Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap
Boycott-the-Gap Update: WE HAVE THE POWER!
Posted by Mary Bull (chalicenew@earthlink.net)
Monday, August 16, 1999
Forest Defenders Across the Nation!
A lot has been happening the past three weeks--for example, not one but TWO
FSC certifiers denied the Fishers of Gap Inc. forest certification! We also
found out that the corporations, including the timber co's, have bought and
paid for Cal Governor Gray Davis for years in advance (six months into his
first year as governor, Davis has amassed a war chest of campaign
contributions of some $6 million for FUTURE campaigns--now ain't
that comforting to the public?!)--but no matter, because the tides are
definitely turning: We are beginning to realize that WE HAVE THE POWER--to
reclaim our government, to reclaim our society, and to reclaim our Earth
from the big-money corporate despoilers. Get Ready.
In this newsbrief:
-MRCKEY MOUSE: The Fishers' Certification Circus!
-Appellate Court Order to Stop Logging Elk Creek!
-Four Retailers Settle Saipan Sweatshop Suit--But Not Gap, Inc!
-Houston Principles: Labor and Enviros Formally Unite!
-KPFA Benefit: Forests and Free Speech Unite!
-Calls to Action! Announcements! Upcoming Events!
MRCKEY MOUSE: The Fishers' Certification Circus!
------------------------------------------------
You done me wrong!
I won't be back!
Cause you done took
My habitat!
You clogged our streams!
You choked our eggs!
There's gonna be
A price to pay!...
----MAMU and the Co-Ho-Hos (From the GWA/Boycott-the-Gap music video
presented to the FSC certification team!)
After months of noisily claiming that they were "pursuing" Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certification (a "green" label indicating that
their lumber is logged sustainably), the Fishers' logging outfit, Mendocino
Redwood Company (MRC), finally applied to two FSC certifiers: Smartwood and
Scientific Certification Systems. These companies hastily arranged meetings
with environmental groups, government agencies, and timber industry reps,
seeking input on MRC qualifications for certification.
Environmentalists were incensed that the certifiers were taking the MRC
application seriously, given MRC's BLATANT TRANSGRESSION OF EVERY PRINCIPLE
OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY, the state of their depleted forestlands, and the
fact that they failed the Institute of Sustainable Forestry/Smartwood's
initial "scoping" procedure.
We were torn between boycotting this absurd exercise or participating in
it, at the risk of having our participation used against us by MRC or the
certifiers, if the certifiers did indeed certify MRC. MRC is known for
"using" people and groups--they've been using the name of the Forest
Stewardship Council in promotional letters and P.R. since at least
February, before they had even applied for certification. Having observed
Fisher family "influence" over the past year and knowing about the Fishers'
relationship with the FSC (see "Fishergate: The Fisher-NRDC-FSC
Connection!" 7/27/99 at www.elksoft.com/gwa), many of us thought it was a
real possibility that MRC could buy "certification." They still might...
The Greenwood Watershed Association and Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap
Campaign met the challenge with aplomb: We satirized the entire process by
submitting a music video--THE CERTIFICATION ROCK featuring MAMU AND THE
CO-HO-HO's--as the crowning element of our testimony (which also included
two 10-page letters and a stack of supporting documents). This came at the
end of a long day, and was much appreciated--especially the performance of
our own "Steelhead," Mary Pjerrou, playing a dying coho--by all attendees
(even the certifiers wanted a dub!):
After Mamu (delightfully played by young FD Rose Panovsky, a voice major at
Humboldt) and the Co-ho-hos (hysterically played by Mary Pj, Judy Hale, and
yours truly) do a sultry version of "You Done Me Wrong" (see lyrics above),
the Director (from off screen) tells us to clean up our act. CUT TO the
MRCKEY MOUSE CLUB:
Who's the leader of the club
That's made for nobody?
M-R-C, K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E!
Mrckey Mouse (Sandy Dean!)
Mrckey Mouse (Sandy Dean!)
Forever let our redwoods grow so high (high! high! high!)
Be a forest de-fen-der
And join the jamboree!
M-R-CCCCCCCC (See our Coho die!)
K-E-YYYYYYYY (Why? Because you kill them!)
M-O-U-S-EEEEEEEEEEE!
To which the Director replies (off screen) : "This is too sad--too, too
sad! ...I guess they just can't be certified!" To which we let our mouse
ears fly and shout and jump for joy!
(It's true: Activists have more fun!)
Watershed groups and others eloquently opposed certification--and even the
state agencies and licensed timber operators joined the Opposition
Chorus... As you know from our 8-7-99 press release, both certifying groups
denied MRC certification (although the certifiers' unusual press release
about this matter contained some rosy language about MRC that makes us all
wonder what these supposedly "green" groups see in MRC clearcutting, logging
of the last old growth, herbicide use, and increasing the total annual
acreage of logging by one third over their predecessor L-P. Hard to tell,
since all certification documents are kept from the public. So-called "green
certification" needs close watching!)
Then, it was back to the trenches, folks. Fighting to save the last vestiges
of biodiversity on the Mendocino coast from the pirate profiteers who would
be certified...
*WE HAVE THE POWER!*
Appellate Court Order to Stop Logging Elk Creek!
------------------------------------------------
On Friday, July 30, we got the GREAT NEWS that in response to our appeal,
the Appellate Court ordered Redwood Empire to stop logging their 266 plan in
Elk Creek until the Court rules on the case. You might recall that 266 in
combo with the Fishers' 445 (also in litigation) constitute OVER ONE
THOUSAND acres of high-impact logging--416 of them a MASSIVE CLEARCUT
compliments of the Fisher family--all near a very fragile coho fishery ("the
Coho 10"), the only known coho fishery in a 150 sq. mile region.
Mendocino Forest Defenders whipped into action early Saturday, Sunday, and
Monday mornings at the four main entrances to the logging site to turn away
fallers who had not been informed of the court order. Trees would have
fallen in violation of the order had it not been for these activists!
THREE MIGHTY CHEERS FOR NAOMI, ELENA, LANG, MARY PJ, ANNA MARIE,
PRISCILLA, POLLY, REDWOOD MARY, MICHELE, PETER, CHUCK, AND JUDY!!!
Then we scrambled to gather evidence (the current status of the logging) by
the Court's deadline. LightHawk, a wonderful non-profit that arranges
aerial flights for earth crusaders like us (they've helped us in the
past!), came through with a pilot and plane, and Mendocino
activist-photographers were at the ready to shoot the plan from on
high--but the weather would not permit! The sworn declaration that I wrote
describing the state of the plan--information obtained legally from the
navigable waters of Elk Creek (in the public domain)--and Lang's
declaration about the arrival of the fallers at the gate and efforts to
contact the company will have to suffice. None the less...
MANY HEARTFELT THANKS TO CHRISTINE AND TIM OF LIGHTHAWK
FOR BEING AT THE READY!!!
**HEY, WE HAVE THE POWER!!**
Four Retailers Settle Saipan Sweatshop Suit--But Not Gap, Inc!
--------------------------------------------------------------
From the Global Exchange press release dated August 9:
"Los Angeles, CA-In four settlements announced today, Nordstrom, Cutter &
Buck, J. Crew, and Gymboree became the first retailers to settle claims
against them in a federal class action lawsuit contesting sweatshop
conditions in garment factories on the Pacific Island of Saipan, in the US
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A related California state
court case in San Francisco will also be settled.
"The groundbreaking settlement represents the first time a group of US
retailers has agreed to create a joint independent monitoring system of
their contractors. The monitoring will insure compliance with US labor laws
and international treaties established to protect human rights. The
settlement also prohibits the use of "recruitment fees" in Saipan factories
making apparel for US retailers, the subject of sharp criticism in the
past.
"'This settlement is a human rights victory for the workers-mostly young
women-who make the clothes we wear," said Medea Benjamin, Director of
Global Exchange's Corporate Accountability Campaign...' The spotlight is
now on the Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Wal-Mart, and others that insist on
business as usual...'
"The settlement establishes an approximately $1.25 million fund that will
finance the independent monitoring program, provide partial damages to the
workers, and create a public education campaign aimed at broadening
consumer awareness of the continuing sweatshop problem. The settlement also
establishes detailed and strict employment standards for the Saipan-based
contractors with whom the settling companies do business..."
CHEERS UPON CHEERS FOR GLOBAL EXCHANGE,
SWEATSHOP WATCH, ASIAN LAW CAUCUS, UNITE, AND
EVERY ACTIVIST INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN!!!
****WOW!!! DO WE HAVE THE POWER!!!****
"Houston Principles": Labor and Enviros Formally Unite!
-------------------------------------------------------
As you know, labor, human rights activists, and environmentalists have
united to stop the Fisher family from destroying the redwood ecosystem in
Mendocino County and to stop their clothing empire, Gap, Inc., from
exploiting needleworkers around the world. But prior to this, steelworkers
and Headwaters activists formed an historic union to stop Charles Hurwitz
and Maxxam Corp. from destroying the redwood ecosystem in Humboldt County
and shutting out steelworkers at Kaiser Aluminum in Washington state.
This union of labor and enviros went a step further recently when United
Steelworkers of America and environmentalists established the "Houston
Principles of the Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment." The
purpose of the Houston Principles is to reaffirm publicly the commitment of
both the labor and environmental movements to "forge a partnership that
protects people and the planet."
Over 150 environmental and labor groups have endorsed the "Houston
Principles," including Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap Campaign!
Attend the founding meeting of this historic and essential Alliance! August
27--30, Marriott Hotel, 1001 Broadway, Oakland CA. To register or get more
info, contact the Alliance at 707-476-0444, P.O. Box 3536, Eureka, CA 95501.
***IN SOLIDARITY--WE'VE GOT THE POWER!!!***
SIDEBAR: KPFA Benefit--Forests and Free Speech!
-----------------------------------------------
It seems like years ago now, but on July 19th at the historic KPFA benefit
concert that Joan Baez organized, a wonderful folk singer and activist on
our network, Dar Williams, stood on stage in front of a cheering crowd of
3200 people and announced the Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap Campaign and
explained the link between the public air waves and our public trust
resources (water, wildlife, fish, etc.): They are both being usurped by the
corporate machine!
VIVA FREE SPEECH!!! VIVA THE FOREST!!!
& THREE CHEERS FOR DAR WILLIAMS AND KPFA!!!
***UNITED--WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE POWER!!!***
Calls to Action! Announcements! Upcoming Events!
------------------------------------------------
--Aug 17. NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO DEFEND FREE SPEECH!!! ***In Oakland,
L.A., NYC, D.C., & Houston!*** OAKLAND: 5 PM Federal Building, 1301 Clay
Street, Contact: Media Alliance, (415) 546-6334 or KPFA People of Color
Coalition (510) 601-9544; L.A: 4 PM KPFK, 3729 Cahuenga Blvd. West, North
Hollywood, Contact: Vince Ivory, Pacifica Accountability Committee, (818)
754-2482 pac@pacfolio.org; HOUSTON: 5PM KPFT, 419 Lovett Street, Contact:
Houston Peace News (713) 524-2682; D.C: 6 PM One World Studio, 2390
Champlain Street, Contact: Sam Husseini, Institute for Public Accuracy,
(202) 347-0020, sam@accuracy.org ; NYC: 6:30 PM Washington Square Park 5th
Avenue and W. 4th Street Contact: Save Our Station, (212) 465-7562,
patty@inch.com . For details about these actions, see www.savepacifica.net.
--Aug 17. BAY AREA CAMPAIGN AGAINST CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION.
Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month to plan anti-WTO strategy.
~7:00 p.m. at Global Exchange, 2017 Mission Street, Suite 303 (Corner of
16th & Mission). Contact Sam Johnston batfish@earthlink.net or Juliette Beck
415-558-9486 ext. 254 for exact times and more info.
--Before Aug 18. PAVE PARADISE??? Yep! They want to put a couple of parking
lots in the middle of the Headwaters Preserve. Contact BLM and tell them you
oppose the creation of two additional parking lots in the Alicia Pass and
the Salmon Pass areas. Lynda Roush, Bureau of Land Management, Arcata Field
Office,1695 Heindon Rd, Arcata CA 95521, voice 707-825-2306, fax
707-825-2301. For more info, call the BACH hotline: 510-835-6303.
--Aug 27--30. ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE JOBS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
Conference. Marriott Hotel, 1001 Broadway, Oakland CA. To register or get
more info, contact the Alliance at 707-476-0444, P.O. Box 3536, Eureka, CA
95501.
--Aug 28. KPFA TEACH-IN. The Social Justice Center of Marin is sponsoring a
Teach-IN at the College of Marin. Contact Dian Griffith for more info:
fulcrcl@hotmail.com
--Sep. 14. RALLY PROTESTING DAVIS RULES PACKAGE. 12 NOON.
Natural Resources Building, 1416 9th St, Sacramento. There are two proposed
forestry rules packages: The weak Davis Administration package that fails to
support the Endangered Species Act, among other serious flaws, and the "Coho
Considerations," hammered out by watershed groups and environmentalists with
Richard Gienger at the helm. Needless to say, the latter proposes real and
reasonable protections. PLEASE BE THERE TO PROTEST THE FAST-TRACKING OF
DAVIS'S WATERED-DOWN RULES!!!
--Before Oct 6. SUPPORT THE COHO CONSIDERATIONS RULES PACKAGE!
Contact the Board of Forestry ASAP and urge them to adopt these new rules
which have undergone extensive peer and scientific review. Address your
letters to Members of the Board, California Board of Forestry and Fire
Protection, P.O. Box 944246, Sacramento CA 94244, phone: 916-653-8007, fax:
916-653-0989. CC: Governor Gray Davis, First Floor, State Capitol,
Sacramento CA 95814, fax: 916-445-4633.
--NEW STUDENT GROUP TARGETS CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY!
Angela Story, an activist on our network (Tacoma, WA), encourages fellow
students to JOIN STARC, and become a coordinator on your campus! Their first
campaign, Socially Responsible Investment, focuses on getting universities
and colleges to invest with conscience. Their first conference is Nov 5-7 at
Yale University in New Haven, CT. For more info: www.corpreform.org
--Aug--Oct. ON THE ROAD AGAIN! Julia Butterfly (via cell phone) and Redwood
Mary are back with the Plight of the Redwoods Tour: NYC-NJ Aug 16--23;
Washington D.C. Aug 24--26; Boston Sep 29--Oct 2; Oct 7th Copperfield's
Books in Sebastopol CA; then down the west coast to Palo Alto, Monterey,
Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Glendale, L.A., and San Diego. BOOK 'EM! (west
coast contact: veronicaearly@yahoo.com /east coast contact: 212-963-8702.)
--SUPPORT THE TREE-SIT IN STOLTMANN WILDERNESS, B.C.!!!
Including the oldest Doug fir grove left on the planet--1300 years of
wisdom! All being logged at an awesome rate: 14 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Help protect these spectacular old-growth forests and be proud of what you
did on your summer vacation! Contact (604) 255-4145 path@envirolink.org PO
Box 19596 Vancouver BC V5T 4E7 http://www.enviroweb.org/PATH.
--OPPOSE FEDERAL "FEE DEMO" PROGRAM. Keep our national forests and other
public lands wild and continue the long tradition of free access! Contact
your federal reps (call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121), and
let them know that you oppose the current attempt to commercialize,
privatize and motorize lands that we own. (Note: The recreation industries
support the "Fee Demo" program.) For more info:
http://www.wildwilderness.org
--SAVE THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL FROM DEVELOPERS!!!
Help stop a ski development that promises to destroy one of the finest
sections of the Appalachian Trail, Saddleback Ridge in Maine. You can
quickly and easily send public comment via email to the National Park
Service using this web site:
http://trailplace.com/saddleback/saddleback_index.html.
For more info, contact: Center for Appalachian Trail Studies, Hot Springs,
NC 28743, 828-622-7601.
*************************************************************
...Yes, we've got the power--all we have to do is use it!
Mary Bull
Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap Campaign, SF
_________________________________________
Other Contacts/Information Sources:
www.elksoft.com/gwa
----------------------------
Mary Pjerrou, Redwood Coast Watersheds Alliance
707-877-3405 pirohuck@mcn.org
----------------------------
Norman de Vall, Greenwood Watershed Association
707-877-3551 ndevall@mcn.org www.gapsucks.org
----------------------------
Redwood Mary
Plight of the Redwoods Tour redwoodm@mcn.org
http://sites.netscape.net/redwoodmary/redwoodmary
----------------------------
Mary Bull,
Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap Campaign
415-731-7924 chalicenew@earthlink.net
----------------------------
Gap Labor Exploitation URLs:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/01/14
/MN19190.DTL
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/01/20
/MN49132.DTL
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/01/22
/MN49806.DTL
http://www.house.gov/resources/105cong/democrat/cnmifin.html#contractlabor
----------------------------
http://sweatshops@globalexchange.org
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