Last Friday, we heard the news we've been anticipating for weeks. A truckload of Columbia Helicopter loggers showed up to clearcut one of the seven timber harvest plans (THP) on Rainbow Ridge,1-99-475.
Maxxam Logging In The Mattole
-No logging since Friday, November 10th-
Last Friday, we heard the news we've been anticipating for weeks. A
truckload of Columbia Helicopter loggers showed up to clearcut one
of the seven timber harvest plans (THP) on Rainbow
Ridge,1-99-475. They were greeted by twelve forest defenders who through
their brave but non-violent approach were able to keep
all but one tree standing. The Humboldt County Sheriffs gave chase
to the activists while forming a protective ring around the one pair
of fallers who managed to down one 150 yr old Doug-Fir. Two activist
were pepper-sprayed but no arrests!
Maxxam/Pacific Lumber has not returned to the Mattole since Friday in part due to wet weather road use restrictions but largely because of the constant presence of 20+ forest defenders in the THP. Mattole Community members are ready to block the main gate leading into the area as they did Monday November 13th. Yesterday we got word via cell phone that the Mattole Forest Defenders have declared a free state and have erected elaborate blockades to slow future logging crews that will inevitably show up.
With the weather forecast clear for the next week, Saturday November
19th is the first day falling crews can again have
access to the area!
Please come to the Mattole for a few days and help defend the 3,000
acres of incredible old growth Doug-Fir forest. We prefer
those with direct action experience. Please call the hotline first
at 707-441-3828. Come prepared for very cold, rainy conditions. The
hike into the area is over 12+ miles. There is no basecamp so please
call the hotline to get invloved. We also have a wish list:
backwoods food (high protein pocket foods such as clif bars, dried
fruits, nuts, dry soup mixes, falafel mix, etc), vitamin C, rain gear,
warm clothing (non-cotton polypro and fleece preferred), wool blankets,
batteries (AA, AAA), radios, backpacks, tarps, video
cameras, and of course money... One can mail donations to the addresses
list below.
Litigation and Aquisition
THP 475 plan was first challenged early in September by EPIC, Lost
Coast League, and the Humboldt Watershed Council. The
case made it to the California Supreme Court and though an injunction
to halt logging until trial was denied the case is still alive. Two
other Mattole logging plans 1-00-020 and 1-00-031 are being challenged
(in pro per) by Dan Ehersman, who is with a group called
THP Watch. Pacific Lumber has agreed to hold off on logging these two
plans until their court date on November 29th (more details
later).
Mattole community members are working to purchase Maxxam's entire 14,000
acre Rainbow Ridge holdings. You can support that effort by calling
Pacific Lumber and Maxxam and encouraging them to hold off on logging for one
year and instead sell the properties to the community.
There are already millions of dollars pledged to this effort. Urge
Maxxam/PL to be a willing seller and begin negotiations immediately!
This is a very economically feasable option for Maxxam. They claim that they need to log the Mattole to keep their employees working but logging and helicopter yarding are being conducted by the Oregon based Columbia Helicopter. There is a strong chance many of these logs will only be "rough-sawn" and exported.
For more information about the acquisition proposal, please see the
website:
www.asis.com/~coho.
Please contact:
John Campbell, Pacific Lumber Co., 707-764-2222, FAX - 707-764-4269
Charles Hurwitz, Maxxam Corp, 713-975-7600, FAX- 713-952-4795
Ask them to hold off logging in the Mattole for one year so the community can raise the funds to purchase the 14,000 acres.
For more information:
Direct Action: Mattole Forest Defenders,(VM) 707-441-3828
POB 117, Petrolia, CA 95558
North Coast Earth First!, (VM) 707-825-6598
POB 28, Arcata, CA. 95518
Litigation: Dan Ehresman, THP Watch, 707-839-1534
Paul Mason, EPIC, 707-923-2931
Acquisition: Dave Walsh, Ancient Forest International, 707-923-3015
Maxxam Out of the Mattole media desk can be reached at 707-629-3599
http://www.asis.com/~coho
Background information and video footage are available upon request.
Maxxam Out of the Mattole media desk is a project of the Independent
Media
Center/Petrolia, http://indymedia.org