Sheriff’s Office Warns Logging Protesters Near Rainbow Ridge This Morning
A tripod erected by protesters on Rainbow Ridge which was removed by HRC last year. [Photo from Activist]
“It looks there were a total of five to six protesters when we were on the scene about 7:45 [this morning,]” Samantha Karges, spokesperson for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office told us. “Our units just warned them to not to trespass and are not on the scene any longer.”
The proposed logging in the Rainbow Ridge area has been hotly contested for several years. John Andersen, Director of Humboldt Redwood Company explained to us this morning that because of concerns about dangers associated with the protesters, they have personnel to keep trespassers out of the area.
“We have security up there to make sure trespassers abide by the law and stay off the land,” Andersen told us. “We had problems last year with safety with someone getting hurt.” He added that there were concerns that the protesters might accidently start a fire. “No one wants the fire hazards,” he explained.
Anderson said that the logging plans are still in place even though the Lost Coast League had filed a complaint with SCS Global, a third party certification company, alleging that the harvest plan would be taking place in unentered forests and concerns about herbicide use. SCS found
…that the forested lands at issue…do not meet the FSC definition of either Type 1 or Type 2 Old Growth3…Likewise, we conclude that the forested lands at issue do not meet the FSC definition of “primary forest.” …The vast majority of the trees, of all sizes, in the stands at issue do not meet the prevailing definitions of old growth or legacy trees, as defined in the FSC Standard and in HRC/MRC company policy. Within the proposed harvest areas, there likely are some scattered trees that do meet the definition of old growth; trees that meet the requirements of HRC’s old growth and “legacy tree” policy will be protected…
Thus, Andersen said, “Nothing has changed as far as the timber harvest plans go.”
However, the Lost Coast League also expressed concerns about the company’s use of herbicides and, to a certain extent SLC Global agreed. They said,
There is a need for HRC/MRC to take a fresh and harder look at a broader array of strategies, understanding the inherent tradeoffs associated with any strategy, which will demonstrably result in a reduction in herbicide use levels below current and projected levels.
Andersen said in response to those concerns the company is “not treating the same numbers of tan oak as we did before.” This, he said, will reduce the amount of herbicide applied in the area.
Efforts to reach Earth First Humboldt (which is likely connected to these protesters, though we have not been able to confirm that) have gone unanswered. However, below is a press release issued by Earth First Humboldt on June 3:
The struggle over the future of the rare forests of Rainbow Ridge is once again escalating. While members of the public continue to oppose the logging, Humboldt Redwood Company has once again sent in military style security guards to maintain 24 hour occupation of the logging sites.
Approval of a new controversial logging plan (1-19-00029HUM Rainbow Ranch THP) has been twice delayed following a flurry of public comments opposing the logging plan. While these comments range from concern over climate change to loss of endangered species habitat, two concerns have given regulatory agency CALFIRE pause for thought- toxicity of the herbicide Roundup and the associated fire hazard when areas of trees are killed with this poison and left standing.
“There are two revisions we will need within the plan.” wrote CALFIRE forester Glenn Flamik in a recent email to Humboldt Redwood Company Forester Deakon Duey.
In the timber harvest plan, Duey asserts that “there are no reported cases of long-term health effects in humans due to Glyphosate.”
In the letter, Flamik points to public comments regarding “recent court cases awarding millions of dollars to victims of Roundup exposure who developed cancer.”
Next Flamik wrote, “Public comment has raised the concern of using hack and squirt treatment of hardwoods and generating increased fuel loads of dead trees. Please address this practice of vegetative management and the wildfire risk associated with this THP.”
Emily Johnstone, who was one of several arrested last summer at a forest protection blockade had this to say: “Roundup is a threat to the health and safety of our community, and that includes the workers applying the poison. Many of us live in fear of a deadly forest fire burning through our communities, these dead standing trees and logging slash and overcrowded tree-farms are a ticking time-bomb”.
The new logging plan remains unapproved as Flamik continues to work on his official response to the public concern.
Meanwhile on Rainbow Ridge, new security guard camps have sprung up, replete with dogs, surveillance cameras and at least one drone.
“The militarized repression of protestors was key to Humboldt Redwood Companies re-taking the main access road last year, but just like last year, it will only draw more attention and support for forest defenders”, said Johnstone.
In spite of the threat of arrest or injury posed by the guards, dogs and tasers, Earth First! Humboldt, a local environmental activist group, is organizing a training camp for forest defenders to prepare to resist the logging. It will be held in mid June in a location near Rainbow Ridge.
While these concerns may not be addressed or alleviated any time soon, logging could commence any day, leaving forest defenders in the position of last line of defense.
“In the long tradition of civil disobedience and hardcore non-violent direct action, we are ready to do all we can to get in the way of this attack on our environment”, said Johnstone.
NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect information given to us by John Andersen.
Earlier Chapters:
- Two Protestors Arrested at Rainbow Ridge Logging Blockade
- Protesters Say They Are Locking to Gate to Stop Logging After Humboldt Redwoods Company Removed Tripod Sitter
- Man Protesting Logging Rainbow Ridge Describes Ordeal
- Demonstrators Picketed Humboldt Redwoods Company Yesterday in Hopes of Stopping Logging Planned for the Rainbow Ridge Area
- Truckers and Protesters Concerned About Plans to Log Rainbow Ridge Clashed Near Scotia Mill Yesterday
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On this 51st anniversary of the death of Robert F. Kennedy, I dream of a world in which the Sheriff’s Office warns loggers not to destroy the environment, a world in which the Sheriff stops environmental destruction in its’ tracks.
Agreed. They got it backwards.
We love you so much that
We will do the impossible
We stand on the moral High Ground
Prayer feathers in our hand’s
The time is now for
World peace and
Global healing
All tribes of the rainbow
under the sun
The time is now to unite
And begin the next Journey
The Mending of our wounds
And the planet that we live upon
Taking care of the garden
Will heal our hearts
One step at a time
We learn to live
On sacred ground
Taking care of our children
And elders
We walk on the rainbow
Into the heavens
Leaving the dead bones
Of yesterday behind
Waiting on the world
To change
Me too.
Coincidentally, I just called hcso about a phone scam where the calling party repped as being from the social security department. I called hcso. I asked the deputy if he wanted the number or my recording of their schpeel. He wanted me to call the fcc.
That’s his job. Moreso, because he literally said he had another similar call on the other line. You’d think they’d want to collect data and turn that into the fcc, but no.
That would apparently cut into time they need for threatening Earth Defenders.
Im busy, but this warning fwels like an invitation to me. Maybe we all need to show up enmasse and block that gate.
Where’sDarryl cherney when you need him?
Social Security is a Federal program, telephone communications are Federal jurisdiction. There is nothing the Sheriff’s office can do. Why would you think they would want to have your information? Call your Congressman. Call Social Security. Call the FCC. And of those only the FCC is interested in your “data.” So you were given the appropriate information. You just didn’t want to hear it.
Joe dirt is right, but
Just cut the trees. It doesnt matter at all. They’re dead trees standing at this point.
Nevermind Darryl, Wheres the exrinction rebellion because we really need them.
I am so utterly disappointed in every single persom standing against this wind project.
It might not be enough to change one thing but if Humboldt cant find a way to show leadership, then there is no hope.
Unless joe dirt can pray us over Jordan.
Where is Darryl Cherney, you ask???!!! “Saving the Mateel” of course!!!
Yes Darryl is trying to save the Mateel Center. That means the Mattole River and the Eel River and maybe some lost souls in between who are living on borrowed time as they kill are headwaters they kill a little bit of us all. What will we gave our children? yes, Darryl is watching I am sure with tears in his eyes. For the Amazon forest Is our lungs, like the Redwood Forest is the Heart of the Heart land,
Just a little time is all we have.
Do the right thing: no more destruction. I don’t know how much money you can make.
What is life worth.
~it seems like a whole new wave of stupid has hit social media and other such, maybe it’s the millennials or something. And they’re vehement when they post, like they are speaking to newbies or morons or something.
ON with deforestation.
ON with the wind “Farm”
On with 5G.
On with control.
AMEN to that when are they FINALLY going to get their priorities straight??? The damned ENVIRONMENT needs protecting far more than some damned logging company’ s Bottom Line!!! We ALL have to breathe & Trees make oxygen, leave the damned trees to make oxygen!!!
As you’re no doubt typing your comment in a structure framed with wood and on a device made of non recyclable polys by near slave labor in Asia.
Or using their mobile device as they drive their vehicle out to the protest.
yeah but you have to admit it that fighting from within the system has a FAR greater chance of causing significant change. If everyone against environmental destruction just moved out to the woods to live off grid, there would not be nearly enough change. Changes have to be made to the law, and to our culture. That wont be accomplished by complete outsiders and individual actions will not be sufficient.
Wanting to change is not hypocrisy.
It’s wanting others to change to do what you want while refusing to do what you can yourself that’s the hypocrisy.
First of all they aren’t asking you not to own a car or a cellphone.
“what you can yourself” that’s what important here. You cannot drop out of society and still make much a difference in it. The changes we need the most are massive. Personal choices like driving a vehicle or owning a cell phone will not make a significant difference.
Living wrong is so strongly incentivized by our systems that, given human nature, it will not be possible to sway a sufficient number of individuals to martyr themselves. Only those with some means can even consider living “green”. Most have are not afforded those options due to economic factors.
Driving, or even flying, and using electronic likely empower those seeking systemic
And it’s unfortunate that some people will have to be forced to make them, rather than coming to the conclusion themselves. It has happened every time society has advanced.
STOP THE TERRAGEN PROJECT!!
You should picket the county Tax Collector to protest their collecting taxes from the timber company when they shouldn’t be allowing any logging by commercial entities. Or get together with all those people who don’t want it logged and you all can buy it, do with it what you want and pay the taxes on it. Or you can lobby your legislators to by it. Then no taxes would be due and everyone would be happy.
Although today is not the anniversary of JFK’s death, I applaud your comment as it exemplifies this community’s commitment to ignorance.
~looks like R.F.K. to me. JFK’s bro.
Always enjoy watching videos of Neo Hippies acting silly taking up a cause for something they know nothing about.
Serpentine in the water causes the Humboldt Phenomenon, where someone yells about saving trees then brings a wooden bowl to share tofu at the wooden drum circle.
HCSO needs to handle them in such a way they pack up and move to LA.
Stupid hippies…..
Most hippies in Humboldt are actually quite educated. They moved here in the 60’s and came from all over the world. They built homes and raised families, most of which received a “higher” education also. We now have a third and fourth generation of Humboldt Born and Bred Hippies.
>”We now have a third and fourth generation of Humboldt Born and Bred Hippies.”
And they are still losers.
According to whom, may I ask??? You, thanx for that I needed a good laugh!!!
From a guy named Bozo. Right.
Most hippies in Humboldt think they’re educated but they’re not. If they were educated they would have foreseen the destructive impacts and unsustainable nature of the industry they built to support their groovy “righteous” lifestyles.
Higher education means nothing. Go have a conversation with an average college graduate. Brain dead, indoctrinated communists; stupid hippies.
~ah, excuse me..”average college graduate” commingled with “hippie” (stupid or not), lacks cohesion. Umm, out of sync. Nonsense. Horse feathers.
I was out there years ago and can attest to the fact its one of the last wild places left in that area. So many birds&animals utilizing it as one of the last habitats many of them can find. Theres a golden eagle nest thats been used for as long as anyone can remember.
The biologists out there back then were glad to see people blocking the logging, & the neighbors came to say hi often, they too know the value of that wild area.
Why does hrc have such a strong desire to destroy rainbow ridge?
Theyve been trying for years&have been in talks to sell to a conservation group but never follow through.
Give them a call&say you want to see the land sold as is not logged.
For some history of earth defense in humboldt county check out….
Treesit & Fire in the Eyes
http://www.earthfilms.org/havc/pages/films_screening.html
The Forest for the Trees http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/fftthv.html
Who Bombed Judi Bari
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWApxvSjMKY
And the book A Good Forest for Dying.
Thanks for real on-the-ground info. Would like some more on what exactly it is they are logging there? I have learned that sometimes EarthFirst can be dramatic and inaccurate. Of course I don’t believe timber companies much at all. Is it really old growth Doug Fir? Is it large second-growth w/ some residual old growth (overlooked on the first round)? Is it unroaded and formerly unmolested forest (the most valuable to protect)? Yes I lean heavy to protecting the environment but more real info would help people sort it out for where they stand…And I believe we need to protect some recovering second-growth stands especially w/ old growth in the matrix. Is this THP in or next to a northern spotted owl recovery area? What makes it so worthy of protection (other than climate change and overall beauty vs. earth death)? I don’t know Rainbow Ridge but I’d like to….
“Theyve been trying for years&have been in talks to sell to a conservation group but never follow through.” Then they have not be given an offer they can’t refuse. That means the value of the land after it’s logged and the value of the logs.
All this protest go back years and years and years the majority of it got started when they decide to build Redwood National Park that’s back in the 60s that was built and saved because people from Southern California we’re so afraid there’d never be another redwood tree left guess what there’s a whole lot of them no one wants to get rid of all of them no one not the people not the logging companies no one but people need to work people need wood for homes for businesses and not to mention the Timber Company happens to own the property silly thing they bought it they pay taxes on it but you don’t want him to do anything with it you need to stop doing what you’re doing up there before someone gets killed and the sheriff is going to back to Timber Company guarantee because it’s the law to have a right to do what they’re doing protesters like the old saying used to go get a job obviously you don’t have one if you can stand up there and protests all day long that you get food stamps are you on welfare also as you can tell I’m for the logging companies parts of my family have been in those businesses for 50-60 years the sad part is the grandchildren now they don’t go into that line of work cuz there’s no future to it I remember probably 30-40 years ago sitting at a bar listen to all the locking people talking these are the owners the lumber company owners for Trucking Company owners what was said that day was pretty darn smart they said we made it for us and for our children but not our grandchildren they won’t be in this business
There’s no future in logging old growth because 98% OF IT GOT LOGGED ALREADY.
How would the protestors “start a fire on accident”? That sounds like spin-speak.
they did last year. maybe if Kym has time and wants to she can post you the link, its on her site if you want to spend the time and look it up, but i will personally tell you its true. i think they were boiling coffee and they started a small fire and burned their arm
I could be mistaken but I think it was an attempt at humor, AKA, A JOKE!!!
Where’s Julia? Still hanging out in Costa Rica counting her money and being a tax evader?
A word or two is missing in the headline, I think
It was just an awful headline….
Again, the asshole style earth firsters are back. These same asshole’s spent much time trying to take down The Pacific Lumber Company WHO OWNED THE LAND, TIMBER AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. The eartht firsties are a bunch of brain dead idiots and not worth the air to keep them upright. Years ago when the one earthy firstie was killed by his OWN STUPIDITY, you would have thought that they would have learned, but no, being brain dead, drugged and worthless as a ‘human being’ they just keep ruining hard working peoples lives. So, I have no problem if they ALL wind up the same way as the first a****** did. Part of a falling tree. Keep laying them on the ground HRC, it’s your land and timber and jobs.
the sheriff is not ‘protecting’ the loggers over the protesters. the sheriffs are just doing their job and saying dont trespass, just like they would do if i were to walk into the protesters back yard and hold up a sign or stop them from pulling into their drive way.
The Sheriff is protecting the wrong ones they should be protecting those protesting the FURTHER DESTRUCTION of our environment as I said earlier we ALL have to breathe Oxygen & trees MAKE Oxygen!!! It seems simple enough from where I’m sitting!!!
A 10×10 piece of lawn puts out enough O2 for a family of four.
I’m betting that drum you take to the drum circle is made of wood and so are some of your beads and pony tail clips.
Put down the bong, you’re dazed and confused….
America needs more people that actually work and produce things, we’ve got enough people with MBA’S in basketweaving and we certainly don’t need anymore neo hippie intellectual types driving stoned and needing haircuts.
“America needs more people that actually work and produce things”
Big Time!
~i’ve read that farming 10,000 acres of hemp will provide as much paper, building materials and pulp as 4,100 acres of forest.
So, on a scale of, say, one-to-two –how dumb are we?
Look at all those delicious 😋 colors on Rainbow 🌈 Ridge get your lassoes out quick.
Shh, the flowers are listening.
We know the whole Forest is listening
And it even knows your heart everything on this planet is somehow connected it is part of natural law and the Magic of life
~as a species, we suck.
While the local do-gooders (aiding and abetting the timber terrorists), and the do-gooder’s support base of nanny state cheer leaders, usher in our demise, the high muckity mucks have established living domains in New Zealand. Lots of ’em. All setting empty.
Hunting the One Percent’s Doomsday Bunkers in New Zealand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh1JZVjKUAo 28 mins. May 4, 2019.
Really Beautiful.
If you don’t like the law, change the law. Don’t get upset at the sherriff for enforcing the law.
Honsal and the “law” are at opposite ends of the freedom stick.
Cute “Sheriff” vests.
Here a Sheriff,
there a Sheriff,
everywhere a
Sheriff, Sheriff.
As they peacefully retreat back to their MEGA GROW operation. Where’s Earth First on the destruction of Environment with MEGA GROWS??? They seem to be absent with its convenient for them.
Not only do trees make O2 but they absorb CO2 which is causing the “Climate Change” that you CONservative whack jobs keep saying doesn’t exist when every year the weather gets weirder!!!
Does anyone know Julia “Butterfly” Hill’s phone #? Give her a call and see if she wants to find another “Luna” to sit in for a few years.
Really, Earthfirst, “Hardcore non-violent direct action.” LROF
The trees will die, and maybe in short order.
There are 220,000 people added to the planet today… 220,000 tomorrow… 220,000 next day.
Best thing the protesters could do is go down and picket the Catholic Church.
Heyduke lives!….and he’s very disappointed.
sigh.. a more clever disruption tactic would be to duplicate the bestbuy flash mob where everyone showed up in blue polos and tan pants.. the confusion among customers and employees was epic..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgUIbPfhSuo
the same COULD be played on these security companies by cutting hair short shaving ,wearing jumpboots and a 511 tuxedo(tactical clothing from 511tactical.com) enough protesters show up dressed the same as the security guards and the guards and cops wont know whose a security guard or protestor..
other half says take pictures of security folk and duplicate that uniform at the local uniform shop or tactical store
post videos to youtube if you do this please
(pics or it didnt happen)
anon traveler
~two thumbs up!
It’s private property they are logging. U dont like it buy it. Oh ya and trees grow back. And when your house burns down from not allowing thinning/logging and clean up don’t start crying then too.
Dear NomadicK Please change your name
Us real Loggers can’t stand that kind of tude yer spouting
The fact that you cut down some pot plants doesn’t qualify you as a logger, sorry. Get a job.
Some info from the web with images of Rainbow Ridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l50norP8_1Q
An older news article..
https://www.facebook.com/northcoastnews23/videos/1762288213867610/?video_source=permalink
~nice.
v a s t
NIMBYism, plain and simple.
If the SCS certifiers say this doesn’t meet the definition of old growth then it isn’t. They are far more knowledgeable and experienced at evaluating forests than any of the protesters. Legacy tree that are old do exist all over the place, largely remnants from previous disturbances (logging or fire) that are usually left in current operations because they are more valuable as habitat trees.
The far larger danger to our local forests is the continued conversion to housing and grows and the lasting footprints of the “green rush”. That and the continuing expansion of the human population. These are where they should have been protesting for the last 20+ years but have been remarkably silent instead.
I have nothing to say.
You are right, Cy.
The certifiers.
~damn, i was gonna Delete that ^^^^ before the 30 min time limit to edit ran out.
I can’t tell if it’s troll, spam, and/or sarcasm.
The Thought Police sanctions what gets posted and what doesn’t.
“Climate Change”, “Climate Change”, “Climate Change”, “Climate Change”, are perfectly acceptable – no research needed. Just echo.
“Climate Collapse” is too stark. It’s “over the line”. We’re not there yet. The other “sensible people” in here must be protected. And protected they will be! . . . from other commenters. What pray tell did Rod Gass say this morning that just got the whole post to disappear? What did i post to Cy that just up and vanished?
Please take some time to read and watch this powerful presentation at the 2016 Bioneers conference. Maybe this is old news for folks but it sure inspired me. Clearly, the government environmental laws protect nothing.
https://bioneers.org/bioneers-partners-community-environmental-legal-defense-fund-rights-nature-indigenous-communities/
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) is partnering with communities to develop local ordinances which are successfully giving nature rights while removing the rights of corporations. It’s awesome.
The CELDF web site is https://celdf.org/ .
w88Hackers campaign rearing on the servers patch besides highjacking the organisation to bring in to a greater extent diamonds.