Trust the tree-sitter Decides to Brave the Hurricane!!

Trust the tree-sitter Decides to
Brave the Hurricane!!

For Immediate Release

(7-15-03) Houston, TX -- Trust the tree-sitter has decided to maintain his perch 80 ft. up a Ponderosa Pine in Memorial Park, despite the oncoming Hurricane Claudette. Trust says he is not coming down until he has made his point to Houston
Corporation, MAXXAM, a company that is clear-cutting ancient Redwood forests in California. Trust is determined to speak with MAXXAM CEO, Charles Hurwitz, a contact that has not yet been made due to Hurwitz’s refusal to address this issue publicly.

"It feels like I‘m in a blender up here," said Trust through 50 mile an hour winds. "But I‘m not coming down until Hurwitz meets with me face to face and
addresses the irreparable environmental devastation he has caused to the people and the land back home in Humboldt. "

The tree cradling Trust through the storm is named "Gypsy" in honor of David "Gypsy" Chain, a Houston activist who had moved to Humboldt and died in 1998 fighting for the trees . He was killed when a tree was felled by a MAXXAM logger while activists were documenting illegal logging on MAXXAM land near Grizzly Creek State Park. Fellow activist Bear was in another tree named Gaia, in memory of a 150 year old Douglas Fur that was chopped down by MAXXAM just over a month ago. Bear has left the tree-sit due to the hurricane. Trust has far more experience and feels confident he is safe on his platform.

The District Attorney of Humboldt County California, Paul Gallegos, is currently suing Maxxam subsidiary Pacific Lumber Company $250 million for fraud. Superior Court judge John Golden is simultaneously about to pull the company's permits to log due
to its incessant, destructive logging practices which continue to harm endangered species, the environment and flood resident's homes. Pacific Lumber has continued to log in the face of court orders, findings of violations, community uprisings and massive protests.

CEO Charles Hurwitz took control of Pacific Lumber in 1985 in a hostile takeover bid and immediately nearly tripled the rate of timber cut. He also raided the $60 million pension fund of its workers, sold $250 million of the company's assets and funneled the money directly to Maxxam.

Trust and Coalition for a Better Way are working with the local group, SACRED to keep this issue alive in Houston.

For more information, visit
http://www.SacredRedwood.org
http://www.LifeBeforeCapital.com