Maxxam/PL in contempt of Court

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UPDATE From
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters
November 19, 2002
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1 - Pacific Lumber in Contempt of Court!
2 - Day 43 for Sue Moloney's Fast: Hear her on KPFA this week!
3 - Loggers Assault Protesters at Demonstration Forest

JUDGE SIGNS CONTEMPT OF COURT ORDER

On Nov. 18, Judge John Golden signed the contempt of court order brought by EPIC and the United Steelworkers of America union, scheduling an arraignment for Dec. 9. The contempt charges stem from a court order issued on August 29, barring continuation of logging on Pacific Lumber land carried out under permits issued in connection with the infamous Headwaters Deal. Pacific Lumber has thumbed its corporate nose at the court order since that issuance, raising the temperature of protest activities, as their logging brings old growth trees crashing to the ground in the Freshwater watershed, the Mattole, and most recently in the so-called Demonstration Forest in Avenue of the Giants area. EPIC and the Steelworkers have been frustrated in their attempts to stop the logging, despite several appearances in court as PL claims a different interpretation of the order than the judge who issued it. The latest effort to get movement resulted in Monday's recognition of the validity of the contempt of court and scheduling of arraignment on criminal charges. The case on which the stay is based, a case challenging the Sustained Yield Plan, will have its first hearing January 21.

HUNGER STRIKER ON DAY 43 ON STEPS OF STATE CAPITOL

Friends and colleagues of Susan Moloney have become concerned about her weakened condition as she enters her 7th week without solid food. Sue, who conducted the petition drive this spring to get a ban on logging of old growth trees on California's state wide ballot, has been persistent in her effort to get Gov. Gray Davis to live up to his campaign promise to stop logging of old growth in the state. After consulting with doctors, Sue started drinking broth last week, after ingesting only herbal tea and water for over 5 weeks. She just started drinking fruit and vegetable juice, but still has not eaten any food.

Sue will be interviewed on KPFA's morning show on Friday, Nov. 22. The morning show runs from 7 - 9 am at 94.1 fm. You can find a SF Chronicle story about her fast for the forest on SF Gate (Tree-Hugger Hunger Strike at Day 40, by Bob Saladay, Nov. 15). There is also a story coming out in this week's Sacramento News and Review paper.

POLICE AND LOGGER VIOLENCE ESCALATES IN NORTHCOAST PROTESTS

As more than a dozen tree sitters perch in trees in Freshwater and Mattole watersheds, as well as Gypsy Grove, forest defenders headed down to defend the trees in the so-called "Demonstration Forest", where Pacific Lumber just began their assault on old growth redwoods near the Avenue of the Giants on Highway 101. The site is classified as a "class E stand" which is the highest level of habitat for marbled murrelets, and is regarded as occupied habitat for the endangered bird. Tree sitters in the area were removed by loggers rather than law enforcement, and in fact, the sheriff's dept. was called by protesters due to escalating violence on the part of the Lewis Logging employees, contractors for PL. The Lewis Logging climbers strapped the tree-sitters into harnesses and lowered them down, at best a very dangerous operation, and activity in violation of agreements reached regarding handling of protesters after an angry logger felled a tree on David Gypsy Chain in 1998 and killed him. After the forest defenders were in law enforcement hands, arresting officers continued rough handling and threatened the young protesters.

An update will follow soon.
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters
510-548-3113
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, California 94702

http://www.HeadwatersPreserve.org
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HEADWATERS HOTLINE: 510-835-6303

-----see also for contempt of court mainstream article---------
http://www.times-standard.com/Stories/0,1413,127%257E2896%257E1000612,00.html