Page 183 – Respect existence or expect resistance!

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC (27 JULY)

VENUE/TIME:- AGM OF VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC, THE LINCOLN CENTRE, 18 LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON, WC2A 3ED, (nearest Tube- Holborn)
27 JULY 2009, 2.00 pm onwards

STOP THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, DEADLY POLLUTION

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC (27 JULY)

VENUE/TIME:- AGM OF VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC, THE LINCOLN CENTRE, 18 LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON, WC2A 3ED, (nearest Tube- Holborn)
27 JULY 2009, 2.00 pm onwards

STOP THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, DEADLY POLLUTION
The Global Campaign against Vedanta Resources plc will be protesting inside and outside the Annual General Meeting of Vedanta Resources plc at Lincoln Centre, 18 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3ED on 27 July 2009 from 2.00 pm onwards. Simultaneous protests will be held worldwide on 27 July, in the eastern Indian state of Orissa and other parts of India and a series of demonstrations, public meetings and rallies will be held in Orissa, Kolkata, Mumbai and other cities from 27 July onwards.
Vedanta Resources is a multinational mining company, listed on the London Stock Exchange whose spectacular rise involves violating Environmental Laws, Human Rights Abuse, Financial scams & Political corruption in Zambia, Armenia, India and other countries where it exploits poorly regulated mining enclaves. Recently Vedanta has announced plans to start mining in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa, India from October 2009 and it aims to increase operations by 6 fold by 2011. Vedanta’s mining in Orissa will have a devastating impact on the fragile Ecosystem of this fertile and vitally important forested mountainous region and the state of Orissa in general. It will lead to a Cultural Genocide of the ancient tribal civilization of the Dongria Kondh and Majhi Kondh tribes, who have lived ecologically sustainable & self sufficient lives for centuries in these mountains. Vedanta’s mining will also lead to severely toxic pollution, diseases, terminal illnesses, destruction of endangered wildlife, damage to the wild elephant population, devastation of crops and arable land and the poisoning and drying up of rivers and streams, which will have catastrophic effects on tens of thousands of people for whom these rivers are crucial lifelines in Kalahandi, one of the most drought prone regions of India.
The Global Campaign against Vedanta Resources plc is spread over several countries and includes over 150 solidarity groups, Grassroots movements, NGOs, activists, intellectuals, academics, students and professionals.
WE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:-
1. Vedanta should IMMEDIATELY ABANDON PLANS for mining Bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa.
2. PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATIONS in the UK and in India into Vedanta’s operations in India and around the world.
3. Vedanta, a UK based company, MUST BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE for the social, environmental and health repercussions suffered by local communities around the world as a result of Vedanta’s callous mining activities. Those who have been affected and abused by Vedanta’s activities MUST BE ENABLED to seek justice in their home countries and/or in the UK.
4. Vedanta Ltd, Regulators, the UK Government and Governments of the mining enclaves MUST IMPLEMENT MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROLS on Vedanta’s operations.
5. Vedanta’s Shareholders and other investors must be MADE FULLY AWARE of the true nature of this mining company they are investing in so that they can make a better informed decision on whether to WITHDRAW THEIR INVESTMENTS from this criminally destructive mining company.

BACKGROUND TO WHY VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC MUST BE STOPPED
After a highly controversial legal case lasting 3 years at The Supreme Court of India, which witnessed some outrageous distortion of facts and a major miscarriage of justice, in April 2009 the Indian Government gave clearance to Vedanta to mine Bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills of Orissa for the next 25 years. Vedanta plans to start mining Bauxite in October 2009 and aims to increase by 6 fold by 2011.
CRITICAL REASONS WHY WE MUST NOT LET VEDANTA COMMENCE MINING ACTIVITIES IN NIYAMGIRI and leave behind a trail of terrible ENVIRONMENTAL and HUMAN DEVASTATION includes the following:-
· Vedanta’s mining activities will have a catastrophic effect on the fragile Ecosystem of Orissa with over a thousand hectares of prime Evergreen ‘Reserve Forests’ being wiped out, rivers being poisoned, ground water levels falling. Already Vedanta’s Refinery, which has been built on tribal land in Lanjigarh, is critically polluting. Major rivers of Orissa, including River Bansadhara, has already been polluted at its source. Toxic wastes have ruined fertile agricultural lands, polluted air, contaminated drinking & bathing water, & caused severe illnesses in people & wildlife. Mining will compound these effects.
· Hundreds of the local indigenous population have been killed in work and road accident in and around this Refinery because of Vedanta’s criminal negligence. The Community has been violently split and is terrorised by thugs in Vedanta’s pay.
· Niyam Dongar is the most densely forested mountain in the Niyamgiri range. It is home to the ancient civilization of the Dongria Kondh tribe, who have preserved their sacred mountain, prevented deforestation, lived ecologically sustainable & self sufficient lives for centuries.
· Cultural Genocide is imminent with Mass Unemployment and Destitution as farmers, fishermen and forest dwellers will be displaced and abandoned in shanty-towns. Delicate social structure will be torn apart with the collapse of traditional Economic systems, Kinship system, Egalitarian power structures and Religious values. Already displacement and the invasion by an alien industry has led to a sharp rise in illegal liquor shops, fraudulent schemes, drunken violence, wife beatings, suicides, prostitution & serious fractures in the community. Cultural Genocide will also affect Majhi Kondh tribe and will culminate in the destruction of Niyam Dongar, the most sacred mountain of the Kondh tribe and their Lord of Law. The Kondhs perceive the mountains and the forests as their Gods. So their destruction is both an environmental and a cultural atrocity.
· These Bauxite-capped mountains are the reason for the region’s exceptional fertility and bio-diversity. Bauxite, which contains the Aluminium ore, soaks up rainwater, holds this water and releases it to numerous perennial streams and rivers, which are essential Lifelines in Kalahandi, one of the most drought prone regions of India. Removing this Bauxite will be catastrophic for the fragile ecosystem, endangered wildlife and for tens of thousands of people who rely on these rivers.
· If mining starts on Niyamgiri, at least 50 other major mountains are next in line! Already tribal people and ‘Dalits’ (Untouchables) have movements to protect Bapla Mali, Mali Parbat, Deo Mali, Gandhamardan and other mountains in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. BHPBilliton, Alcoa, Rio Tinto, Jindal & Dubai-based companies are poised to set up Bauxite mines.
· In Dec 2000 police opened fire on tribal campaigners, killing three at the Utkal project. While an Inquiry into the police firing was holding up this project Vedanta made its move, building its refinery before applying for permission to mine! Vedanta has repeatedly violated Government Pollution Guidelines, illegally occupied village land, criminally started construction work without Environmental Clearance, dumped toxic pollutants into rivers and cleared ‘Reserve Forest’ land despite valiant efforts by villagers to protect their forests.
· Mountains of North Orissa are some of the last pockets of wild elephants in Eastern India. These majestic animals are being threatened by the rampant mining. Magnificent wildlife, forests, some of the highest waterfalls in India and many tribal cultures are in serious danger of being wiped out forever.

WORLDWIDE REACTIONS & MOVEMENTS
· In early 2009, in a breathtakingly beautiful non-violent protest over 10,000 villagers and concerned citizens held hands to form a 17 kilometre human chain around the Niyamgiri hills.
· On July 9, 2009 Amnesty International stated that “The Indian Government should immediately withdraw the clearance granted to a massive mining project (Vedanta) that threatens the lives and livelihoods of a protected indigenous community living in the Niyamgiri hills.
· Vedanta has been blacklisted by the Norwegian Govt Pension Fund, with its pension fund investments divested in 2007 citing “serious malpractice and contraventions of environment norms and ethics by the Vedanta management in the past wherever they operate” and “human rights violation”. Procedural violations in procurement of environment and forest clearance for mining were cited. The Martin Currie Scottish Trust Fund also withdrew their £2.37m investment in Vedanta in July 2008 on grounds of “environmental and human rights violation.”
· The Orissa State Pollution Control Board has issued more than 3 notices to Vedanta for violating pollution norms at its Refinery and the CEC committee of the Indian Supreme Court submitted several reports highlighting irregularities and corruption in Vedanta and recommending that Environmental Clearance for mining activities should NOT be give. Both Vedanta’s parent company- Sterlite and Vedanta’s subsidiary MALCO have been charged in court with the criminal violation of Environmental laws, callous dumping of toxic wastes and illegal construction.
· Worldwide uproar followed Vedanta being awarded the ‘Golden Peacock Award’ by the World Environmental Foundation (WEF) in 2009. This same award was awarded to Satyam Computers in September 2008 before being withdrawn in January 2009 after senior management and the founder chairman were arrested for fraud. Various concerned citizens wrote a letter to the jurors of this ‘Golden Peacock Award’ voicing their concerns and exposing Vedanta’s activities. In reply the jurors dissociated themselves from Vedanta and said that the prize decision was made beforehand by one Mr Mehra. Mr Mehra is a highly dubious London based corporate guru of whom ‘The Observer’ released an article in May 2003 called ‘The Contradictions of Madhav Mehra’! Hundreds of organisations and individuals wrote to the jury of the ‘The Golden Peacock Award’ and demonstrations were held at the Award ceremony in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Such was the public anger that even the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and other Government officials refused to participate in this Award ceremony.
· In Vietnam, the tribal people of the Central Highlands are being invaded by the world’s top aluminium companies. General Vo Nguyen Giap – a war hero, now aged 97, who helped defeat the French and American invasions – is among a large group of the country’s leading citizens who are opposing this new invasion by mining companies. Scientists are prominent in the campaign. In Peru’s Amazon region opposition against oil extracting companies gained worldwide attention after a blockade by about 30,000 people was met by severe police violence on 5-6 June 2009, which killed at least 85 Indians. In Nigeria the assault on indigenous communities involved the outrageous ‘execution’ of writer and environmental activist Ken Saro Wiwa, who was non-violently opposing multinational oil companies. In the Phillipines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Burma, Tibet etc mining, oil and logging companies are destroying forest simultaneously with the livelihood of the indigenous peoples. Scientists believe that Swine Flu outbreak in Mexico could be due to the horrendous pollution spread by the big meat companies. In Western Australia, Erin Brockovich, the famous Environmental lawyer is representing the local community against Aluminium giant Alcoa after an outbreak of respiratory illnesses.
· We need to understand that the Financial Crisis, Global Warming & Pandemics are linked to these exploitive industries, which pollute callously, devastate crops and arable land, destroys communities & cultures, leads to the loss of rare animals & medicinal plants, death of rivers, infliction of sickness and terminal diseases. All for the sake of a few greedy years of corporate profits. We need to join with the Grassroots movements in India, Vietnam, Peru and other countries in opposing these monstrously destructive corporations and in choosing genuinely sustainable development, which will be genuinely beneficial for the local communities and be ecologically sustainable for many generations to come.

CONTACT DETAILS:-
GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST VEDANTA,
Samarendra Das- sdasorisa@hotmail.co.uk, sdasorisa@rediffmail.com
Felix Padel- felixorisa@yahoo.com
Chanda Asani (Kashipur Solidarity Group)- chanda_asani@yahoo.co.uk
Sachin Masurkar (Kashipur Solidarity Group)- sachinam_sai@yahoo.co.in
Phone- (+ 91)9869324085
Agrotosh Mookerjee- whatculture@yahoo.co.uk
Phone- (+44) 07528435541
Miriam Rose- welliebird7@hotmail.co.uk

Come visit Faslane Peace Camp this summer (stay forever…)

it’s summer, come help stop the war machine!!

Has been a quiet summer so far up ere at peace camp. And we wondering where you all are? Got a few residents off doing other projects for a while, so some solidarity would be much appreciated. Even if you can only visit for a day or so. If you’ve not been before please visit. We can accommodate you, help with actions, protests or even just come to chill.

Weekly vigil every wed at 4pm outside north gate.

Work weekend coming soon.

01436820901

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Faslane Peace Camp is in dire need of people,

At the moment all residents except one are defending land elsewhere in the country the camp is being manned with only one resident who is quickly losing it!!

This is a call out for people to move here or visit as often as they can, we are afraid to say that if the camp stays practically empty for much longer we will have to close.

The main purpose as i can see it of the camp is to be a base for direct action against nuclear weapons and related issues, if the camp is not being used by peace activist for its intended purpose i see little point in lots of time and energy being spent.

The current peace campers are tired and unable to continue with the upkeep of the entire site without new energy. Please make your contribution to the 27 year old site, none of us want to see the end of such a historic place.

Cambridge Activists slow down Tesco’s Building work

22.07.2009
Cambridge activists sabotage machinery in a bid to slow down the building work of a new Tescos’s on Mill Road

Last night local activists sabotaged a digger being used by Tesco’s who have started work on a new store on Mill Road in Cambridge. A selection of glues was used to disable machinery and doorlocks. Reports from an eyewitness saw the digger being transported away this morning.

Tesco’s, true to form are using heavy handed techniques. They have announced opening dates, commenced works without having the necessary permissions to do so. They have no delivery access and do not have an alcohol license. This is designed to intimidate local campaigners and the council.

Last nights action was not aimed at workers from the hire company or the people working on the site but to send a strong message to Tescos.

One activist said:
“we’ve no quarrel with the people being paid to work on the site, they’re just doing a job and we understand their need to get paid for their jobs.HOWEVER we publicly invite them to help us to give them a well earned break, by letting us know how we can best slow down the work!”

Save Vestas – Defend Jobs, Save the Planet – Support the Occupation – UPDATE below: arrests, cops starving them out…

Workers at the Vestas Wind Turbine factory on the Isle of Wight have JUST NOW occupied their factory. They are fighting for 600 jobs and the future of the planet. They need help now.

PLEASE TEXT AND CALL EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Workers at the Vestas Wind Turbine factory on the Isle of Wight have JUST NOW occupied their factory. They are fighting for 600 jobs and the future of the planet. They need help now.

PLEASE TEXT AND CALL EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

There is a large picket of support starting outside the factory. This will be crucial in giving people confidence inside. We want hundreds of people by morning.
If you are not working, come now, by car, bus or train.
If you are on the South Coast and working, come for the night and go to work exhausted and proud.

If you can’t come, call up friends and offer to pay the fare or petrol money for someone else to come down. Or part of the fare.
Don’t just call the environmental and union activists you know. Call your friends and ask them who they know. Call your brother’s friends or your children’s friends. Text everyone. Get your friends calling and texting.

WE WANT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE NOW. SAVE THE JOBS – SAVE THE PLANET.

The workers want Gordon Brown to step in as if it was a troubled bank and save the jobs and keep making wind turbine blades. They gave the bankers trillions. They say they care about climate change. He has talked about creating 40,000 “Green Jobs”, the first step should be protecting these 600.

The workers will need solidarity – donations of money, food and other assistance. In the first instance please send messages of solidarity to savevestas@gmail.com

We will suggest other forms of solidarity soon. Do this now. Reach for your phone.

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How to get there, and more info at:

http://savevestas.wordpress.com/

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A protester claims the 30 demonstrators at a sit-in at the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight have been told they will be sacked.

Danish company Vestas Windsystems plans to make 625 workers redundant at the end of July, despite rising profits.

One of the protesters, who occupied the Newport site on Monday, said managers gave them until 2230 BST on Tuesday to end their action or face the sack.

Vestas said consultation on the site was on-going and would not comment.

The worker, who did not want to be named, said: “We have been told we will be sacked.

“We were given the choice to leave by 2230 BST last night and keep our redundancy package and walk out with no charges.

“Obviously we have stayed in. We didn’t want it to come to this.

“We want the company to explore the possibility of the government taking the site over and improving the redundancy package.”

The campaigners have called on Ed Miliband, the energy and climate change secretary, to travel to the island and speak to them.

Luke, one of the protesters, said: “We’re prepared to stay here for as long as it takes.”

About 200 workers staged a protest outside the factory on Tuesday after being turned away when they arrived for work.

They were also joined by climate change protesters who are supporting them.

Police said Vestas has started legal action to gain an injunction which would remove the protesters.

The company said the factory was being closed next week due to reduced demand for wind turbines in northern Europe

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Update, 22nd July: ARRESTS AT VESTAS + FOOD IN

At 5.10am this morning, a climate activist at the protest outside the Vestas plant attempted to take a bag of food to the occupying workers by means of a rope which the workers had lowered from the balcony. The activist was grabbed by 5 police officers and arrested. On his release he obtained the police report of his arrest, which stated that the reason for his arrest was that, as his bringing food to the occupiers had the stated intention of prolonging the protest, it was facilitating a breach of the peace – clearly ludicrous as the police have themselves admitted that the protest is not breaching the peace.

At 1248, a large number of protestors walked through the line of police holding food in their hands which they threw up to the balcony. The police pushed some of the protestors and attempted to obstruct the line but did not offer substantial resistance. One protestor was harassed by a security guard, and asked a police officer, whose number was 24266, if he intended to do anything about it; the officer said he didn’t. Another protestor saw a police officer grabbing the arm of an activist as he attempted to throw food to the balcony – the activist told the police officer that this constituted harassment, the police officer took no notice.

A second climate activist was arrested and taken through the front doors of the factory. Later, a sergeant whose number was 3027 came out and said that no-one had been arrested for carrying food, but that one activist had been arrested for assault. Other protestors present have commented that as the activist in question, who has not given permission for his name to be released, is a christian pacifist, this seems unlikely.

Security have started putting up a fence around the site, with protestors outside attempting to get a second food-carrying walk-in past the police before its completion. There are currently around 50 protestors outside the factory, over 30 of them Vestas workers, and sources say they expect numbers to increase drastically around 6pm when the protest starts.

North Carolina: ELF Vandalizes Home of Bank of America Director

“North Carolina:
Steve Jones, a member of the board of directors for Bank Of America, the United States’ primary investor in mountain top removal coal mining, had his house visited twice during the night recently.

On the eve of the Summer Solstice, we visited him the first time, smashing the front window on the cute lamp in his driveway and leaving a sticker on the post to let him know why we’d visited. Also on this night we glued the locks and put stickers on a Bank Of America branch in his town. 2 weeks later, on the eve of the full moon we returned to his house and smashed to bits the rest of the lamp and splattered black paint all over the sign with his address/mail box and steps/walkway.

Animal rights activists have long used red paint to mark murderers of many sorts; we chose black paint because it is black like the coal sludge that covers Tennessee, making the earth toxic in a disaster said to be worse than the Exxon Valdez spill. This disaster was uncommon only in that it got press coverage.

It is black like the water that comes out of the taps when people in effected communities turn on their taps for water. And it is black like your heart. For the kids, for the bears, for the mountains, for the wolves, for the fish, for our mother, We will be back. ELF.”

Communique from the Earth Liberation Front Press Office. Click here for the press release.

Eco-arsonists for the liberation of the Earth in Mexico

13th June – 13th July

Eco-Arsonists Commit Multiple Actions Against Banamex, Scotiabank, & More
EpLT Sets Fire to Luxury Cars Near Mexico City
EpLT Sets Fire to Sabritas Company Office Near Mexico City

13th June – 13th July

Eco-Arsonists Commit Multiple Actions Against Banamex, Scotiabank, & More
EpLT Sets Fire to Luxury Cars Near Mexico City
EpLT Sets Fire to Sabritas Company Office Near Mexico City

Eco-Arsonists Commit Multiple Actions Against Banamex, Scotiabank, & More

Communique:

“Weekly Report of eco-arsonists.mexico

Communique:
Saturday, June 13th, following the call to action, attacks against the owners of capital began. Saturday, the 13th the window of a bank belonging to Scotiabank was stoned, causing mobilization by the police in Tlalpan when the alarm was activated. Sunday, June 14th an incendiary device was placed at the ATM of a Banamex located in Milpa Alta, which was foiled by the police, however in this district where nothing has happened before they no longer sleep in peace; paranoia has been created since similar attacks were carried out against a BBVA in recent days causing a huge impact on the disgusting authorities in this community; the police at the service of the rich didn’t delay, since then a patrol has been guarding the entrance of the BBVA and its surroundings; so as a response another incendiary device was placed in the hood of a PGJ [Procuraduría General de Justicia] patrol car outside the district command headquarters. Unfortunately, it was detected and the action was interrupted, but although the goal of burning the patrol was not achieved, panic was created and there is chaos in the streets of this community; where what that they were not expecting has happened; now their paranoia will not allow them to sleep. Wednesday night, June 17, the Tlalpan roadway was illuminated with the abolitionist fire of eco-arsonists; the ATM of a BBVA outside the entrances to the metro was left unusable when an incendiary device was left. On the same night, near the Metro Chabacano there was a second fire at a Scotiabank ATM; the third attack was at a Banamex near Taxqueña where an explosive device was placed at the ATM. The same night a false bomb was left in another Banamex in Xochimilco. On that night it was once again demonstrated that we are everywhere, and now we are dogs infected with rage. Thursday, June 18, a Banamex ATM in Ciudad Neza was burned by an incendiary device; a threatening note was left on a sheet of paper, demanding freedom for Amadeu Castellas and claiming the action.
We will not stop ourselves, they will not stop us, we will continue attacking the symbols of capitalism, the murderer, torturer, sponsor of the destruction of the earth, there will be no turning back; for each banker we have an incendiary device, for each jailer a bomb; that their money burns in flames of the abolitionist fire of the eco-arsonists.

We are your worst enemy, your number one enemy!

We will be the dog that barks and that bites you!”

EpLT Sets Fire to Luxury Cars Near Mexico City

Communique:

“INCENDIARY ATTACKS ON CARS IN MEXICO

Saturday, July 4, around 11:30 at night in a place in the south of Mexico City where things seemed to be calm, where there was peace and order on the streets, all those who are our enemies had slept quietly for quite some time yet now they do not; those who passed by in their luxury cars on the nauseating blacktop now may not do so; those who have left their contaminating cars outside their homes without worry that some eco-arsonist would attack, now they can be worried because as night fell on Saturday, July 4, a day before the elections in Mexico we entered the house of a wealthy destroyer of the earth and we placed an incendiary device at two of his luxury cars and we stealthily slipped away without a trace other than the abolitionist fire. As expected the police, at the sound of their master’s voice, acted immediately, implementing a mobilization in the streets in search of the eco-arsonists and once again we made a mockery of them. We passed before their faces and they couldn’t imagine even if they wanted to that we were their enemies, twenty minutes later the firefighters extinguished the fire but the cars were already burned.

We will continue attacking without mercy! We will not let them sleep in peace!

We will not stop until we see civilization burned!

ECO-ARSONISTS FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE EARTH (EpLT)”

EpLT Sets Fire to Sabritas Company Office Near Mexico City

Communique:

“INCENDIARY ATTACK AT DISTRICT OFFICE IN MEXICO

On Monday night, July 13, at 12:30 we decided to attack the offices of a district in the southwest of Mexico City. These offices are responsible for administering and organizing the pollution and destruction of the woodlands in this community for the Sabritas company, producers of transgenic vegetables used in junk food. This company has planted fields near the communal woodlands. An incendiary device was left at the door of the building, working successfully without leaving any trace; the abolitionist fire consumed almost the entire wooden door, leaving the roof and walls marked with black smoke. The authorities have let pass unnoticed all the actions that have been taken by the eco-arsonists for the liberation of the earth; they know perfectly well why we do it, that we have one objective and that our sabotages are not just an act of vandalism. We will not stop attacking the destroyers of the earth!

For the liberation of the earth! Total destruction of civilization!

Eco-arsonists for the liberation of the earth EpLT”

Source – http://www.elfpressoffice.org

Cambridge Social Centre – evicted & more info

18th July 2009
Last night a large number of police with several vehicles, riot gear, and dogs evicted the newly opened social centre, on the pretext of fire safety. There were no arrests. The public meeting called for tonight will go ahead in a reduced format outside the bingo hall.

Last night the 20 occupants of the old bingo hall were evicted by around 50 police including tactical units with riot gear, under the pretext of fire regulations. Ironically, the police interrupted a meeting that had just secured 5 fire extinguishers and was discussing the opening up of the remaining fire exits in preparation for the planned public launch tomorrow.

The police initially said that they would not take action on the squatted building, as squatting is a civil matter between occupants and building owner. However, the squatters gained a higher profile through local media and outreach work, promoting anti-capitalism and social change, and organising a public meeting and music event that was anticipated to draw large numbers of people. Following this, the police threatened the occupiers over two days, and finally moved to protect property and the status quo, using any possible excuse.

The fire officer who accompanied the police said that the occupiers would have to immediately remove the metal grills covering fire doors to make the building safe. This was planned for the following morning, and the occupiers and fire warden agreed that this could happen immediately, however the police accompanying the fire officer made it clear that this would immediately lead to arrests for criminal damage. It was obvious from the huge number of police in attendance that the outcome was already set, and that the only result the police would tolerate was eviction. Given the recent reputation of police actions against political protesters, the occupiers left for the own safety rather than keep the doors secured.

A statement from the occupiers said:

“We expect that this building in the centre of our city will remain empty for an indefinite amount of time, as has the previous social centre site on Mill Road, owned by Tesco, and an increasing number of properties in the area. At the same time, artists, musicians, community groups and local people struggle to find spaces to meet, socialise and put on events.

We believe that local communities, rather than wealthy interests, should determine what the buildings and spaces in the local area are used for. We will be going ahead with the planned public meeting at 7.30 pm, in the street outside the bingo hall, where we will be discussing the repression we have faced, free spaces, and our plans for the future.”

cambridgefreespaces@listst.riseup.net
http://cambridgefreespaces.wordpress.com

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17.7.09
Cambridge BINGO! Social Centre

Update on what’s going on at the occupied Bingo Hall Social Centre, Hobson Street, Cambridge.

Cambridge Social Centre opens in old Gala Bingo Hall!

Members of the Cambridge Action Network have occupied the old Gala bingo hall on Hobson Street, behind Waterstones book shop. The centre is now open to the public to use for events such as films, music, workshops, art, discussions and meetings. Everyone is welcome (during reasonable waking hours!)

We’re currently working to clean the space up, make it nice, and get hold of furniture, and we’d love you to join us. We organise by consensus – no-one is in charge, and everyone involved has an equal say. This is everyone’s space – let’s make it brilliant!

We’ve done this because we believe that local communities should have control of local spaces, and be able to use them for whatever they see fit. Empty, unused buildings are a disgrace in a society where getting access to space is so difficult. A direct example of this is in Mill Road, where a lively social centre was closed by Tesco last year, leaving an empty building ever since.

There will be an official opening event on Saturday 18th July at 7.30 pm, where you are invited to come along, enjoy the new social centre, and see how you can use the space and get involved.

There will be a open mic event in the evening showcasing local acts. Bring your own refreshments. Come on down!

Want to put on events or get involved? Get in touch in person or:

phone: 01223 356630

web: www.cambridgefreespaces.wordpress.com

email: cambridgefreespaces@lists.riseup.net

UPCOMING EVENTS from 17th JULY 2009:

Daily (most days): 5.30pm POLITICAL DISCUSSION TIME – topics are decided daily by those present with some radical/social/political issues suggested in the diary already.

Daily (most days): 7:30pm PUBLIC MEETING – to discuss the space/use of the space/arising issues

Friday, 17th July – after the public meeting – OPEN JAMMING SESSION

Saturday, 18th July – after the public meeting – OPEN POETRY & ACCOUSTIC MUSIC/LIVE BANDS (donations at the door for climate camp)

AND MUCH MORE COMING SOON…

EARTH FIRST! @ DEMOCRATIC PARTY, ROME

ACTIVISTS OF EF! ROME YESTERDAY PROTEST IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEFORE BIG CONFERENCE OF SEGRETARY. LOT OF MEDIA IMPACT.
NEWS IN ITALIAN FROM OUR BLOG EF! ITALY

HOka hey! brothers and sister!

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FUORI PROGRAMMA ALLA FESTA DEL PD
da agenzia ADNKRONOS

ACTIVISTS OF EF! ROME YESTERDAY PROTEST IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEFORE BIG CONFERENCE OF SEGRETARY. LOT OF MEDIA IMPACT.
NEWS IN ITALIAN FROM OUR BLOG EF! ITALY

HOka hey! brothers and sister!

******************************************************************************************
FUORI PROGRAMMA ALLA FESTA DEL PD
da agenzia ADNKRONOS

Roma, 16 lug. (Adnkronos) – Fuori programma alla festa del Pd a Roma per unaincursione ‘ecologista’ sul palco in cui il candidato alla segreteria PierLuigi Bersani stava per iniziare il suo intervento. Alcuni ragazziambientalisti hanno consegnato una lettera a Bersani (che avrebbero volutoleggere ma l’organizzazione della festa ha ritenuto che non fosse il caso)nella quale si denuncia la scarsa attenzione all’ambiente della festademocratica di Roma. “Certo ambientalismo produce solo rifiuti -diceMassimo, uno dei ragazzi che hanno inscenato la protesta- perche’ non e’possibile che ad una manifestazione del genere non si faccia la raccoltadifferenziata”. Dopo che i ragazzi sono stati fatti scendere dal palco Bersani ha volutocomunque subito rispondere alla loro sollecitazione: “si critica lo scarsoecologismo di questa festa ed io rispondo che si puo’ sempre fare di meglioe ricordo che i governi di centrosinistra sono stati quelli che per primihanno posto le tematiche ambientali tra le priorita’ delle azioni digoverno”. (Mon/Ct/Adnkronos) 16-LUG-09 21:24

PD: BERSANI CONTESTATO DA AMBIENTALISTI A FESTA DE L’UNITA’ DI ROMA
da Agenzia IRIS

ROMA, 16 LUG – Pierluigi Bersani, ospite al Democratic Party di Roma, è stato contestato da alcuni ragazzi di un movimento ecologista, Earth First Roma. “Si può sempre far meglio, tutte le critiche sono accettabili ma voglio ricordare che quando eravamo al governo abbiamo fatto i primissimi passi per accendere il motore verde nell’economia italiana. La legge per i pannelli fotovoltaici l’abbiamo fatta noi. Bisogna fare di più perché questa è la frontiera per rilanciare l’economia” risponde Bersani.

RAGAZZI CONSEGNANO UNA LETTERA DI CRITICHE AL CANDIDATO SEGRETARIO
da APCOM (nella foto lo striscione esposto)

Piccolo fuori programma alla festa del Pd a Roma dove questa sera viene intervistato Pierluigi Bersani. Quando il candidato alla segreteria prende posto sul palco alcuni ragazzi di un movimento ecologista che si chiama Earth First! Roma, cercano di prendere la parola per denunciare lo scarso ecologismo della festa, esponendo un cartello con la scritta ‘Certo ambientalismo produce solo rifiuti’. Massimo spiega che non c’era alcun intento violento nell’iniziativa ma solo il desiderio di consegnare una lettera a Bersani per denunciare il fatto che “alla festa del Pd non c’è la raccolta differenziata, non si usano prodotti riciclati, non ci sono pannelli fotovoltaici”. Bersani dal palco spiega e risponde: “Si può sempre far meglio, tutte le critiche sono accettabili ma voglio ricordare che quando eravamo al governo abbiamo fatto i primissimi passi per accendere il motore verde nell’economia italiana. La legge per i pannelli fotovoltaici l’abbiamo fatta noi. Bisogna fare di più perché questa è la frontiera per rilanciare l’economia”.

More broken promises and lies as the fight to save Mainshill Wood continues.

The threat from Scottish Coal is growing, just as the front line against new coal looks forward to its one month birthday (complete with picnic). So get down here! Its now or never!

The threat from Scottish Coal is growing, just as the front line against new coal looks forward to its one month birthday (complete with picnic). So get down here! Its now or never! The Mainshill Solidarity Camp is extremely grateful for the continuing support from the local community and will be celebrating its one month birthday on Sunday 19th July with a community picnic at 3pm to which everyone is welcome.

Local residents awoke on Monday morning to the news of yet another application for an extension at Poniel [1], a Scottish Coal mine in the Douglas Valley, something that communities had been assured would not happen, and which new planning policy guards against…

Poniel Open Cast Coal site, a few hundred metres away from Mainshill, will be extended by 100,000 tonnes over a six month period. This broken promise is yet another example of the disregard shown to communities and the environment in the pursuit of profit.

Across the valley at Mainshill, environmental devastation and disastrous health impacts will result from the open casting of the 350ha site to extract 1.7million tonnes of coal which will cause 4.98million tonnes [2] of carbon emissions when burnt, excluding the huge emissions released through the extraction process [3].

Rather than responding to the objections made against these plans, Douglas and Angus Estates and its owner Lord Home (currently being investigated for alleged fraud [4]) prefer instead to make unfounded allegations in a recent media statement against the Mainshill Solidarity Camp [5] and continue to deny communities, through sham consultation, of their health, self determination and environmental justice.

At the public hearing attended by several members of the camp who also live in the local community, only two of the 700 people who objected were allowed to speak against the proposal. To prevent the casting aside of these objections and to obstruct the work already begun on site, the occupation of Mainshill Woods through direct action has been undertaken in solidarity with the local community.

Preparatory work for the mine such as the tree felling and bore sample drilling work undertaken by Apex already has been glossed over by the Estate and contravenes 7 conditions of the planning approval regarding studies to ascertain the presence of certain endangered species such as badgers and bats, which the occupiers know to be present on site.

The Estate has misreported the unearthing of an 11KVA underground power cable accusing the Mainshill Solidarity Camp of almost causing a “major disaster”. It was in fact Apex and Scottish Coal who endangered the lives of those on site and the local community by driving heavy machinery over the shallowly buried and unmarked cable. Any heavy machinery could cause death to the occupiers since the site is now comprehensively defended with treehouses and tunnels.

The Estate and Scottish Coal’s persistent profiteering from coal has been defended with reference to carbon capture and storage technology, however even the industry says that CCS is 20 years away. Only a small percentage of emissions can be captured using CCS technology at present [6]. CCS is a smokescreen for mining new coal, and evades the dramatic reduction in consumption integrated with localised renewable solutions and collective community action which is required given current scientific consensus regarding climate change.

The communites which would suffer the environmental injustice and negative health impacts resulting from coal extraction should have control over their local environment. If the planning system continues to side with the coal industry, futher direct action will be the only reasonable response.

ENDS

For more information please see: http://mainshill.noflag.org.uk or phone
the site for interviews on 07806926040

Notes to Editors
[1]
http://www.douglascommunitycouncil.info/news.asp?intent=viewstory&newsid=18504
[2] Carbon combines with oxygen in the atmosphere during combustion,
producing carbon dioxide, with an atomic weight of (12 + 16 x 2 = 44
kg/kmol). The CO2 released to air for each kilogram of incinerated coal is
therefore 2.93kg.
[3] http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826520.100-capturing-carbon.html
[4]
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/coutts-bank-chairman-lord-home-named-carroll-trust-case-0
[5] The Mainshill Solidarity Camp has been occupying Mainshill Woods since
18/6/09 in order to resist Scottish Coal’s plans to develop a new open
cast coal mine.
[6] CorporateWatch Technofixes Report downloadable at
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3126

The View from the Trees – spring & summer in Cascadia, USA,

Humboldt Earth First! Canopy Communique #1
Cutten, South Cascadia, the McKay Tract canopy. The landscape unfolds below us as a patchwork quilt of war. Looking west, one sees the suburb, progress enacting its will upon the occupied countryside. More development is planned, but it is not yet happening. We have primarily met friendly people who live here, and enjoy hanging out in the forest. We asked them if they want their suburb to grow, to continue to “develop,” and they emphatically do not.

Among the second- and third-growth trees to the south lay a few erroneous mini-mansions encroaching upon the landscape, with stumps in their yards wider than any of the three SUVs in their driveways. The residents enjoy a quiet life until one of them starts running powertools.

We look east and see the tops of enormous old-growth redwoods towering above the hundred-year-old second growth. Some friends live here, including spotted owls, ospreys, turkey vultures, black bears, newts, voles, flying squirrels and arboreal humans.

To the north lies a clearcut. Three years ago, Green Diamond (GD), formerly Simpson Timber Company, came in and cut down every last tree in the unit, leaving a few huge burned-out snags. Pampas grass and milkweed grow to human height in the trees’ absence, but this area is dry and getting dryer.

They planted a few baby conifers, redwoods and others after they cut. Those trees are now three years old, meaning they can cut a couple more units and then start re-zoning the land from timberland to residential. More mini-mansions are planned. So it goes.…

However our forest friends disagree with these plans. They want to live, and our solution is to live with them. For the past several months, we’ve been occupying two tree villages in the McKay, tying in as many giant trees as possible with traverses to protect them with our own bodies from being cut down. Tree-sitting has been used to defend forests in Humboldt for decades, and traverses enable a few humans to defend a large number of trees without leaving the canopy.

We chose this grove because the trees stand directly against the march of Leviathan in the form of suburban development, and the neighbors (in house down below) stand with us, and give us love and support. The other grove, (also slated to be clearcut), features an osprey nest, at least one spotted owl nest, flocks of turkey vultures circling overhead, a trail and campsite used frequently by bears, and a creek that serves as watershed for the Humboldt Bay’s healthiest population of Coho salmon. These critters have also shown much love to the treesitters, particularly the flying squirrels who share our food at night and the owls who hang out, provide moral support and watch us climb.

GD, is now the most-active transnational timber corporation remaining in Humboldt. They have clearcuts scheduled every year across the Northwest, and have largely escaped public scrutiny by a process of 21st-century greenwashing and alliances with the state. For example, the GD Habitat Conservation Plan for spotted owls gives the owls a vague, constantly shifting zone of “habitat” on GD land and a few remaining “wildlife trees”, usually of low monetary value, on land that they clearcut. In return, GD gets a bunch of “incidental take” permits for owls, which is a license to kill them at will. The GD plan for the McKay Tract is clearcutting, followed by residential development to double the size of Cutten, California, adding more residents to the near city of Eureka.

So far, no chainsaws have fallen upon the McKay this year. However, Summer operating season is upon us, logging could begin any day of any week. Neighbors are continuing to raise their voices in support. They hike, bike, and ride horses along the logging roads in solidarity with residents of the forest. Treesitters are still needed to live in the canopy, protecting this last refuge of wild creatures from the perpetual war that is human progress. Anyone wishing to spend part or all of the summer up in trees is encouraged to contact Earth First! Humboldt at (707) 834-5170; www.efhumboldt.org.
“May the forest bewitch you,” the canopy ninjas of EF! Humboldt.

——–

********Newsflashes:

Cascadia Summer Continues…
July 13th, 2009

The logging blockade in Oregon’s Elliot State forest was raided by a reported 60+ police accompanied by a bulldozer. 27 people were arrested. This marks only the beginning of Cascadia Summer.

Meanwhile, here in Humboldt we are steadily continuing the occupation of our local rainforest canopy to stop Green Diamond from logging 41 acres of Redwood forest over 100 years old. The grove is home to Spotted Owls, Osprey and Black Bears. It is a refuge that is surrounded by young tree plantations, clearcuts and suburbs.

We have set up multiple tree-sits and a traverse rope network tying up a large area of forest near the Spotted Owl nest. The ropes allow above ground travel and increase the effectiveness of the tree-sits by linking many trees together.

So far the company has held off from logging though the plan has been approved for months. Green Diamond says they won’t send climbers up to take activists out of the trees because it’s “too dangerous”.

If you would like to live and work in the Redwood forest canopy or help support our activities please give us a call or write us an email.

contactefhum@gmail.com

707-834-5170

….

Earth First! Blockades Logging Road in Oregon
July 7th, 2009
Early yesterday morning, a large team of activists (including Humboldt EF!ers) skillfully and valiently blockaded a logging road to protect over 70 acres of 100+ year old coastal forest that was being cut down. This kicks off the “Cascadia Summer” campaign to highlight ongoing environmental damage and shut down highly destructive logging activities in the Pacific Northwest. Some of our comrades are locked to the van in the picture as well as barrels full of concrete that block the road. Others are perched high atop structures that have support ropes that are attached to the gate and to the overturned van. Any attempt to move the van or gate and the structures would collapse and harm the activists. They are still there and have put out the call for more to join the effort.

Here are some links to stories about the ongoing action in Cascadia.

Cascadia Summer Blog

FD’s Blog (more pictures)

News story 1

News story 2

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Green Diamond Threatening Tree-sitters With Extraction
June 19th, 2009
Early this morning, tree-sitters in the McKay Tract recieved threats from Green Diamond employees. The GD employees stated that if the activists did not come down that GD would send climbers up to arrest them.

Yesterday, at least 2 GD employees spent nearly the entire day on the ground around the tree-sits and attempted to get ahold of a rope hanging from one of the sits. It was quickly pulled higher by a sitter.

….

Rainy Spring Days
May 15th, 2009

Update from the woods: There have been no signs of trucks or heavy machinery as of yet. Well timed spring rains are keeping the roads muddy and undrivable. We are on the lookout for any signs of company activity.

What we have seen lately are Spotted Owls, Osprey, large Black Bear tracks in the mud and a Green Diamond surveyor. The wildness and beauty of this forest is an inspiration. The ongoing assistance from our local supporters is crucial, thanks for all the help!

If you would like to join us in the forest or help from town please do, more tree-sitters and ground crew are always needed.

….

Flying Squirrel Discovers Tree-sitters
March 17th, 2009

This Northern Flying Squirrel arrived at the tree-sits last week. It was the first of it’s species to be seen by activists living in the Redwood canopy since the first tree-sit went up in August of last year. The squirrels are nocturnal and are sometimes preyed upon by Spotted Owls. They mate in May and June and live in groups in the cavities of large trees. They have often been seen in the past in tree-sits in old-growth groves.

….

Alert- GD Employees In McKay Today
March 13th, 2009

Though logging hasn’t started, Green Diamond is frequently visiting the tree sits, sometimes bringing sherrifs along. Today, two activists were chased through the forest by loggers but safely got away. Ground support is on alert and tree-sitters are prepared to defend the tree-villages in the event that logging begins. If you want to be part of our action alert list please let us know. You don’t necessarily have to trespass to support the tree-sits. There are many things to do in town and one of the sits can be witnessed from Northridge Rd. in Cutten, east of Eureka.

….
McKay 09 Update: No Logging Yet
March 6th, 2009

Tree-sitters are maintaining their vigilance as logging could begin any day. More trees have been added to the traverse rope networks, there are now over 20 Redwood and Sitka Spruce trees being defended. They range in age from 70 to over 100 years old. Tree-sitters are requesting camp stoves with re-usable fuel bottles, large tarps, climbing gear, reading material, and most importantly- more people to join them in the defense of this forest and our planet.

….
EF! Humboldt Tree-sit Update
February 25th, 2009

* Spotted Owl nesting season protections to begin on March 1st. Green Diamond cannot cut within 1/4 mile of the Owls nest until they determine whether or not the Owls have successfully mated. If they find that the Owls have mated, the so called protection would only last for a matter of months. If not, they can go ahead and log. Green Diamonds findings will most likely be kept secret. The fox is guarding the hen house.
* Earth First!ers are occupying part of this territory to defend not only the Owls habitat but as much of this diverse eco-system as we can.
* The numerous activists occupying trees here are weathering the storms and continuing to expand the defended areas.
* Unidentified persons wearing hard hats have made multiple threats to cut the trees down.
* The defense of this forest continues…

….

More Eco-Warriors Ascend Threatened Redwoods in McKay Tract
February 19th, 2009

There are now two tree-sit villages defending areas of forest in the threatened Redwood groves of Ryan Creek. Green Diamond employees and Humbldt County Sheriffs visited both sites yesterday and inspected the situation. Today, different workers appearing to be loggers visited at least one site and also inspected the tree-sits. This escalation of activity by the company may indicate they are preparing to log very soon.

There are multiple traverse lines throughout both of the tree-sit areas. These are not always clearly visible from the ground. Activists have put red DANGER tape around many of the trees that, if cut, pose a deadly threat to the tree-sitters.

….

Arboreal Protesters Occupy Threatened Redwoods
December 2nd, 2008

Tree-sitters unfurled a large 30 ft. wide banner this morning on the edge of the great Redwood forest, east of Eureka, Ca. The banner reads “Hey Green Diamond, Stop Clear-cutting -Earth First!”. The sitters remain aloft and are occupying several large second growth trees that are slated for logging. We invite the public to come and see the threatened forest for themselves. (Directions below).

The Green Diamond Resource Company plans to log 60 acres of large second growth and residual old growth Redwoods here in the near future. The two groves represent the oldest remaining forest and best habitat for old-growth dependent species like the Northern Spotted Owl. The owls are nesting in the other grove where trees over 1,000 years old still stand. Green Diamond has a permit to destroy the habitat of this endangered species. The Green Diamond land is located in the “McKay Tract” and totals 7,200 acres. Nearly the entire Tract (and the entire California Redwood range) has been clear-cut once already since the 1800’s and over half of the tract has been logged within the past 20 years. The McKay Tract encompasses the Ryan Creek watershed. Green Diamond also has plans for residential development here, threatening the health and survival of the largest Coho Salmon population in the Humboldt Bay watershed. We’ll have more info and updates on this in the near future.

Directions:

From Arcata go South on 101.

Turn Left on Myrtle Ave.

Turn Right on Harrison.

Harrison turns into Manzanita.

Turn Left on Dolbeer St.

Turn Left onto Walnut Drive at 3 the way intersection.

Stay on Walnut and look for the big green watertanks.

Shortly after that turn Left onto Northridge rd.

The forest will be on your left and the big white banner is visible from the road.

Please be respectful to the neighbors, thanks.

….

Mass Extinction – It’s Real – Fight It!
November 20th, 2008

Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Marbled Murrelets and Northern Spotted Owls are just a few of the species that are rapidly declining in our immediate area. Both Northern Spotted Owls and Chinook Salmon are facing assaults from Green Diamond, a company we have been building a campaign against since this spring.

They have an upcoming logging operation in the “McKay Tract”, directly east of Eureka. Green Diamond is planning to clear-cut Spotted Owl nesting groves after February 15th and is working to get Humboldt County planners to set in stone plans for future development of the area. Please contact us to join multilateral grassroots efforts in building a coalition to advocate for protection of this area . EF! Humboldt is actively organizing against the upcoming logging and housing development proposals. We are seeking more participants, any amount of time or material contributions are much appreciated.

Human beings are on the verge of causing a mass extinction of life on Earth. A majority of the world’s biologists now believe that if current trends continue, half of all species of plants and animals living today will be extinct in less than 100 years. The general public, however, is almost entirely unaware of this crisis. – Species Alliance

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Latest EF! Humboldt Action Press Release
August 25th, 2008

For Immediate Release: Monday, August 25th
contact: Jeremy Jensen (707) 834-5170
Earth First! Turns Attention To Green Diamond Resource Co.

Eureka, Ca.- A new Earth First! tree-sit in a Green Diamond Resource logging plan east of Eureka ended as suddenly as it began.

With the new owners of the former Pacific Lumber Company pledging to not log Old-Growth trees, a proposal by Green Diamond Resource Company to log Ancient Redwoods grabbed the attention of Earth First! Humboldt.

Most of the trees range from 80-100 years old but in one of the two groves there are numerous scattered Old-Growth trees that were not cut during the original logging of the area in the late 1800’

s. The company is also proposing residential development in the same area under Option B of the Humboldt County General Plan Update.

“Clearcutting and Old-Growth logging are crimes against nature and humanity,” said Jeremy Jensen of EF! Humboldt, “Development is the nail in the coffin.”

Activists conducted multiple searches of the area and made several discoveries. The locations of several Old-Growth redwoods that were slated to be cut, and the presence of at least three Northern Spotted Owls in the threatened forest.

Days after stealthily establishing a tree-sit in a giant Old-Growth Redwood that was clearly marked to be cut, the sitters worried that they had been prematurely discovered when field surveyors were heard walking around on the forest floor.

Though no words were exchanged, a dangling cluster of white 5 gallon buckets made the tree-sit highly visible.

Three days later, a Green Diamond employee returned to mark the occupied tree and at least two other imperiled Old-Growth Redwoods as “Wildlife Leave Trees”, seeming to indicate that they won’t be cut.

This surprised EF! Humboldt activists because the California Department of Forestry had already approved the logging plan.

While the activists suspected it was a deceptive move to trick the tree-sitters into coming down, another piece of information came to light.

An Earth First!er reviewing the logging plan document discovered that GDRC would not be allowed to log the area until next February 19th at the earliest. This is due to the fact that lumber companies are required by California law to allow trees in adjacent clearcuts to reach three years of age before logging neighboring forests.

The Earth First!ers decided to remove the platform and gear from the tree, assess the new situation and re-calibrate the defensive strategy for the threatened groves.

“At least now they know we’re serious,” said a tree-sitter by the name of “Crossroads”.

….

Breaking News: EF!H Tree-sit in the McKay Tract
August 22nd, 2008

Earth First! tree-sitters have been discovered in a gargantuan Ancient Redwood by a Green Diamond Resource Company employee just east of Cutten in the “McKay Tract”. Green Diamond is planning for residential development of large sections of the McKay Tract after they log all they can. This is a classic cut-and run strategy, make money by taking the trees and then sell the land to developers.

The Ancient Redwood was located a few weeks ago by EF! Humboldt activists during exploratory searches of the area, triggered when the plans to log two Redwood groves in the Tract were made public. The tree bore the blue paint designating it for cutting and was quickly occupied. Most of the 60 acre logging plan is to be clear-cut under Green Diamonds plan. The Green Diamond employee has now reportedly marked the tree as a “Wildlife Tree” and it’s possible that it will not be cut. Strangely, this logging plan has already been approved and we are not assuming that the company is sincerely planning to leave the tree.

This may be a tactic to get the sitters to come down. There was company activity in the area several days ago but no contact was made. The tree-sit may have been spotted at that time and this could be a direct response by the company.

The tree, named “Millennia” by activists, appears to be well over 200 ft. tall. It is countless hundreds, if not over one thousand, years old.

The sitters vow to remain in the tree until it is definitely protected. Though the sitters occupy only one giant tree, both of the groves are defacto wildlife refuges and need be protected in their entirety. The mature stands harbor many animals that have no where else to go in the logging-ravaged landscape east of Eureka, Ca.

During the initial search of the area, the activists were visited by a Northern Spotted Owl. The California Dept. of Forestry refuses to protect this area as Owl habitat even though the Spotted Owls are endangered and still in decline. We suspect that the Owls are nesting here because of the frequent visits from them, the large number of owl pellets on the ground, and the fact that this is one of only 2 or 3 isolated groves in the McKay Tract where dense stands of large trees remain standing.

The grove where this tree stands is comprised mainly of 100 year old Redwoods that grew following the original logging of the area around the turn of the century. This was one of the first places logged due to it’s close proximity to Humboldt Bay. The Ancient Redwoods that remain here were left standing due to either an undesirable shaped trunk, tree caves, or the steepness and instability of the ground around the tree.

The trees in the clear-cutting zone are not marked for logging, in those areas only the scattered trees to be left are given a distinguishing mark. This tree is within a geologically unstable area next to a creek were the company is limited to only selection logging. This type of logging requires that the trees selected for the cut be marked.

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For more info & photos, visit http://efhumboldt.org