To paraphrase St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach nonviolence at all times. Use words if necessary.”

In the early morning of Tuesday, July 26, the Cascadia Forest Defenders, Earth First! and other activists put up tree sits and blockaded access to the 87 acre Elkhorn Ranch Timber Sale on the west fork of the Millicoma River in the Elliott State Forest in Coos County. The following Thursday afternoon, three people on aerial platforms more than 100 feet up in two trees were taken into custody by Oregon State Police troopers and Coos County deputies. On Monday afternoon, August 1st, about 30 members of the Trans and Womyns Action Camp entered the ODF office in Molalla. Three of the protestors were arrested after linking themselves together with chains and pipes while the rest chanted and danced.
Naturally, this brings up the two questions that have to be asked: What do those people want? What did they accomplish? I say ‘naturally’ because we are compelled to ask by our very nature. Our curiosity insists that we ask. And that is the point of civil disobedience, to get the public’s attention, to start them asking the necessary questions, and inspire them to do what their conscience demands.

Let’s let the Cascadia Forest Defenders speak for themselves.

“The sales are all slated for clear-cut logging, and are areas of native forest that have never before seen a chain saw. They exist on steep slopes where erosion from logging threatens to further damage Salmon habitat, as well as devastate already dwindling numbers of protected species such as the Marbled Murrelet and the Northern Spotted Owl. ‘Native forests’ refers to forests that have never before been logged, but can include forests that have experienced wildfire.” (from the CFD press release)

“For decades, activists in the northwest pushed the forest service into changing their ways for the better, and we have seen dramatic improvements in the types of projects federal agencies are working on. The Oregon Department of Forestry has taken the opposite route, showing total disregard for life and the health of these ecosystems. This is the beginning of a long term campaign that aims to see state lands managed for sustainability, bio-diversity and the overall health of the ecosystem. We will keep the pressure on in The Elliot, and all over the state of Oregon from this point forward.” — Jason Gonzales

“The Oregon Department of Forestry’s 2011 Implementation Plan aims to increase clearcutting in the Elliot from 500 acre to 850 acres per year.” “The clearcutting in the Elliot is the worst in the state. They would never allow cuts like this on federal forest.” — Meredith Cocks

“Some of the biggest trees in the state and some of the last native forests are on the chopping block here in the Elliot. Oregonians would be horrified if they saw the wholesale massacre that happens in this public lands year after year.” — Ben Jones

Six activists were arrested and released, and the protest has been stopped, at least for the present. The clearcutting is 10% completed. But the Cascadia Forest Defenders are claiming a victory. They see the protest as a success. They say this is only the start of their fight. Members are moving forward holding fundraisers and planning more protests.
“We are here to stay. There’s no compromise. We are not going to let this down, until there are no more clear cuts in the Elliott.” — Matthew Hawks

Why were these acts of civil disobedience necessary? To be convinced to take environmental protection seriously, people need to see others who take it seriously. They need to see people who are willing to risk their comfort and safety, willing to confront authority, willing even to be arrested. They need to see people willing to do whatever it takes to get others to pay attention, start asking questions, and get involved in the hard work of saving our planet from the greedy and unscrupulous.