Also, a couple of days ago, a pick-up truck driver punched a Greenpeace activist, Tuomas while he was putting up a in demarcation sign! He OK though - no teeth lost.

In nearby Ivalo, negotiations today started between the official association of the reindeer herding co-operatives, state forest company Metsähallitus and reindeer herding co-operatives of Inari, on finding ways to continue both reindeer herding and forestry in Inari. Yet, while this was going on, loggers and officials from Metsähallitus set up their bizarre "Anti-Terror Info Center" on the road leading to the Forest Rescue Station, claiming that there were there to show "resistance by local people". However, it seems that the whole thing is somehow being organised by Metsähallitus - or least well-known employees.

When we asked the 'Anti-Terror Info Centre' for some information -they said the information was 'only for their guests'. Ironically enough the loggers are have plonked themselves in the vast, empty logged side of the road, while the Forest Rescue Station is situated in the intact old growth forest on the other side!

By the time I arrived, the police had left, and there was just the two neighbouring outposts. Max went to speak to the loggers - the first man he spoke to was affable enough, but he was harshly interrupted and Max pushed away by one of the leaders - who I recognised as Antero Karjalainen, who works for Metsähallitus. Interestingly, at least three out of the four names listed as contacts for the loggers camp are Metsähallitus employees - including Tapani Pennanen, local Forestry Planner for Metsähallitus! This man is responsible for meeting and negotiating with reindeer herders - yet he's out here in the forests, trying to foul up talks between his employer and the herders, and trying to control what his friends say and don't say to us. Bizarre! When announcing today's goings on to the media, they all used a mobile phone numbers that matched there Metsähallitus numbers. Are they here as 'local resistance' then... or as corporate employees?

So it seems like there's a couple of 'ringleaders' and a few 'sort of' willing followers. Most of the men - there were few, if any women around the first day - are friendly, and are willing to chat quite sensibly. They were even willing to help us out with some stuff, like setting up our kota (tent) - but one of the red-faced leaders burst in, and put a stop to it.

Around 1pm, three men came to the Forest Rescue Station from the 'other camp' - One asked me where I was from. I said "Ireland". He looked incredulous, swaying before me. "Ireland... terrorists!" he said, with a shaky smile. He friends were less sociable - we got the 'finger' from one of them. One of their leaders arrived, to break up the conversation, and made a lunge for Henna's camera - he had to be lightly restrained and calmed down by Petteri.

Later, another man arrived - though some of the guys from the 'Anti-Terror' camp shouted at him not to talk to us. We gave him coffee, and he told Petteri and Henna that he used to be a lumberjack, years and years, but now he thought that too much logging had gone on, and that he was even interested in joining Greenpeace!

Later, one of the local Sámi; herders swung by, on his snowscooter, for coffee (as I've said before) the people round here love their coffee!). While he was there, a border patrol helicopter did three circuits of the area, before disappearing off towards Russia. After chatting to our campers, the herder headed off through the forest - beating a wide detour around the other camp.

And just to round off an already strange day - our new best whacky friend Seppo Lahtela has questioned the Finnish Minister for Cultural Affairs on her decision to increase state subsidies for youth organisations such as the Finnish Nature League and the Young Green Party:

"The increase in subsidies for environmental organisation's youth work is especially worrying in these days, with the forest dispute in Upper Lapland. The international group Greenpeace is behind it all, and they get support from many Finnish NGOs and their youth organisations, at least in terms of solidarity."

And the weirdest thing of all is - Mr Lahtela is from the same party as the Minister for Cultural Affairs! His party is in power, and he's questioning them in parliament? The dear man obviously either has too much time on his hands, or simply needs to get out more.

Time for bed...

- Dave

© Greenpeace/Henna Tahvanainen

Lotta talks to one of the loggers
© Greenpeace/Henna Tahvanainen

The Anti Terror Info Centre
© Greenpeace/Henna Tahvanainen

View from the Forest Rescue Station!
© Greenpeace/Dave Walsh

Petteri restrains a logger from taking Henna's camera
© Greenpeace/Dave Walsh

The view of the Nellim Forests
© Greenpeace/Dave Walsh

Evening, Nellim Forests
© Greenpeace/Dave Walsh