Aradia

Let me just take a minute to explain why the taking of Aradia was a cowardly and disrespectful act on behalf of Maxxam Corp./Pacific Lumber Co.
The company and corporation KNEW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the relationship between Aradia and David "Gypsy" Chain. Gypsy was one of the first people to climb Aradia, back in 1998, and helped to set the original platform and tree-sit there, just before he was killed, on Sept. 17th, 1998. Gypsy was killed when an irate Maxxam/PL logger intentionally fell trees towards a group of non-violent North Coast Earth First! activists; video was taken of the logger threatening to do so less than an hour before Gypsy was killed, and the Humboldt Co. Sheriff's Dept. refused to properly investigate or prosecute the logger/company, calling Gypsy's death a mere "accident."
Unsatisfied with that ruling, Gypsy's family filed a wrongful death civil suit against Maxxam/PL, and won. A "Gypsy Memorial" was established as part of that victory, consisting of (a) the tree that was fallen on Gypsy, plus 100' in all directions, (b) a boulder with an engraved plaque at the base of the mountain, and (c) the Forest Peace Alliance, a roundtable forum for activists to meet with PL management and workers, to discuss ways to avoid violence in the woods, and, hopefully, to resolve conflict with both sides represented and, ideally, respected, at least on a basic human level.
Since Robert Manne took over Pacific Lumber, we have seen a total deterioration of the "Forest Peace Alliance," both in spirit and in practice. NCEF! has been the target of an aggressive "forest defenders as terrorists" campaign, waged by Robert Manne and his buddies in the PR industry. There has been no real effort on the part of Robert Manne to live up to the spirit of the "Forest Peace Alliance."
I put together a 10-page proposal, complete with photos, maps, and even an offer to try to fundraise the money to buy the grove, and have it added to the Gypsy Memorial. I hand-delivered a copy to the Pacific Lumber Co. headquarters in Scotia, and mailed a copy to Maxxam Corp. in Houston. The proposal also included an idea for expanding Grizzly Creek State Park to include Gypsy Mountain, which was hand-delivered to Gray Davis's office, and later sent to Schwarzenegger's office as well. Copies of the proposal were also taken to Wes Chesbro, Patty Berg, and Mike Thompson's office, and there most likely would have been public support to use public funds to acquire the grove.
I never heard a single reply from any of them...
I called Maxxam and PL from the top of Aradia, on many occasions, and talked with Richard Bettis, talked with people at Maxxam, left friendly messages for Robert Manne, sincerely wanting to speak with him to talk about how we could save Aradia in Gypsy's name...nothing...
Soooooo many people occupied the branches of Aradia, over the past 6 years, giving her love, speaking out over the radio airwaves, protecting her, and doing everything they could to try to save her...
I even made a special trip, all the way to Houston, Texas, and spoke to Charles Hurwitz face-to-face, holding a picture of Aradia, explaining to him how much it meant to us, and Aradia's relationship to Gypsy, and how great of a thing it would be if Aradia could be saved and added to the Gypsy Memorial. He even nodded up and down, as if he were hearing me, almost as if he were agreeing with me, that this would be a good thing to do...and now this...
Gypsy's mother also made a special trip to Humboldt County, CA, just weeks before Aradia was killed, to have a special meeting with Robert Manne about saving Aradia.
What more do people have to do to?
I feel that this is a cowardly act, on behalf of Maxxam/PL, because they could not be big enough to admit that David Chain gave his life for these forests, and should be honored and respected. Because if they admit that about David, then they have to admit it about the rest of us, and that's the last thing they want to do. Cutting Aradia was also an act of blatant disrespect towards David Chain and his family, who made it very clear to Maxxam/PL that they wanted Aradia to be saved in his honor.
And now Aradia is dead...I'm sure you, Maxxam/PL, feel very accomplished now, as do you, Eric Schatz and Co. I can tell you that I feel disgusted to even think of you. Such a blatant act of greed, cowardice, and disrespect will only come back to haunt you a trillion fold. How do you like those numbers?
We still have a lot of love in our hearts, and your acts of greed will only serve to expose your true nature.
And we can't leave the government out of this one, either, who "protects" marbled murrelet habitat from March to September, and then allows the corporations to level these very same areas from September to March. What a repulsive display of futility.
Eric Schatz has a criminal history of domestic violence. He should not be allowed to touch ANYONE in a forceful and nonconsensual manner. The fact that our local, state, and federal government ALLOWS this man to physically, verbally, and sexually assault members of the public (he's done all of the above in the tree-tops alone), so that Maxxam/PL can destroy endangered species habitat, is a CRIME.
Aradia will live forever in the hearts and minds of the people who loved her, and in the spirit world. Aradia's legend will live on in video, pictures, songs, poems, stories, and a spirit you cannot erase.
What you, Maxxam/PL/Eric Schatz, have done to your own souls, I cannot imagine, and I feel sorry for you...barely...
What you get is what you will deserve, and, if it comes from NCEF!, it will be non-violent, yet it will not be pleasant. What you get on the spirit level...well, I can't make any promises about that, yet I can assure you...it's not going to be fun for you.
Just know that you have really stepped in it, once again, and have shown nothing but cowardice and disrespect, after we did everything we could do to respectfully ask you to save Aradia and add it to the Gypsy Memorial.
I hope you realize how much sadness you have created, and how much that tree meant to so many people, far and wide. Does it make you happy to cause such sadness?
Examine your soul if the true answer is "yes," and ask yourself why you think it's a game to trample on people's feelings and destroy beauty.
We are grieving, and it's only making us stronger...we will continue to resist corporate greed, and will continue to educate, inspire, activate, and revolutionize people, so that your ship, Corporate America, will sink, which it will, it's just a matter of time...
Earth First! We Love You Aradia! FLAN!
No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth!
Action is the Antidote for Despair!
"You're served!"

With Love, Light, and Re-evolution,
Shunka Wakan