Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap: Happy Inter-dependence Day--North Coast Edition!

Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap

Happy Inter-dependence Day--North Coast Edition!
Posted by Mary Bull (chalicenew@earthlink.net)
Saturday, June 30, 2001

Greetings, North Coast Forest Defenders & Bay Area Supporters!

Following are quick updates on some of the great forest defense and
protection work being done in Mendocino County and other great
community-building activities, like the Salsa Bilingual Cookbook Project and
the Mexican catering business that it has spawned to benefit Mexican
families in Anderson Valley (you can sample some of this fabulous food at
the GWA fundraiser with Pura Vida Sat, June 30 - see below)! Also, a quick
update on the Gap Boycott Campaign and a calendar of upcoming actions and
events in Mendocino and Sonoma:

-Sat, Jun 30: GWA Fundraiser: Samba Workshop! Capoeira Stage Show! Dance!!!
-Wed, Jul 04: Forest Protection Contingent in Mendo 4th-of-July Parade!!!
-Sat, Jul 07: ***Forest Protection Rally at Montgomery Woods!!!***
-Sat, Jul 07: Albion Nation Fundraiser: Revolutionary Dance Party!!!
-Defend Montgomery Woods: Update and Call to Action!!!
-Defend Enchanted Meadow: Update & Call to Action!!!
-Join the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Forest!!!
-Stop Three-Acre-Exemption Piracy: Come to the Hearing in Willits July 5!!!
-Support a Strong Grading Ordinance in Mendo: Update & Call to Action!!!
-Support the Salsa Bilingual Cookbook Project!!!
-Stop Forest Conversions to Vineyards & Subdivisions: Call for Ideas!!!
-Stop Illegal/Irresponsible Water Diverting in Mendocino: Update!!!
-Gap Boycott Campaign Update!!!
-Other Important--and FUN--Upcoming Actions and Events:
---Jul 7 & 8: Puppet-Making for Bohemian Grove Protest in Cazadero!
---Jul 13--15: Active-Fest at the Booneville County Fairgrounds!
---Sat, Jul 14: Confront Corporate Rulers at Bohemian Grove Hide-away!

****NEWS FLASH: On March 31, the National Marine Fisheries Service stated in
their 2001 Status Review Update for Coho Salmon: "The Central California
Coast ESU This Evolutionarily Significant Unit includes all Coast redwood
Counties is presently in danger of extinction. The condition of coho salmon
populations in this ESU is worse than indicated by previous reviews."****

****NEWS FLASH: Recent GWA Victory: MRC Withdraws Clearcut Plan! The Gap
Fishers' logging company, Mendocino Redwood, filed a 77-acre clearcut plan
above a GWA fish habitat restoration project in Greenwood Creek (thousands
of volunteer hours, thousands of government dollars, spanning three years).
The audacious plan proposed expanding a bridge, that GWA had put in to
improve water quality and help the endangered fishery, for heavy logging
equipment use. CDF approved the plan in Feb 2001, and GWA filed suit in
March. When GWA nailed them on their numerous illegalities, MRC withdrew the
plan to spare themselves the embarrassment of losing, but reserved the right
to file another plan in the same area. One of the illegalities was their
bald-faced lie that the coho salmon identified in Louisiana-Pacific's
Sustained Yield Plan as being in Greenwood Creek, were NOT in Greenwood
Creek, but in a nearby drainage that would require the coho to jump a 140-ft
cliff to reach (an impossible feat--even for our heroic coho!).****

GWA Fundraiser: Samba Workshop! Capoiera Stage Show! Dance!
***************************************************************************
Sat. June 30. Elk. This LINE-UP to benefit the
intrepid-watershed-group-that-could -- the Greenwood Watershed
Association -- tirelessly fighting for our redwoods in the courts, in the
streets, and in the forest promises to be NON-STOP FUN: 2--4: Samba Workshop
with Contra Mestre Amunka Davila, bring instruments (some will be provided).
6:30: Dinner and Margaritas: home-made black-bean chili and salsa; legendary
Margaritas, and delectable baked goods, 7:30: steel drum band Kevin & the
Coconuts, followed by the Brazilian marshal arts stage show. 9--12: Dancing
to the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of Pura Vida. $10 workshop; $8 dance; or $15
for both. Greenwood Community Center, Elk, on Hwy 1, 4.5 miles south of Hwy
128/Navarro Bridge. Call 707-877-3405 for more info.

Let Forest Protection Voices Be Heard at the 4th-of-July Parade!!!
*************************************************************************
The 4th-of-July Parade in Mendocino Village provides a terrific opportunity
to do OUTREACH for FOREST protection -- with the local community and tons of
tourists taking the message back home! In 1999, we built a beautiful float
with a giant jumping coho! This year, let's be there to promote all the
local events, watershed groups, and campaigns: The JULY 7th RALLY at
Montgomery Woods (see below), the JACKSON STATE Campaign, ENCHANTED MEADOW
defense, the GAP BOYCOTT, and so on!!! Meet at 11:30 AM, SW corner of the
Art Center, Mendocino Village. Get there earlier to find parking (10--10:30)
and chill!

We have a spectacular new Boycott-the-Gap banner, dazzling forest and worker
protection heralds in Spanish and English, and colorful "Gapatista" sashes
that would look GREAT in the Parade--all we need is a minimum of 5 or 6
local VOLUNTEERS to march and leaflet!!! If we can pull this ensemble
together, we will be happy to distribute everyone's leaflets! (Of course, it
would be TERRIFIC to have banners and people for all the Mendocino forest
campaigns and watershed protection groups, as well!!!). WE NEED VOLUNTEERS
to be a banner & herald bearers & leafleters! To volunteer, call
707-877-3405 or email chalicenew@earthlink.net !!!

Forest Protection Rally at Montgomery Woods!!!
******************************************************
Sat, July 7, Montgomery Woods. AWESOME ACTIVISTS Ed & Terry Nieves of Big
River and the MEC are organizing this rally to unite our forest campaigns
and issues throughout the redwood counties. More rumblings of Redwood Summer
II! Depending on the outcome of the Deritter logging plan adjacent to the
Woods (see update below), the rally may also be a celebration or a call to
action--to defend the magnificent Woods from Deritter's chainsaws. 1 PM.
Call 707-937-0637 for more info or to be part of the rally.

Albion Nation Fundraiser: Revolutionary Dance Party!!!
************************************************************
Sat, Jul 07, Albion. Amanda Bellerby and Sherry Glazer are organizing this
FUN-FUN-FUNDRAISER for the one and the only ALBION NATION, the heroic
community of forest activists who have put everything on the line for well
over a decade to save the Albion River watershed from Big Timber--and it's
paid off, the Albion has the largest percentage of merchantable timber left
on MRC (Gap Fisher) holdings, for example, and the last known native runs of
coho salmon still extant in the County!

THREE MIGHTY CHEERS FOR THIS GREAT FEISTY COMMUNITY!!!

So, show your support -- head on over to the dance party after the
Montgomery Woods rally! 8 PM. Old Albion School (Albion Little River Road,
off Hwy 1, north of the Albion Bridge). Call 707-937-4551 for more info.

Defend Montgomery Woods: Update and Call to Action!!!
***************************************************************
Ed and Terry Nieves have bottom-lined the defense of the Montgomery Woods
for months now, in a fight to stop a Deritter logging plan adjacent to the
ancient grove. The plan threatens the precious old-growth enclave--the only
significant old-growth redwood tree zoo we have in Mendo--with wind exposure
and edge effect. Activists have taken the battle through the public process
at CDF--and as of last Saturday, it's at the logging gate! LATE-BREAKING
NEWS: it looks like there's a buyer for the property, who wants the trees
left standing! Negotiations will buy more time at the very least. Deritter,
infamous for his three-acre exemption piracy (see below), is also infamous
for jacking up the price once he has a buyer. Call 707-937-0637 for more
info or to help defend the Woods.

***You can also call Mr. Deritter down San Diego way, and let him know that
you strongly object to his logging adjacent to the Woods and his three-acre
exemption piracy: 619-203-7688***

Defend Enchanted Meadow: Update & Call to Action!!!
************************************************************
In the latest fight to save Enchanted Meadow in the Albion River watershed,
public comment closed last Friday on THP 1-01-033, and CDF is expected to
approve it, of course. The history of this THP and the incredible community
effort to stop it is long and detailed, but constitutes only one episode in
the ongoing struggle to save the area known as Enchanted Meadow.
Contact Linda Perkins for more info and next steps: 707-937-0903.

Join the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Forest!
**********************************************************
This Campaign is winnable: Jackson State Demonstration Forest is 50,000
acres of PUBLIC redwood forest land that the California Department of
Forestry has dutifully logged to demonstrate how to clearcut, taking down
virtually all the old growth in the process. The Campaign has been gently
informing CDF that the Timber Industry has caught on to the technique, and
we can now turn to other uses, such as wildlife habitat and recreation. The
Campaign intends to pursue legislation to change the management goal for the
forest from timber production to restoration! In the meantime, the Campaign
has filed a lawsuit against CDF for not updating its Management Plan, as it
was obliged to do (the plan is 18 years old). Vince Taylor and the other
Campaigners are currently working on getting public input into the revised
plan, most recently attempting to enlist the support of the Mendocino Forest
Council in this effort. A membership drive is imminent to support these
truly great efforts! WE MUST WIN JACKSON STATE FOREST!!!
For more info, check out http://www.jacksonforest.com or contact
707-964-5800 campaign@jacksonforest.com.

Stop Three-Acre-Exemption Piracy: Actions at Local & State Levels!!!
****************************************************************************
What's the Three-Acre Exemption? It's a rule that allows property owners to
cut three acres with the intention of building a home or other legitimate
use without a permit--it was not intended for commercial use. Logging
pirates like Deritter & Priest (see above) have used this rule to CUT & SELL
their way through redwood country!!! Efforts to stop this are in progress at
both the State and Local levels--and need YOUR SUPPORT:

-State Bill. Assemblywoman Virginia Strom-Martin has introduced AB-671, a
bill that limits 3-Acre exemptions to one every five years, obliges the
exemption to be in the name of the person doing the conversion to
residential or other legitimate use, and requires CDF to ensure that the
land was indeed converted to that use, with a $10,000 fine (way too low, of
course, but better than nothing!) if it was not (see leginfo.ca.gov for the
actual language). The bill passed the Assembly and Senate Natural Resources
Committee, and is now in Appropriations, from where Wes Chesbro will take it
to the floor, enlisting his colleagues to support it. Contact your state
senators and the Chair of the Appropriations Committee and tell them to
support the bill!

-County Ordinance. Several counties already have local ordinances to protect
them--which is one reason we're seeing this abuse in Mendocino. Bette
Goldfarb & Missie Gilette of Caspar have organized to create an ordinance in
Mendo. They recently went to Sacramento and got a verbal commitment from the
Board of Forestry to support a local ordinance that outlaws three-acre
exemptions on all land, including Timber Production Zones (industrial
forestland). The local ordinance would restate the state bill, but have more
about bona fide intent, require Planning and Building to have a building
permit or some serious proof of plans to convert to something other than
timber, require a waiting period for public comment, require setbacks from
neighboring property, and deny vague uses such as viewshed, grassland,
meadow, and so on. COME to the Planning Commission HEARING 11 AM, JULY 5,
WILLETS -- City Hall 111 E. Commercial. Note: The ordinance may not be heard
till after lunch. More info: (707) 961-1683.

Support a Strong Grading Ordinance in Mendo: Upd/Call to Action!!!
***************************************************************************
What is a grading ordinance? It is an ordinance that addresses controls for
the erosion and siltation that results from grading
land --"vegetation-removal" such as by bulldozing -- generated from
agriculture, building, and other development activities. Evidently,
Mendocino is the only county without a grading ordinance, but the County
finally gave in to public pressure in the form of two lawsuits (one filed by
Friends of the Navarro and the other by Citizens for Responsible and
Accountable Government), and this past March, the Supes established a
15-member Grading Committee to create the ordinance.

There are two watershed seats (Peter Dobbins of the Garcia, Steve Hall of
the Navarro) two environmental seats (Hillary Adams of the MEC, John Spitz
of the WEC), some state agencies, such as Fish & Game, and business
interests, such as the Farm Bureau and Employers Council, on this committee.
Needless to say, it's an uphill battle for the environmentalists. STILL
Hillary and Steve are OPTIMISTIC--they have managed to put in a requirement
for a CEQA permit process for vegetation removal involving more than one
acre--but there are many other issues and have been many defeats, and they
NEED ENVIROS to ATTEND those meetings (the Farm Bureau always has at least
12 people in attendance, adding comment to the debate)!!! They are half way
through the process, with meetings scheduled for 7/17, 7/25, 8/4, 8/14,
8/25, & 9/8, in Ukiah. Call Hillary (707-877-3527) or Grading Committee
staffer Julie Price at the Planning Commission (707-463-4281) for times and
meeting room!

Stop Illegal and Irresponsible Water Diverting in Mendocino!!!
*******************************************************************
According to Hillary Adams, the Water Wars are starting in Mendocino County.
(The PD recently reported that Santa Rosa residents have been instructed to
conserve, which supports this assertion.) The problem is uncontrolled use of
stream water in the forms of in-stream reservoirs and pit ponds and a lax
regulatory climate--with the State issuing exemptions for large and small
projects a like. Business interests often divert water during the hottest
part of the season which adversely affects fisheries, instead of when flows
are highest. Also, the County lacks conservation incentives, so we see
growers using rainbirds at high-noon when most of the water evaporates,
instead of micro-misters at more cost-effective times.

The State was recently taken to task for this by the Public, in the form of
a public-interest lawsuit filed by Sierra Club, Navarro Watershed Protection
Association, et al, against the State Water Resources Control Board for
permitting plans for a Navarro reservoir that will not spill (real parties
are Bennett/Cahn, vineyards & winery), and by NMFS, in the form of a letter
stating that the State is out of compliance with federal rules. The "Golden
Pond" flood on Hwy 101, jeopardizing public safety, closing the freeway, and
costing taxpayers for the CalTrans clean-up, doesn't help the State's case
much, either: Golden Pond was another rubber-stamped exemption.

Organizing around these water issues is at the seminal stages; contact Steve
Hall at 707-895-2735 or Hillary Adams at 707-877-3527 for more info and to
get in at the ground-floor!

Support the Salsa Bilingual Cookbook Project!!!
*****************************************************
This AMAZING project was organized by the Anderson Valley Adult School,
participating Mexican women, and local organizers, such as Elk's own
SUPER-ACTIVIST Kira Brennan. The first 1000 copies went like
hot-cakes--thanks to a lot of leg-work to B&B's and wineries on Kira's
part!!! They are now printing a second run of 10,000 copies!!! The proceeds
from the cookbook are going into an "angel fund" for the health and
educational needs of the Mexican community in Anderson Valley and for seed
money for future projects. So support this fabulous effort: Order Your Books
from the Adult School NOW: 707-895-2953.

***An exciting offshoot of this project is the birth of a local Mexican
catering business! You can taste some of these dishes at the GWA
fundraiser-dance (see above) tonight in Elk!!!***

Stop Forest Conversions to Vineyards & Subdivisions: Call for Ideas!!!
****************************************************************************
STOPPING CONVERSIONS!!! Now that the timber industry is ever closer to
completely bottoming out in Mendocino per the recent mass lay-offs and mill
closings, doesn't it make sense to take steps to do all we can to stop
conversions of timber zones to other uses??!! Perhaps, starting with local
legislation??? ***PLEASE share any ideas on this!*** The following headline
last Monday's New York Times tells me we are not alone in this battle
(unfortunately our Guv *luvs* development):

Gov. Parris N. Glendening of Maryland, a leading antisprawl advocate, plans
to invoke a neglected 25-year-old law to bring court challenges against
potentially harmful rezoning decisions.
http://partners.nytimes.com/2001/06/25/national/25SPRA.html?todaysheadlines

Gap Boycott Campaign Quick Update!!!
********************************************
The Gap Boycott Campaign is going strong in the Bay Area and Beyond:

-SRBG & Friends put on four Gap demos over the past six weeks: The Natural
Resources Defense Council's annual gala (Bob Fisher sits on the Board); a
cancer benefit golf tournament co-sponsored by the Gap Fishers, while they
dump toxic herbicides on their clearcuts (thanks to Mendo activists for
tipping us off on this one--it really nailed them among their peers!); and
the grand-opening of a new Gap flagship store in downtown Oakland, which
turned out to be part of Mayor Jerry Brown's plan to "revitalize"--read
corporatize--the inner city (we were on the evening news and in print media
opposite Brown, explaining why exploitative mega-corporations like the Gap
are not good for local economies!).

-We supported a coalition of Bay Area youth activists who organized weekend
Gap protests throughout the month of May at the Gap at Haight & Ashbury--a
hot bed for tourist outreach--billing it as a sequel to their 19-day Gap
Vigil at Gap HQ last October!

-Meanwhile, our Gap Boycott Outreach Drive is building, with activists from
the newly formed ACTERRA high schools group taking on DENVER and BOSTON!!!
GO ACTERRA!!! THREE CHEERS FOR THESE GREAT ACTIVISTS!!!!

-Finally, our Gap Fever Meter is almost off the chart, with people signing
up for Gap actions around the globe--check it out at www.gapsucks.org !!!

-Next Gap Action: July 7, Oakland. Protest the Corporatization of Our
Cities! Call for a Peoples' Agenda to Revitalize Downtown Oakland! The new
Gap flagship store in downtown Oakland is the cornerstone of Mayor Jerry
Brown's plan to "revitalize" the inner city. The idea that exploitative
mega-corporations are good for local economies is the same propaganda that
corporations and their political lackeys use to promote "free trade"--and we
know what a disaster NAFTA, the WTO, IMF, and World Bank have been on local
economies. We'll be calling for a Peoples' Agenda to revitalize our inner
cities--one that promotes small local businesses, diversity, and
community--instead of the Corporate Agenda that sucks the wealth away from
the people and into the pockets of a few rich investors, forces rents to
skyrocket, squelches diversity, and displaces low-income people and small
businesses--all under a slick, sterile veneer of affluence! 12 noon, 1333
Broadway at 14th Street, Oakland (12th Street BART). More info: Save the
Redwoods/Boycott the Gap Campaign & Friends 415-731-7924 chalicenew@earthlink.net
www.gapsucks.org

How the Gap is faring:

--Gap's latest financial forecast is BLEAK, BLEAK, BLEAK-with profits down
51% in the first quarter and financial analysts now saying that Gap doesn't
have a hope for recovery until 2003 (it used to be holiday season 2001).

--Last week, Gap announced plans to lay-off 700 employees at Gap HQ in SF,
citing the overall economic slump as the reason. It would be great to do
another Two-Penny action in response to this (where we presented giant
placards at Gap HQ that read, "Donald Fisher, Don't take it out on Gap
employees when it's your own callous disregard of the environment and
workers rights that's turning shoppers away..."). The lay-offs are scheduled
to occur within three weeks or so-ironically, probably coinciding with the
opening of the new HQ (built with 18 million in subsidies from us!) We'll be
there to support workers and denounce corporate policies!!!

--Finally, mid-June, Gap launched a new image, no doubt in a desperate
attempt to pull off a "Marlborough Miracle," (in the 60's, that bankrupt
tobacco company launched the cowboy ad campaign, and Marlboroughs
became the most popular cigarette in the world.the power of advertising!).
Gap, Inc, appropriated images from the Global Movement against corporate
economic globalization to hawk its sweatshop wares: Faded black jeans
hanging in front of an anarchist-red banner, the words "INDEPENDENCE,"
"FREEDOM," and "WE THE PEOPLE" scrawled across display windows in fake
black spray paint. This move BACKFIRED BIG-TIME a few days later--Evidently,
Gap received so many negative calls that they pulled the campaign a few days
after the launch.

****The last thing Gap needs now is an international boycott that's
escalating--hopefully they'll realize this soon, and capitulate to our
demands for a wildlife preserve and a living wage!!!***

OTHER IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS:

Puppet-Making in Cazadero for Bohemian Grove Protest !
***************************************************************
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SUPER-FUN EVENT. Come one day or both! From Starhawk:

Saturday and Sunday, July 7 (starting at noon) and 8 (all day)! Giant Puppet
Making Art Fest In preparation for the Bohemian Grove Action July 14!!! The
Bohemian Grove in Monte Rio is where CEOs, high government officials, and
policy makers meet each summer to play, network, and do the informal behind
the scenes dealing that really runs the world. No women are allowed! We'll
be there on July 14 in a peaceful protest to remind them of their
accountability. In preparation, Wild Iris Affinity Group invites you to the
beautiful Cazadero Hills to create giant puppets, banners, art and magic for
the action. We can share ideas, practice our tactics, and if you treat us
real nice, we might give you a short tour of our local off-the-grid homes.

Black Mountain Camp - 23125/23131 Fort Ross Road - Sonoma County. Room to
camp out, indoor sleeping spaces available (donations appreciated) Call
Stephanie 707-632-5389 to reserve space. Bring: Food to share (potluck
dinner Saturday, breakfast and lunch Sunday) Drums and musical instruments.
Supplies needed (bring what you can) Cardboard (especially BIG sheets! 4� x
6�) Duct tape, Paint and brushes, Brown paper bags, Newspaper, Old backpack
frames, Utility knives, Staple guns and staples.

Directions to Black Mountain Camp: From Santa Rosa:Take River Road to #116
West; From Sebastopol:Take #116 West through Jenner; From San Francisco:
Take #101 North to Central Petaluma Exit, go left (West) on Washington
Street, follow signs to Bodega Bay until it turns into Hwy #1 North through
Jenner... ...Continue on #1 north to Meyer�s Grade Road (about five miles
from Jenner), veer right, go right on Fort Ross Road for a little over five
miles. You�ll see the mailbox on the left, Black Mountain Camp is on the
only paved road going right (south) and downhill. It�s about one hour from
Santa Rosa, two or three from San Francisco.

Active-Fest at the Booneville County Fairgrounds!
******************************************************
Jul 13--15: This promises to be bigger than last year! Forest Protection
Speakers and Panelists Needed! Call Rafael for more info or to volunteer:
707-961-6253.

Creatively Confront Corporate Rulers at Bohemian Grove Hide-away!
****************************************************************************
July 14, Monte Rio. Demonstration at Bohemian Grove! See above for what
Bohemian Grove is about or check out the following web sites: Bohemian Grove
Fact Sheet http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.org/bohos/bohofact.html Index of
Bohemian Grove Reportage text of:
http://www.sonic.net/~kerry/bohemian/index.html
For directions and more info about the action, contact: International Action
Center, 2489 Mission St. #24, San Francisco, CA 94110 Fax: (415) 821-5782
iac@actionsf.org http://www.actionsf.org http://www.iacenter.org

_____________________________________________________

Happy Inter-dependence Day!

Mary Bull
Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap Campaign
252 Frederick Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
chalicenew@earthlink.net 415-731-7924 http://www.gapsucks.org

FOR REDWOODS & WORKERS:
BOYCOTT GAP, BANANA REPUBLIC, & OLD NAVY!!!

FOR PEOPLE & PLANET: STOP THE FTAA!!! http://www.stopftaa.org

For questions and comments please e-mail us!

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