Mattole Summer Solstice Update

With close to 60 arrests and activists doing upwards of four months in jail, the MAXXAM clear-cutting of one of the largest remaining stands of intact old growth Douglas Fir forest continues. A timber operations "start-up" was filed with the California Department of Forestry Thursday, June 14 for Timber Harvest Plan 00-386. This THP prescribes that another 43 acres of old growth clear-cut occur. 66 acres, including two and a half miles of ridge top trees (some 7 ft in diameter) have already been clear-cut. For the past two weeks our other corporate intruder, Columbia Helicopters, has been yarding 14 hour days in the air while a locally contracted company helps to load trucks and work with bull dozers, furthering the degradation of what was once healthy mountain prarie.
In Eureka, CA, the Humbolt County Correctional Facility is currently housing one womyn, Kim Starr, for 120 days. She was arrested for locking down in a 6 month long road blockade. Two other individuals will soon be serving sentences of 30 days or more. Still others are currently on trial. And as the lack of judicial impartialness continues, so does the violence and intimidation tactics in the woods. The 24 hour mobile security team has no reservations about firing guns when they encounter people. The most recent attempts at dialogue with working crews have resulted in forest defenders being threatened and chased--one up a tree with a stick. One logger pulled the platform out from under a young woman who was locked to a tree she was occupying. This forced her to hang, still locked, from the lockboxes.The pain from this caused her to scream out, and her arms were bruised. The logger then turned to her lockdown partner and yelled, "Why don't you unlock?!",and punched him in the face. Before giving up, at least on that tree, the logger stole each of their right shoes. All to often, some workers have proven their willingness to use violence and other desperate tactics.
MAXXAM's Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation continues to effect our forces while opening doors for creative retaliation. If you know of any lawyers who'd like to help or can offer any legal advice, please make the connection--make it happen
We will be holding 3 Auctions along the coast this summer. Donations--art, antique furniture, etc.--are being collected and can be sent to us. Please spread the word to any artist you know.
This Campaign will continue throughout the summer and beyond if need be. Many more THPs, both with and without litigation, will become active in the weeks and months to come. Mattole Forest Defense needs your help. What we need most importantly is the masses to come together and bring the corporate machine to a grinding halt. There are so many ways people can help. To stay involved and updated contact us at(707) 825-6598 http://www.matoledefense.org
please send donations of
food -
rolled oats
dried fruit
nuts
energy bars
chocolate
out door gear
climbing gear
video cameras
still cameras
cell phones
pagers
office supplies
and people
to Mattole Forest Defense PO Box 28 Arcata CA 95518