Umpqua Action Photo Gallery .

The container has been pulled aside to allow for hauling operations to continue in the Umpqua National Forest.

The response from Douglas District police was swift, and a bit overwhelming. Reports are that a dozen police vehicles appeared (five were from Douglas, the others were from other enforcement agencies). It is unfortunate that the same response isn't given toward lawless logging practices.

Ten people were arrested in all, including the medic/police liaison, whose role is to ensure safety of everyone involved. Reports are that he went to shake a plain clothes officer's hand, and they arrested him immediately.

Thank you for your support.

You can take action too! Write Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, asking he stop commercial logging of old-growth on public lands.

More to come from the team.

Shanna, Kayla, Rundeep and Fred have been arrested.

Container remains in place.

08:39 AM PDT Shanna is on the ground and under arrest. Kirby expects arrest arrest soon.

08:42 AM PDT No further contact with Kirby (ground support). Unable to contact the container residents.

Skyking

08:03 AM PDT Shanna has been asked by the detectives to descend from the monopod.

08:08 AM PDT Officers are pulling on the monopod lines trying to remove Shanna.

An arrest wagon has been drawn close to the container. A blue tarp
is being deployed under Shanna, the woman on the monopod.

Five support people have been arrested. They were not locked down or inside the container.

The medic
The on-site campaigner
3 support people

We just got word from inside the container that the first arrest has been made. Butch, a great asset to our team and our medic was just arrested. He was not locked down in any way and was completely non-violent and present on public lands so I'm not sure what the charge is going to be or why he was arrested but we'll continue on.

Run

Environmental destruction here doesn't just come from logging. Machinery spilling pollutants on the ground and road building all contribute to harming the environment here.

Right now police have been called and loggers are here on the scene. I want to take this opportunity to say to the logging crews here working for DR Johnson, Roseburg Forest Products, Swanson Superior and other corporations engaged in the wholesale destruction of our last remaining ancient forests that our struggle
is not against them, but the companies that are buying politicians and legislation to destroy our public lands.

We are committed to working with the local community to develop these resources for the benefit of the land AND the people. So many jobs can be created if money invested in sustaining and preserving these forests, rather than destroying them. Tourism is then another way to bring dollars into communities and createlong term sustainable jobs.

Much love to Mother Earth and all of us on it

Rundeep

5:45 AM PDT

Randeep here,

We're locked down and ready to go (or stay) as long as it takes. We are in the Umpqua National Forest- a once beautiful land marred by logging and road construction. Stay tuned for more updates.

Kayla Starr, 63, lives in Cave Junction, Oregon, and is a professional massage
therapist, writer, mother of two and political activist of 20 years. She has engaged in
dozens of actions on behalf of social justice, human rights and environmental
causes.

Kayla is locked down in front of the container.

Shanna Foley, 19, is a sophomore at Mills College in Oakland, Calfironia, where she
is a straight A student! Public lands are especially important to her, because she
grew up in the Sierra Nevadas, near the Injo National Forest.

Shanna is on a "monopod" on top of the container.

6:03 AM PDT

We have received word that a logging crew has arrived, and are attempting to work regardless of our presence. These people are the fellers, the ones who cut down the trees.

However, once the trees have been cut, they cannot be dragged up to the road and loaded onto logging trucks, because we are positioned between the yarder (the behemoth machine which drags the logs to the road) and the loader, which loads the logs onto the logging trucks.

Although it's still possible for the trees to be cut, the logging operation is now halted by our presence. Still, the chainsaws have been started, and it's extremely frustrating to be here, bearing witness to the demolition of this pristine ancient forest.

We're waiting now for the authorities to arrive.

More soon,

- Fred

Fred Ecks, 38 is a computer professional and network administrator from San
Francisco, Calfiornia. He loves hiking, backpacking, trail running, sailing and
kayaking, and is a docent at the Marin Headlands Visitor's Center. He's also been volunteering for Greenpeace for many years.

Fred is inside the container.

Randeep Walia, 25, of Dallas Texas is a computer programmer and web designer.
He enjoys writing and acting and works with U.P.R.O.A.R. (United People Resisting
Oppression & Racism) on issues pertaining to corporate power.

Randeep is inside the container.

We met with the Bureau of Land Management this morning, and they have asked us to leave our location in the Zane Grey roadless area of Klamath Siskiyou region of Southern Oregon.

The Forest Rescue station is also within the proposed Kelsey Whisky timber sale area. The Kelsey-Whisky is of particular importance because it is surrounded by more than 46,000 acres of roadless area, filled with old-growth trees. In addition, over 90% of the public comments sent to the BLM about this sale were opposed to it, yet the sale is still moving ahead.

They've asked us to leave the area within 48 hours.

Woods here,

It's the next day after the action, and I want to thank all the people
who wrote in with their support.

Although all of the Greenpeace protesters were peaceful, a few loggers
made threatening remarks, some involving firearms, but I think it was
mostly verbal and there was no real violent intentions. Also, a few of
the law enforcement officers were aggressive, suggesting that all the
Greenpeace activists on the scene should be arrested. Fortunately most
officers saw the situation was peaceful and allowed media and support
people to stay.

They broke into the container with a prybar; the screws which attached
the crossbar holders to the door ripped out of the aluminum rather
easily under such force. In addition, law enforcement was lucky to find
that the cement grounding our lockboxes wasn't quite dry yet.

I was in custody for about 4 hours. Law enforcement officers were
mostly friendly, especially Dave, who drove us to the Roseburg jail.
Ant, Kirby, and I were charged with "disorderly misconduct" and
"interfering with an agricultural operation." Although we only stopped
1/2 day of logging, I still consider the action to be a success.

The message is simple: Start protecting ancient forests from the big
businesses who take the short term profits from the boom-and-bust
economy using unsustainable logging practices.

First I want to apologize for inconveniencing any workers, and let them
know that it wasn't my intention to do so. I believe most loggers seem
to know in the back of their minds that they cannot continue to cut
forests unsustainably if they want their future generations to benefit
from beautiful forests and a strong local economy. I also think loggers
know the reality of most timber sales; how logging companies cut more
than they are entitled to by law. Until more pressure is brought onto the corporate heads of
these companies, they will continue to act for their own benefit without
considering the greater public need. I'd also like to point out that
the corruption that exists in the timber industry is simply a part of a
larger pattern of corruption that exists in many corporate structures in
the USA today, along with an overwhelming lack of accountability.

Some of the comments on the website are from a smart-ass Greenpeace
activist, but most are genuinely heartfelt. I'd like to send out a
message thanking all the people who support Greenpeace's work. I've had
the opportunity to work with a wonderful group of people, and I look
forward to bringing our cause to the forefont.

I'll be in Portland, OR, this fall, so if you would like to work together on environmental change, please send a comment to the website!

Coheartedly,
Kingman Lim, "Woods"

The action that we did yesterday was to highlight the destruction on public lands and to show the American people the result of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) timber sales. Which is essentially clearcuts for the public, and profits for the timber industry.

The Soukow timber sale area that we blockaded yesterday is currently in three phases. One is cut, another is cut but with logs remaining to be removed, and another is standing ancient forests that will be cut. Kelsey Whisky, where the Forest Rescue Station is located, stands to see the same fate unless the proposed timber sale is cancelled.

On Monday, June 16, 2004, we met with the Bureau of Land Management to talk about the Forest Rescue Station and the permit we applied for. That day, they gave us a two week extension to allow time for the permit to process. The permit pertains only to the area of where the Rescue Station is, which is at the edge of the proposed Kelsey Whisky Timber sale.

In the permit guideline we were not suppose to block roads or build more structures at this site of the Rescue Station, which is located in the Zane Grey Roadless area.

They said in local media that we have betrayed their trust by doing the action yesterday, but we feel they have been betraying the American public by cutting down our last remaining old-growth forests.

Today the BLM is coming up to the Rescue Station to discuss the situation.

Stay tuned as the story unravels.

Ginger Cassady
Greenpeace

The Bureau Land of Management authorities and the county Sheriff broke into the container around 12:00 pm. See the view from inside the container.

We picked up Ant, Woods, and Kirby from the roseberg jail around 4pm. They are safe and happy. On the way back south we saw the container traveling north on interstate 5. Talk about a roving billboard. The message continues to spread!

Mateo

2:39 PM PDT

All under arrest being held in Roseburg. No injuries.

Denise McDermott

11:45 The box remains in place so the blockade is
still on. BLM says they will eventually seize the box but none of the equipment to do this is
on site.

11:51 Authorities continue to closely examine the box and its contents.

12:02 The box has been swung around so that trucks may now pass

12:00 The loggers have brought in a 4x4 pickup and are beginning to move
the box.

Skyking

Ant and Woods spent 7 hours inside the container that was blocking the entrance into the Soukow timber sale area. Get a glimpse of what happened inside. Footage from Kirby's lockdown outside will be posted soon. Thanks for all of your support.

Denise

11:24 AM PDT Both Ant and Woods in custody. Kirby still attached to box

11:25 AM PDT Activists will be taken to 1036 Douglas St., Roseburg, OR

11:27 AM PDT Over live audio link loud noises were heard with Kirby screaming and asking them to stop.

More coming...

Skyking

11:19 AM PDT Loggers are ignoring requests to not use the torch as activists will be
harmed.

11:20 AM PDT Torch now ignited

More coming...

Skyking

Woods here, a proud occupant of my new one unit mobile home, here in Southern Oregon, just East of Glendale.

The beautiful forests that surround this box will be protected as long as we can hold them.

These are public lands, and I'm public right?

Hey we just had some loggers trying to come to work, drove their truck up, said some threatening remarks, but they have left.

Kirby's locked down to the outside, they saw the loggers up close, they are doing fine.

Getting back the message, obviously the Bush Administration and the BLM aren't doing their part to protect forest ecosystems on public lands, so it's up to you and me.

We are lucky to have the ability to peacefully protest in the USA, and as a US citizen, I feel obligated to stand up against the corrupt, unjust actions of certain branches of my government.

to be cont'd...

I always wanted to work alongside some of the most creative, resourceful, ingenious, and competent environmental activists around.

Today is my lucky day!

Greenpeace has a reputation of using peaceful direct action and civil disobedience, in order to bring public attention to environmentally damaging practices.

Greenpeace's member base is a tribute to its work. Obviously there are many people in the USA and internationally that support Greenpeace's actions.

Everyone I've worked with puts safety as the #1 priority, which is a large reason why I am not afraid to participate in a Greenpeace action such as this one.

to be cont'd in part 2...

Greenpeace has a reputation of using peaceful direct action and civil disobedience, in order to bring public attention to environmentally damaging practices.

Greenpeace's member base is a tribute to its work. Obviously there are many people in the USA and internationally that support Greenpeace's actions.

Everyone I've worked with puts safety as the #1 priority, which is a large reason why I am not afraid to participate in a Greenpeace action such as this one.

to be cont'd in part 2...
Locked inside a big yellow container, near a site that would currently be being logged, I can only hope that the people reading this message will feel compassion and that a better world is possible.

We've been locked in for 5 hours now, and logging has been stopped for 3 hours.

Peace on earth,
Woods

Kingman Lim (aka Woods) graduated from UC Berkeley this year with a degree in Environmental Science and an emphasis on the workings of the global food economy. He played collegiate volleyball, and coaches at Berkeley High. Kingman survived a bout with Hodgkin’s Disease at age 15 that inspired him to be more health conscious and passionate about environmental issues. He is into music and art.

UPDATE APROX 8:00 AM PDT

So we're here in South West Oregon on BLM land defending the ancient forests that happen to lie in an area that the BLM calls the SouKow timber sale.

Many of the ancient forests in the area have already fallen but there are still beautiful groves standing. So far we've had loggers threaten to yank out the container with their bulldozer.

Luckily we have friends on the outside that have calmed things down a little bit. We are still here and thus the trees are still standing.

ANT
p.s. its not about me, its not about the trees, ITS ABOUT LIFE

UPDATE FROM ANT: 10: 49 AM PDT

So we've been inside this thing for about 7 hrs. Hopefully we're inside for a lot longer. Loggers and police have been all over the situation but no action has been taken to get us out.

I've already taken a nap since I haven't been able to get very much sleep the past few days. So far it hasn't been too tense. The people outside must be doing a good job in relaying that this is a peaceful protest. I hope everyone out there realizes this is all about peace and love for life and these forests.

Come out to your public lands and see what is being done to them. Thats what I've been doing and the energy that the last 5% of ancient forests filled me with has given me enough love to be where I am right now.
PEACE and LOVE ANT

For the past four nights I have found my home in the canopy of an old growth douglas fir tree in the Siskiyou Mountains. Thanks to the great work of many Greenpeace activists and local forest defenders a 12x18ft platform sits about 80 ft up. Over these last few nights many different people have also called this tree-sit home. Rock climbers, industrial climbers, forest service employees and newly trained visitors have all sat in this wonderful location.

From this perch the native forest birds have become my neighbors. Their songs wake me up each moring and set the tone for the rest of the day. And, even when it is not raining, I see how the trees interact with the skies moisture, passing droplets down to the forest floor. This is essential to the ecology of the forest as well as the communities down stream.

The platform sometimes sways with the gentle winds of late spring. But in those times of total stillness, the sharp reality that the forest service wants to cut these ancient trees sets in.

Our public lands have been given away to private timber companies for long enough. There are very little ancient forests left, and it's difficult to understand why the Bush administration is so adamantly targeting our public lands for timber. There are many other ways to turn a profit from our public lands. Logging should not be one of them. Once they are gone, what will he and his logging buddies do? You can't cut trees that aren't there.

I think the Forest rescue Station is important for people across the contry to visit and for everyone to understand how important it is to permanently protect all ancient forests around the world. I believe the Forest Rescue station is a perfect spot for families and activists alike to visit and see this ancient forest, which lucky for me, happens to be the place where I lay my head each night.

Keeping the communications infrastructure at the Forest Rescue Station running is a challenge. We're in pretty good shape with a long range cell phone providing telephone service and a satellite based email system, which allows us to keep getting the word out, and keeping in touch with our friends and families.

We do run into problems sometimes. All of our equipment is being run on solar, so when the sun disappears, we only have a certain amount of power to depend on. During our second week here, the sun went into hiding for several days, and we came dangerously close to losing power all together. On top of that, it rained for several days, and water got into the most unexpected places. We actually found the battery charger twisting around in a puddle of water, its fan acting like a propeller!

Luckily for us, Khaos was on the scene. Having never worked with her before, I had no idea what to expect. She showed up at the beginning of the camp, introduced herself as a communications geek and commented knowledgeably on certain obscure aspects of the camp antenna installation. Right away I saw she was a woman of consequence. It reminded me of the early days in Greenpeace, when a person turns up at the exact time their skills are needed.

Thankfully, there are no more batteries fluttering around puddles, and we're back to work.

Richard Dillman