sensitivity to our redwood
environment. "
--

Contact J.M. Brown at 429-2410 or jbrown@santacruzsen tinel.com.

New! Earth First! Humboldt Action!

After decades of battling MAXXAM, Humboldt Earth Firsters! have directed their collective efforts towards stopping the destruction that Simpson(Green Diamond) has wrought upon our lands for far too long.

The action is taking place outside of Eureka, Ca., in which tree-sitters are occupying several large second growth trees.

Don't let Green Diamond's name fool you! The former Simpson company with a greenwashed face is FAR from being "green", even with bogus sustainable certification.

To learn more about the recently formed Earth First! Humboldt collective or to become involved directly, please visit them at their site http://efhumboldt.org/. You can also see photos of the banner high in the trees of the new action.

Cedar's Nanning Creek Chronicles

The Final Chapter of Cedar's Story?

(Note: Ω = scowly face; :) = happy face)
EVERYONE!

Holy is it ever hot – the downside of not sweating much is my body’s inability to cool itself down; my face is red (no sunburn) but not perspiring; if I put water on my face the heat of my skin leaves my face dry within a minute. Luckily I have shade + can take off my clothes (if “Hey-oh” or “ Schmoody” is hiding with a camera in hand . . . ya . . . whatever, I’m too hot to care). No cold concrete basement floor, or frozen towel or ice water – coping with the summer’s heat will be as hard for me as coping with the winter’s cold was for everyone else (they’re loving this). I can feel my hot blood pulsing in my temples + extremities, + warm water just makes me pee (not refreshing). I am looking forward to going down to the big creek (the small one has pretty much dried up) tonight to bathe in cold water! I cut my hair off with nail scissors this mornng + am hoping that someone in town has a battery-powered shaver so I can feel a breeze on my scalp. A few days ago I went down to the main creek. It was epic! I was up until sunrise + all I did was bury 1.5 buckets of shit etc.

I got 1 gallon of unfiltered water (my filter just happened to crap out on me). It was way harder to bush-whack down with all the new growth + no trail; much of the brush is the “toilet-paper’ trees (apparently better than TP, but I can’t speak from my own experience [yet?]) + they are thorny + dense + close to the ground. The slope was steep enough that much of it was me sliding down on my ass, + standing was rarely an option. When I finally got down there – wow! So beautiful! It is no longer a creek of rapids, but of various pools @ various heights – I was beside one of the closer upper ones, + a few metres below me was another pool (not a place I could see myself getting out of!). Above me was a huge old-growth nurse log, a slowly rotting ceiling that weighed god knows how much (I’m such a bad judge of weights + distances). I wonder if I’ll end up @ the same place tonight – if that’s the only place I can access the water – getting out was tough – I had jumped down into it, + going up with the gallon in hand was a challenge (not so easy to climb up the slope I slik down!). I was on auto-pilot by then – just keep going, one foot in front of the other. The 1st time, last fall, I know I was lost + allowed my gut to take me straight back home, but this time I just moved, thinking I’d end up going the same way I came down – path of least resistance. Nope. I found myself surrounded by different bush – denser bush! + recognized a huge (compared to looking down on it) deciduous snag that lies south-east of Gr + Gr (the creek is east). So I kept going up + right whenever the brush allowed it. Then I felt really lost + called Spooner (Billy was probably sleeping + out of earshot); thankfully after a few more steps I realized where I was – right below GPA, where I needed to be :). By then it was ~ 2 AM + I still had to treck over past Spooner to dig. 1st I had _ granola bar, + by the time I got to the slash –pile I had the burps – the giardia burps Ω. Needless to say I finished + climbed as fast as I could to get home to the filtered water, GSE, + charcoal; I made it back in time to prevent myself from having to stay up fouling my clean shitter – phew! It was late/early enough for me to listen to the morning birds + owl – slowly ascending until every possible bird sound was in the air – tweeting, chirping, whistling, peeping, cooing, singing, crawing, etc :). Tonight I’m going back for 6 gallons (3 trips), + I’m bringing pea-cord to make a path. The last time, over-all sucked, because everything seemed to go wrong – so my attitude sucked. Now I’m looking forward to it – I’ll be better prepared + am so looking forward to cold water. My head hurts. This is actually the 1st time I’ve really written in weeks – I was aware of it, but couldn’t put my finger on why (+ of course, I had rationalizations that weren’t quite it – i.e. busy writing letters, reading like a maniac, etc). I have a few plausible theories now, or dif. aspects of the same one. I think I’m going through some sort of transition again. In a way this time of year reminds me of when I first came here – the highway is drowning out the creek again, it’s hot + there’s no need to live out of my sleeping bag. It’s also a time of change in that Jeff is away on a 2 month bike trip (I am so glad + happy that he’s doing it, having a much-needed, well-deserved break, but on some level the change is hard on me – he is so consistent + dependable, + now it’s more random [Jamieson is here for a few weeks, but has no food stamps or $, so it’s up to chance – i.e. tabling + dumpsters]. I know we’ll be fine + taken care of, but I’m a creature of habit), + it’s nesting season i.e. much quieter in the village with just Billy + me (which I love), the way too frequent drone of chain-saws (no supposed to be cutting), + the just as if not more frequent visits from “Hey-oh”. I was reading an awful lot. I remember being glad to be rid of the radio so I could read more again, but then I started reading so much that, I now realize, it was serving much the same purpose of escapism as the radio was – so what is really going on inside? I’m starting to acknowledge + realize it, + believe that there’s something I’m needing to learn or re-learn/remember. Perhaps it is just simply adjusting to the changes – I used to fall asleep @ ~ 7 PM, + could go down @ ~ 5 PM; now I need to wait until ~ 9 PM to go down – the heat wakes me @ ~ 8 AM. I have not been climbing as often as I used to, even though it’s just as special + invigorating + calming, etc. as it was before. I’m not sure if I should be making a habit of doing it daily, or if I should allow things to naturally progress. I consider the fact that I’ve just written 5 pgs. with ease to be a good sign, but gah – my head hurts + I’ve gotta stop for now . . . Guess wht I just did? I just had a solar shower! (certainly no need to heat the water, though I used only 2 L, which lasted ~ 30 sec – enough to get my entire body soaked + rinsed, + I even had goose-bumps for a bit! + my head doesn’t hurt! I’m already boiling hot again, but that was so refreshing! I’m doing it again tomorrow, with bio soap, perhaps (although soap seems somewhat pointless because I’m not oily or smelly + will be just as “dirty” [i.e. “clean”, but visible dirt, unlike the “dirty” but not-so-visible city dirt – but maybe that’s just me] within a short time – my hands are black with resin + dirt from GMA + GPA whenever I climb because the rains have stopped rinsing them – although it does “rain” fog at times :); apparently ~ 40% of the water in the summer comes from the moisture the redwood needles extract from the fog). Bwa – now my head hurts again . . .

I met up with Billy @ the little creek last night. Neither of us have the car-charger battery that charges our cell phones, + his walky-talky doesn’t work, so it was the 1st time in maybe a week that we spoke to each other. Apparently we both wake up @ exactly the same time every morning (although I do catch a few extra hrs when I’m up half the night): 9:30 AM. Occasionally it’s 9:26 or 9:32, but never 9:15 or 9:45. Man, does that ever excite my rational/analytical mind! As a creature of habit, it isn’t that crazy, but Billy is not – he can nap or sleep during the day. My only theory as yet is the birds. They have various crescendos throughout the day; there are the sunset birds + the morning birds + birds who pipe up during certain types of weather. We both thought immediately of the “killer jays” – the beautiful blue birds with black heads who threaten the last of the marbled murrelets; the ones who, like the magpie, can’t sing – they just make noise. I’m going to be listening whenever I wake up now. There is a bird who sings @ night, + the sound is exactly like a dog whistle (“come-here”); there is another who mews like a kitten. Anybody who’s stayed in the village for a week surely knows of the dog in Rio-Del; the neighbours of that dog must have a rough time – all of Rio-Del – if we’re annoyed by it 2 miles away! . . .

(night) Money. One of the reasons I’m attracted to this “lifestyle” is because I am able to remove myself from direct interactions with money. Byt it is still costing people for us to be here. We are here because the “need” for money is so strong that it drives people to continue to obliterate the last of the old growth. Lately my re-supplies have gone from largely dumpster food + “old” bread (+ “wish-list” items were bought @ a wholesale store) to organic everything. It actually pains me to know how much money is going into the re-supplies. If money didn’t exist I’d eat organic everything, but the cost of it kills my freeganistic ideology! Helthy food, like health care + education, should be basic human rights, regardless of income. I’ve never wanted a big house or car or TV, just to work for food, [.............?] without money being interchanged. I’d rather learn to build my own house than pay for one – but even land is owned by somebody. It’s essentially illegal to live by your own means (“squatting”) even if you’d prefer a fire to a furnace. I feel opressed just hearing words like insurance or profit margin. I don’t exactly have a solution to somehow fix humanity by removing money, but I’d like to see a practical solution for people like me. This is something I could do for a long time; it has purpose + meaning, but how will I live when I’m not tree-sitting? Go back to making money so I can pay for things? I can see myself living here among like-minded people in town, compromising, living in that system without being a part of it. But I’d have no health coverage here (but food stamps!), + you need an adress for it anyways. If I were to live here in town, I’d probably get a job (that doesn’t drain me too much spiritually/emotionally) to help pay for sitters’ resupplies. I certainly can’t see myself “moving on” to something else. That 98% is not a reality that can afford a short attention span . . . Ugh – oh god – my grey water smells intensely like methane + sulphur Ω gag. Must empty 2morrow. Ha, ya, I got that too. . . .

Whenever I begin eating a vegetarian diet, I am drawn to it (for moral/ethical, ecological, + health reasons) + with my rather extensive (mostly) self-taught knowledge of nutrition I should be particularly adept (combining incomplete protein sources, vegetarian sources of Fe, Zn, (v, B12, 0-3, etc), but within a week – or a couple of days if I’m vegan – I always find myself exhausted, foggy-headed, + with almost no energy, + that’s with @ least 50 g protein/day (what my body needs) – up to 80 g if eating vegan. If I take 10 g of whey protein my mind + body are almost instantly awakened. Knowing how much energy (i.e. food we could eat) that goes into the “production” of meat, expecially carnivores (3-5 Kg of fish to feed/produce 1 Kg of salmon), + the fact that they are so unnaturally “farmed”, is persuasive to say the least. I do not believe that humans are meant to be vegetarians, just that it’s an option (we don’t need meat, but it’s an excellent source of protein, etc.). I do not want to feel old + weak @ 22 yrs of age! I think I’d be glad to be a vegetarian if 80% + of my protein came from dairy (complete protein); that’d be like drinking a litre/quart of milk/day (or 1.5 cups cottage chs, etc.), or just whey protein. I think a can of tuna is still the cheapest source of protein though I think for me, personally, it wouldn’t be wise to be a complete vegan/vegetarian; I could rationalize that with the fact that I don’t absorb B12 very well (if growing up with liver in my diet [1 bite = 400%] didn’t cut it, I doubt nutritional yeast + kambuka tea would), + if the blood-type thing is true, then I shouldn’t exclude meat (type 0 is apparently prone to anemia). My stance on meat seems unchanged. I went for water again – 5.5 gallons, + went to Spooner for a re-supply last night + was so tired. I’m actually sore for the 1st time. The time before was great – I still had energy when I finished hauling 6 gallons in the wee hrs of the morning. Last night I was tired just going down to the creek with empty jugs, + I did the same things beforehand: high carb, low-fiber meal before + stretched for my “tree legs”, only without the complete protein sources in the days before. I have a trail now! I can stand for most of it, so climbing up the hill with 2 gallons in each hand is much easier! + there are more “orange blackberries”every time :). I can scarcely believe my memory of the white-water rapids 6 months ago – now I can be on dry land where the water used to rush across . . . ha ha – it’s interesting how Billy + I are always aware of irregularities in each other’s bowel movements – interesting because it’s practically taboo in our culture – one rarely responds to “how are you?” with “I had runny poo” or “I haven’t taken my morning crap”, even if that’s the most pertinent thing at the time – then again, everyone seems to say “good” regardless of how they feel. The longer I stay isolated from “society” (it’s been almost 8 months), the more human I feel. More genuine or real or aware or balanced or content or someting (can’t find the right word). Laughing/giggling out loud has become natural; I’ve even felt angry (an emotion that’s difficult for me to grasp/comrehend/express/acknowledge); + the love I feel is more + more genuine as I learn to love myself (I’ve always had a lot of love, but “you can’t love someone else if you can’t love yourself”; it is a lengthy process to go from self-hatred [let’s say –100] to self love [+100]. I’ve probably gained 50-75 “points” [I wasn’t at –100 when I came – that’d probably be suicidal, but was probably in the negative side]). I remember wondering if I’d become so in-tune with my environment that I’d be able to predict the weather from internal + external cues – now I’m thinking it’d take years. I am more aware of how the current weather affects me, expecially the wind (my own inner emotions + physical state certainly plays a part in my reaction/response); generally, it is sedating + stressful – not black + white, or grey, but in different areas of a colourful spectrum; sometimes I’ll get hungry, or feel like exercising, or just lying down all day – I guess it’s more about my mind, but it’s hard to describe in words other than stressful + sedating. Fog excites + relaxes me; maybe the former is from growing up in such a dry place; it definitely induces giggles/laughter + calm. The depressing nature of an overcast sky for days on end is likely universal. Rain is very circumstantial. Rain + sun are nourishing to GMA + GPA, which of course rubs off on me :). Storms are draining. A light/short rain is like a breath of fresh air. The winter downpors are sedating, or maybe the response is more a matter of practicality; it can pour for days + I will still be more concerned about having to keep the water out (Oh crap, a drip, I don’t want to get up!) than being unable to go out. There are many relaxing/sedating qualities out here, or up here – the trees most definitely play a part in that, both their energy + the naturally-paced environment (Humboldt tree time); there’s no need to rush or hurry or multi-task, + rarely a need to “do it now”. No wilderness dweller has the pressure to get more water (or whatever) than before + faster, nor do they do the same thing 8 hrs a day (they may work more hrs, but it’s @ a natural pace, provided the circumstances are normal). In the city I often felt frantic + overstimulated/overwhelmed – that’s for “normal day-to-day things like going shopping – being away from all the options + expectations + advertisements (Buy me now; you NEED me) + crowds + lights + cars + calendars +, and and and – has been like detoxing. I remember feeling contaminated + contagious, both empty and dirty. What baffles me most is how “normal” city life is to so many people, how “necessary” it is to continue increasing production + development + consumption even though we’ve already gone too far. I’m not saying that people should live isolated in trees – haha – , I think the isolation appeal is personal, but I do think that cities are de-humanizing, that a balanced + natural person is not a concept that fits with the concrete plastic + digital + fast-paced, etc characteristics of “civilization”. Maybe my own personal disposition is primitive, -- I see that as natural. I am not stupid or weak or crazy (anyone who @ times questions their sanity is not insane), nor are the people I know who live in the city; + I’m not any smarter or stronger or saner than the average person. The simple fact is that these last 7.5 months have provided for more spiritual + emotional growth than any other time in my life. I wish I could “save” the countless “mentally unstable” people that seem to be the obvious outcom of “civilized” society. It is of no surprise to me that: “the # of American children with serious emotional disorders has tripled since the early 1990s”. Or “In Japan ‘people simply aren’t having sex’ . . . + the suicide rate has been rising rapidly. Hikikimore, or self-isolation, finds over a million young people staying in their rooms for years. Where the techno-culture is most developed, levels of stress, depression, + anxiety are highest.” Or “19 yrs ago the typical American had three close friends, now the # is 2 . . . [the study] also reveals that over this period of time, the # of people without one friend or confidant has tripled.” My high school English teacher mentioned a few times that “80% of Americans use anti-depressants to get through the day.” Depression is very real, but not 80%! I’m not the 1st to make these connections, + this isn’t the 1st time I’ve mentioned it. It almost seems as though it is common knowledge that isn’t sinking in – maybe that’s the grip of “civilization”, that it numbs or blinds people or something. It’s strange how people go camping to escape the city, but only as a vacation, as though staying outside is not an option: Most people are working so hard just to get by (rent, taxes, insurance, food, gas, stuff, addictions, etc); there’s no connection with where things come from (just turn on the tap, go to the store). Tending a garden gives meaning to the processes that nourish our bodies; staring @ a computer screen for 8 hrs so we can buy mass-produced microwave dinners does not. I am glad that I didn’t tie myself down with work or school – I did both, but without commitment; I don’t have a student loan to pay off, + dishwashers are replaceable. I can go back, but for now will settle for a meaningful existence :) . . .

These trees mean the world to me, + people want to kill them for hot-tubs Ω . . .

On the “transition”/feeling different + not-writing-much period: my last theory was that it was an incredibly mild Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder “episode”, feeling slightly vacant. My ultimate response to it was to simply let it be. And it was. And no longer is. I think a lot of people go nuts over trying to change something beyond their control. Without knowing or learning how to just let it go, the wind, or jays, or absence of “things to do” or whatever could make anyone crazy up here. It is another lesson I’ve learned, although I had practice before with the severe SAD “episodes” that I knew would pass, + I continue to have that skill, which is really what it is. Letting go is easier said than done – I am still stressed over the wind @ times, but there are also times when I am @ peace with it, when I can simply observe without reacting/responding. I’ll hear a gust roaring towards me without holding my breath or getting tense in anticipation; I’ll feel the wind hit GMA + jolt her into swaying, + let it hit the platform, rip @ the tarps, blow ashes around, all the while maintaining a calm mind + body – now I just have to hone that skill enough to be able to replicate it in town. But I’m not worried – that’d be self-defeating (+ I am actually able to practise what I preach!) . . .(night) A bunch of random things: On weather prediciting, I do predict drizzle; regardless of the presence of fog, if it is going to drip overnight, I have a hard time falling asleep. It’s not because my mind or body is restless, but because of a feeling that I forgot something (to close the tarps) . . . The lower/big/main creek is starting to dry up (!) so my next project is to dig to the lower pools + figure out a way of getting in + out, + pump water (the last time there was pink mold in the upper pool + I had to dig a path so it’d start running – I think it was the fungus that made for metallic/rocky-flavoured water). Last night a racoon climbed up GPA all the way to the platform (he sounded like a giant squirrel, haha); it “sat” (on a vertical branch) ~ 3 feet from me + we looked @ each other for a few minutes + I talked to him (“no food up here,” “what are you doing all the way up here?” “You’re so pretty, but I don’t know if you bite” etc). What curious little scavengers – to climb up ~ 100 ft! . . . I put my “Harry Potter” glasses on to see the small blue + black + white birds catching the wind, + @ the top of the hill where the helicopter was, one of the trees that got the worst of the artificial wind gusts has no more crown Ω, just bare branches . . . I’m excited to see my daddy! + Jay is coming to visit, too :) . . . I am currently listening to what sounds like the big claws of a (the?) Racoon . . . On the 1st day of summer there was a plane ~ every hr! I am so glad it was just the one day!!! That there’s not a new airport or airplane route or something . . . Ever since I mentioned that Billy + I both wake up @ 9:30, well, I jinxed it, but we do wake up @ the same (random) time a lot . . . Whenever I soak beans I take out 2 before cooking them + plant them. I currently have 4 plants, 8 containers of soil, + a potential for 7 new sprouts to pop up :) (+ that’s not counting the apricot + peach pits or the potato eye – I’m certainly not expecting anything from the pits!) . . .

I miss Jeff + Jamieson! + Winter! + everyone @ home! . . .
The squirrels jump in my rain barrel on hot + dry nights, so I dumped most of it (nastiness! So dirty, but is good for washing my hands, followed by hand-sanitizing) – the last thing I want is for one to get stuck while I’m on the ground (ha – it took effort to write “the” because Winter’s English has rubbed off on the entire village – “you on ground?”) It hasn’t been hot like when I took the shower (yay, @ least for me!) – I like the moderated coastal forest climate :)! . . .
I’m sleepy but am expecting a phone call from Germany (Mommy + Mim + Ama) + a re-supply any time now . . . No racoon . . . I stubbed the same toe 2 X today – ouch . . . I think that’s all the random things I can think of . . . haha – I just realized that I’ve been compulsively removing all the price tags I find. I now have 7 plants, 10 pots of soil, + more black beans that may pop up, + I may plant an avocado pit or 2 (the squirrels dug up one of the pits, + I know they love avocado . . .). . . . :) I am feeling really good today :). Excited + energized. GMA is particularly calm + gentle, + GPA’s got “strong” all over him. I was drawn to the tip-wip of GMA + looked over @ the tree with the broken off top with the nest – We’re thinking Marbled Murrelet because they sound like seabirds :). Amy ended up hiking in with River (her baby) + a friend from Rio Del (!) + the battery that was forgotten in the car. I’m so so so so glad that I was able to see the woman who’s been taking care of us. Her presence emitted so much love + good energy; I really needed that. River was just as I imagined her to be. Beautiful + round with big eyes; it was so special when she reached out to touch Spooner – for the 1st time since being out of her mother’s womb :). I am no longer uncomfortable receiving organic food – only grateful (I doubt I could buy organic, so this is a wonderful opportunity!) I am eating the dankest sandwich ever – cheese + tofurkey + avocado + fancy mustard + lettuce + sprouts + zucchini + onion – I feel spoiled! The person who’s been hiking for Amy ~ 1X/wk. for ~ 2 months needs a break. At 1st I was critical because I felt rejected (he would be too tired or something to walk the extra 5 min. to GMA a few times), but now I’m more concerned as to why (I doubt a weekly hike is the reason) – if it’s his physical/mental/spiritual health. Billy went to town for a bit + the Village is now in hands of Cedars (there’s one in Spooner now!). Daddy’s coming soon! The owls are still weird – there’s one hooting right now, in the middle of the day, + they’re still not hooting @ sunset, the way they did 6 months ago . . .

I’ve got to copy down what I just read on: “. . . Sartre’s appalling assertion that ‘Nature is mute’ . Nature is not mute, but modern man is deaf – made deaf because he is unwilling to hear the message of caring, balance, + cooperation that is nature’s message – in our state of denial we must proclaim nature mute – how else to avoid facing the awful crimes we have committed for centuries against nature and each other?” . . .

(night) It’s July 4th, it sounds like the end of the world (@ least that’s what I’m imagining). Having not been raised here, I can’t tell the difference between a gunshot (let alone the type of gun) + a firecracker. I can even hear the shouting/cheering ppl.; just barely. It’s freaky – all the explosions, I hope my dad doesn’t have trouble on the hike. I am tucked in between GMA + GPA, as well as the hillsides. I’m glad I’m here + not where all the noise is coming from. I feel sorry for anyone with shell-shock.

**************************************************************************************

You are truly amazing! Thank you Cedar. We love you and hope to see you soon.


Both Nanning Creek and Fern Gully have been saved!

We ALL sure made a great team. There are hundreds of us who answered the call, and we couldn't have done it without the help of everyone. Blessings and love to all creatures, including trees.

Berkeley rewrites trespassing law to prevent UC police from using it to arrest protesters

By Doug Oakley
Bay Area News Group
Article Launched: 10/23/2008 09:59:47 AM PDT

"The Berkeley City Council has rewritten its trespassing law to stop UC-Berkeley police from using it to arrest demonstrators on campus...New language makes an arrest on trespassing invalid if the person is exercising "freedom of speech or assembly on outdoor property owned and controlled by a public entity." It also includes the right of labor groups to picket on public property without being arrested for trespassing."

Rest of article



More UCPD abuse towards Oak's Defenders:

Video:

KRON Channel 4:
University Escalates Tactics - Use of Force to Remove Tree Sitters
UC Police Endanger Protester
Tree sitter "Dumpster Muffin" Interviewed

bcitizen:
UC Police violence against the Berkeley Tree-sit
UC Police Step Up Violence at the Berkeley Oak Grove(hours before I jumped into the grove, watch for cops slashing razorblades above protester's heads)
Carol Strickman(Oak's Attorney) on UCPD Violence
Starve the Tree Sitters at the Stadium Oak Grove
No Food and Water for Berkeley Campus Tree Sitter
One More Berkeley Tree Sitter Comes Down and is Arrested(I surrendered peacefully)

BerkeleyTreeSitters:
UC Berkeley Oak Grove Arborist Cut Ropes Endangering Life / Safety of Tree Sitter

Oaks4Peace:
UC Berkeley Police Squad!: Taking the Street(Was I ever served or made aware of any injunction?)
Officer Hernandez Versus The Peace People(How many officers have been injured?)

protestshooter:
UC Berkeley Oak Grove - Tree Sitters Extraction(1/4 way through has UCPD brutal force)

floatfloaton:
Wild Tree protest in Berkeley(meant to be negative towards Oak's defenders, but shows UCPD beating people again)

sacredcowburger:
UCPD Harassment of Oak Grove Tree-Sit Dec 2006 - Sept 2007(Mellow compared to most videos)

Print:
Save the Memorial Oak Grove

Ashley Trott:
Jeff Muskrat coming
Jeff Muskrat leaving

David Weinstein:
The UC Berkeley Treesit

Timberlands to log near Cathedral Grove

Timberlands to log near Cathedral Grove

Nature Trust wants to purchase sensitive parcels from company

Julia Caranci, Alberni Valley Times

Published: Thursday, October 02, 2008

Island Timberlands (IT) will be harvesting about 7,500 cubic metres of old growth forest within about 300 metres of the MacMillan (Cathedral Grove) Park boundary.

The news isn't sitting well with an environmental group that has been fighting to have the area protected, and an organization that has been attempting to negotiate the purchase of some environmentally significant land owned by the forest company.

Island Timberlands spokesperson Mackenzie Leine told the Times the harvesting will commence later this week.

"Our biggest concern is that the saws will be audible inside the park," she said.

Leine explained the closest point the logging will come to the park boundary is 300 metres to the south -- the area being harvested is all land privately owned by the forest company.

Helicopters will be used to remove the harvested logs from the area.

Leine explained the company has done a visual assessment of the land to be logged from the highway, pertaining to "Crown Land visual quality objectives."

She said a small portion of the logging will be visible from the highway, but is only expected to affect about 1.5% of the viewscape in the area.

The land being logged is within the company's operating land base, and generally speaking, such plans are laid out up to two years in advance.

Leine could not say where the logs will be going after they are harvested.

"I don't know who the customer is," she said.

Doug Walker, president of the Nature Trust of B.C., said the non-profit, charitable organization has been trying to negotiate with Island Timberlands to purchase additional parcels of land adjacent to Cathedral Grove (and other areas), but following the hiring of a new director of real estate at the logging company, talks were put on hold.

"They told me they were not logging in that area (near the park), but that was about six months ago," Walker said. "It's unfortunate to hear they are now."

He added it isn't clear whether or not the parcel being logged is one the Trust was interested in, but the group is attempting to secure more land (with cooperation from the province) around the park to protect it for future generations.

Walker said his group is very interested in getting back to the table with IT again.

"We want to negotiate the purchase of extremely important conservation habitat," he explained.

The money the Trust uses to purchase land comes from donors, grants and help from government.

Annette Tanner, spokesperson for the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, has herself been trying to obtain more information about exactly where the IT cut block is located, but says the company has thus far refused to supply her with a map.

"They say they don't need to let anyone know what their plans are," she said.

Tanner is opposed to any logging of old growth forest near the park because she says it is "Canada's most important forest", a designated community watershed area, and a region with high bird, elk, fish and other wildlife values.

WCWC officials also say logging around the park will increase flooding, run off and erosion inside protected areas, which detrimentally affects the natural balance of the area.

"I don't think they should keep logging until there's nothing left," Tanner said.

© Alberni Valley Times 2008

Tree-sitters held a press conference in front of the remains of Memorial Oak Grove, Dumpster Muffin read the following statement to the cameras.

Memorial Oak Grove Press Release

From the Oak Grove Tree-sit Community 9/17/08

Through the last 21 months this community has shown endless resilience, determination, compassion, and courage in the face of brutality and political repression. I'm endlessly thankful for the thousands of people who have raised their voices with us. I believe that these last 2 years will be remembered as a turning point for all who are fighting to defend the Earth and with it the lives of our children. We have learned that fear--of violence, of authority, of the future--is a prison we create for ourselves. We have learned that cooperation and love transcends race, gender, class, and all the other artificial classifications that are imposed in order to keep us divided. We have learned that this Earth is not inherited from our ancestors, but is on loan from our children. We protected the Grove for as long as we did because it was a memorial to what we have lost. 95% of North America's native forests are gone. The Grove was a poignant reminder of how much wild habitat our culture has destroyed in order to develop nuclear technology and orchestrate a legal system under which the most cruel and voracious war criminals are considered President. If we continue this current rate of consumption, we face worldwide economic and ecological collapse. As a society we have a desperate need to open up a conversation about how to rehabilitate our land if we hope to live to see our grandchildren. It was common among many Native societies for people to make decisions based on how their children would be affected 7 generations later. I feel that we need to study this wisdom deeply or our species will go the way of the carrier pigeon who were once so numerous their numbers blacked out the sun for days at a time as their flocks enveloped the skies. If we could use even a tiny percentage of resources that the University of California devotes to the development of nuclear weapons, we could vastly improve the lives of impoverished people in our community and throughout the world. The University is a huge machine devoted to profiting off and perpetuating war. A lot of their most flaunted "achievements" are concerned with the destruction of habitat and the consolidation of political power within the military industrial complex. It is when this abuse is too flagrant that we are obligated as conscientious citizens to take direct action against injustice. It is because we are deprived of even the most cursory democratic input that we must take matters into our own hands and tell them "Enough is enough!" At the Grove I have learned that humans do not have a monopoly on language. Trees speak very, very quietly so that you have to put your ear close to hear them, but what they told me is unmistakable. They said, "Our brothers the squirrels, the turkeys, the deer, the foxes, the chickadees, the hawks, the raccoons, the bluejays will have nowhere to go if we are gone. And then our human relations will be left alone with no air to breathe or food to eat." At times I feel overwhelmed at the magnitude of destruction that has been caused, and it's easy to feel powerless because we have all been robbed of an ecological heritage so vast we may never understand what this continent looked like 516 years ago. But it also gives me a feeling of great freedom because even the smallest acts of love can have an enormous rippling effect. The tree-sit has touched all of us in one way or another, and my experiences here will inspire me to fight for the Earth until I die. This place is important to many Native Americans because the soil contains the bones of their ancestors. But the University continues the 500-year-long tradition of genocide against indigenous people. They have denied requests to repatriate the 13,000 remains of Native Americans held at the Phoebe Hearst museum and they continue to deny the Native community proper access to their burial grounds. Some attempts to lay down ceremonial offerings have been met by University police with arrests and even shoving a mother with her 2-month old infant in her arms. There are clearly racist policies intending to suppress Native cultural and religious practice, and should be recognized as a hate crime. This place is important to many people because it was a whisper of what we have lost in the war against the Earth. Let's work together to find new ways to organize our society, because this current economic system is poisoning everything we need to survive. We have to organize ourselves at the community level and learn how to live respectfully with the Earth. Self-sufficiency is the most direct path to creating the change we wish to see in the world. We started this work at the Oak Grove Tree-sit, but it is by no means finished. The struggle to defend what is left of the natural work needs to continue with all of us asking ourselves, "What can I do for the land that gives me life?" I ask myself this every everyday. Today the answer is, "Keep loving, keep fighting."

Cedar's Nanning Creek Chronicles

Read the beginning of Cedar's Saga here:

Part V will be posted here next week.

(Note: Nanning Creek has been temporarily "saved" along Fern Gully Treesit. Cedar remains on her perch until the THP expires. Read more here:)

Part IV

Everyone!
Whoever says that people don’t hibernate is wrong! .... or maybe it’s just me – the people around here are often times quite active in the rain – hiking loads up the hill or doing technical-type stuff up here ( setting a platform/traverse/”god-pad”/ etc. I just hibernate – I’ve spent ~ 1wk @ a time getting out of my sleeping bag only to pee/shit because of the rain. Those days don’t seem to exist to me either – “yesterday” is whatever day I last left the platform. While the average person gets cabin fever, I don’t get bored or restless or impatient or lonely; I don’t even feel the need to stretch or take myself into oblivion because I’m already there. Certainly not sociable on those days. But as soon as the rain dries + the sun comes out I’m climbing + wanting to traverse + go to the ground @ night. It takes no effort on my part either way; when I wake up to pouring rain, then that’s what it is, + visa-versa. I’m going to traverse tomorrow, providing that my my body is predictably in tune with the weather :). + I’m climbing today – this ain’t no rain! I love you guys! + I’m wondering (leaning towards doubting) whether I’ll ever get sick of this place – I still love being here. In exchange for me riding out the winter storms, being ready to face a potential extraction any day, + maintaining a clean + organized sit, I have incredibly benevolent people providing for me anything I can’t provide for myself; I am being rewarded for having no appointments or schedules, for doing ‘nothing’ in a place bordering on paradise. I am actually living in a fucking tree! Finally! ... I also noticed -- + the same goes for the trees – that the 1st nice day is a slow/lazy/rest during which we slowly transition out of hibernation (for me) or recover from the unsettled weather (for the tree – it’s exhausting work for them to cope with strong winds + heavy rains + colder temperatures for so many days @ a time – maybe their fatigue rubs off on me + some other animals who lay low @ such times); I somehow envisioned that day as being the one during which everything around me, + myself, would burst back into life, thriving + singing. Every little truth I discover adds meaning; it’s difficult for me to stay in touch with my whole, multi-faceted self + the energies around me, + that’s probably one of the reasons I need to be here, where I can focus on it, learn who I am + how I fit in the greater picture, what life is all about. I fear that I will feel lost again when I leave here, but today is today, + any necessary change within me for the future can only happen in the present (maybe that’s the fear – if it, even here, can be hard to be in the moment + sometimes, the most important thing, then what will happen in town? Will I regress, or will I have honed the art of presence enough to bring it with me wherever I go? Can being here teach me how to enjoy school (i.e. not expect to know 100%, + be able to stay relaxed)?) It hasn’t yet been 4 months, but I’ve noticed that 24 hrs of being alone is usually not enough time for me to be completely present for someone else – the longer I have to myself, the more available I am for others (unless it’s been raining all week Ω) . . .

(Feb) Apparently Danny + Ryan find Grandma’s energy to be too intense – they can visit, but they couldn’t sit here. It is true, too – her energy is very intense! I’ve always said that Gr + Gr are the same tree – same energy, but that is only partially true. Lately I’ve been trying to determine their individual characteristics. So far (it’ll be a while before I can put it into words) Grandma is the more intense one; she’s older + taller, + feels often-times (or in certain places) annoyed by Grandpa’s presence – he is a pest, stealing so much of the sunlight (he’s south of her). Her own attempt to attain more of the sun is often precarious + almost self-defeating @ times (i.e. wrapping her branches around Grandpa in such a way that those very branches become damaged from the wind’s friction. Actually, they both to that, even to themselves – it’s silly, llike a child trying to be alpha [?] Grandma has more ‘silly’, or confused-looking, branches that changed their minds in the course of their growth numerous times –(Am I a branch? – no, a root, now I’m going east, no, south – hey – I could be a sprout + go up! – or maybe north to the sun, or that open spot to the west . . .), but overall, grandpa is the silly one happy + playful + grinning @ the sun. Grandma is more reserved, wise (but so serious), tough, + proud like a cat (Grandpa is more like an excited puppy). I think it is that contrast (serious + playful), as well as their competitive vs. cooperative nature that makes Ryan perceive them as bickering/arguing -- + sitting right in between them overwhelms him + gives him nightmares. When Danny mentioned his anxiety (Danny + Ryan sat here a bit before I came) up here, I told him to touch Grandma + focus on her energy – as intense as she may be, her energy is very nurturing + comforting + calming, + I know that sitting on the platform can be ungrounding, just like hanging from a rope can be; Danny’s face seemed to soften/relax after a minute or so. I’ve also noticed a distinct difference between the energy of the upper + lower portions of the trees. The upper canopy feels much lighter + clearer, while the lower canopy is a stronger energy; the base of the tree is harder to read, like the thickness of the bark keeps much of the energy in so it can go up, although that certainly didn’t stop Gr + Gr from welcoming me on that 1st morning. Spooner’s energy is incredibly strong + calm – although I’ve only been been in the mid-upper canopy + @ the base (where Spooner confirmed to me that I needed to be in a tree, but a different one, as Spooner is burdened with the traffic (too many people coming + going)). Today is a beautiful (of course!), sunny (too hot for long johns -- + it’s Feb!), + still Sunday – meaning there’s the occasional 4-wheeler joy-riding on the logging roads, + -- hello USA – dozens of gunshots; what are they shooting @?? . . .


Ha ha ha! I texted Jeff on the cell asking for tampons from my bag + wrote: ‘(aren’t you glad I didn’t ask you to buy them for me?)’ His response was: “I wouldn’t mind either way, I’m an empowered woman trapped in a handsome + strapping man’s body: -- )” . . .
This morning I awoke to a scurrying/scratching sound similar to that of the squirrels, only I knew right away, before opening my eyes, that is was not. Bird #3 :), + bird #1 forgoing [foraging?] at the platform, an arm-distance from me :) It looked like a big version of the tee-tiny 1st + most common bird around here – White + gray – only instead of being the size of a golf-ball, hopping along the branches tweeting like a chick, it was as big as the fattest flying squirrel, +, like them, inspecting the orange peel (too heavy). (The squirrels ‘steal’ banana peel like ‘that’ – running up Grandpa with excited chatter + 1/3 ban. peel in its mouth). The 2nd bird I saw was the big, blue ‘killer’ jay – beautiful, + aparently the Marbled Murrelet’s primary predator (the jay eats/kicks off their eggs). I never cared much for birds until here, where even spiders are special :). When I 1st saw the ‘golf-ball’ birds, I asked for a picture of the Marbled Murrelet – how can nobody here know what they look like ?! Apparently Ryan is trying to get a book – sweet! . . .

A few days ago there were strong (~20-25 mph [?]) winds without rain. I watched the trees sway through the tightly-held tarps (to prevent the wind from catching them), something I don’t do in rain. It is impressive! These trees are so strong, yet they appear stretchy, almost flimsy – I kept expecting to see one of the branches break as it was pushed to its limit, but their strength truly lies in their flexibility. A day of 2 or 3 before that I was on the Grandma-Spindle traverse to hang the peace-pride flag during something of a breeze (10-15 mph), + it was trippy! Like floating under water. As the trees swayed, the traverse pulled me up + down (!), + with the side to side-looking swaying of the trees around me, it really looked like an underwater tide was pushing + pulling. I really hope Alik comes in the next 3 days, because after that the rains are supposed to return, + there’s so much other than the platform that I want him to see! I am noticing changes in my body’s muscle distribution – obviously my arms are stronger + legs weaker, but to be more specific: in the tree my ‘centre of gravity’ is more fluid – my weight needs to be distributed in accordance to branch size/strength/location – my feet + hands both have important roles in that. I notice that I tend to pull my weight up with my arms/hands rather than using my legs to stand up – although it is again distributed among all 4 limbs. On the ground I find myself hunched over + constantly reaching for available handholds to help me along – falling is probably easier on those muddy slopes, + you have 2 limbs instead of the ‘usual’ 4. (I think the ‘hunching’ is in part to see the ground better with a dim headlamp + not 20/20 vision). When I think of how monkeys move, + their posture, I can see my body starting to resemble that more than a human. Any time I’m on the ground not moving, I find myself sitting on my feet with my knees up instead of the expected ‘oh it’s so nice to stand’ – haha --- I’m actually quite prone to finding a log on the ground to squat on – more like home – ha ha. I remember meeting Winter when we did ground-suport (Alik, Hannah, Jeff, Jamieson, Redwood (?), Loon, + I) to Libertal (Sp?); he came down + immediately squatted on his feet while he carved a melon with his knife. Even people who go down to the ground every few days get ‘jello-legs’, but I’ve never been bothered with muscle weakness/fatigue (probably because I’m so adamant about getting 50 g. protein/day – it’s not like I do leg exercises up here or anything) – let’s see how my legs are in a year, though. I’m not at all worried – it’s easy to build muscle that used to be there (vs. building a muscle you’ve never used), AND WORRYING IS A WASTE OF ENERGY! Like today – I have less than a gallon of water + no water pump. Worrying won’t get me water or a pump, being aware of it made me ask for help + figure out ways of getting water if nobody can make it tonight – but there’s certainly no need to stress about it. (Dad). This is still a lessson I’m learning + really hope to keep with me after this sit, but I can’t believe that there’s actually progress within me in that department! I have 3 pot cookies :). Oh ya – to add on to the Gr. vs. Gr. thing – They have such contrasting personalities, + there are conflicts/struggles/competition between them, + yet they are still interdependent + connected; I can still adress one tree through the other, + their moods certainly are in tune with one another. I don’t @ all get the impression of bi-polarity, just the contrast of one, like hypocritical personality traits (like me thriving in isolation + still loving to phone home + have a connection with others @ times). Gr + Gr’s personalities are both so different from my own (although I can identify with both), +yet they are still one. I believe that my own energies are melding with theirs, at least while I’m here (+ I also believe that the ‘rubbing-off’ of energy between the 3 of us will persist to an extent after I’m gone – it is exactly like people relationships in the sense that even a former connection contributes to one’s personality of perceptions). . . . Good morning helicopter. Good morning big, yellow, bent arm of the logging truck @ the top of the hill to the south-east. The’ve never been so close. I wonder what I was dreaming – I think Sara was in it. The sound is penetrating, + the artificial winds are making Gr + Gr sway. It’s hard to understand what they’re saying to each other (I’m eavesdropping via walky-talky) – something about ‘wake them up’ + “they’ve been there for a long time now”. There’s supposed to be 70 mph winds tonight, so my traverses are lowered. I pray that I won’t have to be on the traverses during a storm. I feel tense, deer-in-headlight. They are piling logs up there, so they’ll probably be disturbing the peace until the storm comes . . . The helicopter left >chainsaws + shouting > here comes the helicopter again Ω. The truck has a claw like this: Ω/ NOISE POLLUTION! The helicopters used to avoid this valley; now it’s flying directly over the village, back + forth, but not carrying logs, yet (?). I take the assaults to the trees, the massacre of the forests, personally, I feel it deep within me when the chainsaws pierce the living trees, like the horror I felt after/during the crazy storm + the ice storm. Every time the helicopter comes back I give its inhabitants the peace sign with my fingers, as it flies over the peace-pride flag on the traverse. On the walky-talky I said “Good Morning”, and “May the forest be with you”. (No response, naturally) I might climb . . . we’ll see. The only cell phone won’t charge, + ground doesn’t know, so there’s no contact to town/support (unless somebody here hikes out + catches the bus/hitchhikes). I can feel the helicopter’s vibrations through the platform as well as my gut. The other side of that hill must be barren Ω. The ‘copter doesn’t seem to have much of a hook or anything – I wonder how it so easily transports 2-3 logs @ a time. I have to take a shit, or, more specifically, I have to point my bare ass in their direction (yay for tarps) . . .

Bear Mountain Treesit in Langford, BC(No longer active:(


[late feb] I forgot to tell you guys about a text Jeff sent me when I had the cell. You know how I was looking for tree-sits in BC on the internet + coudn’t find them, so ended up over here thanks to Jeff’s response to my 1st e-mil – if I had found Bear mtn. tree-sit (BC), I probably would have ended up there. ~2 weeks ago Bear mtn. tree-sit was raided/evicted by 50(!) RCMP officers with assault rifles(!). Holy shit, + I talk of how Canada has no guns + friendly cops (some, of course). Maybe that’s why I’m here instead – like I was led here. Speaking of which, in a month I will be an illegal immigrant, a trespassing one at that. The “hey-oh” guy was here again, but this time he brought somebody with him. I did go up when the helicopter was here, but 1st I made a peace sign on some scrap cardboard; I went to the top of Grandma with it + shouted things like: “May the forest be with you” (That’s my fav.), and “May there be peace/love/compassion/respect in your heart/soul”, and “Long live Nanning Creek”, + “the Earth is your mother”, + “Respect your elders!”, etc. I think the ‘copter made a short siren sound in response as it flew over me. I think Billy/Winter should go on a ninja mission asap (go to Scotia + come back that night) because no cell phone is pretty serious – we need it to call for help in case of emergency. (“Hey-oh” , as of yet, is harmless, but he could easily have been an extractor). (“Hey-oh” checks on us after storms + holidays). Certain temperatures/humidities make this platform reek of pee – I’m assuming (mostly?) squirrel pee Ω. I wonder if fabreeze or something would help. I also wanted to add on to the the Gr + Gr personality analysis – In Grandma I’ve sensed trauma, like she’s seen horrific things in her life -- I wondered about that impression for a long time, + a few days ago I noticed an obvious possibility – forest fires! Gr + Gr both have blackened trunks – even 150 feet up – 1000_C could certainly be described as “ horrific” or “traumatizing”! Or chainsaws – I can “feel” their destructive energy (right now Ω), but Gr + Gr most certainly feel more than I can. The stumps in this valley from selective logging of the past, are another example of a possibility for that energy I noticed in the trees. Gr + Gr don’t want me here, with this massively heavy platform + the traverses, etc, but they know very well that they need me here (i. e. when I 1st was welcomed by Grandma, Jamieson saw the smile on my face + felt Grandma breathe a sigh of relief :). I still believe that Gr+ Gr are keeping me safe (as much as they’re able) during the storms, although trees don’t have the agressive nature required to punish a living being (minus the threat of beetle infestations, etc). Giving is what they do best, + even if I were to stay after the threat is over, I know the’d love me the same (but I have no such intentions). A few days ago I had a mango that had brown maggots inside, but the concerning part was that the maggot/worm things were all dead Ω.

I finally have Spooner’s Solar shower (minus the solar panel – I’ll just heat water on the stove); the only thing holding me back is sacrificing drinking water – I do intend to shower up here some day soon, though! In 2-3 weeks Marbled Murrelet season begins (it’s 6 months). . . .
The re-occurring nightmare: Me on the ground in a panic about Gr+ Gr. I was trying to wake myself up in the dream, b/ it’s familiar enough to recognize it as such, but I kept waking up in my bed at home in Edmonton. It seems that my conscious + unconscious mind are both on the same page; did I ever have that before? I wonder if Gr + Gr are influencing my dreams – the constant reminder of my priorities. I wonder if I’ll have similar dreams once I am on the ground . . . (later) If the sunset never ended, would we relish blue skies? Pink + blue + orange + purple :) . . . I listened to the opening segment of Oprah before going down last night + learned that I am a freegan – Me walking around town (before of course Ω) with tea bags + asking for free hot water, me riding my bike so as to not have to pay for the bus (+ the thought of having a car is non-existent), me loving the idea of dumpster-diving (not let it go to waste!), me working at Culina for free food + living at home or here for free rent, etc. are apparently all pointing to the lifestyle choice known as “freeganism”. . . .

I am almost looking forward to the sounds of hunters (presumably) shooting + loggers (again presumably) joy-riding this weekend, as an alternative to the trucks + helicopter + chainsaws @ the top of the hill to the east/south – close enough to see the workers, from here, @ least. It’s ironic how people who “kill” trees for a living kill animals on their days off. How that makes me think of a quote worthy of being written down: “a number of the bigger crocodilians are perversely unable to see the special nature of the human animal, and absent-mindely eat him from time to time”. Archie Carr, 1940 . . .

Yummy. I just made myself some ginger-squash-pudding: butternut squash +multi-grain cereal mix + an instant ginger tea package + the last of my trail mix (walnut + raisin) + powdered milk. Oh, + a bit of cinnamon (so glad I brought those sticks!), salt + pepper + a possibility for future cayenne. Oh, + how could I forget the dried apples :) . . .

One more thing about Grandma’s personalilty: as tough as she may be, she is also as gentle as a feather; one of her branches ends over the “back door” (access to Grandpa), and the needles brush my head from time to time ever so softly, -- like Grandpa’s “kiss” when I climb (rope); That gentle softness is also quite prevalent @ the “tip whip”, although the energy up there reminds me of chakras – the top one (above the head?) – I think it’s related to spirituality/a higher power, @ least up there it is; the redwoods’ gentleness also comes across in a concrete/tactile way in the places along the trunks where the bark is like fur, red/brown/orange + soft :). It was so wonderful to have Alik up here! His company was the best so far – partially b/ there wasn’t the endless “small-talk” associated with getting to know somebody, + b/ his climbing experience meant that I didn’t have to teach (safety, not dropping things, where to/how to clip things in, etc), +, of course, b/ I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! I’m also glad I got to say good-bye 2X b/ the first time left me weepy + homesick (+ 2 days went by so fast), but when I went down for the 2nd bye, I felt only love + gratitude – he’ll be back soon enough + has his own life to attend to (still so proud of him!) + he brought so many goodies – everything I’ve ever wanted, including a life-time supply of wet-wipes (!) + so many things I could fill a page writing down. I’ve now got a phone-charger + a solar panel > this platform is officially “pimped-out”, as I knew it’d eventually be from the start . . .

(March) The concept of spring-cleaning seems to also be intuitive for me up here. There’s a lot to do, but no time-pressure, of course. It was hot enough for me to have an upper-half-of-body-wet-wipe “bath” – my back + shoulders have little pimples that are indicating the need for that + some fresh air + sunshine :).
It’s been~5 months without a shower, + it’s not really bothering me – I don’t feel dirtier than 2 months ago, or after a week in the city without a shower – I doubt I’ll use the “solar”-shower more than 2X/yr (it’s hard for me to sacrifice potential drinking water + I do have have plenty of wet-wipes >). But ya – on the spring cleaning – compared to the last few months when I did little more than cook + read + write + maintain the output of recycling, etc, today I’ve made myself a new chest + foot prussic, brought down _ gallon of water from the top of Grandpa + pumped it, did some rearranging (+ realized there’s a lot more of that I can do), cleaned out the rain-catcher bucket, wet-wiped the upper _ of my body, topped off my “emergency” (extractors!) bag with TP + beef jerky, + the hand warmer, phoned Zppl [?] + texted Jeff, + I’m going down to recycle the pee-jugs I’m not using, check on the creek (hopefully pump), test out my new climbing gear, + dump pee jugs. Holy, is my life busy! Ha-ha > Ω. It’s funny how this level (or less) of productivity makes me an ideal tree-sitter in some people’s eyes – I’m just doing (in my eyes[head]) the bare minimum. . . .

Ah, the eternal questions: who am I? What is the reality of the world around me? How do I fit in to that reality? I have been called “balanced”, + have been told that I have “calming energy” + (an) amazing (out)look on life. Granted, I have noticed myself approaching those qualities, but I’m sure that the people who knew me before probably wouldn’t consider those to be attributes of mine (I know I didn’t). So, am I those things? Was it in me before? Am I learning those things? Or are they only temporary + tree-induced? I certainly didn’t feel any of that yesterday when I finally phoned the radio station; I felt all the terror + panic + insecurity + self-doubt that I felt the few times I attempted oral presentations in school (despite the fact that I was aware of how irrational that response was). I hope to overcome that fear (practise!) because it is such an important tool in helping these trees; my top priority @ this point in my life. Thankfully I have also been described in familiar terms (i. e. dependable + brilliant <>

May the forest be with you always!

Cedar.

Berkeley is falling...Sitters to be removed forcibly

www.treehousebydesign.com/blog/images/berkele...640 x 400 - 124k

It's coming down. A last hope would be for a large amount of people to storm the grove and take it back, what's left of it. So sad...

From:http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/06/18533607.php

UC Berkeley Begins Destruction of Native American Sacred Site

Indigenous Peoples Decry Human Rights Abuses. Tree Sitters Call for Support

September 5th, 2008 Contact: Marcella Sadlowski (562) 472-5276

UC Berkeley Begins Destruction of Native American Sacred Site

Indigenous Peoples Decry Human Rights Abuses.

Tree Sitters Call for Support

BERKELEY, CA- University of California police moved in yesterday morning and cut many limbs and branches of a Redwood tree and cut down twelve Oak trees that have been protected by tree-sitting protesters for the last 21 months. Five people were arrested as they peacefully pleaded with arborists not to destroying the trees of the Memorial Oak Grove deemed a sacred burial site to Ohlone Indians. Twelve trees were cut today and the University says they will continue cutting 46 over the weekend. Four protesters remain in a single Redwood tree in the center of the grove. Arborists trimmed most of the branches from the Redwood tree occupied by the four remaining tree sitters. Cutting the branches made it virtually impossible for the tree sitters to move from tree to tree. A spokesman for the campus said that within three days, the University would no longer honor its agreement to ensure they had adequate nutrition and water. The tree sitters currently only have one liter of water to share between four people as they sit in 90 degree heat...more

Fire Bombings and FBI Raids...history repeated?

From The Daily Californian:

"Campus officials said that "more than a few" threatening e-mails were sent from the Long Haul Infoshop to UC Berkeley faculty and staff, leading the campus to seek a search warrant for various data storage devices at the shop. While threatening e-mails to the campus are generally not that common, most of the recent ones are about "hot-button issues" like the tree-sit and animal research, said campus spokesperson Robert Sanders."

The word on the street is that since the Santa Cruz Tree-sit aims to prevent the contsruction of a biomedical research lab, the Feds may be trying to somehow connect to arson of a home and car belonging to 2 different UCSC animal researchers two weeks ago to Berkeley. It is a fact that the LRDP resistance treesit action in Santa Cruz aims to prevent the contsruction of a biomedical research lab. The LRDP Resistance and UCSC Tree-sit are both non-violent actions. Why would Santa Cruz resort to violence?

Many activists believe that the Long Haul Anarchist Bookstore in Berkeley was targeted by the Feds yesterday because of the "connection" of the bookstore to the Berkeley Tree-Sit , which is completely a seperate action from the UCSC treesit. Sound paranoid? The raid involved four UC Berkeley cops and a bogus search warrant. The Long Haul is not on UC Berkeley property, or in the UCPD's jurisdiction.

Let's look at the facts. Both UC campus actions are peaceful and non-violent actions. Both are effective actions and are opposing destruction of greenspaces and are opposing the greed of corrupted officials and policies. Both campuses have historical connections to nukes, military weapons, blue-blooded elitests, and active protests. And both actions have the support of the community.

I would wager a bet that the arson was perpetrated by the Feds in order to smear the UCSC action and squash the LRDP resistance. I would also bet that UC Berkeley used the fires as an excuse to swipe hard drives from the Long Haul and install fear and paranoia into Berkeley activists, connected to the Oaks campaign or not.

The Feds bombed Darryl Cherney and Judy Bari back in the eighties as they were on their way to court. They claimed that Judi and Darryl had the bomb in their car. We all know that this was untrue and unbecoming of non-violent civil disobedience. Who the hell would bring a bomb to court while trying to save trees? The bomb in Judi and Darryl's car WAS planted, the recent fires in Santa Cruz were most likely covert ops and the Feds are actively pursuing effective actions in order to squash social movements, protests, and most importantly...revolutions!

I hope that by being out in the open about peaceful and non-violent civil disobedience will protect activists from being set up by the Feds. It may also inspire more people to get involved and help involve the community overall. Furthurmore, the communty must also stand up and protect these heros and heroines. Security culture is necessary sometimes, but let's not forget that the more exclusive we become about non-violent actions, the more it appears as if we are guilty of a crime.

Afterall, who is really breaking the law...us or them?

Jeff Muskrat

Treesitting works!

It's official! Or at least as official as you can get as far as a promise from another green washed capitalist corporation. Nanning Creek and Fern Gully have been promised by Mendocino Redwoods Co.(MRC) head forester Mike Jani as "protected". It's hard to believe this news, or to accept this promise from an employee of a GAP owned corporation. I have to admit that I am beyond shocked, almost as if when I return to Humboldt from Berkeley that I will wake up from this dream where dedicated activists actually win the 3 and 6 year long battle against the infamous Pacific Lumber, now Humboldt Redwoods Co.(HRC). I'm even more shocked about how cooperative and helpful they have been. Good intentions and public relations aside, I only hope MRC/HRC keeps their word about not cutting our Old Growth. I will not agree with what MRC/HRC calls sustainable forestry, which is actually mono-cropped trees along with utilizing herbicides and clearcuts to manage crippled forests.

But let's be positive and recognize this accomplishment, we have a noble victory to celebrate! So many wonderful and dedicated people were involved in these actions over these years. Whether it was local businesses who donated the "bread" of the movement, or specialized and daring climber/setters who risked their lives to be the first up in these amazing trees. Many had a special part in protecting these groves. Donations came from so many caring and concerned community members to equip sitters with gear to make them safe and comfortable. There are those who spent hundreds of nights on the trails hiking in gear and supplies instead of sleeping.

Above all(great pun), there are the treesitters. These are the true heroes and heroines of both actions. Imagine the patience and dedication that it takes for these people to stay calmly and peacefully in a Coast Redwood hundreds of feet above the ground. To eat food that is sometimes dumpstered or half-eaten by tree critters like pesky but cute flying squirrels. To drink creek water full of tannins and silt. To suffer from dysentary and persistent staph. To wonder how long it will be until you see someone from ground, or to hope the loggers won't return to hurl insults and shoot their guns in the air.

Not everyone involved in forest defense can be a treesitter. It takes a very special type of person. I could never stay long myself, I got too stir crazy while trying to live portions of my life on a 4' by 8' sheet of plywood suspended high above the ground. I, along with those who actually did the work and understood the sanctity of what we were trying to accomplish always felt that the sitters deserved the best that we could get for them. I felt that they deserved everything that was donated to defending the trees.

Throughout the actions, various affinity groups were formed. I feel I have learned that group identities mean nothing, and individual actions will always speak louder than words or hype. It's easy to lose sight of the overall intent of an action, especially as time wears on, people come and go, and tactics are questioned. I feel our tactics never were compromised. We were always a peaceful and non-violent action. Safety was of utmost importance, especially concentrated on the safety of climbing, dealing with the cops, and social interaction. The woods can be a dangerous place and the sitters were as diverse as the trees that they sat in.

So many beautiful, wonderful and diverse activists came through these majestic forests. It's amazing how you meet people that are your universal brothers and sisters who have the same goals and passions for protecting life and doing what is truly right. I feel it is easier to advocate for humans and animals, because most human beings can feel compassion for both. It is harder for our society to recognize the importance of protecting all lifeforms because most people are too busy to consider their individual impact on the larger scale of reality and existence. There is nothing sacred, unfortunately, for the few who control us and our environment.

We had so much diversity in our movement, particularly for the Pacific Northwest. We had international sitters. We had sitters that would stay one night or a few years. We had visitors who climbed hundreds of feet for an interview or just to give a treesitter a hug. Complete strangers would hike out to bring food, dump piss jugs, bury shitbuckets and have the time of their life dodging cops and security on the way up or down steep hills. People would send up cookies baked with love and kindness, and ganja grown with the greatest of intent. Lifelong friendships were forged. I feel many of us would have returned season after season, year after year and even decade after decade to defend both of the groves.

Treesitting was never a guaranteed solution to prevent the destruction of both groves. If we waited out the time limits that both groves were allowed by CDF(California Dept. of Forestry), there was the still the uncertainty of what would happen in the future. PL ignored offers to sell the groves, even to major conservation groups. However, PL's plunder of the forests was about to time out.

Sadly, most of the 200K+ acres owned by Pacific Lumber have been stripped of most of the Old Growth, along with much of the second growth. In 2007, after more than 22 years that MAXXAM took control of the once local and somewhat sustainable PL and ten years after forest defender "Gypsy" was murdered by a faller, Humboldt forest defenders can say that treesitting DOES work. It seems to me like peaceful, non-violent actions can be safer, sustainable and most effective high in the branches of the trees, protected and free from the chaos and confusion of society below.

In both Berkeley (saveoaks.com) and Santa Cruz (lrdpresistance.org), treesitters have been defending trees and green space and opposing greedy corporations who are this time under the guise of so called "liberal" Universities. Both need your help right now. Action continues in Humboldt. Humboldt Earth First! is hosting an Action Camp from September 5th through the 13th. Please visit their new site to find out more information about both the camp and how to get involved at efhumboldt.org. I will continue to post forest defense and treesit info for any peaceful and non-violent action at humboldtforestdefense.blogspot.com, as well as help where I am needed.

May the forests always be with you, may you be the light you wish to see in this world, and may everyone seize the opportunity to do something courageous, inspiring, and creative to build the world we all dream of and deserve!

Jeff Muskrat
Forest Defender

Earth First! is back in Humboldt!(Earth Firsters! never really left)

California Forestry Board changes rules protecting spotted owls

Fri, August 1, 2008 - 1:02 PM
The California Board of Forestry (BOF) just posted a 45 day notice for rule changes to the California Forest Practice Rules (CFPR) pertaining to the Northern spotted owl. These changes do not look good to me. Basically California Forestry Association (corporate timber's lobbyist group) is trying to get rule changes into the CFPR that would allow even a forester to conduct surveys that only a state designated biologist could conduct before. Than when the poorly qualified spotted owl consultant does not find a nest for 3 three years, the logging company can go ahead and log it, even though it is still potentially good habitat. If that wasn't bad enough, the Forest Practice Rules already do not prevent take of Northern spotted owls on private lands because under Subsection 'G' they allow logging within 500 feet of an active nest, and they don't require habitat retention of even a single acre of nest/roost habitat outside of the core area. Is this an appropriate regulatory appproach? Is this regulatory approach legal? Will it provide good data in terms of best science? Is there a better regulatory approach that would truly provide the best data? You can check out the rule changes at: www.bof.fire.ca.gov/pdfs/4P_...71008.pdfComments are due by 8 September 2008. Feel free to ask me any questions if you want to submit comments. Send me a copy of your comments if you send them in. Submit comments by e-mail to: board.public.comments@fire.ca.gov or send written comments to: Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Attn: Christopher Zimny Regulations Coordinator P.O. Box 944246 Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 for the wild- chathaunt
Fri, August 1, 2008 - 1:02 PM - permalink - 1 Comment

West Coast Convergence Climate Action

My Stand for the Oaks

Running Circles around the Cops:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wBL9RlnjBM

Coming Down From the Redwood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_KMaQch_hQ&feature=related

Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag. But all for a good cause. I said farewell to the Berkeley Tree sitters, and descended to the police waiting below. I felt that I had given the energies that I had to help the heroic sitters, who are being starved out by a long-term police blockade of a healthy resupply. Despite the fact that the UC has "graciously" allowed the sitters ER Bars and water, I was not considered by the UC to be deserving of the flour and corn syrupy "treat".

When I decided to jump up the tree last Sunday on my own, it was because I was outraged at the treatment of the resupply crew on Sundays. As I caught grannies being pushed and pummeled by violent and heartless cops(can anyone SCREAM excessive force?), I felt a sense of urgency and necessity as I stared at the smashed fruit cups and vegetables on the ground, food for good intentions from peace loving and gracious souls, I couldn't believe that the cops could violate such a noble and compassionate ritual. I couldn't comprehend why cops were waving knives and razorblades in the air, trying to cut the resupply line, threatening to slash on mothers and grandmothers as they trampled everything and everyone to the ground.

I grabbed a small bag and headed for the southeast corner of the grove. I had to act immediately. I had to rouse the spirits of those who have faced such oppression and violence from UCPD over the past year and a half. I had to bring hope to a somewhat hopeless situation. There would be no compromise and action would be taken NO MATTER WHAT!

The rest of the story is unimportant. My point is that we can use our fear and turn that feeling into personal power. As actions become harder and harder to complete due to violence from cops, COINTELPRO tactics and the paranoia associated, or group consensus breakdown and ego-tripping from hierarchies, THIS SHOULD NOT DISCOURAGE YOU. THIS SHOULD ONLY COMPEL YOU TO TAKE ACTION AND MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN.

How many times have you regretted in your life that had you only have said something? Done something? What stopped you? Was it fear of what others may think? Fear of stepping up alone? Is it not our objective to go against the larger group, in most cases the system? Is your idea or plan not to terms with the consensus? Can you make a difference with the right intentions by acting on your own? Then do it. Don't let the fear generated by the system and it's brutality towards humanity stop you or make you hesitate!

I am amazed at the efforts of so many dedicated Oaks Defenders, both on the ground and in the trees. Everyone's heart is in the action. And the Oaks have so many important reasons to stand. You can feel the energy from the activists and the Trees. It is empowering to stand with brothers and sisters who are so magic and powerful, who are such individuals and beautiful characters. Just like each tree is different, with it's own look, personality, energy and reason for existing. I'm honored to have been arrested for defending these amazing spirits with my brothers and sisters. I have no regrets.

Please come help us. We need you now...

Are you a "Ninja"? Can YOU sneak into the Berkeley Oak Grove?

UCPD officers continue the round the clock blockade of gear, supplies and sitters. UC Berkeley has supplied the sitters rations of "food" and water, however, the "May-Day" so-called food bars are junk, full of hydrogenated oils and corn syrup.

Besides the fact the the food conditions are deplorable, the sitters need company, gear, and nothing short of a miracle. Attempts at resupplying the Oaks Grove have had compromises in security. Oaks Defenders are being followed throughout Berkeley by undercover agents, as well as UCPD patrols. Meetings are being crashed by infiltrators. Actions have failed due to the fact that the UCPD has been one step ahead, increasing patrol at planned locations and times.

A "spy" Thursday night was surrounded by Oaks Defenders who caught him listening in behind a wall near the meeting spot. He was a tall, white gentleman with a non-discript British or possibly Australian accent in his forties. He claimed to have an interest in helping the Oaks, then attempted to morally defeat the Oaks cause, and then finally proceeded to verbally attack individual activists with sensitive personal information about their identities.

Due to the large size of affinity action groups, security compromises are almost certain. However, it is important not to alienate activists or create an atmosphere of paranoia. The Oaks Treesit needs your help right now. Group actions will continue to take place. However, the Oaks are in need of professional ïndividual inspired assistance.

This is a call for "Ninja's" with climbing experience to break the lines and sneak into the grove. There is a need for sitters and setters to occupy and set the oaks below the Coast Redwood Stronghold. Most importantly, a network of traverse lines need to be set to allow sitters and supplies to reach the defenders who are held hostage by the network of cops and fences surrounding the grove. This is vital for the defense of this action.

Police presence(8-12 officers) is around the clock near the front of the grove on Piedmont, west of the stadium. Private security watches the perimeter of the stadium, concentrating on the North and South of the stadium. The East is practically open, aside from an 8' chain link fence without barbed wire. The issue with the East is that private security can view anyone who walks around the stadium.

Inside the Oak grove, two 10' chain link top barbed wire barriers surround the action. However, these fences can/have allowed easier access from the ground up into the Oaks. The double fences are to keep defenders and supplies out. But they can also help by keeping the police in/out. The distance between the double fences is 10-15' with climbable Oaks near the west in between the fences. Piedmont has the highest police presence.

It is recommended for anyone who partakes in this action to take the time to observe the movements by security and police. The area is very large, and it takes a lot of personnel to secure. UCPD in dark blue uniforms are often congregating under the Oaks and near the stadium front(west). Private security in yellow jackets are stuck at their posts away from the action.

This "mission" is yours if you choose to take it. No group affinity or consensus is necessary, just a love for peace, trees and their defenders.

And of course, this message will self destruct in 5 seconds.

The Situation is Dire in Berkeley

Beginning on Tuesday June 17th and continuing in full force for three days (all day), the University of California has been violently extracting tree sitters. Everything we thought we knew about the Oak Grove being protected by the high visibility which comes from being an urban tree sit is totally out the window. The University has completely lost their mind and its a miracle that no one is dead.

The extractors have been attempting to remove people from the trees by cutting and untying traverse lines that tree sitters are attached to (even when these are their only lines). They are cutting support ropes to platforms that tree sitters are standing on and ramming wrecking balls into the trees. They are cutting webbing bridges out from under people's feet even when the tree sitters are not attached to any ropes overhead, leaving people dangling for their lives. They are crashing into tree sitters and traverse lines with heavy machinery. They are intentionally slicing into tree sitters' flesh with pole saws and people are bleeding. They are trying to physically fight people who are free climbing around at the very tops of trees. They are menacing tree sitters with chainsaws and knives. They are threatening female tree sitters with sexual violence. They are cutting down platforms with no regard for tree sitters who are standing on branches directly below. They are messing with our lines with people on them, creating super steep slopes that threaten to slam tree sitters into the ground. And more. Much more, communication is difficult and info is still coming in.

So far the university has only been able to successfully extract two tree sitters, also convincing a third to come down of his own accord after being cut off from other tree sitters and supplies. There are still about 10 tree sitters holding strong in the trees, holed up together in a Redwood on the north side of the grove.

At this point the University seems to have shifted from overwhelming force to starvation tactics. We remain vigilant in the face of another wave of possible extraction attempts, and are determined to re-supply the trees.

We know who the extractors are. They are Williams Tree Service out of Watsonville, CA.

We are reaching out to the entire forest defense community. If you can help us in any way, now is the time to do it.

We need people in the trees, people on ground support, people helping our legal team, people doing copwatch, people going through video footage, people making media, people doing community outreach, people doing jail support, people doing fundraising, and more. We also need advice, gear, and money (of course).

Any questions, please feel free to call Ayr or Citizen on the Ground phone. (510) 938- 2109

Love Over Fear,
millipede, extracted tree sitter
June 24, 2008

-Call to Action in Berkeley!-

reposted from email-

ALERT: Memorial Oak Grove Tree-Sitters UNDER SEIGE- Please Support Them!

To all of you in the Bay Area, and to any folks you can pass this message to:

The tree-sitters and supporters of the 18 month urban treesit have been
and right now are being attacked. The University has hired arborists from
Williams Tree Service in Watsonville to extract tree-sitters. The
extractors are dangerous in their methods (leaving cut ropes hanging under
sitters), cutting down all survival and climbing supplies, leaving sitters
with nothing (including life lines). The cops have been obstructing the
view of what is going on from people on the ground, and they have been
aggressively going after people doing Ground Support. A few people have
been arrested, about 10 sitters are still up in the trees. Since the cops
and the University put up fences around the grove a few months ago and
have been criminalizing people for supplying the sitters, Grandmothers for
the Oaks have been passing the sitters survival gear and food- and now the
Grandmas are being arrested and hurt by the police!

PLEASE go to Piedmont and Bancroft and be PRESENT. Help with supplies and
supplying. Help with funds. Strategize. Call/Fax the mayor, the city
counsel, the governor, and express your outrage. Help with a cell phone
and other communication devices; the tree-sitters' phone was taken. Bring
and use a video camera. Help edit video of the attacks. GO TO THE
TREE-SIT

The number there is 510-938-2109. But don't wait if you don't get to talk
with talk someone. Just go.

If you want more info on the Grove, go to this website:
http://www.saveoaks.com/SaveOaks/Main.htm



Supporters are needed there NOW. The grove is located in the 2000
block of Piedmont Ave in Berkeley, one block north of Bancroft Way.

THANK YOU

UC BERKELEY POLICE RISKING OAK'S DEFENDERS LIVES!

Yes, the role of law enforcement is to protect and serve. But in this case, it seems that UCPD Police Chief Victoria Harrison's directives are to "protect" the UC's interests and "serve" a life threatening response to the peaceful and non-violent protectors of the Berkeley Oak Grove. On June 17th at 6:30 am, UC Berkley began the process of attempting to remove the Treesitters with dozens of UC Campus cops and hired henchmen extractors.

Apparently, the UC and Chief Victoria Harrison believe that they are above the law. Despite a court injunction against removing the Oaks and their defenders, climbers have been cutting branches and safety lines of the Oaks defenders, endangering the lives of activists. The UC's attempts at starving out the Treesitters by blocking resupply attempts for food and water have failed due to the actions of a large support base of the Berkeley community on the ground. As the climbers and campus police threaten the lives of the Treesitters, supporters on the ground continue to denounce the dangerous and reckless actions of the Treesitter's assailants, by voice and bullhorns.

"Dumpster Muffin", one the oaks defenders, is perched high in a platform extended high above the tip-wip of a Coast Redwood situated in the grove. As she gyrates her hips and dances for the crowds below, her platform sways precariously back and forth. One has to wonder why the UC would risk endangering the lives of these noble and fearless defenders in order to remove them against a court injunction, and well before the recent Oaks Grove ruling has been interpreted by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara Miller. "Ayr", a supporter from the ground, hollers through a bullhorn at the campus police, pleading with them not to risk the lives of the Oaks Defenders, his voice hoarse from back to back days and nights without rest. Luckily for the Treesitters, a multitude of supporters have gathered to observe the reckless actions of the UC police.

Unfortunately, the UC has turned a blind eye to the court system, as well as the law and basic human decency. All are invited to visit the grove and support the defenders of these precious Oaks. You can read more about the struggle at the Save the Oaks website, as well as to find directions to the easily accessable grove.

What? You can't make it? But you still want to help! You can join them by calling UCPD Police Chief Victoria Harrison at (510) 642-1133 or email this cold and heartless extension of UC corruption at vlh@berkeley.edu. The UC seems to think they are above the law. Help the Oaks Defenders by voicing to the UC that they are accountable for their actions.

UC Police Chief Victoria Harrison

Not as nice as she appears :(

Tell her she's accountable for her reckless actions!

Berkeley Tree-Sitters Still Aloft After Major Raid

June 18, 2008


Oak Grove Supporters Prevail in Court, Stopping UCB’s Construction Plans

Two-Day Standoff Between Tree-Sitters and Massive Police Presence

Leaves Most Tree-Sitter Still Aloft


Berkeley, CA-After two tense days of a highly dramatic standoff
between University of California (UCB) police and supporters of the
oak grove occupied by tree-sitters for 18 months that UCB wants to
cut down to make way for a sports facility, the plaintiffs for the
oaks prevailed in a complicated and long-litigated court case.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara Miller issued her ruling
shortly after 6 pm Wednesday, June 18, nine months after the trial
and a year and a half after the lawsuits were filed. The large crowd
of oaks supporters, holding vigil continuously since dawn Tuesday,
awaiting the court’s decision, received the news jubilantly. About
ten tree-sitters remain in their perches despite UCB police’s
attempts to extract them with heavy equipment and contract climbers.

At issue in the lawsuit—three separate lawsuits ultimately joined—is
whether the proposed project, a sports training facility, is an
adjunct structure to the existing football stadium, which remains far
out of compliance with earthquake safety standards while straddling
the Hayward fault, and whether the planning documents written for the
proposed construction complies with the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). The lawsuits challenging the University’s planned
construction were filed in December, 2006. A preliminary injunction
granted by Judge Miller in February, 2007, constraining UCB from
making any physical alterations on the project site (the oak grove)
including cutting of trees, remains in place. Petitioners include
the City of Berkeley, Panoramic Hills Association, the California
Oaks Foundation, Save the Oaks, and a number of individuals. This
ruling sends the University back to the drawing board on their
project, or into appeals, but unable to proceed forward immediately,
which is clearly what they intended to do.

The Alquist-Priolo Act of 1972 forbids alterations on an existing
project if the value of those alterations exceeds 50% of the existing
project (the UCB stadium) The sports training facility was found to
constitute an alteration of the existing stadium project . The
stadium, in the words of plaintiff’s attorney Stephen Volker “is
decrepit.” UCB claimed Alquist-Priolo did not apply to them, and the
court rejected that.

Volker declared, “This is a great day for the environment. The
University’s petty provocations are no match for the force of law.
But for the tree-sitters and the judge’s courageous [injunction]
ruling months ago, these oaks would not be standing.”

While the outcome was a mixed bag in that both sides won or lost on
various causes of action, a plaintiff prevailing on any decisive
issue is named as the prevailing party. But the “acid test”,
explains Volker, is the appointment of attorneys to craft a writ of
mandate, and that job was placed in the petitioner’s hands, which
they must submit by June 24. Moreover, it is “a day of reckoning”
for the University, says Volker, because the ruling means UCB is not
above the law.

As tree-sit supporters and oaks supporters waited for the judge’s
decision, UCB police brought in cherry-picker trucks, a crew of
contract arborist tree-climbers, and a giant construction crane
estimated to be 140 feet tall, suspending a 4-person basket from a
long cable. Armed with this machinery, as dozens of UC police lined
the grove standing guard at the double chain-link fence topped with
barbed wire put in place to prevent food and water deliveries to the
tree-sitters, the contract climbers attempted numerous times
throughout Tuesday and Wednesday to approach tree-sitters high in
the branches. On Tuesday, nearly all the food, water, platforms and
gear were cut by UCB contractors and dropped to the ground. Oak
supporters implored the arborists through bullhorns to not engage in
the reckless and patently life-threatening removal of the tree-
sitters. They succeeded in only bringing one female tree-sitter down
to waiting handcuffs on Tuesday. Several others in the crowd were
arrested on Wednesday.

Crews also revved up chainsaws at least five times on Wednesday,
sending large branches crashing to the ground, “absolutely in
violation of the court’s injunction,” say attorneys. The tree-
sitters remain in the trees as all sides analyze the court’s ruling.

-------------------------------------------------

Karen Pickett
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters

2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, California 94702
510-548-3113
bach@HeadwatersPreserve.org

Breaking News:Climbers in Oak Trees NOW To Remove Tree-Sitters

Court Decision in UCB Oak Grove Expected Tomorrow June 18

At least five hired contract climbers are up in the branches of the oak trees in the threatened oak grove on UCB campus to take down tree-sitters the day before the decisive court ruling is expected. Police are cordoning off the area with barricades as oaks supporters are converging on the site. The climbers and a large contingent of police arrived about 6:30 a.m. The situation is unfolding rapidly.

Supporters are needed there NOW. The grove is located in the 2000 block of Piedmont Ave in Berkeley, one block north of Bancroft Way.
::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::
Karen Pickett
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, California 94702



Raid on Tree-Sit as Oak Grove Supporters Await Court Decision
by bach r Tuesday Jun 17th, 2008 1:50 PM
UC Berkeley Police Raid Tree-Sits, Escalating Drama Before Court Decision in Oak Grove Case Judge Will Rule on Wed., June 18 Community Supporters of the Oaks On Hand At the Grove
-->
Berkeley, CA- This morning about 6:30 am, dozens of University of California (UCB) police and at least five hired contract climbers arrived at the Oak Grove, site of a year and a half long tree-sit protest. The hired arborists climbed up in the branches of the oak trees in the threatened oak grove on UCB campus and cut down platforms, climbing gear, ropes, food bags, water and other supplies that all came down to the ground, but the sitters remain. One tree-sitter had his climbing rope cut under him and was left hanging by his arms. He managed to regain a position back on a traverse line between branches. This rapidly unfolding situation is taking place the day before the decisive court ruling is expected. Police are cordoning off the area with barricades as oaks supporters have converged on the site. Police have now closed Piedmont Avenue in the northbound direction and a large crowd is on the scene.
Supporters are not only protecting the trees, but keeping a highly risky situation under check, since the hired arborists are experienced at pruning trees, but not the kind of risky activity that would be involved in extracting the tree-sitters from their perches.
There will be a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night (June 17) at the oak grove starting at 8 pm. Oak Grove supporters are expected to gather early Wednesday morning to await word of the decision. The Oak Grove is located in the 2000 block of Piedmont Ave in Berkeley, one block north of Bancroft Way.
A campaign to save a grove of mature coast live oak trees from University of California's (UCB) axe that blossomed Dec. 2, 2006, when a couple intrepid activists climbed high into the branches and set up tree-sits that have lasted over a year and a half. It all comes to a head when Judge Barbara Miller announces her decision in the long standing court case tomorrow on Wednesday, June 18, but things have started earlier than grove supporters expected.
Superior Court Judge Miller's decision comes 9 months after a long trial of cases filed separately by the City of Berkeley, the Panoramic Hills Association, the California Oaks Foundation, Save the Oaks organization, and other individuals, but joined together by the judge. At issue in the case is whether the University can legally proceed with their massive development plans linked to the Memorial Stadium, long recognized as needing earthquake retrofit. This year and a half has seen lawsuits filed against protesters by the University, police actions, national media attention, recognition of the site as a Native burial ground, with community support for protection of the grove and the tree-sitters growing progressively stronger despite UCB's massive PR campaign.
After the tree-sits were launched on Dec. 2, 2006, the campaign became iconic of protection of sacred sites and Native burial grounds in addition to the ecological issues, including the biological link the grove represents in the urban-wildlands interface. The site is also adjacent to the active Hayward fault. Moreover, it is illegal under City of Berkeley ordinance to cut mature coast live oak trees.###

Pacific Lumber Logging Plans Threaten Grizzly Creek State Park

by Kerul Dyer ( kerul [at] wildcalifornia.org ) Monday Jun 2nd, 2008 11:32 AM
In the long list of destructive logging plans Pacific Lumber is trying to sneak past state review while shielded by bankruptcy proceedings, the Root 09 Timber Harvest Plan deserves special attention. Two hundred twenty-four acres of redwood forests are slated to be cut in the Root Creek watershed, above Grizzly Creek State Park, on Hwy 36 along the Van Duzen River.

In the long list of destructive logging plans Pacific Lumber is trying to sneak past state review while shielded by bankruptcy proceedings, the Root 09 Timber Harvest Plan deserves special attention. Two hundred twenty-four acres of redwood forests are slated to be cut in the Root Creek watershed, above Grizzly Creek State Park, on Hwy 36 along the Van Duzen River. If logged, the timber giant will destroy Marbled Murrelet habitat and threaten the stability of sensitive slopes above the sediment-impaired Van Duzen River. Two of Root 09’s six units, numbered two and three, lie within a "translational/rotational landslide" upslope from the Van Duzen river, and directly above a residential property. As well, unit one is within an active debris slide, further marking this plan as severe and careless forest management. "Its a total affront to our park system," said Noel Soucy, THP monitor for the Environmental Protection Information Center. "We have set these beautiful areas aside for a forest sanctuary, but now when you go to the park, you will be bombarded by the sounds of screaming chainsaws and giant helicopters.” Since PL filed for bankruptcy some 18 months ago, the company is essentially insulated from litigation because any legal challenge would have to happen in Texas bankruptcy court. During that period, PL has proposed more logging plans than Soucy can count on both hands. "There simply isn't enough time to review all of these THP’s,” Soucy said, "to catch the inconsistencies, we would need several people working full time sifting through proposed plans." After years of successful lawsuits, popular movements and sustained, on-the-ground forest defense opposing clearcuts in the redwoods, Pacific Lumber is still liquidating forests, leaving little for future generations. Species like the pacific fisher, spotted owl, marbled murrelet, salmon and steelhead already struggle to survive in this fragmented landscape. They will suffer from the logging practices proposed in Root 09 and related plans. Soucy spent 14 years conducting extensive wildlife fieldwork in Northern California, including ten field seasons specifically studying northern spotted owls for various governmental agencies. "There are a lot of spotted owls in this area, ten or 11 activity centers within just over a mile of this plan,” Soucy concluded. EPIC is not the only voice critical of the Root 09 logging plan. Four government agencies, including the California Geological Survey, submitted reviews of the proposed logging. The geologic review points out two areas of concern along a roadway parallel with the Grizzly Creek State Park boundary. The narrative description estimates that a fill area within a watercourse channel (stream) between the road and down slope property line is about 40 feet thick. While the park recognizes the problem, no plans exist to repair this problem, because the activity itself could compound issues, affecting the stands within Grizzly Creek State Park. According to the text of the CGS review, public safety is also at risk. "It was also discussed during this focused inspection the potential for threats to public safety by leaving this deep void open.” The holes left could be 40 feet deep. The CGS review further indicates, “it is clear that the adjacent property, within about 75 feet of this site, will eventually be part of the California State Park system and that hikers could inadvertently wander off site and fall into the deep void." "If the logging leads to slope or fill failure, as has happened over and over again after ill-advised PL logging, this sediment would end up in the Van Duzen river,” concluded a saddened Soucy. Thirty year Mateel forest and fishery advocate Richard Gienger explained that without taking action to restore these areas, the situation will only get worse. “California State Parks and Recreation and PL should have a comprehensive survey of conditions, and a restoration plan with an implementation schedule,” said Gienger. PL’s Root 09 would log 224 acres, including more than 60 acres of clearcuts. More than two thousand acres will be logged in the region, If all of the Pacific Lumber/Scotia Pacific THP’s receive approval from CalFire. All of these plans were proposed during the bankruptcy process, and are insulated from legal action. During EPIC's 30-year history, volunteers and staff have labored over documents in attempts to use every available legal tool to defend ecological principals and economic stability for this region. To get involved, visit wildcalifornia.org, write kerul [at] wildcalifornia.org, or call 707.822.7711.

Mendocino Redwood Company to Assimilate Pacific Lumber

Reposted from Stop Maxxam!.

The ruling is in, Pacific Lumber will be taken over by Mendocino Redwood company (knock on wood). Texas bankruptcy Judge Richard Schmidt chose the MRC plan over the Noteholders proposal to auction off the company, essentially stating that the auction plan did not fulfill the requirements of a successful reorganization plan. Not much time to get into more detail today. Check out the Humboldt Herald blog for more. (also see the times standard report) I'm planning to write up some analysis of how this could effect forest defense activities.

Grizzly Creek State Park to Stay Open! May Stay Open

Correction: Shwartzenegger's amended budget proposal to raise park admission fees by $1-2 instead of closing parks has not been approved.Read more here.

Camp Out Ended Today With Success

The camp out kicked ass! There were several skillshares involving numerous folks, backwoods hiking, strategizing and talk about the future of forest defense here. We packed up camp today. Many relocated to an unspecified backwoods location to join and support ongoing forest defense activities. As they say, the rest is "need to know".

If you would like to get involved please call or email.

Death and Taxes

PL may be the county's largest taxpayer. And Martha Romero, an attourney for the secured creditors, feels that MRC should pay up the $1,287,120.00(and growing) secured real property taxes and personal property taxes in a more timely fashion than MRC's five year plan.
Is it good to see the secured creditor's concern over county taxes...?(PDF here)

See you all at Action Camp!

Forest Defense Camp Out May 2nd-9th

The Humboldt Forest Defenders Camp-out will begin Friday at Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. The park is located 17 miles east of Fortuna on Highway 36, between Carlotta and Bridgeville. Hwy. 36 is 20 miles south of Eureka.Happenings: Forest Defense Skillshares - Discussions - Hikes (mellow + challenging) - Music - Story Telling - DIY Media - Swimming - Campfires - Games - Group CookoutsWe will be examining recent events in the Pacific Lumber bankruptcy and what the future may hold for the ancient forests of this region.Free Event, please bring whatever food, funds or other supplies that you can.Please bring your own camping gear, dishes/utensils. contact info: (707) 502-0673 mattoledefense@lycos.com

Announcement For Camp Out, May 2nd to 9th

Preliminary announcement of the next Forest Defense Skillshare. We'll be rendezvousing in the Ancient Redwoods here in Humboldt. More details will be out shortly. Stay tuned. Inviting old-timers and newcomers alike!

Check out these reflections on last years spring Skillshare at the Mattole River Beach.

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Pictures

And some stuff on our more recent Action Camp at Grizzly Creek.

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Who says Treesitting doesn't work?

Apparently, Pacific Lumber missed the boat to refile the "Bonanza" THP in Nanning Creek, home of "Spooner" and the Nanning Creek Treesit village. Pacific Lumber was required to file an extension on THP#1-05-097 by mid-March 2008 in order to continue their attempts to log the Ancient Grove(the first of two CDF allowed extensions). To our surprise, PL failed to file the extension, saving Nanning Creek for at least the next 5-8 years.

The Nanning Creek Treesit began November 2005. "Spooner", one of the largest coast redwoods ever defended, was discovered by an activist named "Jungle". "Jungle" is still missing, and friends and family would appreciate any information in regards to his whereabouts. Many of us are worried there may be foul play involved with his disappearance.

"Spooner" was named by "Amy", the first to climb the 297 foot tall giant. After climbing hundreds of feet to reach "Sprout"(one of "Spooner's" branches or reiterations), "Amy" "Spooned" with "Spooner" on the very first night, without the safety or comfort of a platform or "dream catcher", hence the name "Spooner". As the action continued, other large old growth trees in Nanning Creek were added to the village, both to protect activists and above all, to keep the trees verticle.

Over the past 3 years, countless activists have put their hearts and souls into helping continue the collective cause. Nanning Creek was raided by PL just last September, weeks before logging operations were allowed due to the Marbled Murrelett's protective nesting season restrictions.

Activists were quick to respond, and despite PL's attempts to block forest defenders from reestablishing the Nanning Creek action, the Earth Warriors prevailed and "Spooner" continues to stand. We could not have accomplished this victory without the help and patience of dedicated sitters, the bravery of experienced setters, and most importantly the generosity and support of the community at our most needed time.

Nanning Creek has seen quite a diverse crew. Many who have sat and set were experienced from prior Humboldt actions, lifelong forest activists, the bravest of the brave. Many sitters were from international locations, such as Canada and Puerto Rico, just to name a few. Over the past three years, thousands of dollars have been donated locally and from across the nation and around the world to perpetuate this action, primarily from direct contact to the spoonerdirect.org site from multiple and repeat donors and philanthropists. This is appreciated far beyond what words can express.

Due to the dissolution of the greater NCEF! movement, Nanning Creek was virtually an independent action, contrary to what is implied on the NCEF! Media site. My opinion is that this allowed for greater diversity and less inhibition towards individuality, less hierarchy, and more freedom to create as opposed to destroy. This also allowed for important alliances to form, such as between Fern Gully Treesit and Mattole Wildlands Defense, forming Humboldt Forest Defense. One common theme that all activists shared was their beliefs regarding non-violence. Without this shared goal of peace, PL may have been forced to remove us in order to protect equipment, roads, etc.

Nanning Creek sitters cared a lot about one particular tree, "Spooner", the largest of the grove. As well as the freedoms that sitters enjoyed from not having the complexities of answering to an office bound pencil pusher in town, "Spooner" was the magical force that brought real and active activists together, to recognize the common goal of saving the Ancient grove. "Spooner" kept us honest, and held us together as a group just as "Spooner" held us safely hundreds of feet above the ground.

A lot of Nanning's defenders experienced dreams of "Spooner" asking for help, even before hearing about the action. Those who stayed long enough developed a remarkable and almost obsessive relationship with the tree, one that can never be explained by science or words. Forest defenders in Nanning have a deep place in their hearts for "Spooner". No one ever left the tree unless the tree was safe. I believe that this connection to a 2000+ year old ancient being that so many shared saved "Spooner", and the rest of the grove. I, along with many others, feel that "Spooner" asked us all to help keep up the fight, and to treat this risk that we took seriously.

And we all did. We all answered the call for help together in solidarity. We all stood together against great odds. Not many treesits have worked like this in the past. Sadly, some actions fell to internal conflicts and lack of community interest. Some were even abandoned by their supposed defenders, which is truly no one's fault. Usually the first people to complain about an action are those who are doing the least work, or have the least involvement in the day to day aspects of sustaining a safe and sustainable action.

There were and are multiple affinity groups who kept the action going, and this could not have been accomplished without the continuous cycle of new (learning) visitors and returning (teaching) defenders. Nanning Creek has taught an incredible amount of activists how to build and sustain a treesit, a starting point for forest activism across the continent and hopefully around the world. Caring is sharing, and it is everyone's hope that this experience will sprout new actions needed desperately right now, around the entire planet.

Our deepest thanks and eternal gratitude for those who sat through freezing storms, braved dangerous winds, and sat non-violently through flying squirrel attacks. To the donors and local contributers who saw past Shunka's NCEF! Media scam, and made sure that the much needed funding made it to where it was really needed, to the treesitters in the woods. Also, to those who supported the action by hiking food in and garbage out, rain or shine, this could not have happened without you. There is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears on that trail leading to Nanning Creek, home of "Spooner".

Most thanks of all to those who passed their wisdom of non-violence and the necessity of keeping it safe, and those who took their gifts seriously. We are grateful that we all made it here to this day, alive, well and accident free.

SPOONER STANDS! SPOONER WILL CONTINUE TO STAND!

BLESSINGS TO ALL WARRIORS OF THE EARTH! THIS IS PROOF THAT REAL ACTIONS WORK. YOU TRULY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD. NO MATTER HOW FAR GONE YOU MAY THINK THE PLANET AND SOCIETY HAS STRAYED PAST THE TIPPING POINT, THE LIGHT WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL. YOU ONLY NEED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR PLACE IN THIS WORLD, THAT YOU ARE NEEDED, AND THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE. DON'T LET THE DARK DISCOURAGE YOU. NEVER, EVER GIVE UP YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS, MAGIC AND/OR SPIRIT WILL HELP YOU BECAUSE THE EARTH NEEDS YOU, THE PLANET NEEDS YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW MORE THAN EVER.

LOVE AND PEACE ALWAYS,

FROM THE TREES.

JEFF MUSKRAT

spooner@spoonerdirect.org

PS. Spooner has introduced the most amazing and beautiful people into my life and has brought me so many life changing revelations and lessons. For that alone, I am eternally inspired and grateful to help protect a 297 foot tall Sequoia Sempervirens with an eviction notice named Spooner. I would do it all again, even if it only bought a few years of time for an Ancient one.

We must respect our elders.

You really can learn a lot from a tree.

Another take on Mendocino Redwood.

Regardless of the claims or actions of any of the parties in the bankruptcy, well be staying on task with forest defense actions and waiting to see what happens. While some believe that Mendocino Redwood Company is better than Maxxam/Pacific Lumber, they have a way to go before meeting all Humboldt Forest Defense standards due to the use of herbicides and clearcutting. Actions speak louder than words, we'll have to see what MRC does if they end up in control of the company. I seriously hope they are telling the whole truth when they say they don't log old-growth.

More Reorganization Concerns(MRCs)

I attended the Wharfinger meeting for MRC yesterday(Tuesday) along with at least a dozen or so concerned "eviromentalists"
(that's what we were refferred to as by Wills and other unsecured creditors). After sitting through their presentation, I asked them what their policy was on old growth. Sandy Dean did most of the talking, along with Steve Wills, MRC forester Mike, and the Marathon suit and tie guy. Sandy repeated verbatim what is stated on the MRC site, that they have a OG policy down to every tree. I asked him later if that means that they down every tree, and that the policy was vague. I stated that Option A (MRC's stated plan for the FSC certification)allows the removal of Old Growth trees in un-entered stands, Old Growth groves less than 20 acres in size, groves containing less than 6 OG trees p/acre or 30 per 20 acres, or trees that are not displaying OG characteristics. Sandy restated that their policy is what it says on the MRC site. I asked him again, more directly, "Will MRC log OG trees in Humboldt county?" He was "stumped" and moved on to the next question.

After listening to Steve Wills attack us(well, mostly Verbena) about the MRC being the best option for Humboldt, and seeing EPIC and Freshwater Creek Alliance(or whatever they call themselves now) smiling and nodding at the presentation, I couldn't handle it anymore. I walked outside and persuaded the photographer(hopefully) for a local media agency to come out to Fern Gully to shoot the longest running tree-sit in history(6 years in October). He was unaware of any tree-sits currently, but very interested and surprised that it hasn’t been covered by the local media. I hope the local mainstream media picks it up. I also hope that the OG questions and interrogations that took place between Sandy and I will hopefully be mentioned in the local media.

I returned to the safety of the Wharfinger's indoors(to escape the heavy metals being blown across Humboldt Bay from the Samoa pulp mill) to find everyone pretty much smiling and nodding at the presentation. CDF spokeswoman for the North Coast Ima Sellout stated that the best thing to happen to Mendo was the MRC, and that they have done a great job in restoring their lands. The meeting ended and the environmentalists gathered around the suits for a more direct Q and A session.

Sandy clarified what he could not clarify in the public Q and A session in regards to MRC's Old Growth policy. Sandy stated that they do not cut OG trees, and that to his knowledge, only two OG trees have been removed from Mendo's forests(hmm, I wonder why he couldn't say this earlier in front of the audience). Sandy also stated that MRC's Old Growth policy supersedes Option A and that any trees that display OG characteristics(48" diameter or greater, pockets of ferns and canopy ecosystems, etc, etc) are considered OG and that the only reasons that they could be removed from their lands is (1) Safety (2) Road Construction (3) Accidentally. Sandy went on to say that the two OG trees that were accidentally cut, to his knowledge, are still in the woods and their policy is to leave OG trees that were accidentally fallen where they lie, in the woods.

Then it gets weird, probably a first for Forest Defenders everywhere, or at least in here in Humboldt. We were invited to come see their progress, personally by Sandy, and that Mike the forester would give us a tour. But not just any tour. Sandy said to pick any place we want to go on their lands and that Mike would take us. I'm going to be looking for big stumps, especially ones that are over 48" and fresh cut.

"FOREST DEFENDERS TO VISIT MENDOCINO REDWOODS COMPANY'S WORKING FORESTS". What a great story for PR.

I remain skeptical. Yet, I cannot help to have hope for MRC to be the least of the evils to take over PL. They claim to be the best option, and I believe them. Sandy does a great job at coming accross as being sincere or honest(I was in sales for a while too). That does not mean that we will be finished in this timber war. We don't plan on closing down any actions. And we won't stop until all of our demands are met: No Old Growth Logging, No Clear cutting, No Steep Slope Logging and No Herbicide use. So far, MRC has promised not to cut Old Growth. Let's see if they keep their promise. Then we can work on the rest of our demands. Maybe even go after SPI. The back side of Mt. Shasta is about to be annihilated. PL may be on the outs, but we should never pander or especially compromise to corporate interests, no matter how greenwashed they are.




I feel bad for giving Sandy such a hard time and pressing him for an answer on Old Growth. But it is an issue that needs to be addressed and I feel that a public statement such as "MRC will not cut Old Growth" would have put a lot of hearts, minds, and souls at ease. This is an emotional issue, considering the history here and our love for trees.





Sandy is a nice guy, suit and tie, let's see if it is all a big lie.

The least of two or three evils is still what it is.


Evil.

Jeff Muskrat
Humboldt Forest Defense

Cedar's Nanning Creek Chronicles

Cedar is a remarkable woman who came from afar to protect Old Growth trees in Nanning Creek, located a mile or so east of Pacific Lumber headquarters in Scotia, Ca. These are her words from high atop Grandma, an Old Growth Coastal Redwood. Cedar, along with dozens of other activists, are dedicating their lives to safeguard these sacred ancient beings. We hope you enjoy her thoughts and feelings and invite you to call or text her to voice your support at 707-845-9310 or contact spooner@spoonerdirect.org if you'd like to send her gifts, letters, love and support.



PART I
Everyone!
(copyist’s note: µ = happy face; Ω = yucky/scowly face in the handwritten original)
Hey-hey! How are you? I am feeling wonderful here in Grandma right next to Grandpa) – it is raining right now, but Grandma is gracefully guiding the water away from the platform so proficiently that the wrap-around tarps serve only to protect me from the odd drops from a downpour. It is so beautiful here! I have been here for a few days now (we hiked the hill in the early hours of Saturday, October 13, and I was climbing up by sunrise µ) . . . I have no idea what day it is . . . There is a lot of work to do up here – the last sitter was by no means a home-maker. The tarps were rolled back so that all the blankets were damp; only one of the buckets (shit, food, + compost) was labeled, + most of the pee jugs + one shit bucket were full Ω >> too much weight for this platform that sleeps two! My intentions for my stay here (which, I believe, will be long/full-term, with occasional shower breaks) include making a water-catcher (I do not want to be dependent on ground support for water when it rains almost daily!), and finishing the dreamcatcher closer to Grandma’s canopy for extra sleeping/hanging out space. Grandpa has a small dreamcatcher already. When I visited Spooner (2 traverse lines away) from the ground I asked for guidance. Spooner’s energy felt burdened by the traffic of the sitters, yet remains as strong as ever. It was confirmed that I needed to go up any tree. I do not want to leave; I don’t even have interest in visiting Spooner, although I know it will inevitably happen in the future. Grandma + Grandpa’s (Gr+Gr’s) energy is unbelievably soothing; I feel like my spirit is being wrapped up with comfort + love + peace + calm + protection. The energy never falters in intensity (unless it is a single branch); it is saturating my soul µ. Even with the maggots in the shit buckets + the scare of dysentery, etc. from minimal sanitation (hand-sanitizer + wet wipes), I would much rather be here than in a 1st class hotel! Here with the birds + owls + flying squirrels (<>

(Editor’s note: µ = smiley face; Ω = scowly face)

Everyone!

Rainy day . . . The only time I get even close to bored/lonely are the 1-2 days after I “host” somebody up here. Detox, I suppose. The wind started yesterday + the rain this morning. Rain like this (the wind has died down) means that I can have the tarps open some, and that I can climb around without a raincoat (that will change if the rain lasts + makes its way through the needles/branches). I love how I can climb without all the clothes during that negative ion high: I got really excited, and whenever I’m bubbling over with that (or love, etc.) I do my call-thing or shout “I love you!” or “it’s so beautiful!”, + then Winter, the only one in Spooner right now, called back his forest-call + “I love you” µ. That is usually the extent of what we shout across the valley – otherwise we use the walkey-talkey (“radio”) to minimize the noise pollution. Jeff said he wants to clone me (after receiving my “clean” recycling) – a lot of the sitters are messy/careless/unorganized, and most end up being “tourists”; there is nobody else here who has the same intentions of not touching ground, and many people are almost eager to do for me what I can’t (deliver water/tobacco etc., even receiving + emptying shit/compost buckets + piss jugs! Wow – that’s a perfect example of the type of people here. I am astounded every single time at the dedication, generosity, etc. of ground support + other sitters. I hope to get a “real” raincatcher soon so that I can utilize the sponges I requested for bathing. Even that puts a smile on my face, hah! It’s been almost a month (in 23 days?) + the extent of my bathing has been (?ore) baby-wipe baths, 3X now. It doesn’t bother me much, though; even pissing in a jug isn’t challenging (anymore! I’ve started peeing while standing instead of squatting, which involves taking off my bottom layers + socks, even with company.

O.---------.----------. Photo of "Spooner"

Spooner Spindle Gr + Gr

The “ring” has Spooner + Monah + Mays + possibly another one (?). Spooner + Gr + Gr are the “liveable ones”, but because it’s the longest traverse, Gr + Gr are pretty secluded – just what I want µ . . .
My supplies are low, but life is beautiful again µ. A few days ago I woke up before sunrise (not so unheard of anymore!) to pee + as I stepped over to the branch the entire platform shifted by ~2 feet! I’m safe though, no worries; it gave me a fright, and I’ve let others know. In Spooner people complain of the cold, which is understandable with the windchill from underneath, but I cannot get over the fact that it’s so damn warm + there’s zero indication of snow – and it’s probably Dec. now! It’s like a cool summer’s day in Edmonton + humidity (which I rather like, having grown up without it). Yesterday there was 1 logger (I think) on the ground. He didn’t say much, just “wanted to see how you guys were doing.” The easiest way to send adrenalin through a tree-sitter’s system is to holler an unfamiliar holler or say “hello” during the day from the ground (ground support, etc. is almost always at night). Loggers aren’t a threat (police + climbers/extractors are). The horoscope on my tea bag reiterated both the guidance from Diana at Pase Tempo (“Listen to your belly µ”), as well as my overall impression; it read: “Your intuition is your best friend. My gut said I was safe + the man was not a threat, + it has since been confirmed – the man was PL security checking (hoping) to see if the sitters left for Thanksgiving. Nope. We indulged in Tofurkey, gravy with potato + vegi-protein, tortilla chips with salsa + refried beans, + an assortment of cookies, etc. in Spooner.

I had been up here for ~1.5 months until I was told I needed to go down 2 nights ago. I was consumed by a feeling of sadness verging on hurt + defeat, although there was no hint of animosity towards the forest defenders who insisted I touch ground. There is not enough ground support. I am glad to be “able” to empty the few dozen piss jugs + the bucket, as well as to pump water from the stream (to drink a lot of water is more appealing than a shower at this point). At some time I will most likely go to town + shower + buy things + phone home! I worry about the mental states of them, expecially Jameson (Jeff + Healing Tree, his partner, have “disappeared”; Jameson is very strong, but also very sensitive, + he’s now displaced (I believe he intends to get a storage locker + “go wild” with Bowin, his dog). Ω Ω Ω. I loved that place so much, + the people there, so much about it – I’ve even considered living there some time. I’ve been welcomed a few times at Slug + Arrow’s house (it is very busy/crowded with forest defenders though). I don’t want to leave yet – first the ground needs to be cleared + possibly water pumped + rest. Walking was awkward! The first thing I did once I toucned the ground (after procrastinating via hanging + standing on a little ledge at the base of Grandma) was crouch + sit on my feet, ha ha—a true sitter I’ve become! I thought it’d be difficult to be sedentary, but walking is what made my legs stiff . . .

Well, I did my first shit run a few days ago (burying shit/urine/compost) and it felt great – no kidding. I thought before that one of the lessons I’d have to learn out here was how to take take take when I’d rather be giving. I’m glad to put that lesson off though. Things have been happening rapidly lately – the first storm hit yesterday (50 mph – whatever that means – winds) Hunter was around the day before to let us know of it, and that we needed to slacken all of the traverses to enable the trees to sway (otherwise it’d be a huge risk to the trees + ourselves). The dreamcatchers in Spooner are in the canopy, and a huge sprout makes it accessible via ropes >> sprouts are designed to break off (Gr+Gr’s already have) during storms, so Mowgli + Winter camped on the ground for safety. Jameson was here + tied off the only branch that could pose risk to the platform/myself; I’m so grateful that my closest friend here is an arborist!
Lorax pumped 6 gallons of water from the stream for me µ (it needs to be done during the day + I’d never leave the tree unattended unless it’s night) + I now have a raincatcher that’s collected an overflowing barrel of water. Also the cell phone. And a hand-powered/charged weather radio. I’m so excited to hear from home! I’ve felt anxiety/anticipation in my stomach 2X; I over-psychoanalyzed it, of course, at the time. The 1st was right before Jameson came (SO happy to wee him finally!); the 2nd was today right before figuring the cell phone out enough to get Dad a message µ. The next time I feel that I’m probably going to wonder who’s coming because those 2 were the best µ . . .

Before I touched the ground the forest reminded me of the ravine at home, as though I could hike up the hill + be @ ahome. From up here it looks like a meadow with grass + clovers, but on the ground the “grass” becomes ferns taller than me, + the clove[r]s are little deciduous trees/shrubs that I walk under; and the ground is rugged/natural. There are at least a dozen other plant species in the canopy here, and they excite me every time. Oh yes, and the creek is rough – I can always hear the many waterfalls, but can’t see it from up here . . .

The nurseries in Grandma’s canopy are sprouting more of these mini-ferns with red-black dots under their leaves, thanks to the rain brought by the storm last week µ. It actually brought tears to my eyes. I also noticed a branch that probably died a decade ago “cry out”, so to speak, when I touched it; it seemed to produce a feverish heat + transmitted an energy like the bitter saliva that comes before you puke when you’re sick. I sat there for a good 5 minutes before continuing my climb (I stashed a gallon of H2O at the upper/defence traverse in case of an emergency). The platform might be re-stabilized/set with extra support beams, and possibly raised 10-20 feet. At first the concept of change bothered me – it’s also a lot of work to take everything off this platform, but I’ve envisioned it + am now more comfortable with the idea. I’m going to stop writing + send this (to be continued of course). I really hope my first letter has arrived + that this one makes it, too. If you never got the 1st, please let Sara know that her letter was lost + that I did reply + will rewrite it + thank her so much, +tell her definitely on the camera + to not use my real name (use “Cedar” or “Grandma & Grandpa”). . . .

(night) I have to write this: there was a worker scoping the valley today. He left beer at the base of the tree (as if I’d lower the line!). He said, “don’t shoot the messenger”, which makes me wonder what the message is. I needed to make him human, so I asked for a fake name. “Schmoozie”, from what I could understand, with a white hard-hat + blue raincoat, from Blue River. He took a picture of the girl in Spooner. I hope he didn’t get mine (I had my balaclava + glasses on for most of the day). So now there’s “Schmoozie” + the “Hey-oh” guy (his call to us).

As long as they don’t have a harness or a chain saw I’m fine. Ooh – suspenseful ending >>SEND!

PART III

(Editorial note: µ= when Cedar made a smiley face; Ω = scowly face)
Everyone! µ
Yep, it’s rainy/snowy/sleety/haily – I actually get to see white falling from the sky!! I really wanted to see snow (my body is so confused with this never-ending summer), although I was hoping for more of a ‘wake up to snow-covered landscape that melts during the day’ thing than this storminess. Before I ramble off – Schmoody (not Schmoozy) was a white-hard-hatted worker = no threat (the orange hat signals the alarm); he spent the day cutting the lines on the ground (rather necessary to get around on this terrain) & destroying what he could (i.e. he sawed up the platform that was foolishly left on the ground near Spooner). He seemed to feel bad about it; he actually left the beer & ‘home-made mead’ even though I didn’t enable him to cut my line (next time I’m lowering down pea-cord [cheap & strong]). There are a few magazines & such that want tree-sitter writing, & I’m keen on that, but even though my environment is different in its expectations, my head is still none [?] – how can I write something half-decent (to me) without a computer to edit edit edit? There are a lot of possibilities that I need to meditate on before I can start (< href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__ITZRuxe9EU/R967I-HgqhI/AAAAAAAAAGI/V1fww51mDpU/s1600-h/Nanning+Raid+038.jpg">
It is Jan 1st, 2008, the middle of ‘winter’ and my soap bottle is once again orange (it goes white when it’s under ~ 10_C). Crazy! ......! During the 50 mph storm a while ago, Hunter was in a panic because Redwoods sway a good 15 feet, & having them tied together via traverses is dangerous. That day I lowered the traverses & let the almost comforting rocking of the platform/tree counteract the racket from the tarps (that drowns out everything outside). I knew I was safe. The sitters in Spooner freaked out & spent the night on the ground (their living conditions – dream-catchers on a sprat [that break off during storms] – are not as safe). Last week my weather-ma-box died; I knew that dryer weather was expected at the beginning of the month, but had no warning of the storm that hit last night. MY TRAVERSES ARE UP and the winds were so intense I couldn’t stay asleep. I was so worried about Grandpa and Grandma and Spindle & saw a domino effect in my mind of all the connected trees pulling each other down, but I was too scared by the intensity of the wind & rain to leave the platform to go up or down (I was shaking. The words “Oh my fucking god I’m going to die” came out of my mouth as the platform shifted & bumped & the tarps whipped & caught the wind like crazy. I told Jameson that I’d tie myself in if I got scared, but there was no way I’d attach myself to the things that might give! I prayed to the trees & god (Mother Earth) to keep me safe & held a rock & meditated on calm & peace. I even peed in a bucket because going outside was out of the question – for good reason too – when I woke up (the calm & peace thing seemed to help myself & the severity of the storm!) & looked outside – Oh my god! The platform has shifted by 2-3 feet, my raincatcher is broken, & there were broken brancher strewn about; the view out the ‘back door’ is different now. Scary. I can’t believe that the sitters in Spooner (Winter & his friend Chiris) stuck it out. I have no batteries to communicate with anyone & it’s still unsettled out there (thunder & hail & rain & sun & wind). I really hope for a new weather-ma-box with the next resupply! (& a bulk supply of tuna please!) (& batteries!). I hope for somebody will look at the platform, too. Oh ya – it was dripping in here last night, too. My nerves need to recover from the shock .....
(same day) OH MY FUCKING GOD. I hear the weather will stay bad, so I went up to lower the traverses. Ω Grandpa has lost at least 7 limbs (some of them were huge), including the entire dreamcatcher. And Grandma. FUCK! At the top she forks into a doughnut & forks again; the defence traverse is tied right above the doughnut. Shit shit shit. She broke right above the traverse. No more fork! I feel like G & G have sacrificed so many limbs to keep me safe. I feel like I risked everybody’s life -- . So much grief & guilt & remorse. Gr and Gr are both still solid, but sore & hurting. I will be OK in time. I’ve written a letter asking if it’s my fault that she broke, or if that fork was just waiting for a storm that strong. I prepared myself for death last night, & know now that I actually am lucky to be alive.....
(bright & white/foggy)
Finally the sun is shining (sort-of) again. It’s beautiful µ. The needles are glowing a vibrant green with the moisture, & the H2O droplets are sparkling all around – even the mist is sparkling in the sun. Being able to open the tarps a bit (it’s lazily & seemingly unendingly dripping) makes it feel like less of a house arrest. It’s mystical & calm (minus the thundering creek) & still peaceful. I have not yet been able to climb without being overwhelmed with nausea & shakiness ever since the storm mutilated the trees so violently. Even the neighbouring trees are missing tops & branches – the wounds are almost screaming out, with the bright yellowish red moisture glowing. Grandpa seems so naked & exposed. It’s painful to look & climbing is something I know I need to do with caution, after I can re-centre myself; the climb is a new one. I am going to need serious therapy if these trees get cut down. Ω. Although I do feel devastated, I’m not feeling the world cave in on me as it so often did in the past when I felt traumatized, and it’s only been 3 months! I can still feel relatively grounded, take a deep breath, appreciate the beauty around me, & know in my heart (instead of just telling my head) that nature is merely taking its course; everything is constantly changing; nothing lasts forever (including this grief, etc.). It sounds like psychological growth, but it’s not – it’s spiritual (although it is all connected).
.... (moon) Oh my fucking god oh my fucking god. I’m so damn excited! It is so still & peaceful & beautiful & clear – I feel the need to stifle the vocal (i.e. giggling/laughing/cheering/shouting “you’re so fucking beautiful” or something) expression bubbling up. Usually I feel this way only while climbing (physical contact with the tree), but now it’s the brightness of the moon lighting up & casting shadows over everything. It’s not full, either, only half. And what the hell am I doing writing – must savour moment! [sun] When it’s rainy & windy & stormy I need my headlamp during the day, but the past few nights have been so bright & clear that I needed it only to read! .... [cloud] When I first came here I had times of pure elation; when I was overtaken by the beauty around me, overflowing with love that I could express only to Spooner & in laughter, & amazed at the fact that I’m actually here. Guess what? I still have those moments all the time!! I notice something new every day ; & have never once been able to think of a place I’d rather be. Luckily, I know I’m not losing it, but these times are balanced with harder ones. .....
[rain] (night) The addition or reduction/elimination of various wants, needs, & ‘extras’ can change my entire experience up here, or at least my perception of it. Like the absence of fruit makes it makes an orange taste as sweet as pop, amazingly satisfying; the addition of vegetables & spices makes cooking (& the results) enjoyable, & any reduction of H2O still gives me a constant anxiety; the absence of a branch intensifies southerly winds; and technology – no propane & nothing but potatoes & brown rice & lentils – turns a month or 2 of food into a few days; the addition of a weather-ma-box > now I have warning for when I need to lower traverses (wind) or what night is best to go down – much less of the intuition I depended on before; & the radio-music changes the entire atmosphere; a cell phone opens a multitude of social windows, and without batteries during a storm not even Spooner could hear me. Baby-wipes = pampering; the frequency & duration of visits affects me completely – physically, mentally, intellectually, & escecially spiritually; etc, etc. I am definitly learning on a deep level of trust & gratitude/appreciation.
(snow!) This is the first time it’s snowed here (other than sleet/hail) – the trees & ground are white! It makes me think of home, & it makes winter’s wish to see snow come true!!! It’s beautiful & amazing, but adrenalin is rushing through me like during a big storm – there are limbs ‘exploding’/falling all around. The snow seems so gentle, & the air is calm, but those cracks make my heart flutter! During that crazy storm that broke all the branches, I couldn’t hear them because the wind & tarps were so loud. Now it is still – Crack! It sounds like gun shots. I wonder if I’ll see one fall; I doubt it – its like watching a pot boil, nothing until you forget to pay attention – that & the tarps – somehow I expected to be able to have the tarps open, like during rain (no wind), but the snow is making its way down here. I think the winds that are supposed to come tonight will make me extra nervous after a quiet day of falling branches....
[rain] A few days ago, for the first time, I left the tree during daylight, to help Spooner (a branch was wrapped around the bag so they coudn’t haul it). I hated having to leave Gr & Gr, but knew I had to. I later dreamt that I was at home crying & panicking because I didn’t remember who was sitting in Gr & Gr for me, let alone if anyone was there at all. Ironically, the ‘Hey-oh’ – guy showed up soon after I went back to Gr & Gr. A lot of trees fell over the logging roads during that “cold”-snap – probably more than here because those trees no longer have the protection of the trees felled for the road (that’s probably why the ‘Hey-oh’ guy was here so late in the day – to check on how we held out, if those prized old-growth ($$$) trees are still standing). As scary as it was, the ground is completely different – beautiful & open – during the day; I could tell where I was, & still see Gr & Gr when I went to Spooner µ. I have not yet been ‘allowed’/welcomed to climb to assess any damage from the cold – Gr & Gr don’t want for me to climb when it’s cold, or when it’s too soon after a storm because they can’t give me their full attention/guidance when they are feeling worn out/run down (and, I assume, their branches are probably more brittle). Still no problem with patience – thank God! It may be another 2 days before I can go out again; now I’ve got time to write & read & rest. µ Must stop writing so I can send! XOXOXO Lots of Love to everyone!

And, last but not least, Cedar's article for the Edmonton Journal:

Edmonton native takes a stand to save the good wood
Scott McKeen, The Edmonton Journal
Nadia von Berg of Edmonton is up a tree, in California.

Nadia's new home is a small platform, about 40 metres above ground. She spends her day reading, writing, cooking or climbing up Grandma and Grandpa, the sky-high giant redwoods she protects with her presence. She's been watching over these centuries-old spirits for more than five months now. In all that time, she hasn't washed her hair or had a shower. She washes with baby wipes. Her hair, she says, has never felt better. Some days, the loggers come by to entice her down. Nadia, 22, chats from on high with them, because they're just people too, with personal beliefs and families to feed. On other days, when the loggers are out of sight, she will descend to the ground. It's risky, but certain personal repercussions must be dealt with. She digs a hole, buries those repercussions, then returns to her trees.
On good days, she climbs way, way up from her platform into the leafy canopy of Grandma and Grandpa. Like tonight, so she can get better reception on her cellphone. Her voice is sweet, almost child-like, and sounds peaceful and happy. Nadia von Berg was born and raised in Edmonton. As far back as she can remember, she was always climbing trees to seek sanctuary from the rumpus of the city.
"I've always felt connected to trees and pick up on their energy," she says. "It's amazing how powerful they are.
"I was always pretty introverted," she adds. "I have close friends, but I just always needed a lot of alone time."
In her early teens she read The Legacy of Luna, the diary of Julia Hill, who sat in an ancient redwood for two years in the late 1990s. After high school, while attending classes and working as a dishwasher at a local restaurant, she intimated to her boss that she wanted to live in the trees. He told her to follow her dreams.
So she searched the Internet and found an activist camp at Nanning Creek, in northwestern California. She e-mailed the group and on Oct. 13 of last year, climbed up a redwood tree.
Tree sitters do just that. They set up platforms high in old-growth forests to protect the trees from logging. Those trees might be worth a fortune to a forest company.
But loggers don't cut down trees with people in them.
Fellow activists sneak in food and supplies that are lifted to the sitters by ropes. The ground crews -- or those sitters who descend to the forest floor for a break -- are at great risk of being arrested.
"Yes, we're trespassing," says Nadia, sighing. "We're eco-terrorists."
Loggers come around every couple of weeks to see if the sitters are still on the job. They come after violent storms, too, in case the sitters lost their nerve.
Nadia suffered through a hellacious storm in early January. Her protective tarps howled in the wind. The platform shifted violently. Branches cracked like thunder.
She thought she was going to die. But she eventually transcended her fear by trusting the trees.
On calm days, it is as if she's in the most beautiful cathedral in the world. She settles into the bliss of bird song, sunlight and fragrant air.
Make-shift zip lines run between the tree platforms, allowing sitters to visit one another. Nadia likes visits, if they're not more than a couple of days.
"I've never felt bored, not once," she says. "I think boredom is overcome by being present. All you need to do is to listen to the raindrops and the birds."
She doesn't know how long she'll sit in a tree. Other tree villages have been broken up by police. That could happen anytime to her, too.
"What do I miss? I miss my family and friends," she says. "Running water would be awesome. But I'm not craving pizza or anything."
Hers is not a radical or angry form of environmentalism. It is centred in her spirit and her notions of God in nature. Nadia loves the giant redwoods and thinks it's tragic that future generations might only experience them digitally.
She says 98 per cent of the world's old-growth forest is already gone. Is it too much to ask that these few giants be left?
Or, is her love of solitude -- her connection with these ancient and glorious monuments to the natural world -- so hard to understand?
"I spent a lot of my life feeling miserable," she says. "I felt like there was nothing for me. This is definitely where I need to be."
Finally I ask: Don't you ever miss the intimacy of human touch? She laughs at my question. "I can always hug a tree."

Read the beginning of Cedar's Saga here:

Part V will be posted here next week.

(Note: Nanning Creek has been temporarily "saved" along Fern Gully Treesit. Cedar remains on her perch until the THP expires. Read more here:)

Part IV

Everyone!
Whoever says that people don’t hibernate is wrong! .... or maybe it’s just me – the people around here are often times quite active in the rain – hiking loads up the hill or doing technical-type stuff up here ( setting a platform/traverse/”god-pad”/ etc. I just hibernate – I’ve spent ~ 1wk @ a time getting out of my sleeping bag only to pee/shit because of the rain. Those days don’t seem to exist to me either – “yesterday” is whatever day I last left the platform. While the average person gets cabin fever, I don’t get bored or restless or impatient or lonely; I don’t even feel the need to stretch or take myself into oblivion because I’m already there. Certainly not sociable on those days. But as soon as the rain dries + the sun comes out I’m climbing + wanting to traverse + go to the ground @ night. It takes no effort on my part either way; when I wake up to pouring rain, then that’s what it is, + visa-versa. I’m going to traverse tomorrow, providing that my my body is predictably in tune with the weather :). + I’m climbing today – this ain’t no rain! I love you guys! + I’m wondering (leaning towards doubting) whether I’ll ever get sick of this place – I still love being here. In exchange for me riding out the winter storms, being ready to face a potential extraction any day, + maintaining a clean + organized sit, I have incredibly benevolent people providing for me anything I can’t provide for myself; I am being rewarded for having no appointments or schedules, for doing ‘nothing’ in a place bordering on paradise. I am actually living in a fucking tree! Finally! ... I also noticed -- + the same goes for the trees – that the 1st nice day is a slow/lazy/rest during which we slowly transition out of hibernation (for me) or recover from the unsettled weather (for the tree – it’s exhausting work for them to cope with strong winds + heavy rains + colder temperatures for so many days @ a time – maybe their fatigue rubs off on me + some other animals who lay low @ such times); I somehow envisioned that day as being the one during which everything around me, + myself, would burst back into life, thriving + singing. Every little truth I discover adds meaning; it’s difficult for me to stay in touch with my whole, multi-faceted self + the energies around me, + that’s probably one of the reasons I need to be here, where I can focus on it, learn who I am + how I fit in the greater picture, what life is all about. I fear that I will feel lost again when I leave here, but today is today, + any necessary change within me for the future can only happen in the present (maybe that’s the fear – if it, even here, can be hard to be in the moment + sometimes, the most important thing, then what will happen in town? Will I regress, or will I have honed the art of presence enough to bring it with me wherever I go? Can being here teach me how to enjoy school (i.e. not expect to know 100%, + be able to stay relaxed)?) It hasn’t yet been 4 months, but I’ve noticed that 24 hrs of being alone is usually not enough time for me to be completely present for someone else – the longer I have to myself, the more available I am for others (unless it’s been raining all week Ω) . . .

(Feb) Apparently Danny + Ryan find Grandma’s energy to be too intense – they can visit, but they couldn’t sit here. It is true, too – her energy is very intense! I’ve always said that Gr + Gr are the same tree – same energy, but that is only partially true. Lately I’ve been trying to determine their individual characteristics. So far (it’ll be a while before I can put it into words) Grandma is the more intense one; she’s older + taller, + feels often-times (or in certain places) annoyed by Grandpa’s presence – he is a pest, stealing so much of the sunlight (he’s south of her). Her own attempt to attain more of the sun is often precarious + almost self-defeating @ times (i.e. wrapping her branches around Grandpa in such a way that those very branches become damaged from the wind’s friction. Actually, they both to that, even to themselves – it’s silly, llike a child trying to be alpha [?] Grandma has more ‘silly’, or confused-looking, branches that changed their minds in the course of their growth numerous times –(Am I a branch? – no, a root, now I’m going east, no, south – hey – I could be a sprout + go up! – or maybe north to the sun, or that open spot to the west . . .), but overall, grandpa is the silly one happy + playful + grinning @ the sun. Grandma is more reserved, wise (but so serious), tough, + proud like a cat (Grandpa is more like an excited puppy). I think it is that contrast (serious + playful), as well as their competitive vs. cooperative nature that makes Ryan perceive them as bickering/arguing -- + sitting right in between them overwhelms him + gives him nightmares. When Danny mentioned his anxiety (Danny + Ryan sat here a bit before I came) up here, I told him to touch Grandma + focus on her energy – as intense as she may be, her energy is very nurturing + comforting + calming, + I know that sitting on the platform can be ungrounding, just like hanging from a rope can be; Danny’s face seemed to soften/relax after a minute or so. I’ve also noticed a distinct difference between the energy of the upper + lower portions of the trees. The upper canopy feels much lighter + clearer, while the lower canopy is a stronger energy; the base of the tree is harder to read, like the thickness of the bark keeps much of the energy in so it can go up, although that certainly didn’t stop Gr + Gr from welcoming me on that 1st morning. Spooner’s energy is incredibly strong + calm – although I’ve only been been in the mid-upper canopy + @ the base (where Spooner confirmed to me that I needed to be in a tree, but a different one, as Spooner is burdened with the traffic (too many people coming + going)). Today is a beautiful (of course!), sunny (too hot for long johns -- + it’s Feb!), + still Sunday – meaning there’s the occasional 4-wheeler joy-riding on the logging roads, + -- hello USA – dozens of gunshots; what are they shooting @?? . . .


Ha ha ha! I texted Jeff on the cell asking for tampons from my bag + wrote: ‘(aren’t you glad I didn’t ask you to buy them for me?)’ His response was: “I wouldn’t mind either way, I’m an empowered woman trapped in a handsome + strapping man’s body: -- )” . . .
This morning I awoke to a scurrying/scratching sound similar to that of the squirrels, only I knew right away, before opening my eyes, that is was not. Bird #3 :), + bird #1 forgoing [foraging?] at the platform, an arm-distance from me :) It looked like a big version of the tee-tiny 1st + most common bird around here – White + gray – only instead of being the size of a golf-ball, hopping along the branches tweeting like a chick, it was as big as the fattest flying squirrel, +, like them, inspecting the orange peel (too heavy). (The squirrels ‘steal’ banana peel like ‘that’ – running up Grandpa with excited chatter + 1/3 ban. peel in its mouth). The 2nd bird I saw was the big, blue ‘killer’ jay – beautiful, + aparently the Marbled Murrelet’s primary predator (the jay eats/kicks off their eggs). I never cared much for birds until here, where even spiders are special :). When I 1st saw the ‘golf-ball’ birds, I asked for a picture of the Marbled Murrelet – how can nobody here know what they look like ?! Apparently Ryan is trying to get a book – sweet! . . .

A few days ago there were strong (~20-25 mph [?]) winds without rain. I watched the trees sway through the tightly-held tarps (to prevent the wind from catching them), something I don’t do in rain. It is impressive! These trees are so strong, yet they appear stretchy, almost flimsy – I kept expecting to see one of the branches break as it was pushed to its limit, but their strength truly lies in their flexibility. A day of 2 or 3 before that I was on the Grandma-Spindle traverse to hang the peace-pride flag during something of a breeze (10-15 mph), + it was trippy! Like floating under water. As the trees swayed, the traverse pulled me up + down (!), + with the side to side-looking swaying of the trees around me, it really looked like an underwater tide was pushing + pulling. I really hope Alik comes in the next 3 days, because after that the rains are supposed to return, + there’s so much other than the platform that I want him to see! I am noticing changes in my body’s muscle distribution – obviously my arms are stronger + legs weaker, but to be more specific: in the tree my ‘centre of gravity’ is more fluid – my weight needs to be distributed in accordance to branch size/strength/location – my feet + hands both have important roles in that. I notice that I tend to pull my weight up with my arms/hands rather than using my legs to stand up – although it is again distributed among all 4 limbs. On the ground I find myself hunched over + constantly reaching for available handholds to help me along – falling is probably easier on those muddy slopes, + you have 2 limbs instead of the ‘usual’ 4. (I think the ‘hunching’ is in part to see the ground better with a dim headlamp + not 20/20 vision). When I think of how monkeys move, + their posture, I can see my body starting to resemble that more than a human. Any time I’m on the ground not moving, I find myself sitting on my feet with my knees up instead of the expected ‘oh it’s so nice to stand’ – haha --- I’m actually quite prone to finding a log on the ground to squat on – more like home – ha ha. I remember meeting Winter when we did ground-suport (Alik, Hannah, Jeff, Jamieson, Redwood (?), Loon, + I) to Libertal (Sp?); he came down + immediately squatted on his feet while he carved a melon with his knife. Even people who go down to the ground every few days get ‘jello-legs’, but I’ve never been bothered with muscle weakness/fatigue (probably because I’m so adamant about getting 50 g. protein/day – it’s not like I do leg exercises up here or anything) – let’s see how my legs are in a year, though. I’m not at all worried – it’s easy to build muscle that used to be there (vs. building a muscle you’ve never used), AND WORRYING IS A WASTE OF ENERGY! Like today – I have less than a gallon of water + no water pump. Worrying won’t get me water or a pump, being aware of it made me ask for help + figure out ways of getting water if nobody can make it tonight – but there’s certainly no need to stress about it. (Dad). This is still a lessson I’m learning + really hope to keep with me after this sit, but I can’t believe that there’s actually progress within me in that department! I have 3 pot cookies :). Oh ya – to add on to the Gr. vs. Gr. thing – They have such contrasting personalities, + there are conflicts/struggles/competition between them, + yet they are still interdependent + connected; I can still adress one tree through the other, + their moods certainly are in tune with one another. I don’t @ all get the impression of bi-polarity, just the contrast of one, like hypocritical personality traits (like me thriving in isolation + still loving to phone home + have a connection with others @ times). Gr + Gr’s personalities are both so different from my own (although I can identify with both), +yet they are still one. I believe that my own energies are melding with theirs, at least while I’m here (+ I also believe that the ‘rubbing-off’ of energy between the 3 of us will persist to an extent after I’m gone – it is exactly like people relationships in the sense that even a former connection contributes to one’s personality of perceptions). . . . Good morning helicopter. Good morning big, yellow, bent arm of the logging truck @ the top of the hill to the south-east. The’ve never been so close. I wonder what I was dreaming – I think Sara was in it. The sound is penetrating, + the artificial winds are making Gr + Gr sway. It’s hard to understand what they’re saying to each other (I’m eavesdropping via walky-talky) – something about ‘wake them up’ + “they’ve been there for a long time now”. There’s supposed to be 70 mph winds tonight, so my traverses are lowered. I pray that I won’t have to be on the traverses during a storm. I feel tense, deer-in-headlight. They are piling logs up there, so they’ll probably be disturbing the peace until the storm comes . . . The helicopter left >chainsaws + shouting > here comes the helicopter again Ω. The truck has a claw like this: Ω/ NOISE POLLUTION! The helicopters used to avoid this valley; now it’s flying directly over the village, back + forth, but not carrying logs, yet (?). I take the assaults to the trees, the massacre of the forests, personally, I feel it deep within me when the chainsaws pierce the living trees, like the horror I felt after/during the crazy storm + the ice storm. Every time the helicopter comes back I give its inhabitants the peace sign with my fingers, as it flies over the peace-pride flag on the traverse. On the walky-talky I said “Good Morning”, and “May the forest be with you”. (No response, naturally) I might climb . . . we’ll see. The only cell phone won’t charge, + ground doesn’t know, so there’s no contact to town/support (unless somebody here hikes out + catches the bus/hitchhikes). I can feel the helicopter’s vibrations through the platform as well as my gut. The other side of that hill must be barren Ω. The ‘copter doesn’t seem to have much of a hook or anything – I wonder how it so easily transports 2-3 logs @ a time. I have to take a shit, or, more specifically, I have to point my bare ass in their direction (yay for tarps) . . .

Bear Mountain Treesit in Langford, BC(No longer active:(


[late feb] I forgot to tell you guys about a text Jeff sent me when I had the cell. You know how I was looking for tree-sits in BC on the internet + coudn’t find them, so ended up over here thanks to Jeff’s response to my 1st e-mil – if I had found Bear mtn. tree-sit (BC), I probably would have ended up there. ~2 weeks ago Bear mtn. tree-sit was raided/evicted by 50(!) RCMP officers with assault rifles(!). Holy shit, + I talk of how Canada has no guns + friendly cops (some, of course). Maybe that’s why I’m here instead – like I was led here. Speaking of which, in a month I will be an illegal immigrant, a trespassing one at that. The “hey-oh” guy was here again, but this time he brought somebody with him. I did go up when the helicopter was here, but 1st I made a peace sign on some scrap cardboard; I went to the top of Grandma with it + shouted things like: “May the forest be with you” (That’s my fav.), and “May there be peace/love/compassion/respect in your heart/soul”, and “Long live Nanning Creek”, + “the Earth is your mother”, + “Respect your elders!”, etc. I think the ‘copter made a short siren sound in response as it flew over me. I think Billy/Winter should go on a ninja mission asap (go to Scotia + come back that night) because no cell phone is pretty serious – we need it to call for help in case of emergency. (“Hey-oh” , as of yet, is harmless, but he could easily have been an extractor). (“Hey-oh” checks on us after storms + holidays). Certain temperatures/humidities make this platform reek of pee – I’m assuming (mostly?) squirrel pee Ω. I wonder if fabreeze or something would help. I also wanted to add on to the the Gr + Gr personality analysis – In Grandma I’ve sensed trauma, like she’s seen horrific things in her life -- I wondered about that impression for a long time, + a few days ago I noticed an obvious possibility – forest fires! Gr + Gr both have blackened trunks – even 150 feet up – 1000_C could certainly be described as “ horrific” or “traumatizing”! Or chainsaws – I can “feel” their destructive energy (right now Ω), but Gr + Gr most certainly feel more than I can. The stumps in this valley from selective logging of the past, are another example of a possibility for that energy I noticed in the trees. Gr + Gr don’t want me here, with this massively heavy platform + the traverses, etc, but they know very well that they need me here (i. e. when I 1st was welcomed by Grandma, Jamieson saw the smile on my face + felt Grandma breathe a sigh of relief :). I still believe that Gr+ Gr are keeping me safe (as much as they’re able) during the storms, although trees don’t have the agressive nature required to punish a living being (minus the threat of beetle infestations, etc). Giving is what they do best, + even if I were to stay after the threat is over, I know the’d love me the same (but I have no such intentions). A few days ago I had a mango that had brown maggots inside, but the concerning part was that the maggot/worm things were all dead Ω.

I finally have Spooner’s Solar shower (minus the solar panel – I’ll just heat water on the stove); the only thing holding me back is sacrificing drinking water – I do intend to shower up here some day soon, though! In 2-3 weeks Marbled Murrelet season begins (it’s 6 months). . . .
The re-occurring nightmare: Me on the ground in a panic about Gr+ Gr. I was trying to wake myself up in the dream, b/ it’s familiar enough to recognize it as such, but I kept waking up in my bed at home in Edmonton. It seems that my conscious + unconscious mind are both on the same page; did I ever have that before? I wonder if Gr + Gr are influencing my dreams – the constant reminder of my priorities. I wonder if I’ll have similar dreams once I am on the ground . . . (later) If the sunset never ended, would we relish blue skies? Pink + blue + orange + purple :) . . . I listened to the opening segment of Oprah before going down last night + learned that I am a freegan – Me walking around town (before of course Ω) with tea bags + asking for free hot water, me riding my bike so as to not have to pay for the bus (+ the thought of having a car is non-existent), me loving the idea of dumpster-diving (not let it go to waste!), me working at Culina for free food + living at home or here for free rent, etc. are apparently all pointing to the lifestyle choice known as “freeganism”. . . .

I am almost looking forward to the sounds of hunters (presumably) shooting + loggers (again presumably) joy-riding this weekend, as an alternative to the trucks + helicopter + chainsaws @ the top of the hill to the east/south – close enough to see the workers, from here, @ least. It’s ironic how people who “kill” trees for a living kill animals on their days off. How that makes me think of a quote worthy of being written down: “a number of the bigger crocodilians are perversely unable to see the special nature of the human animal, and absent-mindely eat him from time to time”. Archie Carr, 1940 . . .

Yummy. I just made myself some ginger-squash-pudding: butternut squash +multi-grain cereal mix + an instant ginger tea package + the last of my trail mix (walnut + raisin) + powdered milk. Oh, + a bit of cinnamon (so glad I brought those sticks!), salt + pepper + a possibility for future cayenne. Oh, + how could I forget the dried apples :) . . .

One more thing about Grandma’s personalilty: as tough as she may be, she is also as gentle as a feather; one of her branches ends over the “back door” (access to Grandpa), and the needles brush my head from time to time ever so softly, -- like Grandpa’s “kiss” when I climb (rope); That gentle softness is also quite prevalent @ the “tip whip”, although the energy up there reminds me of chakras – the top one (above the head?) – I think it’s related to spirituality/a higher power, @ least up there it is; the redwoods’ gentleness also comes across in a concrete/tactile way in the places along the trunks where the bark is like fur, red/brown/orange + soft :). It was so wonderful to have Alik up here! His company was the best so far – partially b/ there wasn’t the endless “small-talk” associated with getting to know somebody, + b/ his climbing experience meant that I didn’t have to teach (safety, not dropping things, where to/how to clip things in, etc), +, of course, b/ I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! I’m also glad I got to say good-bye 2X b/ the first time left me weepy + homesick (+ 2 days went by so fast), but when I went down for the 2nd bye, I felt only love + gratitude – he’ll be back soon enough + has his own life to attend to (still so proud of him!) + he brought so many goodies – everything I’ve ever wanted, including a life-time supply of wet-wipes (!) + so many things I could fill a page writing down. I’ve now got a phone-charger + a solar panel > this platform is officially “pimped-out”, as I knew it’d eventually be from the start . . .

(March) The concept of spring-cleaning seems to also be intuitive for me up here. There’s a lot to do, but no time-pressure, of course. It was hot enough for me to have an upper-half-of-body-wet-wipe “bath” – my back + shoulders have little pimples that are indicating the need for that + some fresh air + sunshine :).
It’s been~5 months without a shower, + it’s not really bothering me – I don’t feel dirtier than 2 months ago, or after a week in the city without a shower – I doubt I’ll use the “solar”-shower more than 2X/yr (it’s hard for me to sacrifice potential drinking water + I do have have plenty of wet-wipes >). But ya – on the spring cleaning – compared to the last few months when I did little more than cook + read + write + maintain the output of recycling, etc, today I’ve made myself a new chest + foot prussic, brought down _ gallon of water from the top of Grandpa + pumped it, did some rearranging (+ realized there’s a lot more of that I can do), cleaned out the rain-catcher bucket, wet-wiped the upper _ of my body, topped off my “emergency” (extractors!) bag with TP + beef jerky, + the hand warmer, phoned Zppl [?] + texted Jeff, + I’m going down to recycle the pee-jugs I’m not using, check on the creek (hopefully pump), test out my new climbing gear, + dump pee jugs. Holy, is my life busy! Ha-ha > Ω. It’s funny how this level (or less) of productivity makes me an ideal tree-sitter in some people’s eyes – I’m just doing (in my eyes[head]) the bare minimum. . . .

Ah, the eternal questions: who am I? What is the reality of the world around me? How do I fit in to that reality? I have been called “balanced”, + have been told that I have “calming energy” + (an) amazing (out)look on life. Granted, I have noticed myself approaching those qualities, but I’m sure that the people who knew me before probably wouldn’t consider those to be attributes of mine (I know I didn’t). So, am I those things? Was it in me before? Am I learning those things? Or are they only temporary + tree-induced? I certainly didn’t feel any of that yesterday when I finally phoned the radio station; I felt all the terror + panic + insecurity + self-doubt that I felt the few times I attempted oral presentations in school (despite the fact that I was aware of how irrational that response was). I hope to overcome that fear (practise!) because it is such an important tool in helping these trees; my top priority @ this point in my life. Thankfully I have also been described in familiar terms (i. e. dependable + brilliant <>

May the forest be with you always!

Cedar.

The New "Green Scare"

As some of you reading this may be aware, Pacific Lumber in Humboldt County, Ca is currently undergoing drastic changes during the ill-fated timber company's Chapter 11(not 13) bankruptcy. The proceedings were moved to Texas after parent(al figure) company MAXXAM set up a phony "office" in Corpus Christi in order to keep local opinion and intervention out of the proceedings.

Logo from http://www.gapsucks.org/

The bankruptcy plan, simplified, has many different entities vying for control over PL's 200,000+ acres of Coast Redwoods and Douglas Firs. The most locally favored plan allowed by bankruptcy proceedings Judge Richard S. Schmidt was submitted by Marathon Capital Group backed Mendocino Redwoods Corporation(MRC). Ironically, the MRC is owned by The Gap corporation, and has a history of community resistance towards it’s logging practices in Mendocino County.

The MRC has Forest Stewardship Council(FSC) certification which creates a major misconception for the local community and conservation groups in regards to the future of our forests. It seems that a majority of concerned citizens and groups have been duped into believing that the MRC will not be harvesting Old-Growth trees on PL's disputed lands. Wishful thinking, lack of information, and blatant ignorance has created an atmosphere of believing that the lesser of the evil reorganization plans will save the last of the Ancient Trees left on our county.

Aside from the controversy over the lack of unified Old Growth protection, MRC will be utilizing herbicides, logging steep slopes, clear cutting, and removing previously inaccessible trees by helicopter, as they have and still are using these practices in Mendocino County. All of these unsustainable and environmentally destructive practices are allowed by the FSC, and nowhere on the FSC site do they claim otherwise. In fact, the MRC justifies it’s usage of herbicides through The Nature Conservancy‘s “Weed Control and Methods Handbook“. The Nature Conservancy appears to be just another “green washed” group, just like the FSC.

So what is the lesson to be learned here? I believe that the attitude of “if you can’t beat them, join them” has infiltrated the same non-profit groups that are supposed to protect their donor’s interests and ideals. Sell outs, compromisers, and panderers are allowing the last of our precious ecosystems to be annihilated during this crucial time where our Earth has reached a critical tipping point. The FSC is one of many so-called “green” and “sustainable” non-profits that are cashing in on the newest fad of Orwellian double-speak, the same technique used by the US government to justify the Iraq war through fear and semantically altered catch phrases such as “Homeland Security“ and “War on Terrorism“.

However, in light of this deception and controversy, action is still the antidote for despair. Humboldt County, one of the birthplaces of forest activism, has been fighting for Old Growth protection for over twenty years. There are still solid and persevering tree-sits taking place right now on PL’s disputed lands. One action, Fern Gully Tree-sit Village in Freshwater, Ca, is going on strong for six years coming this October. Nanning Creek Tree-sit Village near Scotia, Ca, home of the famous “Spooner” tree, continues to safeguard some of the largest Coast Redwoods ever protected since November of 2005. And let’s not forget The Mattole, located in the Lost Coast, Ca. The Mattole is continually monitored for any sneaky attempts by PL to log the Ancient Douglas Firs that were defended by countless and dedicated activists since 1983.

Regardless of what happens to PL, and despite the fact that so many have been conned into believing that our Ancient Trees left standing on PL land will be saved by Mendocino Redwood Corporation, activists will continue to oppose PL, MRC, or any entity that claims to be “green” and “sustainable”, when in actuality they are the opposite. Actions speak louder than words, and in these current times, it seems that words are less likely to be based in reality.

Jeff Muskrat

Humboldt Forest Defense

spooner@spoonerdirect.org

Please read the below blog entry from http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/2008/03/alert_stop_the_forest_liars_ce.asp#comments

They brought this issue to my attention.

ALERT: Stop the Forest Liars: "Certified" Old-Growth Rainforest Logging Does NOT Protect Biodiversity, Ecosystems or Climate

From:http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/2008/03/alert_stop_the_forest_liars_ce.asp

March 5, 2008

TAKE ACTION: Outrageous support by big environmental groups for first-time industrial logging of primary and old-growth rainforest wildernesses based upon vague claims that FSC certification makes it sustainable, well-managed and now even "carbon positive" is a big lie and must end.

Many of the world's largest environmental groups continue to support Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) "certified" industrial logging [search] of the world's last primary and old-growth forests. They have fallen for, and now espouse, the big lie that first time logging of ancient forests containing centuries old trees can be done in an ecologically well-managed and sustainable manner. These otherwise well-regarded organizations should know better, yet there is no chance ancient forest logging will ever end when they continue their misguided greenwashing of "certified" ancient forest destruction.

This is not a minor policy difference: whether and when old-growth logging ends will critically determine the likelihood of the Earth's climate, species, ecosystems and human livelihoods being maintained. Please join us in calling upon Greenpeace, WWF, Rainforest Action Network, NRDC, Forest Ethics, Friends of the Earth and Rainforest Alliance to immediately end their support for first time logging of primary and old-growth forests. These groups must withdraw from FSC, commit to working to end ancient forest logging as a keystone response to the biodiversity and climate change crises, and support local sustainable community development based upon standing and intact forests. Take action now.

The West Coast Tree-sit Raids

With the fall of the Bear Mountain tree-sit in Victoria, BC, it seems like this is a very crucial time for activists in the trees up and down the west coast. There are two campus trees-sits, one under attack right now at UC Berkeley and one at UC Santa Cruz. These actions are opposing the unnecessary development of greenspace.

Photo courtesy of http://insurgentphoto.com/main.html

The Berkeley Action is opposed to the destruction of a large grove of Coast Live Oaks in order for the campus to place an athletic training center adjacent to the campus stadium. As if the "atheletes" need a training center so close to the stadium. Maybe they are afraid of a little walk for some exercise? To make things even more contraversial, the grove is memorial dedicated to fallen Californian World War I soldiers. To top that off, 18 Native Americans were discovered buried under the stadium in 1923. This area is sacred and needs protection from furthur development. The city of Berkeley opposes the development. However, the UC only has to abide by state laws, concerns and constraints. In other words, the UC campus is comparable to a Federal agency, which answers to pretty much no one, especially local concerns of the city's residents. I suggest that if you are reading this and you are in the Bay area, that you head up to the stadium to help them. They need your help now more than ever!

Bear Mountain, which to this date is still an active action due to ground efforts in civil disobedience, stated "if the development thugs want to force through this kind of horrific, destructive project, they will need to call in the army. ef.vancouver@gmail.com". That statement may not have been from zoeblunt@gmail.com, one of the main media contacts from Bear Mountain, but it does sound like they mean business. The Bear Mountain action is opposing a highway interchange development that would slash through one of the last areas left of greenspace in Langford, BC. Bear Mountain has a long history of non-vilolence and if you are reading this in the Vancouver BC and surrounding areas, please contact Bear Mountain or visit their site to help them. Please help them stand.


The UC Santa Cruz tree-sit also opposes the campus development of our dwindling greenspace. The LRDP Resistance is preventing UC Santa Cruz from destroying 120 acres of redwood and mixed evergreen forest by doing what seems to work the best, civil disobediance and treesitting. UC Santa Cruz's LRDP(Long Range Development Pan) proposes to develop the 120 acres to provide accomodations for 4,500 new students. You can learn more about the UC Santa Cruz action on their site, where you will also find links descibing the the UC's nefarious plans. Just like Berkeley, the Santa Cruz city council also opposes the plan, but the State UC is above the local law. This is an honorable and admirable action that needs your help. Will you answer the call?


I feel that these above actions demonstrate the willingness of concerned students and activists to risk their lives and freedoms to take a stand against these greedy developers, something I feel is comparable to forest actions in Humboldt County, one of the birthplaces of tree-sitting. It is very inspiring to see these actions pop up along the coast, all of them non-violent peaceful demonstrations of civil disobedience.

Yes, I feel the UC's are elitest corporocrats, without regard for the needs of the students or community, or the planet in that matter. Tuition costs are on the rise. The gap between the upper and lower "classes" is widening, and the ability for middle income students and families to afford upper level education is becoming virtually impossible, furthur exacerbating the problem. Even here in Humboldt, the state university feels that it is more important to spend $350,000 for non-functional and tacky "so-cal-esque" gateways, instead of helping student tuitions, much needed salary increases for students, or for funding of important student programs.

Our trees are disappearing, this is a fact. Whether you live in the city, or the country, the last remnants of our greenspaces are threatened by the greed of corporations. These unaccountable companies are pushing our planet to the brink of extinction. Lately, there has been a lot of media attention towards climate change and our environment. It seems that the trend is to "think green", to live "sustainably" and to fear the coming changes that are happening right now to our entire planet. However, I feel that true meaning of these buzzwords that the media is throwing around are constantly changing and evolving to fit the needs of the elite.

This is a trick in semantics that has been used by the corporate controlled media to squash uprisings and revolutions in the past, and now, under the guise of concern for the environment. There becomes a lot of talk and no action. People begin to feel that they are doing their part, and even a small action such as recycling, justifies their guilt for driving an SUV or funding the war for oil. Does eating organic makes up for the fact that many of the smaller local organic food producers are being bought up by huge corporations? How many petroleum miles did it take for your organic food to make it to your table? How much petroleum based plastics were used to wrap it? And how many slaves from developing countries did it take to harvest your organic food?

The point is, there are actions, and there are ACTIONS! Not all of us can change our surrounding environment, but we can at least try. No one is perfect, I'm definitley not. But what makes us humans our ability to choose. We can choose to listen to Democracy Now!. We can agree with Amy Goodman. We can vote for Dennis Kucinich. These are very small token attempts at making the change we wish to see in the world, and it helps a lot people sleep at night as bombs are killing women and children in Iraq, Falun Gong monks in China are having their organs harvested, and the oceans around the planet are dying. Not to bum you out or anything...

What helps me sleep at night are DIRECT ACTIONS! What justifies my miraculous existance here on this planet are DIRECT ACTIONS! I would jump out of my skin, foam at the mouth, and have a seizure if I didn't try my best to save what is left of this planet. I can't just sit there and let injustice happen. I used to be a part of the problem, now I'm a part of the solution. What are you doing to help? Token donations for corporations such as the Sierra Club or the Republicratic(one in the same) party? Do you drive a Prius covered with petroleum based bumper stickers? That's nice. That's really going to show 'em.

For real change to happen, we all have to be present, as in show up! Be a part of the ACTION, it's what defines us as empowered, free-thinking and concerned human beings. Token gestures are great, and we are all "doing what we can". But for us to be able to tip the scale, we need to send a message to the elite that involves more than a simple email to your congressperson. Find something that you believe in and stand with your brothers and sisters. Or form your own coalition for the planet, for peace, or for whatever inspires you. You want to start a tree-sit in your neck of the woods? Come on up, we'll show you how to do it safely in a non-violent manner. We want to help inspire, teach, and share. I'm sure the above actions can help you do the same. Then take what you have learned to teach and inspire others. There is a urgent need for action here, there, and everywhere around the planet.

They have divided us through concentrating on individuality and our "differences" between each other, making the populace walking "ego-zombies". We need to find our commonalities, which most of us share. We may not always agree on how to do it. That's ok. What matters is being present, able, and willing to make change happen.

Jeff Muskrat

Humboldt Forest Defense

Email: spooner@spoonerdirect.org

These are my own views and expressions, not necessarily those of Humboldt Forest Defense or current tree-sits or actions here in Humboldt or anywhere else for that matter. Please feel free to share, copy, repost and distribute freely to the people wihout fear or hesitation.

Hired Climbers at Berkeley's Oak Grove. Gear and Possible Tree-Sitter Extraction in Process!

For immediate release: Feb. 19, 2008

Contact: Ayr 510-938-2109


Berkeley, CA- Hired climbers and UC Police arrived at the threatened oak grove on UC Berkeley (UCB) campus early this morning, where tree-sitters have protected the oaks from UC's development plans for over 14 months as a major court decision on UC's plans is pending. At last report, two climbers had scaled the large redwood tree in the oak grove, where a platform is set up, taking gear and ropes, and are now in other trees. They have not yet attempted to arrest anyone, but the situation is unclear and unfolding at the current moment.
There are at least three tree-sitters in the trees, which are surrounded by a double chain link fence topped by barbed wire, as the UC authorities have been trying to prevent re-supply of food and water to the protesters in the long stand-off, the longest running urban tree sit in the environmental movement. At least one tree-sitter has employed a "lock box" blockade technique, making removal difficult. The police's intentions at this moment are not entirely clear, as supporters of the tree sit continue to gather on site. The Grove, location of a Native American burial site as well as the grove of native coast live oaks, whose cutting City of Berkeley law prohibits, is located on Piedmont Avenue just north of Bancroft Way next to the International House.

Karen Pickett
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, California 94702
510-548-3113
bach@HeadwatersPreserve.org

Bear Mountain Tree-sit in BC Raided! Please help!

Update from Earth's Tree News 02/18/2008
2) About 40 people showed up at today's rally in Langford and marchedup the highway to view the destruction. Two dozen or so were inspired to scramble over the fresh-cut trees and stand in front of the yarders and excavators that were working. All four machines had to be shutdown for the day. The handful of police on the scene made no arrests and issued no warnings. After stopping the machines, many of us made our way through the stumps and slash to Langford Lake Cave, which has a huge mass of rebar crisscrossed over the entrance like a drunken spider web. The second entrance has a triangular steel cap welded onto it. The forest was cut down to within a few meters of the cave entrances. We found the spot where the camp kitchen had stood, and wewere able to salvage much of the food, camping gear, and personal belongings that were piled up and left on the site. Without a medium-sized army of RCMP and special officers to back them up, the contractors had no choice but to give up and go home. The police forces withdrew on Friday evening, and one officer said the operation had required 300 officers in rotating shifts on patrols, command and communications. We have raised the cost of aggressive development onthe Island – if the development thugs want to force through this kind of horrific, destructive project, they will need to call in the army.ef.vancouver@gmail.com

From: "Zoe Blunt" zoeblunt@gmail.com

The tree sit raid featured a tactical squad, up to 70 officers and assault rifles in a massive pre-dawn "surge" at the camp, where 6 peaceful protestors were sleeping.
Today's Vancouver Sun, Victoria Times Colonist and Globe and Mail stories, plus first person accounts, are featured on my blog: http://zoeblunt.gnn.tv/blogs/27106/Interchange_Overkill_Tree_Sit_Busted_Hard

Last night I went to sleep up in the first tree sit platform. We knew we were facing some kind of show down this morning, but we assumed it was going to be another attempt by the city to survey. We thought maybe they would be accompanied by RCMP officers willing to arrest people for obstruction. Well, this morning, just before dawn, I watched from my platform as a half dozen flashlights appeared in the kitchen area below me. I watched as more flashlights arrived and began to quickly scatter throughout the forest. As the sun came up I noticed about a dozen RCMP officers at the bottom of my tree, and they noticed me. In the next hour, as they attempted to talk me down, more offiers arrived, some armed with assault rifles (weapons that look like machine guns) and 'less-lethal' bean bag shotguns. I was told that neither my lawyer, my support team or media would be allowed in the forest. At this point I was getting quite worried for my safety. When I noticed a half dozen people in climbing gear I made the decision to come down. I was handcuffed, read my rights, had my knife taken away and was led out of the forest. On my way out I passed literally dozens of SWAT team looking fellas, some with dogs, everyone with lots of gear, spread out all around the woods, keeping a perimeter and standing guard at every possible trail junction. To say it was overkill is an understatement. kalanubuffalo@yahoo.com

RCMP were brought in from Nanaimo, Port Alberni, and the mainland. We can assume that all the platforms are lost... these were built during various protests over the past 5 years. Funds are needed to help with legal costs, and people are needed to write letters to media and government stating that the job of RCMP is not to protect developers and the destruction of nature from non-violent protesters, and the job of citycouncils is not to allow and aid developers to create affluent suburban sprawl. AND that RCMP have no right to steal/destroy people's stuff. The situation was just totally sick out there. mailto:there.mwolfwillow@gmail.com

Everyone in the tree sit camp was arrested today. Three people, including two tree sitters, are being held with charges pending. They may be released tomorrow. Everyone else was released without charge. From Leigh Road, we could see trees falling to a feller buncher - a giant tree cutting machine. We also saw welding equipment being moved in behind police lines. It's possible that one of the first acts of destruction today was welding shut the entrance of the Langford Lake Cave. Here is the good news: It is not over yet. This act has outraged the community and people will not give up resisting this hideous development. treesit@gmail.com

Police Assault Langford Tree-Sit
http://pacificfreepress.com/
February 13 08
by C. L. Cook

Word came early this morning: Royal Canadian Mounted Police tactical teams and support officers from the Westshore detachment, moved in on a half-dozen protesters occupying a tree-sit in a small forested area slated for destruction to make way for a highway overpass. Three arrests were made and there are, as yet unconfirmed, reports of injuries sustained by the arrestees. The tree-sit has been continuously occupied since April of last year in efforts to raise public awareness and bring pressure to bear against what the activists say is the needless destruction of an area of unique geological and environmental importance and cultural significance to First Nations.
The proposed highway is meant to alleviate traffic congestion created by the sprawling ex-urban development known as Bear Mountain, but is recognized as the necessary gateway for a redoubling of development on Spaet Mountain, (renamed Bear Mountain for the Jack Nicklaus-designed center-piece golf course the upscale housing project surrounds).
The controversial project just outside Victoria, British Columbia has drawn sharp criticism for a number of reasons: The initial land purchase deal, tainted by perceptions of conflicts of interest regarding "gifted" crown land; a city councillor who made more than a million dollars on the deal, (and stands to gain millions more) failing to recuse himself on at least one crucial green-lighting vote; environmental impact assessments that failed to note a network of karst cave structures running below the proposed route of the highway; failure to adequately consult with local First Nations bands on cultural and historical issues at the site; and, shoddy archeological studies, Bear Mountain has become the poster-child of wrong-headed development.
As if to amplify the greed and stupidity of the Langford city mayor and council, the RCMP ride to the rescue in overwhelming force sets a startling new tone for contentious land use issues on Vancouver Island, of which there are many. Kalanu, one of three sitters up on the platforms in the canopy when the raid occurred, described between fifty and seventy police, many armed with assault rifles, "bean bag" shotguns, and accompanied by snarling police dogs, aiming their weapons at him, warning his safety could not be guaranteed if he did not exit the tree.
The sitters had liaised with local RCMP several times before the assault and had made clear theirs was a strictly non-violent protest. They reassured the police there were no weapons in the camp, but that meant little to the planners of a police production that must be worth several hundreds of thousands of dollars. Officers from up island and the mainland were brought in to join the Westshore detachment, and a police spokesperson told the press they would continue on at Langford to ensure security for an unspecified period yet. That bill will have to be picked up by the tax-payers of Langford, as will the costs for continued police oversight of the final destruction of the forest and sub-alpine meadows tree-sitters had protected for nearly a year.
As of writing, the entire area is a cordoned and flagged a "red zone" against protest, or "trespass"; anyone caught there is subject to arrest. Much as the Republican regime of George W. Bush in the south has done with pesky policy protesters, the RCMP concede a tiny, gravel patched area away from the clear-cutting going on in the woods as an "O.K." protest corral.
Meeting in Victoria tonight, a group of forty or fifty activists planned strategy. While the loss of the woods is a tragic loss, the real battle is for what remains of the wild lands surrounding the city and slated next for destruction. And if today's scene is any indication, the game plan of ex-NHLer Len Barry and his consortium of developers is to destroy everything worth saving first, and leave it to the "greenies" to cry about the despoiling while he and his investors cash in on the last of the wilderness lands on southern Vancouver Island.

From: Kalanu! kalanubuffalo@yahoo.com

Good evening,
As you may have already heard by now, the tree sit has been forcefully removed from the end of Leigh Rd. and the destruction of this sacred area has already begun.
Last night I went to sleep up in the first tree sit platform. We knew we were facing some kind of showdown this morning, but we assumed it was going to be another attempt by the city to survey. We thought maybe they would be accompanied by RCMP officers willing to arrest people for obstruction.
Well, this morning, just before dawn, I watched from my platform as a half dozen flashlights appeared in the kitchen area below me. I watched as more flaslights arrived and began to quickly scatter throughout the forest. As the sun came up I noticed about a dozen RCMP officers at the bottom of my tree, and they noticed me. In the next hour, as they attempted to talk me down, more offiers arrived, some armed with assault rifles (weapons that look like machine guns) and 'less-lethal' bean bag shotguns.
I asked them if they had an injunction and they informed me that I was to be arrested for mischief, though they could not name which section of the criminal code they were referring to.
I continued to refuse and they continued to move forward.
At one point I saw one of the SWAT team members fiddling with something on his assault rifle, as another officer infomed me that there was no one left in the woods but myself and lots of cops. I was told that neither my lawyer, my support team or media would be allowed in the forest. At this point I was getting quite worried for my safety. I was again informed that the only safe way for me to come down would be voluntarily, and when I notced a half dozen people in climbing gear I made the decision to come down from the tree and try to find out whether everyone else had gotten arrested or whether a call had been made for more support to show up.
I was handcuffed, read my rights, had my knife taken away and was led out of the forest.
On my way out i passed literally dozens of SWAT team looking fellas, some with dogs, everyone with lots of gear, spread out all around the woods, keeping a perimter and standing guard at every possible trail junction.
To say it was overkill is an understatement.
As I was lead away I could hear my brothers, Noah and Luke, shouting from their platforms, and the last thing I heard from Luke was him yelling "Free the Buffalo!!" (refering to me if you couldn't guess).
Noah held out for a few hours before they extracted him, and Luke held out another couple hours after that. It sounds like Luke had a bit of fun with the traverse lines before they finally got him down. The climbers would ascend one tree, and Luke would traverse to the other.
We learned this from a few brief phone calls Luke made from his cell phone before we lost contact with him. Otherwise, none of us had any contact with the other tree sitters after I was led out. A huge perimeter was set up, those of us arrested were told we would be arrested again if we came anywhere near it, and even the press were not allowed anywhere near the area.
Not soon after I came out, a huge feller/buncher machine came by. This is a giant machine capable of harvesting many trees at once. It has to be one of the more destructive pieces of machinery I've ever seen. I started yelling at the driver to go home, that we weren't letting him in, and two other people stood in the middle of the road to block it's path. One of those two people was Ingmar, who has been quoted in the media enough times over this issue that he has been targeted as a 'leader'. The RCMP wasted no time in slamming Ingmar to the ground and hauling him off to jail.
Three of my brothers, who I love dearly, are still in jail as of this writing, and we have no idea when they will be let out. We are told they are waiting to be processed by a justice of the peace over the phone from Vancouver and that it may happen tonight, and it may happen tomorrow morning. Several of us went down to the police station as soon as they took Luke out and asked about the arrestees and given many conflicting stories from the officers as to when we could expect to see our brothers again.
From there we went to the storage facility where our belongings from the treesit were being stored. We managed to claim some equipment and personal gear, but a few personal backpacks and sleeping bags, not to mention a half dozen bikes and the Food Not Bombs bike cart were taken to the dump. Our ropes and climbing harnesses (with the exception of the one I wore out of the forest) have been seized as evidence.
Two of the other campers (who were woken earlier today with machine guns and attack dogs in their face, arrested and released) have had their sleeping bags thrown away. This on top of the fact that their home has just been bulldozed.
I still have not had a chance to properly grieve the loss of this beautiful place, and I have no idea what to do next. I feel, to quote one of the other tree sitters, like I have lost a limb. This land is more than sacred to me and I when I finish this email, a long, brutal day will wind down and I will shed many tears.
And I will think of my heroes, my brothers, Luke and Noah and Ingmar, and hope they will be released tonight and be able to sleep tonoght with people who love them. (Of which there are many.)
We lost a great deal today, more than most people will ever know. The owls returned to nest this week, along with other migratory birds, and I could hear them chirping even as the trees were being cut. Yesterday I was ecstatic to discover new young nettle plants sprouting near the kitchen. Today I am devastated because it is all gone. So much food and medicine. Gone. Another piece of priceless First Nations heritage, gone. It is too much for me and I am going to wrao it up here, as I've said enough.
Many thanks to everyone who came out this morning to witness and who have vowed to continue fighting. This is not over. This is far from over. A serious crime against nature has been committed today and we will never forget that.
Much love and respect and see you all soon.

Kalanu
-in solidarity with all life,

Kalanu
http://treesit.blogspot.com/
http://bullsheet.wordpress.com/
http://pedaltopetal.blogspot.com/
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CFUV 101.9 FM, 104.3 Cable, http://www.cfuv.uvic.ca/

Humboldt Joins This Nationwide ANSWER Coalition

Marching For Real Justice and Peace
On the eve of the anniversary of the beginning of this Iraq nightmare
Among your neighbors and millions World wide
Locally, Sat. March 15, 1:00
The Muni Auditorium.
12th & F Streets, Eureka


Join Us March 15, 08'
Remove this criminal regime
Restore the Constitution!
Bringing the demands of Americans to the streets.

What Can We Do?
1) Become more informed about the urgency of the many critical issues
2) Overcome any illusions of security and find the convictions for rousing others.
3) Hold this government to the truth by demanding corrupt officials be shorn of their power to victimize at home or abroad.
4) Write of your concerns to the editors of local newspapers
5) Give as generously as you can to make March 15th, a great enduring effort:
Please send your contributions to to:
Communities For Peace, P.O. Box 1454, Eureka, Ca. 95502


Remember, invasion, occupation and wrecking of Iraq was not provoked, as we were led to believe. Official reports show almost 1000 lies by this government, supported by mass media, sent thousands of innocent Americans, believing their countries call, ordered to assault and kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, while being victimized themselves. Now it's more evasions of this truth by both parties, while the blood flows. Why this denial? Why not admitting to truth and ending all this?


Raised on truth, expecting this of our children, in this case we must hold those responsible to even higher accountability! We dare not allow their continued ruling of our lives!
"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will."
Frederick Douglass
keeping Truth alive!

Hmmm...

Photo: View of Fern Gully Treesit Village from Garfield Elementary

From:http://eurekareporter.com/article/080201-agreement-paves-way-for-palco-flood-suit-to-come-back-to-county

Agreement paves way for PALCO flood suit to come back to county

By NATHAN RUSHTON
The Eureka Reporter
Published: Feb 1 2008, 10:31 PM ·
Updated: Feb 2 2008, 12:55 AM

A federal bankruptcy judge approved an agreement Friday between the Pacific Lumber Co. and a creditors’ group that settles millions inpotential civil damages for $1.Judge Richard Schmidt signed the agreement in a quick hearing Friday morning, which has been well-received by PALCO attorneys and is viewed by the claimant’s attorney as a way to get the case out of Texas and back ontrack for a trial in Humboldt County.The damage claims stem from three consolidated lawsuits filed in HumboldtCounty Superior Court in 2002 and 2004 by 60 Freshwater Creek and Elk River residents who live downstream of PALCO’s timberlands. The residents were seeking approximately $100 million in claims againstPALCO and Scotia Pacific Co. from alleged damages from their logging activities.The agreement leaves the door open for the litigants to pursue the lawsuit against PALCO parent company MAXXAM and its owner Charles Hurwitz, as well as PALCO and SCOPAC’s insurers.The flood claims lawsuit was scheduled to proceed to trial by Novemberthis year, but was drawn into PALCO’s bankruptcy proceeding after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas in January last year.The previous federal bankruptcy court order that halted the flood claims trial from proceeding was scheduled to be lifted Friday, but the a new“stay” will remain until after a confirmation of the plan, or June first,whichever comes first.“We think that is a major improvement,” PALCO attorney Nathaniel Holzertold the court, referring to the amended agreement. Eureka attorney Bill Bertain, who represents the 60 claimants, said Friday following the hearing that he was pleased with the outcome. Bertain said the goal of the agreement he drafted with the help of the Unsecured Creditors Committee was to avoid subjecting his clients to the costly proceedings in Texas where the bankruptcy court would have estimated the value of the cases and settled them with no money likely to come from the bankrupt company.“It will be better to pursue this in Humboldt County, rather than in Texas,” Bertain said. Frank Bacik, vice president and general counsel for PALCO, told The Eureka Reporter previously that the company would have prevailed if the cases against them went to trial.

Brief Comments on Reorganization Plans

Haven't seen the detailed reorganization plans yet but I expect to soon.

My initial reaction based on info from the local media is this:

Pacific Lumbers plan hasn't changed much and still sounds bad. Any plan that keeps Maxxam in the picture to any degree is suspect, not to mention the proposed residential developments on timberland.

The Noteholders plan to auction off the company to one or more bidders sounds terrible too. Pacific Lumber could end up in the hands of Simpson/Green Diamond, Sierra Pacific Industries or be re-purchased by Maxxam. The coalition of The Nature Conservancy, Bank of America and the Community Forestry Team say they would bid in such an auction but I don't know how good their chances of winning are.

The Marathon-Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC) plan would bring the MRC's logging practices to Humboldt County which are better than Maxxam's practices but still unsatisfactory in some ways. MRC has a company policy prohibiting logging of single Oldgrowth trees and cutting in unlogged forests. However they still utilize toxic herbicides to kill off hardwood trees like Tanoak and continue to clear-cut. Looking at their land base overall, they say they have a low rate of harvest. But it appears that they log more heavily in some watersheds and not in others, targeting areas that have higher amounts of "inventory", i.e. merchantable trees.

I certainly wouldn't endorse any of these plans but some are clearly worse than others.

Multiple Groups Seek Control of Pacific Lumber

Three groups have now submitted competing reorganization plans to the bankruptcy court. Pacific Lumber's plan remains essentially the same. The main noticeable change is that they are now proposing that Marathon Financing, a major PL creditor, be given the Scotia Mill and other facilities. Marathon Financing and Mendocino Redwood Company have already made known their plan to reorganize PL by removing upper management at the company and transplanting Mendocino Redwoods logging practices to Humboldt. The Timber Noteholders represent a majority of the "timber notes" collateralized by forestland. They propose to auction off the company for between $550 and $600 million to "Qualified" buyers including Maxxam. The Noteholders didn't go for the plan proposed by the coalition including Bank of America, The Nature Conservancy and the Community Forestry Team. The Community Team is comprised of people involved with non-profit environmental, forestry and labor groups. Members of the Community Forestry Team have said that they will bid on the company if it goes to auction.

Click here and scroll down to hear the Jan.31st KMUD 6 O'clock news interview with Sandy Dean, president of Mendocino Redwood.

I'll have to wait to post my comments on these plans until later.

Great...but what about clearcutting, herbicides and steep slope logging?

The press release from the Nature Conservancy posted on their site January 28th, 2008 states that they, along with their financial partners, wish to place the disputed 197,000 acres under a "conservation easement". They also plan to sustain local jobs, economy and the forests through an "environmentally sustainable way".

However, the definition of sustainable is constantly changing and evolving. Even Mendocino Redwood Company touts that they promote sustainable forestry by certification through the Forest Stewardship Council. But there's a catch. The MRC can say they simply PLAN to be sustainable within the next five years, and bam, they get the green seal of approval. With the recent news regarding carbon trading and tax breaks, good intentions get these greedy corporations undeserved bonuses.

No where in The Nature Conservancy's posted internet plan do they state details about what sustainable forestry is. Nor do they state what they plan to do with current Old Growth THP's, you know, THE FORESTS WE ARE PROTECTING.

I hope that the Nature Conservancy is honest about their intentions, and that this is not just "greenwash". I hope that they put an end to herbicide use, clearcuts and steep slope logging. Otherwise, I feel that the activists needed to protect the Old Growth now will still have their hands full, along with opposing Green Diamond and the notorious Sierra Pacific Industries. Both of their websites claim that they are "green". Both companys use herbicide, as well as destroy the land through clearcutting. How is this "green" or "sustainable"?

No, our work will not be finished, but at least the Old Growth may be saved by The Nature Conservancy's plan. And bless them, along with the Save-the Redwoods League, if they hold true to the definition of being green and sustainable. IF they do set aside 12,000 acres into protected public wildlife areas, hopefully this will free up more activists to be able to concentrate on other companies and issues besides PL.

Please join us, we need your help to protect these sensitive areas as we wait for the final verdict. We will always need your help with future forest issues. And thank you for all who have helped us, wether you sat in a tree, or donated even a dollar to our cause. We couldn't have done it without you!

UC Berkeley plans to cut more trees in Albany, Ca!

What's the deal?

Is UC Berkeley the new inner city greenspace removal team?(Well, in fact they are, check out UC Berkeley's "feel good about the tree massacre disinformation plan")

Why would they do this? The UC claims that the trees, all 317 of them, are diseased and a hazard to the public. But check out the real reason, which has to do with UC greed and corruption.

Photo by LinJun Fan

Albany, Ca is only 2.46 miles away from the UC Berkeley campus. The plan is to remove 317 (yes, that's three hundred and seventeen) Monterey Pines from the Gill Tract starting Janurary 28th.

Albany Mayor Robert Lieber does not feel that the removal of so many Monterey Pines is necessary. "I'm disappointed that we're removing so many trees," he said. "I didn't think there was community outreach to educate people about why they'll need to be removed. I'm skeptical that they all need to be removed as the university says. Hopefully, we can preserve some."

With the overwhelming support recieved by the community in favor of the Berkeley Treesit, it is interesting that the UC thinks they can get away with this. And with the juxtaposition of the new greenspace slaughter plan in Albany, I'm sure the UC will recieve the much deserved opposition as they have for the past year over their destructive plans. Afterall, the new plan is only a hop, skip and a jump from the Berkeley action.

To reach the UC Berkeley's Manager, Grounds Operations & Pest Management Services AKA treeslayer, here is his info. Please call or write him, I'm sure he would love to hear from you.

Phil Cody

642-7413

malone@berkeley.edu

And here is his boss:

Associate Director, Custodial, Grounds, and Environmental Services
Chris Lee
643-3381
crislee@berkeley.edu

Stories and info obtained from above links.

Thank you Dean for getting this out, you have the best and most up to date environmental action information. I recommend readers to check out http://olyecology.livejournal.com/.

Again, this post is regarding the Bay area, so please visit the Berkeley treesit, the Midnight Special Law collective and the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters for more information and how to participate in Bay area non-violent actions.

Please visit http://humboldtforestdefense.blogspot.com/ or email humboldtforestdefense@gmail.com to recieve information regarding our current local Humboldt County actions. We provide free non-violent direct action training and climbing trainings in the Humboldt County area for all interested activists.

Super Heroes!

WOW!

With gusts up to 55 miles per hour, it takes a lot of courage and dedication to stay HUNDREDS of feet in the air during hail, thunder, lightning, and severe winds. Even though mother nature and her fury tests treesitting activists, they stay strong in their cause.

These high altitude villages can be blown sometimes 15-20 FEET in both directions as winds test the strength of these Ancient Redwoods, as well as the strength of their protectors. The villages remained occupied throughout the past week, even through the strongest winds, as the storm slammed into the North Coast.

It is dangerous simply to be on the ground during high winds in the woods, especially in forests surrounded by clear-cuts. Normally, the winds would be buffered by surrounding trees, acting as a wind shield, and protecting the inner woods. However, Nanning Creek and Fern Gully lack the protection that a normal, "healthy" forest has due to excessive logging.

The first time that I sat in a tree was in Nanning Creek, during a massive winter storm a few years ago. It was challenging enough to climb 160 feet to "Spooner's" lower living space in the rain and wind for my first experience. As the storm progressed the first night, I found my self clinging to the platform ropes for dear life as I watched surrounding trees sway back a forth in the winds. I wondered if I could make it thorough without giving up and climbing down.

The feeling is comparable to being in a very small "dingy" boat caught in a squall, only this boat was suspended high in a Ancient Redwood tree. As the storm got progressed the second day and trees began to fall around us, I began to trust "Spooner" the tree and accept my situation. I chose to protect a being that was over two thousand years old and my place was to "go down with the ship" if by chance that this was "Spooner's" last storm.

Imagine, the storms that "Spooner" experienced these past two millennia. Spooner has seen earthquakes, floods, fires, and greater storms than we or our children will ever see, hopefully. This brought a sense of peace to me and helped reaffirm my presence. "Spooner" was never going to drop us. As I was thinking this, all of a sudden, my treemate and I hear a loud cracking and popping sound.

My first thought was that the "Sprout" that our platform is partially secured to was breaking off. "Sprout" is a branch, technically called a reiteration, but imagine this branch being about the size of a second growth tree, about 4-5 feet in diameter. “Sprouts” are known to fall from Coast Redwoods, part of Sequioa Semperviren’s reproduction cycle. I thought we were about to fall 160 feet, crashing to the forest floor below. My treemate helped keep me calm and collected as the sound got louder and closer.

BOOOOOOOOM! "Spooner" shook as if there was a large earthquake. My first thought was that we were safe but also I believed our tree "Spooner" was hit by another tree. Luckily, this was not the case. After inspecting the damage in the morning, we discovered that a large second growth tree had fallen over 500 feet away from "Spooner", on the edge of the grove and the clear-cut.

I am grateful to "Spooner", as well as the Universe, for protecting us through that wild and dangerous storm. We were in a place that even loggers refuse to enter during mild inclement weather, due to the danger of falling trees and "Widow Maker" branches. It takes spirit and dedication to protect these ancient giants. It takes faith and guts to stay in a swaying Redwood as trees fall around you. Anyone who treesits is definitely a hero, but choosing to risk your life in these fierce winds qualifies these brave activists as super heroes!

I am reminded of my "close to death" experience every time I visit Nanning Creek. The tree that fell so close, yet luckily so far to "Spooner", actually fell across our path into the Ancient Grove that we are protecting. The shoots of new growth reach for the sky and remind me that these life forms are precious and worth protecting. No matter how tired I am from hiking in supplies, or burned out from the psychological aspect of helping support a treesit, my heart is lightened and my spirits lifted every time I reach the end of my trek at the fallen one.

The fallen tree created a nice bridge for us to walk across on our way in, avoiding the mudslide and slash that Pacific Lumber is famous for, across our county. It is natural for Redwoods to fall, and for reiterations to break off, creating new trees. Redwoods reproduce that way. Redwoods seeds have only a .05 germination rate. Most redwood trees come from fallen trees, reiterations or stumps that are fortunate to have fallen naturally and left to grow or decompose. Clear-cuts are unnatural, and logging companies are forced to sometimes plant these destroyed areas, usually with cloned GMO trees.

If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound? Of course it does, especially for someone who is there risking their life to protect these Ancients. But there is both the physical sound of a tree snapping and crashing to the floor, and the metaphysical sound as the process of rebirth begins for a Coast Redwood. It is an experience that only a select few brave and dedicated activists are fortunate enough to hear. To hear this natural sound, opposed to chainsaws and what follows, is truly a blessing and a reward.

To help protect these ancient ones, please visit:

http://humboldtforestdefense.blogspot.com/


May the forests be with us...Always!


Jeff Muskrat
Humboldt Forest Defense
spooner@spoonerdirect.org

Something we can all be proud of...

Hung Jury in Case of Support for Tree-Sitters in Oaks

As he left court, Ayr said, "I am proud to be a tree-sit supporter. I am also glad that at least for today, that is not considered acriminal act."

From: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/02/18469750.php

For more info on Berkeley action: www.saveoaks.org

Please Help Bear Mountain Treesit

To help Bear Mountain, visit http://treesit.blogspot.com/

From: Zoe Blunt <http://us.f521.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=zoeblunt@gmail.com>

Date: Dec 21, 2007 11:22 AM

At 9:30 am Friday, Dec 21, a survey crew arrived at the site of the Bear Mountain Interchange in Langford to begin staking out the route for the new highway. By 11 am, around a dozen campers and supporters moved to peacefully block the crew from working. The campers and supporters are there to protect Spencer's Pond, Langford Lake Cave and rare wildlife from destruction. Chants of "the people united will never be defeated!" could be heard through the forest.

More supporters and witnesses are needed today, this weekend and next week, including Christmas. It is not likely that people will be arrested today, as they are not breaking any laws. However, we expect that the City of Langford and Bear Mountain Resort will apply for a court ordered injunction to remove the campers.

The survey crew appears to be private contractors hired by the city or the resort.

The tree sit camp includes six forest defenders on platforms high in the trees, along with many more people camping on the ground . The Spaet Mountain Action Coalition has promised to protect the forest by all peaceful means, including risking arrest by committing civil disobedience.

On Thursday, three uniformed RCMP officers accompanied by four plainclothes officers visited the camp and photographed the platforms, the tripod over the cave, and the traverse lines connecting the tree sits high in the forest canopy.

For more info: 885-8219.

http://treesit.blogspot.com/

http://us.f521.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ZoeBlunt@gmail.com

Santa Cruz Action Raided!

LRDP Tree Sit Being Attacked!

Police arrived at the UCSC Tree Sit and removed things from under the trees.

by Whitney Wilde Monday Dec 17th, 2007 12:41 PM

Police and a clean-up crew arrived at the tree sit this morning and removed branches, lean-tos, supplies and other things from under the tree sit area. It was all put into a dumpster and hauled away. Then a street cleaner swept the parking lot. A cherry picker showed up and took one of the banners down from trees. About 30-40 protestors showed up to try to stop them. Protesters were not able to recover any items but have reclaimed the space. Police took photos of all the protesters that were there. The clean-up has made it easier to get vehicles under the trees and it may be the first step in trying to remove the tree sitters. Protesters have been concerned that the lack of students on campus over the holidays would leave the area vulnerable.
http://lrdpresistance.org/

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
More from an email to HFD:

(THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE, NICK!)

This morning, 10 or so pigs came into the UCSC treesit on science hill, they brought a cherry picker, a back hoe, a street sweeper, and a dump truck, took down the biggest banner hanging between two of the trees, and sitters went out on traverses to prevent the other banners from being cut down. They demolished the several stick forts on the site, they destroyed the raised garden, they removed all the rocks/sticks/stumps from the area, and then swept all of the duff away. Protesters re-claimed and then re-duffed the site. The sitters are safe in the trees and still being supported for now, but this is being viewed as an expiriment on the part of the pigs and the admin to test the response and clear the way for eviction. I've got to get to a meeting so thats all for now,

Cheers-Nick

BERKELEY OAKS ALERT from the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters Nov. 8, 2007

><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><::><

As previously reported to this list this morning, construction equipment showed up early today at the threatened OAK GROVE on Piedmont Ave. near Bancroft Way, at the top of UC Berkeley campus. They are carrying out work to erect a bigger, taller, more formidable SECOND FENCE around a larger perimeter of the the trees, WHICH STILL HAVE TREE SITTERS IN THEM. In a letter to Judge Barbara Miller, UC Berkeley stated that the purpose of the new fence (which they are erecting at this moment) is to "establish a larger security perimeter PRIOR TO REMOVAL of the tree-sit protesters."Support from the community at the grove is critical at this time. We do not know when they will begin yanking tree-sitters out of trees. It could be today; it could be tomorrow. UC has not stated WHEN they intend to extract the protesters, but they have stated clearly that they do intend to do so. PLEASE COME to a Community RALLY and vigil at 4:30pm at the Oak Grove TODAY ! UC's action in erecting this fence is reckless and infringes on the rights of everyone to enjoy this sacred site. Please join us today at 4:30pm for a life-affirming gathering of everyone who supports the oak grove. PLEASE FORWARD to all your friends who care about the oaks.

For the trees, the folks at BACH

-- Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH)2530 San Pablo Ave.Berkeley, CA 94702phone: 510 548 3113email: bach@headwaterspreserve.orghttp://www.headwaterspreserve.org/

Tree-sit in UC Santa Cruz

http://www.lrdpresistance.org/index.php

So I was looking through indy news and found this comment on:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/07/18458742.php

"Tree Sitters!!! Lesley-Reid Harrison Imagine my surprise when I hop of the bus this morning to police cordoning off the parking lot directly outside the Physical Sciences Building ..... road rage in the parking lot??? It's not even 8 in the morning I think.... but NO it's better than that .... we have 2 platforms about 4 stories high in the red woods - activists protesting the LRDP! CONTINUA ALUTA!!!! "

This is the second(that I know of) tree-sit set up to protest a University of California campus clearcut. And yes, it is a clearcut when the trees are replaced by concrete, asphault, dorm rooms and the most ridiculous, a sports traning center in UC Berkeley. Why is it so hard for the atheletes to walk from a location further than right outside the stadium? Is it too far for the muscle bound inspiring sport's stars to walk a little furthur than right in front of the stadium? How spoiled can you get? Must be getting ready for the NFL and the perks of the professional sponsored athelete.

Now you have another action to protect greenspace, at the UCSC campus. How will/have the overall residents of Santa Cruz support this action? Although the Berkeley has overwhelming support by the community, the fact is that they are both state "institutions", and not necessarily subject to local control. In other words, the state has power over local government and enforcement. So my question is, why would a city give up local control to house a UC, CS, etc?

This should set a precedent for cities across the state. Those who feel that local control should be kept to protect the community may want to consider the downsides of hosting a State campus, correctional facility, or military base, whether it is the decision of the community or not. Direct action should be taken against any force that threatens the ideals or values of the local community and it's resources.

The Bear Mountain Tree-sit Victoria, BC

Update! From http://olyecology.livejournal.com/

November 11th, 2007

1) Local environmentalists aren't going to give up the fight over a new interchange in langford, which is slated to begin construction in the new year. A lively protest took place over the noon hour in downtown Victoria -- more than one hundred people showing their disgust with plans for the Spencer road interchange -- more commonly known as the bear mountain interchange. They rallied outside the downtown Victoria offices of the B.C. ministry of transportation, next to the central library branch. Activist grandmother Betty Krawczyk whipped up the crowd, saying her efforts to block a highway project at Eagleridge bluffs on the mainland is similar to the Langford situation. "Everything that has to do with equality, that has to do with love for the environment, for each other," Krawczyk says, "every institution that we have has been put there by somebody before us who loves enough to commit civil disobedience." Krawczyk has spent many months in jail for her own civil disobedience on plenty of fronts -- and Tuesday's crowd seems to indicate many young people are willing to follow her lead. "They're not going to put everybody in jail," she says, "not now. not when the Olympics eye is on this area." Construction on the $32-million interchange is set to begin by January -- and is scheduled for completion in 2010. The city of Langford is on record as saying the project will proceed in the new year, no matter how much protest occurs. There have been people perched in the trees near the proposed interchange site since April, as a show of support for the anti-development movement. http://www.cfax1070.com/newsstory.php?newsId=3735


From: "Zoe Blunt" (Please forward this message)

Bear Mtn Interchange: Destruction starts in December Chainsaws, bulldozers, and blasting are on the way. Are we ready? Join us at a public rally at the Ministry of Transportation this Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 12 noon, at Library Square downtown (BroughtonStreet and Douglas). Bring your friends and welcome Grandma Betty Krawczyk's return after her release from jail for defending Eagleridge Bluffs.Now is the time to get involved. According to city staff and engineers, tree clearing for the Bear Mountain Interchange will begin in early December, followed by road grading in January and overpass construction in March. The alignment for the three-lane road was moved slightly to the east, which engineers claim will miss Langford Lake Cave by 20 meters. It is not clear if the cave will be damaged by drilling and blasting, or if the road grade will destroy part of the 40-meter-long cavity.The new highway alignment puts the road much closer to Spencer's Pond. It will destroy the forest on its western edge, which is crucialhabitat for Pacific tree frogs and red-legged frogs. The new highway will also kill many red-legged frogs and habitat for screech owls,great horned owls, pileated woodpeckers, and dozens of other species.The first phase of construction is a north-south connector linkingBear Mountain Parkway with Goldstream Avenue and Highway 1, pluson-ramps on the north and east sides of Leigh Road. The new highway isthree lanes wide in most places, and up to five lanes wide near the overpass. See high resolution image here: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/1821229691_dfe3bbec56_b.jpg
Phase Two will add the cloverleaf to the west of Leigh Road, south of the highway where the tree sit camp is located. No timeline has been assigned to the second phase of the interchange. What does this mean? We can expect to see new property markers, flagging tape and painted blazes in the forest. The first work crews that come in will cut down all the trees in the right of way and haul them out. The timber is a"gift" to the Esquimalt First Nation. After all the trees are cut down, bulldozers, rock drills and blasting equipment will level the landscape. The rise at the end of Leigh Roadwill be blasted out and the wetlands below will be filled in to even the grade. A substantial amount of fill will be needed on the downhill side, as the grade will join to an overpass over the highway. Habitat will be destroyed and fragmented. The sit camp is about 40 meters outside of the right of way, but the city may need to evict the campers anyway because of tree-falling safety rules. Anyone blocking the way can expect to have court documents served on them or possibly be arrested for trespassing. There is information about civil disobedience at the camp. Those defending the forest and the cave will use every available peaceful means to stop or delay construction. Please come to the treesit at the north end of Leigh Road, half a kilometer west of Spencer Road and Goldstream Avenue in Langford. Action is needed now, and experienced activists are especially encouraged to apply. Thank you!-- ZoeBlunt@gmail.comMore info, maps and directions: http://treesit.blogspot.com/http://interchangeconsultation.blogspot.com/-- -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
the truth is in here - http://relativenewz.ca/-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Commercial free community radio CFUV 101.9 FM, 104.3 Cable, http://www.cfuv.uvic.ca/

What is a TPZ? Board of Supervisors act to protect our local forests.

From: Earth Tree News

On October 9th the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to impose a temporary 45-day suspension on residential development on Timber Production Zoned (TPZ) lands, as an urgent response to Maxxam's plans to develop 22,000 acres of Pacific Lumber's timberland into private 'kingdoms' with trophy homes, golf courses and a lodge. Maxxam was able to propose its project specifically because of Humboldt County's historically lax interpretation of State law regarding residential development on TPZ lands. The interim suspension had a dramatic effect on the bankruptcy court in Texas, clearly communicating that Maxxam's plan was not in the interest of the local community. Now the Supervisors are seeking to restore people's property rights, but in a way that is consistent with State law. The Supervisors have directed staff to bring forward an ordinance that would require either an administrative permit or a Conditional Use Permit for homesite development on TPZ lands. Under the policies being proposed, anyone with legitimate needs to build a house on their timberland would be able to get an over-the-counter administrative permit with a minimum of hassle, and no discretionary review. Anyone whose proposal does not meet the defined terms for the administrative permit would still be able to seek a Conditional Use Permi at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. This approach would weed out the speculators and 'bad actors,' with a minimum of inconvenience to those with legitimate needs. If approved, the new ordinance would not take effect for 30 days. The interim suspension will expire on November 22nd, meaning that there could be a gap of up to a month which would allow Maxxam to move its plan forward, and would allow a filing frenzy by speculators who would take advantage of the County's lax policies. To prevent this from happening, the Supervisors will need another 4/5 vote to extend the interim suspension, just until the new TPZ ordinance takes effect.

http://northcoastwaternetwork.org/

Related news from Earth Tree News:

Thousands of acres of forest throughout the Sierra Nevada will go to the highest bidder next month in an auction that has become a regular occurrence for Sierra Pacific Industries, California’s largest private landowner. Among the nearly 5,000 acres the logging company has put up for sale this year is a 338-acre tract of Nevada County land along the upper reaches of the South Yuba River west of Truckee. Other parcels include properties near the Feather River north of Sierra Valley. The properties represent a minute fraction of the timber company’s 1.7 million acres of ownership in the state. The company said it chose the parcels because they don’t fit into the logging giant’s future plans. “We have a series of these properties that are isolated,” said company spokesman Mark Pawlicki. “They don’t sit near where our mills are.” The Nevada County property is close to recreation and far removed from other timber land, said Pawlicki, making it a natural candidate for the auction block. And, despite a variable California real estate market, auctioneers say demand for the fairly remote, wild and undeveloped land is still high. John Rosenthal, the president of Realty Marketing Northwest, a Portland, Oregon-based company that has handled property auctions for Sierra Pacific Industries over the last 16 years, said he expects multiple bids to come in by the Nov. 14 deadline, promising a competitive price for the land. “There’s still a strong demand for rural properties,” Rosenthal said. The collection of 18 California properties for sale run up and down the spine of the Sierra Nevada mountain range as well as on the North Coast — from Tuolomne County in the south to Trinity County in the north. “This is probably one of the larger [auctions] we’ve offered in terms of number of tracts,” Rosenthal said. All but one of the properties are designated as “Timber Production Zone” — a zoning that exempts timber harvesters from paying taxes on the property’s real estate potential while it is used for logging. It typically takes 10 years to convert a property from “Timber Production Zone” to another zoning, without paying back taxes — a conversion that a county’s board of supervisors must approve. Rosenthal said the properties generate interest from people who want to extract the timber, and also from “someone who has made money in the stock market and wants to put it into some dirt.” http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20071028/NEWS/71028006/-1/rss01

Also:

David Millarch, co-founder of the Champion Tree Project, said: “We can rebuild our old-growth forests when we use old-growth forest genetics.” The group will grow the cloned trees until they reach two to three feet in height, then plant them in various locations in California’s coastal region. The group will ensure genetic diversity by planting new growth with 80% seedlings and 20% clones. The group will create the clones by sending climbers high into the trees. The climbers will collect tissue samples from the tips of branches, then ship the samples to a lab where they will be raised using one of four different growth techniques. Some have questioned whether cloning is the proper method to restore the forests. Ruskin Hartley, executive director of Save the Redwoods in San Francisco, says that the group’s methods are unnecessary and inappropriate. Hartley believes cloning could muddy the gene pool due to regional differences in the species. He also points out that the forests naturally reproduce using clones already, and that many of the forests damaged by logging are now beginning to show naturally grown young redwoods. According to Hartley, “The only way that you can really go about restoring the ancient forest is waiting a really long time—that’s the essence of the oldness of these forests.” http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/?p=399

From Earth Tree News(248th edition)
Subscribe / unsubscribe send blank email to: earthtreenews-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
Weblog: http://olyecology.livejournal.com .

Oaks Grove ALERT! from the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters

On Monday, Oct. 29, a judge ruled that UC Berkeley police can removetree-sitters from the threatened oak grove on UC Berkeley campus, where activists have been defending the grove from the University's development plans since last Dec. 2. There are two different actions that have been in court in recent months: Three lawsuits challenging the University's plans to level the oakgrove to build a sports training facility have been in court sincelate in 2006 (Those lawsuits were combined in one court action, but remain separate challenges, one filed by the City of Berkeley, one bythe Panoramic Hills Association and a third by non-profits includingthe California Oak Foundation). The long-awaited trial endedrecently, but a judgement is not expected until the second week in November at the earliest. This would determine whether the Universitycan legally go ahead with their plans. Yesterday's decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by UC Berkeleyseeking more authority to remove and fine the tree-sitters, even if they don't know who they are. What the implications are for tree-sitsupporters on the ground is being determined by campaign organizers.But suffice to say, if UC law enforcement moves in against thetree-sitters, we will need to rally support for the brave andstalwart tree-dwellers, for the loyal ground support, and for thetrees themselves.Stay tuned. Check the website: http://www.saveoaks.com/. You can call the grove ground support at 510-938-2109. We will do our best to get an alert out on email if the situationarise where support is needed. But it is always a good idea to goby the grove with food, a donation or expression of support. It is located on Piedmont Avenue just north of Bancroft St. and theInternational House.

-- Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH)

2530 San Pablo Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94702

phone: 510 548 3113

email: bach@headwaterspreserve.org

http://www.headwaterspreserve.org/

Worker dies on conveyer at Centralia lumber mill

from http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/washingtonstate/index.ssf?/base/news-32/1192208415318750.xml&storylist=orwashington#continue
10/12/2007, 9:40 a.m. PDT
The Associated Press

CENTRALIA, Wash. (AP) — The Lewis County sheriff's office says a worker killed at a Centralia lumber mill was caught in a conveyor.
Workers at Sierra Pacific Industries told deputies they saw the man Thursday trying to free a piece of lumber that had turned sideways. He apparently slipped and became pinned in the machinery.
Workers were attempting to use a blowtorch to cut him out when the 32-year-old Longview-area man was declared dead.

Protest: Ax clear-cutting

From Redding.com http://www.redding.com/news/2007/oct/07/protest-ax-clear-cutting/

Demonstrators argue SPI's practice hurts environment

By Jim Schultz (Contact)Sunday, October 7, 2007

Photo by Julie Peters / Record Searchlight
TREE LOVER: Tammy Allan, a Montgomery Creek resident, brought her dog, Annie, to Saturday’s clear-cut logging protest.

Photo by Julie Peters / Record Searchlight
CLEAR-CUT MESSAGE: A crowd of demonstrators protesting clear-cutting practices by Sierra Pacific Industries included a group of children, who made it clear how they feel about the issue. The protest took place Saturday outside Redding City Hall.

Car honks, friendly waves of support -- and at least one extended middle finger -- greeted a crowd of demonstrators Saturday as they rallied on the sidewalks outside Redding City Hall to protest clear-cutting practices by the Shasta County-based Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI).
The approximately 80 demonstrators, some toting signs deploring the timber practice, made it clear that they did not oppose logging.
"We aren't against logging," said 51-year-old Marily Woodhouse of Manton. "But we want responsible logging."
The two-hour demonstration, which also saw a group of children repeatedly chanting "Save our trees, help us, please," was designed to draw attention to SPI's use of clear-cut logging and its possible environmental consequences, organizers said.
It's their hope that SPI -- the largest private forestland holder in North America -- will halt that destructive practice, they said.
An SPI spokesperson could not be reached Saturday for comment, but a company official has said that it complies with strict California forest practice laws and regulations and that its practices are also reviewed by a number of state agencies.
Demonstrator Tammy Allan, a clinical social worker and three-year Montgomery Creek resident, brought along to the sidewalk protest her nearly7-year-old white boxer, Annie, who carried her own anti-clear-cut message on her flanks.
Allan, who said she fears Shasta County is one of several California counties being decimated by clear-cutting, thinks SPI should act more responsibly in its logging.
Woodhouse, who said she is also trying to fight an SPI plan to clear-cut more than 800 acres near the Manton area, agreed.
"What we want them to do is the right thing," she said.
Woodhouse, as well as others at the rally, say rampant clear-cutting can, besides destroying a forest's natural beauty, cause irreparable damage to watersheds and wildlife habitat as well as contribute to global warming.
"We're talking about serious ramifications here," Woodhouse said.
The Redding protest was one of many that are being set up by the San Francisco-based and nonprofit ForestEthics as part of its "Save the Sierra" campaign.
Reporter Jim Schultz can be reached at 225-8223 or at jschultz@redding.com.

Bankruptcy News and Updates

What will become of PL? What will happen to our local forests?

The Future of Pacific Lumber(Save Ancient Forests update 10/02/2007)

PL's Reorganization Plan(Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment)

San Francisco Chronicle 10/02/2007

Times-Standard Article 09/15/2007

Eureka Reporter Article 09/15/2007

Boston Globe 09/17/2007

MSNBC 09/17/2007

Enivironmental News Network 09/18/2007

Web India 123 (regarding town of Scotia) 09/11/2007

Long Live The Giving Trees

By Brown Rabbit

September 26 2007

On this Full Moon

of Abundance

we find ourselves taking,

taking more than we need

and threatening to bleed

the big, bold, and bright

green Giants giving off

sweet, soft air

and haven

to a thousand living things.

Please do not cut these Beings down.

Please do not kill for profit

or for proposed and supposed Human benefit.

I know, and you know, that we would all much more deeply benefit

from the living with

and learning from

the silent stance of beauty and strength

that these Redwoods embody and instruct.

Murder is fuct

and not part of this dream.

Go downstreamwith your gas-powered saw

where your life is ruled

by unruly law

and the belief

in your separation

and power overlife.

Go downstream

with pain and strife.

These Redwoods stand free

as you and me

and we join in agreement

to acknowledge our

inherent right to live out our lives

in peace

and in full blooming beauty

without threat of death

from another.

The wind blows

from end to end,

life to life

and the living never dies,

only flies

in different

phases

through different

hazes

of colorand light;

the eternal flight

of the eternal flower.

Aloha

We Remember You David Nathan "Gypsy" Chain

From http://saveancientforests.blogspot.com/
Today marks nine years since the death of David Nathan Chain, known to fellow forest defenders as Gypsy. He died on a steep, forested mountain side during an attempt by 9 forest activists to non-violently stop logging in an area where illegal operations were occuring. Once he had been informed by the activists that the logging plan was being cut illegally and that a government inspector was on his way he became enraged. The logger screamed threats and chased everyone, the went back and fell several trees in the direction of the people he had repeatedly chased. One of the comments screamed by the logger was, "F--k I wish I had my f--king pistol!". Not long after he cut a tree that hit Gypsy, killing him instantly. Earth First!ers blockaded the logging road to the site to protect the crime scene which may have been destroyed the next day. No criminal charges were ever filed against the logger but the investigator, Juan Freeman, considered pressing charges against the activists who were in the woods with Gypsy that day. Gypsy's mother, Cindy Alsbrooks, convinced Juan Freeman that this was the wrong thing to do.Cindy Alsbrooks later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Pacific Lumber which resulted in a out of court settlement. Among other things the settlement included a memorial plaque at the foot of the mountain where he was killed, near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.Climbing trainings were recently held at the memorial site during a forest defense action camp. The plac dedicated to him has been defaced, causing strong emotional reactions of anger and sadness among those who saw it. It stands as testimony that some still hold on to their blind hatred of environmental activists.

Nanning Raid Update/PL Violations of Murrelet Protections?

Eric Shatz was one of the raiders cutting down platforms, traverses and living spaces with gas powered chainsaws in Marbled Murrlete habitat during Murrlete protection season. This has been verified by experienced activists. No (loud)work should be done by PL during this protection season. Not only did they disturb the wildlife, they also dumped our contained food stores all over the forest floor. This is a BIG taboo for sitters, we compost all food scraps, we avoid feeding wildlife because corvids such as Grey Jays and Crows attack nesting birds. Corvids are attracted by garbage and human scraps. The raiders also left the equipment they did not steal such as sleeping bags, blankets, ropes and other non-biodegradable items scattered throughout the woods.Forest defenders were away from Nanning this summer for a number of reasons. We felt that the grove was safe due to the Murrlete restrictions. We felt that our presence, even at a bare minimun, was not ethical. If we were in the canopy during the summer, we may have discouraged nesting Murrletes...contradicting our hard work to protect this habitat. We run a tight ship in regards to "leaving only footprints" in the woods. Yes, it is more than obvious who's property we are on. However, we were really surprized at the lack of respect that Eric Shatz and his crew has for the forest and wildlife. We hope that you will answer the call to help us, to hold PL accountable for their actions, and to support the effort to protect Nanning Creek.

As of Wednesday, September 12th, PL continues to harass sitters from the ground, as well as maintain a security presence at entrances to the Nanning sit. Please use caution if you attempt to enter the sit. Call Humboldt Forest Defense for more information.

ACTION CAMP SEPTEMBER 6TH-10TH!GRIZZLY CREEK CAMPGROUND(CARLOTTA, CA)

We are brought together with the common goal of preventing old-growth logging, clear cutting, the use of herbicides and non-sustainable forestry in all areas of the region, the nation and the planet.

FROM THE NORTH:
1.US-101 SOUTH PAST EUREKA 2. Turn LEFT onto HWY36. 17.1 miles 3. End at Grizzly Creek Redwoods Park: 16949 State Highway 36, Carlotta, CA 95528, US

FROM THE SOUTH:
1.US-101 NORTH PAST SCOTIA/RIO DELL 2.Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto CA-36. 17.1 miles 3.End at Grizzly Creek Redwoods Park: 16949 State Highway 36, Carlotta, CA 95528, US

FROM I-5:
1.FROM REDDING, CA, follow CA-299 W. 38.1 miles 2.CA-299 W becomes CA-3. 35.4 miles 3.CA-3 becomes CA-36. 54.8 miles End at Grizzly Creek Redwoods Park: 16949 State Highway 36, Carlotta, CA 95528, US

What to Bring:

-Camping Gear- Tent or tarp, sleeping bag, light or headlamp, musical instruments, etc.

-Food- For 4-5 days, as well as utensils(bowl, cup, eatingware)

ोवे and Non-Violence-If you can't bring all of the above items, love and peace is all you need!

What to Expect:

-Activist training- A broad spectrum of trainings offered by various activists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond

-Open Skill Sharing- Of skills, stories, music, love and kindness

-Direction- What our purpose is, what our actions are, share your purpose, share your actions(how and where to help)

What is not accepted:

-Heirarchy- of any type, ego, sex, etc.

-Violence- both physical and verbal

-Illegal Drugs- Please leave illegal drugs and alcohol at home

-Slacktivism- This is not a place to sit on your hands and do nothing, there is enough of that going on nationwide. We all have something to contribute.

To volunteer time and skill, or to help support this opportunity TO inspire and guide future generations of activists, please call 707-845-9046 or email spooner@spoonerdirect.org. The location (under one hour drive from Arcata, Ca) will be announced here at the HFDA blog and by voice recording at the above number the day before of Action Camp. Carpools are forming from Arcata and Eureka.

Freshwater can have more than just a park...

Photo from http://ferngully.wesavetrees.org/

Just recently, Freshwater Park recieved a grant from the state Parkways Grant Program. The $271,000 grant will be used to create a cutting edge fish ladder for the dam, as well as revamping the entire park.
See the whole story from the Times-Standard...
The community of Freshwater would benefit immensely by having an adjacent stand of Old Growth trees. The Fern Gully Treesit is on it's fifth year of protecting one the only stands left of old growth left in Freshwater, only one year until the timber harvest plan expires. But what will happen to the grove after the plan expires?
Imagine hiking through a lush grove of Old Growth trees, right next to the town of Freshwater. You may say, "I didn't know that there are any Old Growth trees left on private property and so close to civilization". Fern Gully is an exceptional exception. Contact Fern Gully in Freshwater to find out how you can help.

Sierra Pacific ACTION!

Sierra Pacific Industries is another fiend(not friend) of our forests. As the #1 private land owner in the United States, it is just as important to stand against SPI as it is to stand against Pacific Lumber. SPI, as with PL, clearcuts our forests, uses herbicides, and logs unsustainably. SPI has a processing plant here locally on the Manilla penninsula. To find out about a new action against SPI, visit savethesierra.org

This action is both easy and fun! ACTION is needed now!

"Habitat" Brand Herbicide Toxicity

An old herbicide "Imazapyr" is being called by a new name, "Habitat". "Experts are convinced" that they should spray this poison on invasive plants that have "choked streams". Here is a breakdown on some of the effects of this chemical.

IMAZAPYR

Imazapyr is a broad-spectrum herbicide in the imidazolinone family. Its primary uses in the U.S. are for vegetation control in forests and rights-of-way.

Imazapyr is corrosive to eyes and can cause irreversible damage. Imazapyr-containing herbicides are irritating to both eyes and skin.

Adverse effects found in laboratory animals after chronic exposure to imazapyr include the following: fluid accumulation in the lungs of female mice, kidney cysts in male mice, abnormal blood formation in the spleen of female rats, an increase in the number of brain and thyroid cancers in male rats, and an increase in the number of tumors and cancers of the adrenal gland in female rats.

Imazapyr can persist in soil for over a year. Persistence studies suggest that imazapyr residues damage plants at concentrations that are not detectable by laboratory analysis. Imazapyr moves readily in soil. It has contaminated surface and ground water following aerial and ground forestry applications.

Small amounts of imazapyr (as little as 1/50 of a typical application rate) can damage crop plants. Imazapyr exposure also has the potential to seriously impact rare plant species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified 100 counties in 24 states east of the Mississippi River where endangered species may be jeopardized by use of imazapyr.

Over a half-dozen weedy plant species have developed resistance to imazapyr.

EEL RIVER TO BE POISONED!

from article:http://www.times-standard.com/ci_6356998?source=most_viewed

accessed 071407

Agencies push weed eradication by herbicide

John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
Article Launched: 07/12/2007 04:25:17 AM PDT
Purple loosestrife, an aggressive plant that has choked streams around the country, has taken hold in the Eel River watershed over the past decade. Experts are convinced they can eradicate it from the area, however, if they can use an herbicide that inhibits the plants' production of a growth enzyme, essentially making it starve itself to death...agencies have shifted to a plan to use the herbicide Habitat, recently approved for use in California, and applied with a binding agent called Competitor. Habitat's manufacturer claims the herbicide poses little danger to people, since it affects pathways that only exist in plants, although it does say that there is some limited toxicity to fish and wildlife..."I just really support the effort to deal with this quickly and not have to wait until it's an even more insurmountable problem,” Humboldt County Supervisor Jimmy Smith said.

Public Comment:

Loosestrife eradication meeting
Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitor Center in Weott
Monday, 5:30-7 p.m.

Free Siddique Abdullah Hasan

brought to our attention by forest activists

Free Abdullah Hasan! Innocent man Charged for murder in Lucasville Prison Uprising

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/10/20/1434205

"...The person closest to execution is a man named Siddique Abdullah Hasan, who was the imam, the prayer leader of the Muslim prisoners। I’ve just filed a friend of the court brief for the ACLU, pointing out that 14 prisoners have stated under oath that it was not Hasan who was responsible for the death of the officer। And, you know, you hope and pray that if there can be -- as with Mumia -- if there can be enough concern outside the courtroom, sooner or later the folks inside will get the message।"

More information at

http://www.prisonersolidarity.org/lucasville.htm

Siddique Abdullah Hasan

R130-559Ohio State Penitentiary

878 Coitsville-Hubbard Road

Youngstown, OH 44505-4635

http://www.ohiodeathrow.com/

Campaign to end the death penalty:

http://prisonersolidarity.org/HasanToledoCoalition.htm

Richardson Grove News

From Humboldt Herald-

Supervisor Bonnie Neely announced at today’s Board of Supes meeting that “there will be no removal of ancient old growth redwood trees” at Richardson Grove along highway 101.