[Imc-newsroom] 5 Month Anniversary PRESS RELEASE

[blackwidow]

NEWS RELEASE * YELLOWWOOD TREE SIT UPDATE!
September 2, 2001      ****  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ****
Contact:  Yellowwood Tree-Sit hotline – 812-336-0462

Brown County, - Yellowwood Tree-Sit marked five-months into its successful
non-violent direct action to prevent commercial logging of an area in
Yellowwood State Forest.   As the nights turn cooler, activists grow
stronger in their commitment to stopping the logging in Yellowwood and other
state forests.

To date:  Indiana’s tree-sits have inspired similar actions in Ohio this
labor day weekend.  Citizens are blocking access to a state forest logging
site in eastern Ohio in defense of their public lands using 2 tree
platforms, a hanging basket and other peaceful means of protest.  Find out
info/see photos at www.buckeyeforestcouncil.org or call 740.797.7200.

Logging has not been able to proceed for a total of 200 days since the sale
date of January 17, 2001.  The logging contract only lasts for a total of
425 days.

The logging has been blocked by the Yellowwood tree-sit occupation since
April 1st.  The logging was also blocked by a temporary bird nesting delay
from April 1st to May 10th.

Over 100 people have climbed into the tree named Prometheus to experience
what peaceful, direct-action for the forests of Indiana can feel like,
learning about the issues around commercial logging of public land from a
whole new vantage point.

20 different individuals have spent at least a continuous 2 day period
living in the tree-sit, risking arrest and their personal safety, in service
to the cause of ending commercial logging in state forests.  Natalie Roark,
of New Albany, has lived in the platform for most of the last month and
plans to stay for quite a while.

Citizens across Indiana have been informed about the issues around
commercial logging of state forests, and most see this as an inappropriate
use of our public forests.  For only providing 1% of our state’s timber
harvest, it is common sense to instead protect them for their unique
recreation opportunities, for wildlife habitat and for the quality and
health our children’s environment.

The Division of Forestry (DOF) has further attempted to block public access
to state forest and to the details of the logging program by issuing an
internal policy on April 10, 2001 that allowed them to close areas of the
forest for long periods for “public safety.”  This is the type of secrecy
and institutional self-preservation of the commercial logging program that
makes non-violent direct action necessary for reform in the public interest.

A spectacular summer season of the nesting of birds, the roosting of bats,
the blooming of wildflowers, the growth of old trees, came and went as
nature planned. And the recovery of the entire forest community on the
Dubois Ridge site was able to play out gloriously at least one more time,
thanks to passionate forest defenders.
###
 "I pledge allegiance to the Earth, this unique blue-water planet, graced by
life, our only home. I promise to respect all living things, and to protect
to the best of my abilities all parts of our planet's environment, and to
promote peace among the human family, with liberty and justice for all."