Forest Defender's Blog

Climate Action At Redwood Park Next Saturday

2009-10-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 24 is an international day of climate action, with 3559 actions planned in 161 countries, including one in Redwood Park. From the 350.org site:

Our Great Redwoods need us as much as we need them

24 October 2009 - 2:30pm - 5:30pm

We need bodies! 3pm-4pm=photo shoot. 4pm-5pm=Ishi Dube music. IT'S A PICNIC IN THE PARK. TIME TO VISIT AND LAUGH AND SEE EACH OTHER IN-PERSON. We will all come together at Redwood Park and form the number 350 with our (clothed) bodies and have our photo taken by Kyana Taillon http://www.kyanataillon.com Please arrive by 3pm to organize for photo. I am asking that you at least come for the photo! But if you have more time, please come to listen, talk, laugh, discuss, learn, teach, reach, cry, sing, dance, share, love, care, and show support for our Mother Earth. The Redwood trees will circle us, swaying in the wind, giving us thanks and praise for caring about them as much as we care about each other, animals, plants, etc. also in need of our help to reverse damage done to our environment. We can and will make a difference. People are welcome to bring picnic lunches. Musical entertainment provided by Ishi Dube http://www.myspace.com/ishidube It will be wonderful. All ages welcome. Please walk, bike, skate, or at least carpool! Please leave dogs/animals at home if possible or have on leash at all times. Thank you.

National Geographic Features Redwoods

2009-09-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

The October issue of National Geographic magazine features the Redwoods on the cover, and has videos and photos of redwoods on their website, including a photo of the Spooner tree-sit.

Darryl Cherney Performs at North Country Fair

2009-09-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Earth First!er Darryl Cherney and his band The Patriot Act played on the Arcata Plaza for the North Country Fair today. Darryl helped organized Redwood Summer and along with Judi Bari, was bombed in Oakland, California. They later sued the F.B.I. over their handling of the incident, and won.

Some Photos from Action Camp

2009-09-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

These are some photos from the action camp at Clam Beach and the action in the Mckay Tract.

Forest Defense Convergence Sept. 10th-12th

2009-08-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

Earth First! Humboldt is having a Forest Defense Convergence on September 10th-12th. The gathering will take place at Clam Beach Campground, 10 minutes North of Arcata. Camp set-up begins at 1pm on Thursday. There will be direct action trainings, hikes, campfires, skill-shares, and music. The Earth first! Humboldt website has more information.

Rest in Peace Nature Boy

2009-08-05T10:52:00.001-07:00

I learned yesterday of the tragic death of David Wehrer, who we knew as the forest defender "Nature Boy". He was 27 years old.

Photos From The Round River Rendezvous

2009-07-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

Last week, Earth First!ers from all over the country gathered at Huckleberry Gap in Oregon for the annual Round River Rendezvous. It seemed to me that everything went very well, although I have not attended that many Rondys. Here are some photos that I took.

Elliott Free State Is No More

2009-07-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

This morning, Oregon police removed the remaining protesters from the blockade and arrested them. Twenty-seven people were arrested over the last two days. Some of those arrested were using jail solidarity tactics. Cascadia Rising Tide and Cascadia Summer still need what ever kind of support that people can give. The action was certainly successful in that it brought attention to the issues of bad forest management and unsustainable logging practices.

Elliott Forest Update from Portland IMC

2009-07-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

Free State update

author: a friend

up date on the Cascadia free state

yesterday a group of Cascadia Earth First!ers and Rising Tide members took action against the continued liquidation and destruction of Oregon's Elliot State Forest. Using sky pods, bipods, road blockades, overturned cargo vans, lock downs and many other beautiful installations, the road to Umpcoos Ridge timber sale has been occupied, held and reclaimed for
the forest, the people and future generations.

This morning the block was raided with 60+ cops who came equipt with bulldozers ect.

22 protesters are being held at the Douglas County jail in Roseburg, Oregon. Protesters on the outside of the blockade have been forced 5 miles away from the blockade. It is highly likely, based on screams that police are using PAIN COMPLIANCE on the locked down protesters.

As more info as to how people can show solidarity arises word will be put up...for more info http://www.forestdefensenow.org/

17 Arrests So Far, Blockade Holding

2009-07-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

As of early this afternoon police in Oregon report arresting 17 activists at the Elliott Free State. Reports say that 50-60 State troopers are involved in the operation. So far they have been unable to remove eight protesters that are part of the road blockade. This video taken Monday afternoon shows police trying to get information from some of the people that are locked down at the gate. Here is a link to news footage: http://www.kpic.com/news/50237102.html?video=YHI&t=a

Elliott Free State Raided this Morning

2009-07-08T10:52:00.001-07:00

Reports from Oregon this morning indicate that at least twenty police arrived this morning with a paddy wagon, fire engine, and bulldozer. Cascadia Rising Tide is asking supporters and concerned citizens to call Oregon officials. More info at http://forestdefensenow.blogspot.com/

New Free State in Cascadia Blocks Logging

2009-07-07T11:19:00.001-07:00

On Monday morning loggers trying to get to the Unpcoos Ridge timber sale were surprised to find the road blocked by activists. I will expand this article soon, but right now I am too tired after a long drive back from Oregon and little sleep in the last two days.

Cascadia Free State

For more information go to http://www.forestdefensenow.org/

Earth First! Humboldt Welcomes Roadshow

2009-06-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

Humboldt EF!ers had a great time last week at Grizzly Creek with the Earth First! Roadshow crew. The Roadshow had a great puppet show about security culture, and slideshow about the history of the movement. Some activists hiked to the spot where David "Gypsy" Chain was killed by a logger in 1998. After the camp some forest defenders went to the McKay tract to show support for the tree-sitters there. The last few days saw a surge of activity around the sit by Green Diamond loggers.

Earth First! Roadshow Coming to Humboldt

2009-06-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Earth First! Roadshow will arrive in Humboldt County on June 16 at Grizzly Creek State Park. The Roadshow has been touring the country to renew the Earth First! movement and conduct direct action workshops. Some of the road crew were recently arrested at a Home Depot in Colorado while protesting against dams in Patagonia. Their presentation will include a puppet show, slideshow and an introduction to Earth First! Group camping and a group kitchen will be available at Grizzly Creek from June 16-18. More information can be found at http://earthfirstroadshow.wordpress.com/ and http://efhumboldt.org/

Helicopter Logging in Nanning

2008-11-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Activists Celebrate Hurwitz Out of Humboldt !

2008-10-05T15:59:00.000-07:00

Activists and community members gathered at Cuneo Creek Horse Camp on Saturday, to celebrate the end of Maxxam Corporation's control of the Pacific lumber Company. Julia "Butterfly" Hill, who sat in the ancient redwood "Luna" for nearly two years, was among those who spoke at the gathering. Darryl Cherney and others played music for the group. Mike Jani, the President of the new Humboldt Redwood Company, and Estelle Fennell, candidate for County Supervisor, were among those who stopped by to visit.

Gypsy's Family and Friends Gather in SoHum

2008-09-18T09:19:00.001-07:00

Friends and family of David Nathan Chain gathered in Southern Humboldt last night to mark the tenth anniversary of his death. People that I talked to were very pleased with the new location of the Gypsy Memorial Plaque. The memorial was moved because it was repeatedly vandalized at the old location on Hwy. 36. The memorial has been restored by the artist and is now owned by Gypsy's mother instead of Pacific Lumber.

Just Got Back from Action Camp

2008-09-12T01:01:00.000-07:00

Action Camp at Grizzly Creek State Park was great! There were the usual non-violence, climbing, and backwoods trainings. There was a hike up Gypsy Mountain, which always brings back lots of memories. But the best thing was coming up with a new strategy for forest defense in Humboldt.

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Now playing: Guns N' Roses - Pretty Tied Up
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Unite for Change

2008-08-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

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Now playing: Slayer - Piece by Piece
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Fern Gully and Spooner are Saved!

2008-08-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

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Now playing: Pearl Jam - Jeremy
via FoxyTunes
Humboldt Redwood Company said that the ancient redwood groves, that tree-sitters have been defending for several years, will be protected. For more details read this article.

EF! Humboldt Announces September Action Camp

2008-07-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Earth First Humboldt has just announced that an action camp will start on September 5 and run through September 13. Tree climbing, backwoods, and non-violent direct action are some of the trainings that will be happening at the camp. More details will be coming soon, and more information is posted at http://efhumboldt.org/

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Now playing: Tool - Vicarious
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Tree-sit Evacuated Because of Fire

2008-07-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

A new tree-village in Six Rivers National forest was recently evacuated because of the nearby Hells Half wildfire. The air in the area has been very unhealthy due to heavy smoke. The tree-sit was in the Burnt Ranch and the Underwood Mountain area. Forest defenders were trying to stop the building of a road in a roadless area. Sierra Pacific Industries is hoping to use the road to access old-growth on their property that is adjacent to the National Forest. A press release about the action was posted today by Earth First! Humboldt on their website at http://efhumboldt.org/

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Now playing: Led Zeppelin - Misty Mountain Hop
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Earth First! Rising

2008-07-05T23:56:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in Humboldt County forest defense, keep an eye on a new website: efhumboldt.org. There is not much there right now, but I expect that to change soon. I see a lot of new energy coming into the movement and this new website is the first publicly visible sign. People may think that with the entrance of MRC, that there is no more reason for forest defense, but that is not the case at all. Green Diamond, Pacific Lumber, and Sierra Pacific all have bad plans coming up.

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Now playing: Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
via FoxyTunes

Judge Rules in Favor of MRC Plan

2008-06-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Judge Schmidt announced yesterday that he was confirming the Mendocino Redwood Company plan for the reorganization of PALCO. The T-S article is here.

Largest Ponderosa Pine in U.S. Found

2008-05-31T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Forest Service has reported that one of their employees, Tim Lovitt, has found the largest Ponderosa Pine in the United States. The tree is located in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It is 240.5 feet tall and the trunk is almost 8 feet wide. Lovitt is a graduate of Humboldt State University.