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Thursday, April 11, 2002 |
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I clearly am overdue for a hike. I love redwoods.  9:15:45 PM comment []  |
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 For an excellent resource on forest and endangered species protection, go to The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) 5:24:04 PM comment [] |
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I was attracted to Earth First! because they were the only ones willing to put their bodies in front of the bulldozers and the chainsaws to save the trees. They were also funny, irreverent, and they played music. But it was the philosophy of Earth First! that ultimately won me over. This philosophy, known as biocentrism or deep ecology, states that the Earth is not just here for human consumption. All species have a right to exist for their own sake, and humans must learn to live in balance with the needs of nature, instead of trying to mold nature to fit the wants of humans.
--Judi Bari, Ms. Magazine, 1992 (photo by Alicia Littletree) 2:11:39 PM comment [] |
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This week marks the beginning of a historical trial against the FBI. And also a subject near and dear to my heart, as I have the utmost respect for Judi Bari's non-violent activism for the redwood trees and other social justice issues.
Background--in brief At the time, the activists were organizing "Redwood Summer," a campaign to attract national attention to the timber industry cutting down old-growth redwood trees in Northern California's Headwaters Forest. Prior to the bombing, they received numerous death threats. The FBI's allegations severely impacted the activists and their work--as reports of crazy environmentalist terrorists transporting bombs hit the news. Judi led her local Earth First! to use non-violent direct action, and to renounce the use of tree-spiking and other tactics that could injure timber and mill workers. Her fight was with the giant corporations not the workers. She died of breast cancer in 1997.
The Trial |
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12 years ago,