PL climber climbs trees, serves papers

As soon as the climbers showed up the treesitters who have cell phones got on them and started making calls. By 10:00 there were between 50 and 100 people in freshwater.
When the climbers showed up their intentions were not clear. It was assumed by many that there was only one reason they could be there, to evict treesitters. Luckily this turned out not to be the case. When climber eric got to the top of the first tree he simply served the tree's occupant some legal papers. These legal papers turned out to be a notice that the treesitters were being sued by pacific lumbers, for an unknown amount, and an order to appear in court on friday. When eric's accomplace, climber jerry started to climb his first tree, he got to the first limb, and then could not get past it. This was apparently the end of his climbing for the day. When he got back to the ground he was taunted by many of the onlookers, and was even offered climbing lessons by several people. This left climber eric to climb the remaining 19 trees in freshwater to serve there occupants with papers. Halfway through the day climber eric started to get tired, and tried to make deals with the tree sitters. If they sent down there line with a haul bag on the end he would put the papers in it, and promised not to cut the line. It was unclear how this deal would have been in any way adventageous for the treesitters. Several tree sitters are reported to have accepted the deal. In several other trees that would not send down a line eric climbed part way up the tree, and duct taped the the papers two the tree.
One peice of information that i am still unsure about is what names and addresses were on the legal papers, i heard one person say that they put peoples forest names on the papers, though this may or may not be correct.

Yesterday pacific lumber security went around to all the trees that they know to be occupied and nailed up two laminated flyers on each. THe first was a wanted poster that was seeking to find whom ever sabatoged a loader belonging to a pl contractor several weeks ago. The second flyer is on PL letterhead, and is dated march 3, 2003. These flyers are notices to "All persons trespassing upon or occupying any portion of the landowners' lands without express written permission from the landowners." the text is as follows:

We are are very concerned about the possibility of injuries to tree sitters and trespassers on our property as well as our employess, contractors and law enforcement officials. Persons in all of these categories are put at risk by your continuing illegal and dangerous activity.
Therefore, to prevent accidents, injuries, and damage to our property, we the Landowners must request that you leave our private propert and not return to the land upon which you are trespassing or to any other lands owned by us unless you have our express written permission. Concurrently, we are requesting the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office to advise you of our request that you leave our poroperty and not return. You are further advised that refusing or failing to leave after being asked to do so by us, or by a peace officer acting on our request, is criminal act in violation of California Penal Code Section 602(n). ENtering on lands of another with the intent to interfere with the owners' business may also be punishable as a misdemeanor under Penal Code Section 602(j). SUch actions also subject you to civil liability.
In addition to respecting the requirements of the laws of the State of California common sense suggests that tree-sitting, "can and mouse," hiding in the woods and other acts of trespassing on timberlands where logging operations may be in progress expose the trespasser and others to a substantial risk of harm. Tree sitting becomes even more dangerous during high winds, snow, rain, and storms of winter. We request that you leave immediately for your own safety and that of others. Neither law enforcement personnel nor company personnel should be subjected to the risk of harm you are creating for yourself and others.

The page ends with the statement "Our forests, our future - 130 years and growing"

Pacific lumber has also increased the security presence in freshwater recently. They now have 2 guards on duty, 24 hours per day, each driving around in a seperate white nissan truck, with an antenna on top. The guards also carry cameras and video cameras, which they use to take pictures of anyone, and any vehichles that they see.

If you are interested in getting involved with forest defense there is a 2 week long action camp being held from march 14 through the 30th. The camp is being held at the albee creek campground, in the matole area. Feel free to come for any part of the camp, and stay as long as you want. There will be non-violence trainings, climb trainings, and all sorts of other trainings happening every day.
directions, take highway 101 south(if your coming from eureka, 101 north if your comming from the bay area), get of at the honeydew exit, go west on mattole rd 5 miles to the albee creek campground, on the right.

for more information on forest defense in the freshwater are see http://wesavetrees.org/