"Big Brother is Watching" -George Orwell, 1984

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EF! Humboldt Forest Defense Update

by EF!Humboldt ~ July 10th, 2010

McKay 09 logging areas outlined in yellow
source

It’s been eighteen months since the beginning of our non-stop occupation of the forest canopy in the McKay Tract. But perhaps more importantly for us, we are nearing two years since logging plan #1-08-102 “McKay 09″ was approved in August ‘08 (see yellow polygons pictured above, the circle surrounds a Northern Spotted Owl nest). This means we have three years to go until the permits run out. Click here to read about the background of our campaign.

On February 15th, 2009, loggers and Sheriffs came out in force and seemed ready to begin toppling trees at any time. They apparently decided to avoid a confrontation at that point and have since been an occasional presence on the ground, monitoring us but not talking to us. There has been no logging here since our arrival and over time we have gotten to know the wild inhabitants of this grove intimately, further strengthening our resolve to keep this deep and lush wildlife refuge intact.

The pair of endangered Northern Spotted Owls that nest near our tree-village are raising at least two offspring. The youngsters are big enough now to fly around the grove but still rely on food from their parents. The Osprey, (big, fish eating, birds of prey that fly to South America for the winter) are back, occasionally circling above the tree-sits. We aren’t sure how many Osprey there are yet but they have at least 2 nests in huge old-growth snags in the grove. Northern Flying Squirrels have been a persistent visitor at the tree-sits at night. They scramble around the trees, hoping to find an food bucket accidentally left open. They’re one of the main prey animals of Spotted Owls.

Green Diamond has been busy during this time as well, frequently filing new logging plans in other areas and cutting thousands of acres of young growth forests, generally 45-60 years old. During recent visits to threatened forests, defenders have been repeatedly suprised by the small size of the young trees in groves the company plans to liquidate. We wonder if this indicates that GD is down to the last scraps in areas like Jacoby Creek, or if the tree-farming and cutting of these Redwood poles is actually status quo at Green Diamond. Either way, the more we see of their cut-over lands, the more it sinks in that the big, old second growth Redwood groves in the McKay tract, are extremely rare. Under GD’s thumb, this forest would never again attain such magnificent stature and bio-diversity.

There are often sparse and scattered Old-growth trees targeted in GD’s logging plans. We’re working to improve our documentation of these threatened forests and fresh clearcuts in order to show the public what is actually going on behind the “beauty strips” along our highways and roads.

GD’s logging plans submitted just this year total over 3,000 acres. Lacking sufficient numbers to physically stop it all, we have focused on the forest targeted in the McKay 09 logging plan as an example of their extreme eco-cidal policies. The tree-village also functions as our platform to voice dissent and opposition to this insanity.

Our occupation will continue as long as it needs to in order to keep this grove standing. Earth First!

On the Lookout

by EF!Humboldt ~ June 3rd, 2010

One of several old-growth Douglas Firs in one of the many areas recently targeted for clear-cutting by Green Diamond. We’re working on a full campaign update, stay tuned.

Richardson Grove Action Camp, May 28-30 at the Grove!

by EF!Humboldt ~ May 16th, 2010

We got this in our inbox from friend, fellow forest defender, and Richardson Grove defense organizer extraordinaire, Jeff Muskrat. The Save Richardson Grove campaign has been growing steadily for awhile now, and Jeff is predicting the time is ripe for some direct action. Here’s a link to the project page.

!RICHARDSON GROVE ACTION ALERT!
I’m forwarding this to all unopposed to Richardson grove direct action, trainers, FOREST DEFENDERS etc. Please forward far and wide to likewise interested humans. Will post also on independent media THIS EVENING with location to be announced:
(LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE IDEAS, EDITS, BUT THE URGENCY OF THE MATTER MAKES ME INCLINED TO POST IT ASAP)

THE ANCIENT REDWOODS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY NEED YOUR HELP, AGAIN!
(AND JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THAT ANCIENT TREES IN STATE PARKS WERE PROTECTED…)

FOR THOSE WHO ARE WAITING FOR THE “MAGIC MOMENT” TO JUMP INTO THE SAVE RICHARDSON GROVE CAMPAIGN(SRG), THE TIME IS RIGHT NOW! CALTRANS MAY BE CUTTING TREES AT RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK AS YOU READ THIS CALL TO ACTION.

ONLY YESTERDAY, CALTRANS FELL MULTIPLE 3-4 FOOT DIAMETER REDWOODS RIGHT NEXT TO THE 101 JUST SOUTH OF THE REDWOOD CURTAIN AT RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK NEAR LEGGETT! IT IS LIKELY THAT OUR REDWOOD CURTAIN IS NEXT!

DIRECT ACTION TRAINING IS COMING NOW TO THE REDWOOD CURTAIN. A GATHERING FOCUSED ON DEFENDING OUR STATE PARK FROM THE CALTRANS R.I.P(RICHARDSON GROVE “IMPROVEMENT” PROJECT) IS SET TO BEGIN MAY 28TH-30TH.

ALL ARE INVITED TO HELP ORGANIZE, CONDUCT TRAININGS, AND PARTICIPATE IN SOLIDARITY UNDER THE “EARTH FIRST!” PRINCIPLES OF NON-VIOLENCE, ANTI-OPPRESSION, AND NO COMPROMISE IN THE DEFENSE OF MOTHER EARTH!

THE POINT OF ACTION HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT ALONG REDWOOD HIGHWAY 101, PRIMARILY WITHIN RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK. MAPS OF THE PROJECT ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CALTRANS R.I.P. PROJECT PAGE.

DEFEND THE ANCIENT REDWOODS, MADRONES AND OAKS ALONG THE HIGHWAY FROM THIS ILLEGAL PROJECT! THE SRG(SAVE RICHARDSON GROVE) CAMPAIGN HAS SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, NO ONE HERE WANTS TO SEE THE DEMISE OF THE ANCIENT REDWOODS THAT ARE THE REDWOOD CURTAIN.

ALL THAT IS MISSING FROM THE CAMPAIGN IS YOU! YOUR UNIQUE IDEAS, EXPERIENCES, ENERGY, PARTICIPATION AND LOVE FOR TREES!

JOIN US IS SOLIDARITY TO DEFEND THE REDWOOD CURTAIN AT RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK. UP TO 87 TREES ARE SLATED TO BE CUT, ALONG WITH THE ROOTS OF THE ANCIENT REDWOODS THAT LINE THE HIGHWAY.

CALTRANS HAS JUST CANCELED THE MARBLED MURRELET SURVEYS THAT MAY HAVE PROTECTED THE PARK SECTION OF THE PROJECT AT LEAST UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15TH. CALTRANS MAY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TREE REMOVAL ON PRIVATE ADJACENT PARK LANDS, AND NOW THAT THE SURVEYS HAVE BEEN CANCELED, ANYTHING GOES!

RICHARDSON GROVE HAS BEEN LABELED BY THE PRO-PROJECT LOCAL MEDIA AS “THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS’ LAST STAND”. IF THAT IS TRUE, YOU BETTER BE THERE ON MAY 28TH…

CONTACT humboldtforestdefense [at] gmail.com for info and how to get involved.

The tentative date, the evening of friday the 28th for setup, the 29th(JFK’s B-day) and 30th of May…or sooner if possible, but I’m not sure if we can get it out there(fliers, press, organizing) any sooner than two weeks from today. Weekends would be best for trainers, I assume. We can’t wait any longer. I’m running with the 28th thru the 30th. Those who feel the urgency will be there regardless of commitments.

Please let me know if there are any major conflicts with schedules, but I feel that this is important enough for most people to drop everything because tree cutting is imminent.

Much thanks!

Jeff!

Recent Scenes From the Forest

by EF!Humboldt ~ March 2nd, 2010

The Salmonberry bushes are beginning to flower.


Looking across to another tree sit from a comfy perch, a long tyrolean traverse fades into the distance. The water bottle is set up to catch rainwater.

A small creek cascades through ancient logs.

Trilliums are flowering.

The kitchen is all tied in.

Winter Rendezvous Climaxes With Anti-Drilling Demonstration

by EF!Humboldt ~ February 21st, 2010

Offshore_oil_protest
Representatives from Earth First! Humboldt joined earth defenders from
around the country in the hills of Los Padres last week for the 2010 Earth
First! Organizers Conference and Winter Rendezvous.  The gathering came
just after the rain and enjoyed sunny summer weather. Participants shared
songs, stories and strategies for resistance.

The group mobilized in Santa Barbara to bring attention to a dangerous
proposal which would give a Texas oil company, Plains Exploration and
Production (PXP) the right to drill for massive amounts of oil in exchange
for a few symbolic concessions.

The action targeted PXP and their cronies at the legal firm Environmental
Defense Center (EDC).  Under the guise of environmentalism the EDC is
lobbying on behalf of the deal, which would end the moratorium on oil
drilling in state waters off the coast of California.

This deal is a sham.  The offshore drilling process releases many tons of
toxic waste, damaging marine ecosystems.  Allowing PXP to drill here will
open the door to allow this kind of destruction along the coast of
California.

Darwin BondGraham explains more about it.

Earth First! Humboldt stands in solidarity with our friends in Santa
Barbara who refuse to compromise with oil companies.