Pacific Lumber's Response to Aradia is Empty

Now that the tree-sit on Gypsy Mountain is getting attention, Pacific Lumber is displaying how they really feel about Humboldt County; it’s forests and residents. PL is apparently frustrated that activists are taking on “illegal activities” in order to defend the old-growth forests and its many inhabitants. They quickly forget how they rack up violation after violation of the Forestry Practices Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. They decline to investigate the clear cut that David “Gypsy” Chain was trying to defend, THP 1-97-172, where they over-cut by approximately one third of the area. They sweep their violations under the rug with the help of the California Department of Forestry and Humboldt County law enforcement, as the pitiful fines they get are considerably less than the profit they make. Maxxam is a corporation out of control with no regulation. Just as Al Capone had control of Chicago during the 1930’s by paying off the judges and the cops, Charles Hurwitz has done the same in Humboldt County. Maxxam is absolutely out of line to complain of anyone’s “illegal activities.”

A spokeswoman for Pacific Lumber claimed she could not understand why after the wrongful death settlement between Gypsy’s family and Maxxam/PL that activists were in the woods and in the trees. Part of the settlement is to have roundtable discussions between PL, Gypsy’s family, activists and hopefully law enforcement to halt violence in the woods against activists. PL sent a memo to all its employees stating that if loggers encounter activists in the woods they are to notify law enforcement instead of “handling” the situation themselves. It does not promise that the activists will stand aside while PL carries on with business as usual, which now includes clear cutting marbled murrelet habitat as well as further destruction of Gypsy Mountain and it’s living evidence of Maxxam/PL’s corruption and greed.

If we want to look at a criminal in this situation, look at Charles Hurwitz, CEO of Maxxam Corporation, who gained control of PL in 1986 through a hostile takeover. Not only does he hold the forests hostage and order for its destruction, which poisons the water for all the living creatures in Humboldt County, he has pitted locals against each other while he destroys the land for his own profit while everyone loses. Maxxam needs the get out of Humboldt County and let the land and its people heal. They can start by withdrawing THP 01-382 on Gypsy Mountain.

In reference to the Natural Guard, a group from Washington State whose aim is to protect life on Earth, PL is unhappy with people from out of the area getting involved. It is good to remind PL that the company was not so happy when a corporate raider from Texas took over PL. And to take it a step further back down the line of events that got us to this place, the many natives of Northern California were not so happy when hostile Europeans practiced rape, murder and relocation on them and took over their land.