>
>
>Note: For those of you who do not know The Humboldt Beacon is a general
>circulation weekly paper produced in Fortuna by Fortunans. Its latest
>issue was distributed yesterday. Its front page headline reads:
>
>"Behind the Blockade"
>"Who Are These People? A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Earth First"
>
>The article is relatively benign when compared to the possibilities for
>the Beacon.
>
>Inside is an Editorial that is more disturbing:
>
>"County Faces A Gauntlet It Must Handle Delicately"
>
>Environmental protesters once again have county law enforcement and The
>Pacific Lumber Co. in a tight spot.
>
>Protesters have taken over the entrance to a Pacific Lumber logging site
>near Grizzly Creek state park on Highway 36 in Carlotta. They are there
>taking a stand for their comrade David "Gypsy" Chain, who was killed by
>a felled tree on nearby Pacific Lumber land two weeks ago.
>
>This encampment on the edge of Highway 36 is more that a simple barrier.
>It is a series of obstacles placed on a private road to prevent logging
>operations. There are stacked tree branches in the way, trenches, and
>abandoned car and people ready to "lock down" in metal sleeves.
>
>They call this site a "free state" and claim it as their own in the name
>of Chain and Mother Nature. They will not compromise -- never.
>
>County law enforcement must soon deal with this predicament. How will
>they force these protesters from Pacific Lumber land? This may be the
>most elaborate scheme of non-violent protesting that have encountered
>since the Headwaters issue first surfaced a decade ago. the Grizzly
>Creek camp becomes stronger and more fortified every day the county
>waits for protesters to just go away.
>
>Should something have been done before such a gauntlet was organized?
>Surely the sheriff thought of that option, but with protesters grieving
>over Chain's death, it would have been a pubic relations nightmare to
>clear them off Pacific Lumber property too soon. It would have been
>another notch in the insensitivity belt for the county.
>
>Now, time will tell how the county purges the site of protesters. Let's
>hope calm heads prevail. Let's hope when technicians are called to cut
>away the steel-cemented pipes that link protesters to cars, guardrails
>and culverts, no one will be injured.
>
>Once again, this game of cat-and-mouse has escalated, and it appears the
>forest is a dangerous place to play.
>
>This blockade will take time to dismantle. And in the end no one wins.
>
>The chase just keeps going.
>
>
>
>
>
David M. Walsh
P.O. Box 903
Redway, CA 95560
Office and Fax(707) 923-3015
Home (707) 986-1644


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