WESAVETREES.ORG Erects Treesit in Nanning Creek Harvest Plan "Bonanza"!

Hey those trees are amazing. I would love to see those trees in person, can you give me directions to the ones in the pics, especially "the Mother Fucker" tree.

"The mother fucker" Why would anyone paint that on such a tree. Was it a logger as stated or was it a doped out protester trying to rally support from people like me that are not involved in saving trees. We need more facts out here in cyber space, that we can hang our hats on that will want to get us involved with the protests if they are for a worthwhile cause. We can rally the troops up and come protect the last stand of old growth redwood on the northcoast. Maps and directions to the site would be helpful.

""The mother fucker" Why would anyone paint that on such a tree."

It could be a crude name used to identify the tree by name when its being logged. It could be that a logger was just putting a mark on the tree to identify that it was going to be cut but due to it looking like a really difficult tree to cut that was written on with that sentiment in mind, or it could have just been a statement that it was a huge tree ("that tree is one mother fucker of a tree")

To get to the tree sit location to protect the last ancient redwood trees:

Go north through the last ancient redwood trees in Richardson Grove park. Keep going north through the last ancient redwood trees for about 20 miles in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Exit the freeway in Dyerville and go through the last ancient redwood trees in Bull Creek, then turn around and continue to the last ancient redwood trees in Rockefeller grove and Founders grove. Go north on Avenue of the Giants through about another 10 miles of the last ancient redwood trees. Take a left on 36 trhough the last ancient redwood trees. Then somehow find your way to Priarie Creek State Park with about 13,000 acres of the last ancient redwood trees. Then keep going to the national park with the last 104,000 acres of the last ancient redwood trees.

Nanning Creek doen't contain the last of anything. Maybe it will be the sight of the last tree sit party.

Sometimes loggers paint nicknames on trees that they plan to cut. Trying to prove this as true isn't really possible. Trying to prove that the Humboldt Sheriffs harrass and brutalize treesitter activists along with their deputized climbers isn't possible if not caught on video. You either believe the treesitters or you don't. Apparently the jury in SF voted that the sheriffs engaged in police brutality during the pepper spray incident at Headwaters. That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to police brutality from Humboldt Sherrifs..

http://www.nopepperspray.org/

The point of these pictures is to show the potential loss of old growth redwoods habitat to a profit hungry holding corproation called Maxxam/Pacific Lumber. Why should this concern anyone? There's less than 5% of the original old growth habitat remaining. It is a part of this imperialist system to overharvest trees, minerals, water, petroleum, animals, etc to benefit the wealthy elite corporate execs and shareholders. Their main interest is maximizing short term profit, nothing else..

If you were a logger and had children who wanted to become loggers in the future, Maxxam/PL would not be acting in your best interest. The high rate of harvesting results in less jobs for the future. There is no union for the workers, all are private contracters with no medical benefits. The introduction of long time Pacific Lumber employees to Maxxam policies was having their retirement pensions raided to pay off Maxxam's junk bond debt. This goes back to the Savings and Loan scandal when Hurwitz and Micheal Milkin were endicted for fraud. Currently the Humboldt DA is in the process of filing a lawsuit against Maxxam's fraudulent timber harvest plans..

Maxxam's unethical business dealings don't stop with the Pacific Lumber takeover. Maxxam's control of the Akosumba dam in Ghana results in all the energy from the dam benefiting Maxxam's aluminum smelting factory and nothing goes to the villagers of Ghana who were displaced by flooding from the construction of the dam. Kaiser is Valco's parent company, and Maxxam is the owner of Kaiser. The current dispute is between the people of Ghana and Valco, the people demanding some benefit from the dam's energy instead of their energy being swindled out by Valco for corporate profit..

"Any prospects of Ghana succeeding in negotiations with Valco are further hampered by the character of the present majority owner of Kaiser, MAXXAM company whose CEO, Charles Hurwitz is a well known swindler of the Savings and Loan scheme, a corporate raider, environment destroyer and insider trader linked with major corporate criminals. To wring concessions on what is one of Kaiser's most profitable smelters from such a character is doubtful."

http://www.ghanaforum.com/forum/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=1322&an=0&page=3


Following Maxxam's takeover of Kaiser Aluminum, many steelworkers were laid off without their pensions intact. Thier outrage led to the steelworkers visiting the treesits to show their solidarity. This was the spirit of Judi Bari who used hers skills as an IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) union organizer to deescalate tension between environmental activists and loggers. By bringing everyone together, the community stood in solidarity against Maxxam during the Redwood Summer campaign. For her efforts in organizing, she had her car bombed by unknown assailants still not caught..

"The eco-labor alliance did not develop overnight. The seeds for it were sown over decades by socially conscious unionists and class-conscious environmentalists.

The late Judi Bari, a persuasive voice within Earth First! for strengthening ties with workers, was both. It's no accident that Bari, a feminist and labor organizer, played this role. She represents the changed face of the U.S. workforce, made up today mostly of women, people of color, sexual minorities, and immigrants, whose second-class citizenship brings nothing-to-lose militancy to the house of labor.

These are the people who must be mobilized as the true friends of USWA and environmentalists in the fight against Kaiser/Maxxam. They are the people who can be the backbone of the mass labor action that it will take to win a fair contract and reparations from Kaiser. And they are the ones to turn to in order to ensure that the budding green-labor alliance does not wither, but grows and takes on the strength of steel."

http://www.socialism.com/fsarticles/vol21no2/locked-out.html


There is some potential for IWW organizing among the contracters. By joining forces against Maxxam's oppressive labor and environmental policies, both loggers and activists can cease fighting one another and talk about way to increase pay for workers while cutting less trees. The CEO needs to take a pay cut and shareholders need to think about the long term impact of high rate logging practices. Columbia Helicopter workers (chokesetters) could benefit from IWW presence in the field where they are exposed to dangerous conditions with no medical coverage. Though some claim that contracters are paid alot, that doesn't guarantee any job security or personal health coverage..

http://www.iww.org/

BTW, great pics on the wesavetrees.org website! Maybe adding the IWW as a link would help networking with anarchist labor organizers and rekindling the fire of unity started by our sister Judi Bari!!

love and peace,

luna moth

THP: 1-05-097-HUM Total Acres: 249 CAL-Water Watershed ID: Dean Creek (1111.110103) Location: HUM: T1N R1E Sec.4, 8, 9 Land Owner(s): SCOTIA PACIFIC CO LLC

The linked articles, propoganda etc. seem like the same old thing. This is a repetition of the same thing thing, tree-sits, that has becom less effective the more it's been used. I don't want these trees cut but people who have been ostracized by most forest activists for abusive behavior should know that their presence their will act as a reppelent rather than an attraction. Is'nt it obvious? We need safe sane people in the fight to defend the earth, not sketchy wingnuts.

Pictures do not always make people look good and these pictures prove it. It could be said that a picture of some one blinking while looking up was not a wise choice to use. The picture of the guy on the stump is more understandable considering that he is in the middle of a devastated old-growth forest which he probably cherished. He is probably in shock at the sight of destruction where there was once an ancient grove.
I want to see a more unified movement in this region to protect the quality of our environment but I don't believe that it can come from people who don't respect each other, their supporters, or their opponents. In fact, some give loggers with more respect than their comrades. Macho fraternities will not bring the masses. I hope someone who cares reads this. Or if you think what I have to say is bullshit then let me know and we can debate it.

Try to come up with something more interesting than you r boring old stoned jokes.

Hola one person!

Yes, i agree that the macho frat climate found in certain treesits can discourage others from participating. The clique mentality of an "in-crowd" is also a similar problem. Sometimes a public forum like imc is a better place to discuss this than trying to hold endless meetings where people just don't show up. As far as "feds" and other potentially hostile intrusions, well, we always assume their presence..

The Earth First! non-violence trainings initially given to all forest defenders attempt to address various forms of violence, including verbal intimidation. Another factor addressed is the blatant sexism of certain individuals that resulted in some unfortunate incidents of violence and harrassment against womyn up in the trees. People remember this and how these acts of violence were either dealt with or ignored by the concensus process of the group or influence of authority from more experienced activists. In the interest of fairness, people can be voted out of the Earth First! group for repeated violent, sexist or racist behavior. Individuals who are good charmers or otherwise intelligent sociopaths can exploit the kindness and tendencies to forgive found in some EF!ers and remain in the circle despite numerous accusations and refusals of many activists to work with said person in a treesit or action. In-fighting and other assorted drama continues to plague the forest defense movement. How much of these disruptions are the result of paid infiltrators, random firing wingnuts or general miscommunication is open to speculation..

Another topic that has remained silent for too long is the hijacking and/or embezzlement of the Earth First! name, mailing list and campaign contributions by a small group of individuals. Without naming names, most people familiar will know who i'm speaking of. Personal self promotion for capital gain is discouraged in activism, and forest defense is no exception. Though some may later chastize me for airing dirty laundry, i feel that resoving issues in an open forum is preferred to lack of dialogue on a pressing issue..

Whenever a threat to the ecosystem, people or civil rights arises, a strategic response from concerned people is needed. To prevent the destruction of the redwoods, a group of activists devised a strategy, personal occupation of trees in a given timber harvest plan, called treesitting. Julia Butterfly Hill is most widely recognized for beginning this movement during her two year occupation of the redwood giant she named Luna. Treesitting is still one of the most effective strategies but certainly not the only strategy in saving the redwoods or other old growth forests..

The people involved in forest defense need to be open and honest with their failures as well as their success in saving trees. The recent disaster (9/25/04) on Gypsy Mountain where we lost Aradia during a surprise raid by Maxxam/PL with 4 climbers is an example of what went wrong with communication. Divisiveness and bickering about a constructed tunnel led to an ethical split where support was diverted from this action. Meetings were called and fingers were pointed and the result was lack of support and a loss of Aradia. The question for all is what could people have done to voice concerns about the tunnel without completely isolating the sparse activists on Gypsy Mountain from community support? This same follows for the Mattole, Fern Gully and other treesits..

Most people in forest defense/Earth First! are kind, good hearted people who really try to save the old growth forests. The isolated sociopath/infiltrator is an exception though it only takes one negative aura to drain resources and wreak emotional trauma on the greater community..

If people can't learn to get along and communicate than we don't have much chance in working with loggers to unionize an IWW chapter, encourage the community to pressure Maxxam/PL out of Humboldt, or bring people from outside the redwood curtain to show support..

This other one person continues to support and admire the forest defenders persistant activism despite the (hopefully) constructive criticism. Am taking a brief hiatus from the coast in the central valley, attempting to organize some EF! actions here against SPI and other ecological problems. An ideas for improvement or other feedback is welcome..

Thanks for letting me speak my opinions;

luna moth

The people doing these actions are far braver, nobler activists that sit at home, and NAYSAY those doing the real work! Southern Humboldt is Very Supportive of these actions, and these activists. We know who you are and we are impressed and thankful. Keep up the good work!

P.S. The negativity directed at these people makes me sick. We all know you are not so perfect yourself. Maybe if you were doing something besides ngatively impacting the movement and the chances of this forest surviving, people would respect you again. Until then, your just a armchair talktavist. Have you ever even been to the backwoods?

Remember Redway Ridge!

Could not have said it better myself squishy !

The people doing these actions are far braver, nobler americans that those who sit at home, and NAYSAY those doing the real work! America is Very Supportive of these actions, and these soldiers. We know who you are and we are impressed and thankful. Keep up the good work!

P.S. The negativity directed at these people makes me sick. We all know you are not so perfect yourself. Maybe if you were doing something besides ngatively impacting freedom and the chances of winning this war, people would respect you again. Until then, your just a armchair peacenik. Have you ever even been to the Iraq?

Remember Afganistan!

For people that want to make a call, write a letter, to save this incredible stand and make a push for the buyout, into Public Ownership, who do we call? This place looks way to amazing to be reducing the value to fiber. If you could post names, phone numbers, addresses, I would greatly appreciate it.

PS. Remember, the question is not what are you going to wipe your booty with, it's how many squares do you use? heeeheheee