Old Growth Campaign Update - June 2005
www.ran.org www.wakeupweyco.com www.buygoodwood.com
CONTENTS
Support the Grassy Narrows Blockade
Victory on Haida Gwaii
L.A. Activist Gets In-N-Out to Cancel Weyco Contract
Earth First! Rendez Vous
Stop Illegal Logging in Indonesia
New Campaign Video
Declare Independence From Oil
SUPPORT THE GRASSY NARROWS BLOCKADERS
Destructive Forest Management Plan Rejected
The Indigenous community of Grassy Narrows Ansihnabek in Canada's Boreal forest has continuously blockaded a logging road through their traditional territory for over two years now. They have taken this inspiring stand to assert their rights as Indigenous people to control their own future and to protect the forests and waters that sustain them.
The primary destination for the wood logged without consent in Grassy Narrows traditional Territory is Weyerhaeuser's Trus Joist mill in nearby Kenora Ontario. The construction materials made in that mill are then shipped to the US and used to build new subdivisions. It is our responsibility to support the people of Grassy Narrows whose land is being destroyed to feed the US market.
In May the Grassy Narrows blockaders publicly rejected the Forest Management Plan created by the Ontario Government and the Abitibi Consolidated logging company.
Please help support Grassy Narrows blockaders by visiting our action centre.
http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=98465
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HAIDA GWAII VICTORY!
The Haida Nation has achieved a victory in their efforts to protect the island of Haida Gwaii (or Queen Charlotte Islands). On April 22, 2005 the Government of British Columbia agreed to protect 40,000 acres of land that the Haida deem economically, culturally and ecologically important for four years.
The deal was made as a result of pressure organized by the Haida and the island community who, in March, seized $5 million worth of wood and effectively shut down all logging operations on the island by blockading the logging roads for a month.
Their work was supported by people like yourself across North America. Thank you!
The action by the Haida and the people of Haida Gwaii was prompted by Weyerhaeuser's decision to sell its logging rights to development company Brascan without Haida consent. The sale was the final step in a long series of failed negotiations and broken promises with Weyerhaeuser and the Province who, despite making millions off logging the island have consistently failed to protect ecologically protected areas, respect indigenous rights and the long-term economic sustainability of the island community.
It is expected that the Haida will sue the Province for allowing Weyerhaeuser to sell the rights to log on Haida Gwaii. The Haida believe that the decision by the Province to allow the sale violates a recent court decision which required the Province to "consult" and "accommodate" the Haida's needs and respect potential and yet unproven interests to land title, something which they clearly failed to do.
In addition, the deal, which requires a four year moratorium on most of the regions that the Haida consider valuable will put a stop to excessive corporate logging operations whilst the Haida issue their legal challenge in the courts of Canada to gain title over the island - the court case is expected to begin in 2006. A decision in favor of the Haida would protect the island from unsustainable corporate industry practices for good.
For more information on the struggle to protect Haida Gwaii please go to:
http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=98466
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LA Activist Convinces In-N-Out To Cancel Weyerhaeuser Contract
After months of negotiating, our star activist in Los Angeles, Wendell Covalt, convinced burger chain, In-N-Out to cancel their paper bag contract with Weyerhaeuser.
Join Us
If you're interested in doing what Wendell did and adopting a local Weyerhaeuser customer in your area then please contact us at grassroots@ran.org or 415 398 4404 and request an information packet.
If you're interested in working to protect rainforests with Wendell in Los Angeles then please contact him at 310 844 7185.
Activist Profile - Wendell Covalt
Wendell Covalt grew up in Indiana and received an MBA in Finance from Indiana Univeristy. He spent most of his career as a sales executive in the computer software industry. His last position was the Director of Sales for Asia for AIT Inc. before he retired in 2004. Wendell is married and has three grown children and lives in Redondo Beach, CA. He has many interests including yoga, nutrition, physical fitness, martial arts, environmental groups, visiting national parks and international travel. His most recent trip was in Vietnam for 5 weeks in early 2005.
Wendell has supported several environmental groups including Rainforest Action Network for several years. Once he retired, he wanted to become more active in protecting our old growth forests and the environment. He stared working with many RAN campaigns in the Los Angeles area including Trader Joe's, Ford, Ralph's, In-N-Out, and Wild Oats including both the initiation of negotiations and boycotts when necessary. The most active present campaign is at Wild Oats where we have an ongoing boycott. He has also been building a database of RAN members in the LA area and is working to expand the number of activists. The most recent success was working with In-N-Out Burger to convince them to drop Weyerhaeuser paper bags. In-N-Out is based in Irvine, CA has over 150 stores in California, Nevada and Arizona.
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25th Anniversary Earth First!
Round River Rendezvous
Join us as we Celebrate Cascadian Secession!
July 4 - 11, 2005
What is the Round River Rendezvous?
The Earth First! Round River Rendezvous (RRR) is the annual week-long wilderness gathering of hundreds of folks from around the world dedicated to taking action to protect the Earth.
The 2005 Earth First! Round River Rendezvous will be held on Mount Hood in the breathtaking snow-capped Cascadian mountains. Join us for hikes, stimulating workshops, rowdy rallies, campfires (weather permitting), unique stage performances, games, ecodefense trainings, strategizin', unusual behavior, tribal meetings, bad dancing (and some good), lots of music, swimming, ale swilling, plotting our escape from the US government, and just plain fun!
For more information please go to: http://action.ran.org/ctt.asp?u=2844473&l=98467
or contact ef@cascadiarising.org
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Indonesia: Can we stop the illegal timber cartels before it's too late?
RAN continues to pressure BlueLinx America's largest timber importer, to stop buying wood from untraceable sources including illegally logged old growth rainforests in Indonesia. In recent months we've also worked with several of BlueLinx'sfinanciersto cut off funding for this irresponsible activity. Click here to send a letter to Wells Fargo calling on them to stop funding BlueLinx today! to Wells Fargo calling on them to stop funding BlueLinx today!
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EXCITING NEW VIDEO
The Old Growth Campaign has a great new video featuring our presence at Weyerhaeuser's shareholder meeting in Seattle last April. Check it out on our home page.
DECLARE INDEPENDENCE FROM OIL
Go watch the flash animation and add your name
WE LOVE FEEDBACK
Do you have something to share about our campaign? Please contact us; we'd love to hear from you. grassroots@ran.org.