NOTE: Since this call to action was put out, David "Gypsy" Chain was killed by a falling redwood tree after being threatened by loggers. This document is included for historical interest, and because the defense of Headwaters is still on.
YES! FOREST DEFENSE IS ON IN HEADWATERS!!
This is the short and generic version going to many people with different interests. Yes the news comes at the last minute. We always have to wait until the last minute for the story on the situation, because the story keeps changing.
Good news: EPIC wins moratorium on Mattole logging! This frees up the four Mattole treesitters for other stuff. Trees in Bell creek are still occupied, and Julia Butterfly remains at the same address.
Usual, Mediocre news: the Deal, passed AFTER the official end of the assembly session and after much arm twisting by Maxxam lobbyists, gives Maxxam 100 million more than they've been asking, throws in a couple more of the smaller patches of old growth, gives Pacific Lumber free for all on the rest of the 60,000 acres, and names CDF as the final authority on harvest plan approval. (And because they threw in Owl Creek-- for an extra 80 million, bringing the total price paid for land that was already stolen to $80,000 an acre, most of it with no value survey ever done-- no the media are saying see, the deal went through and the enviros got everything they want. One paper went so far as to say ALL the ancient redwood in no. Cal is now protected.!!)
Also, pepper spray case ended in a hung jury, and three of the spray victims go on trial Sep 14 in Eureka on criminal charges stemming from the action in Riggs' office. Hurwitz takes the stand in two weeks in Houston in the OTS hearing-- crucial, this is the debt part of the debt-for-nature swap, where the Office of Thrift Supervision determines how much Hurwitz owes the taxpayers.
Bad news: THP 520 is likely to begin-- 700 acres along the South fork Elk river, in the middle of north Headwaters. Law enforcement threatening cruel and unprecedented treatment of protesters-- training loggers in pain compliance holds (I'm sure we can trust those guys to use them in a skillful, disciplined manner), and allegedly readying water cannons for any mass rally.
Rest of the Good News: EF! is undaunted by any of this. We have begun training in a more disciplined school of nonviolence, and are preparing to mobilize the way we always do, where we know the forest needs it. Targets are easier to identify because the buyout supposedly prevents them from salvage logging. So for me it looks like one more season of midnight hops over that same damned gate.
WHAT WE NEED: Your prayers and other focused interdimensional magic are always needed. Envision a strong and peaceful occupation of the forest. And those of you with strong ties to the fairies, sprites, brownies, etc, send them along and tell 'em to bring the big fey people with them.
BECAUSE INDUSTRIAL COLLAPSE HAS YET TO MANIFEST, WE ALSO NEED YOUR DOLLARS! Dead presidents support a revolution like no one else can. Just gas, food and gear run up big tabs in these things. Funds sent to me will become goods in the woods quickly-- Christopher Bennett, 3570 Main Ranch Rd., Ukiah CA 95482. (I need a couple of ropes and other goodies that I won't risk specifying in this text.) You can also send funds earmarked EF! to the Mendocino Environmental Center, 106 W. Standley, Ukiah CA 95482. Mainly I wish for Peaceful Persuasion, Prosperous Prankstery. And an end to the ego that forces the One to fight against itself. Love, truth, beauty...
For the Spirit. For All Beings.
--fly