Karen Pickett – Page 8 – Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters

News from the North Coast: Gualala, Mendocino Forest Walk, Smith River

September 26, 2016 by Karen Pickett

Good News for Gualala Redwoods On Sept. 14, Sonoma County Superior Court issued a Preliminary Injunction to halt logging of the controversial Gualala River “Dogwood” logging plan area until a trial decision. Friends of Gualala River and Forest Unlimited had brought the lawsuit following comments and petitions opposing the proposed floodplain redwood logging along more than five miles of the coastal river, with more than 300 acres of mature redwood stands containing trees 90 to 100 years old. In issuing the injunction, the court found that harm to ecologically sensitive species and the wetlands themselves was shown by the plaintiffs, …

A Night for the Wild Buffalo

September 27, 2016September 13, 2016 by Karen Pickett

A Night for the Wild Buffalo Come welcome the Buffalo Field Campaign Road Show to the Bay Area! Friday, Sept. 30, 7 pm Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar at Bonita in Berkeley. This very special event featuresstorytelling and video straight from the field, from the land of the buffalo with Buffalo Field Campaign co-founder Mike Mease, along with Native Music from Mignon Geli and Karaj. Info at 510-548-3113 or bach@headwaterspreserve.org. The event is wheelchair accessible. Donations at the door; no one turned away for lack of funds. background: The Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) is the only group working in the field, every day, to stop the …

Hike the Headwaters !

September 27, 2016September 4, 2016 by Karen Pickett

Join us Sat., September 17 for a Headwaters Hike along the Salmon Pass Trail, in the Headwaters Forest Reserve, and relive the history of the struggle to protect Headwaters, while learning about the contemporary challenges for management, conservation, and restoration, in the reserve, and elsewhere in the redwood region. This hike will mark the 20th anniversary of the huge rally to save the Headwaters Forest in 1996, when 1033 people were arrested in a mass civil disobedience action. It will be led by an EPIC staffer who is also a docent with the Headwaters Forest Reserve. This is a free public hike. Meet at Newburg Parkin Fortuna September …

HRC and MRC–It all comes down to the Fi$her Family. also~Gualala Redwoods, Klamath NF

August 26, 2016 by Karen Pickett

Is it Timber Wars all over again or a kinder, gentler forestry? It depends whether you are prone to believe greenwash or science and ground-truthing. Humboldt Redwood Co. (HRC) and Mendocino Redwood Co. (MRC) came to their position as major forest owners in Northern California (400,000+ acres) via different trajectories: MRC owns 227,000 acres in Mendocino County purchased from the multi-national Louisiana-Pacific when they left Calif. after reaping millions, and HRC got what was Maxxam/Pacific Lumber’s ravished land in Humboldt County, minus small but precious protected groves of old growth redwoods surrounded by a sea of clearcuts. But the buck stops for both companies at the Fisher family, or rather the …

July 19 Protest Against Mendocino Redwood Co. for Herbicide Use

July 19, 2016 by Karen Pickett

Hack’n’Squirt Alert! Nonviolent Protest at Mendocino Redwoods Company Mill in Ukiah Residents of Mendocino County will rally in front of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors’ Chambers on Low Gap Rd. in Ukiah at 9 am on Tuesday, July 19, prior to an (approximately) 11 am demonstration at the Ukiah mill operation of Mendocino Redwood Co. (MRC). They are protesting the continued use of herbicide in the forests, through the practice of “Hack ’n’ Squirt,” which is the direct application of toxic substances to trees, and then leaving the dead trees standing, creating a significant fire danger besides the …

Rally in the Redwoods Saturday July 16

July 15, 2016 by Karen Pickett

Agency Green-Lights Logging Plan in the Redwoods Protest Rally July 16 on Gualala River On July 1, state regulators approved the 402-acre “Dogwood” timber harvest plan (THP) to log in the sensitive redwood forest floodplain along the lower Wild and Scenic Gualala River, to the river’s mouth. The redwood trees there, many a century old, are in recovery, regenerating after historical heavy industrial logging. The plan was filed by Gualala Redwood Timber (GRT), responsible for clearcut logging in the watershed on its over 30,000 acres of timberland. California’s Forest Practice Rules were changed to expand protection of stream areas (known as Watercourse …

Update on North Coast Forest Issues on Our Radar: Caltrans Threats to Forests, Wetlands and Native Culture Remain on BACH’s Agenda

July 15, 2016May 20, 2016 by Karen Pickett

Richardson Grove Things are quiet at the moment regarding Caltrans’ boondoggle highway expansion plans through the old growth redwood forest as we await new environmental planning documents from Caltrans. Defeated in Federal Court in 2012 by the environmental groups, Caltrans ultimately withdrew the project in December, 2014, but subsequently announced they would start the process over again. The transportation agency insists on taking another whack at this costly and unnecessary project, for reasons unfathomable to most of us. Last year an additional group of Richardson Grove activists expanded the campaign by forming the Coalition for Responsible Transportation …

Willits News Journalist Arrested at Bypass Construction Suing for False Arrest ::: Trial in San Francisco Under Way ::: Support Good Journalism on Environmental Issues!

July 15, 2016February 24, 2016 by Karen Pickett

False Arrest Trial Underway in SF Federal Court Related to Caltrans Willits Bypass Debacle Steve Eberhard, a professional (and award-winning) photographer and journalist with The Willits News was arrested in July 2013, while attempting to document a protest against the disastrous (for the earth) Caltrans freeway bypass project. See links below for more details and a video of his arrest. Eberhard filed a false arrest suit almost three years ago. The case is finally being heard beginning with jury selection on February 22 in San Francisco Federal Court, 450 Golden Gate Ave, Floor 19, Room 11, Judge Donato presiding. The case is expected to take most of two …

Judi Bari Day is May 24!

May 20, 2015 by Karen Pickett

May 24, 2015 is the 25th anniversary of the attack on Earth First! activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney by car bomb in Oakland in 1990 as Redwood Summer dawned. The Judi Bari Day event at the Berkeley U-U Fellowship Hall (1924 Cedar at Bonita) will feature special guest performer LAURIE LEWIS, legendary songwriter, fiddler and vocalist. Doors 7 PM; the program begins at 7:30 After comments and updates by musician and film-maker DARRYL CHERNEY and others, the documentary film “WHO BOMBED JUDI BARI?” will be screened. Karen Pickett will host the program, and facilitate a Q …

Comment now: TELL CALTRANS that Richardson Grove, Willits Bypass and 197/199 Smith River Projects Contradict Their Own Goals

April 9, 2015 by Karen Pickett

Tell Caltrans that big trucks don’t mix with big trees, wild rivers & wetlands! Caltrans has released a long-term planning document, called the Caltrans Transportation Plan (CTP) 2040. The agency opened a short comment period, which ENDS APRIL 17. In keeping with our Put the Brakes on Caltrans campaign to put a halt to the environmentally disastrous plans on the north coast, we are submitting comments pertinent to those projects. Please take a minute to send Caltrans comments. We need to tell Caltrans that Californians prioritize big redwoods, lush wetlands, threatened species and wild rivers over giant big rigs! The link to submit comments …