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> > >Editorials >COOL OFF >Death of young Earth First! activist should be investigated, not >exploited > >Backing down and cooling off isn't Earth First!'s style. But that's what >the environmental group needs to do as an inquiry continues into the >tragic death of 24-year-old David "Gypsy" Chain, the Texan who was >killed by a falling tree at a Pacific Lumber logging site in Humboldt >County. > >The activists should follow the lead of Chain's mother, who declined to >comment about the controversy over Humboldt County officials >investigating her son's death. "I only want to know the truth," said >Cindy Allsbrooks. "We will have to wait and see what happens." > >Earth First! did no such thing, of course; although backing off initial >allegations that he logger had intentionally killed Chain., the group's >members have not even waited to see the results of the local >investigation before denouncing it. > >And the group refuses to acknowledge the obvious: Earth First! itself >bear some responsibility for dispatching idealistic, wholly committed >young people into forests to play "cat and mouse" - Earth First! jargon >- with crews engaged in a dangerous profession. > >Because the activists are convinced that Pacific Lumber is using illegal >logging practices - and because their belief in their cause is absolute >- it is probably naive to think that Earth First! will respond to calls >for a truce. > >But Chain's death must be investigated, not used as a propaganda tool. > >An independent probe ultimately amy be justified. But the next step is >for the local authorities to gather information, turn it over to >Humboldt County District Attorney Terry Farmer, who then will make his >own review. > >Not until then can anyone know what, if any, additional steps should be >taken. > > > > David M. Walsh P.O. Box 903 Redway, CA 95560 Office and Fax(707) 923-3015 Home (707) 986-1644
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