Paul Watson on Clayoquot Tree Spiking From: RMariner@aol.com [mailto:RMariner@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 12:34 PM To: bcenvirowatch@lists.onenw.org Cc: paul@seashepherd.org Subject: [BCenvirowatch] Fwd: Reply from Paul Watson Replies to Denise August of the Ha-Shilth-Sa on t... Replying to this message: In November 2004 fallers for Iisaak Forest Resources, owned 51% by the five First Nations of Clayoquot Sound and 49% Weyerhaeuser, discovered tree spikes while harvesting Beddingfield. They say the spikes are likely from the mid-1990's when Paul Watson arrived in Tofino promoting the practise in an effort to protect the forest. First Nations in the area are concerned over the possibility of injuries or death for all users of the resource, not just forest company fallers and mill workers. The ancient art of dugout canoe carving is making a comeback and one man from Tla-o-qui-aht fears for the safety of his people because of the tree spikes. I work for the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council as a newspaper reporter in the Clayoquot Sound area. I am writing an article about the discovery of the spikes. Does the SSCS or Paul Watson have any comment? Is there anything your group would like to add about the tree-spiking seminar, the group's activities at the time or thoughts about tree spiking impacts today? Denise August, Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Phone: 250-725-2120 Fax: 250-725-2110 http://www.nuuchahnulth.org In a message dated 1/11/05 5:33:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, paul@seashepherd.org writes: Dear Denise, My apologies for not responding for the last few days. I have only just returned today from a campaign to Senegal in Africa. If you would like to talk with me you can reach me at 360-370-5650. It is my estimate that there are about 20,000 trees spikes in the area on and around Meares Island. The spikes were indeed put into the trees prior to 1993. You may or may not be surprised if I tell you that there were quite a few tree-spikers from the First Nations involved, specifically the Nuu-Chah-nulth. I am not that concerned about potential for injury. If logging procedures incorporate the legal and proper safety precautions - there is no danger. As anyone involved with logging knows - there are always cases of stones and metal in trees. In one case, one of Captain Cook's cannonballs was struck by a sawblade. We did experiments on logs with spikes and chainsaws and we never experienced any injuries. In sawmills, the blades should be behind shields. The only case I know of is that of George Alexander of Northern California who was injured in an Louisiana Pacific sawmill. The shield was not used and the injury was the result of negligence by the company. Furthermore, it was established that the nail in the tree had not been put there by any activists. To me, spiking a tree is simply the inoculation of the tree against a fatal disease (for the trees) called clearcutting. I think it is a valid and non-violent strategy. It also works. The object is to cost the sawmills downtime each time a blade is destroyed. The strategy is meant to impact the profits of the logging companies. For example, in 1983, we spiked hundreds of trees on Grouse Mountain to prevent a timber sale. The sale was cancelled and more than twenty years later those trees are still there. It is a tragedy that these magnificent forests are being destroyed. I don't discriminate on the race or culture of those who destroy forests. They are all the same to me. I believe that the alliance between the Nuu-chah-nulth and Weyerhaeuser is nothing more than a strategy by Weyerhaeuser to make profits by destroying the forests. When the Nuu-Chah-nulth signed the agreement to split the spoils they betrayed the forests. But let us discuss injury and death. Every day because of the invasion of logging, death and destruction is brought down upon the heads of innocent creatures as their habitats are destroyed. Do the Nuu-Chah-nulth believe that the fish, the birds and the animals in the forest must die in such numbers to profit the people? Are trees nothing more than commodities, to be torn down for cash to purchase cars, boats, televisions, chainsaws and other material things? I recall many years ago that a logger put his saw to a trunk, revved the motor and as the teeth of the chainsaw chewed and ripped into the bark, blood began to flow from the tree. Inside was a hibernating bear. Would I have wanted a spike to have been in that tree at that time - the answer is yes. Better a ruined chain than a slain bear. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society does not have a policy or a position on tree-spiking. We are a marine wildlife conservation organization. I have my own opinion on it and I support the tactic and I have no regrets or apologies for my past participation with tree-spiking activities, especially in the Clayoquot region. I wish that every tree was spiked and I hope that many a sawblade is damaged as a result of the trees that have been spiked. Paul Watson Captain Paul Watson Founder and President (Since 1977) Sea Shepherd Conservation Society http://www.seashepherd.org Director - Instituto Sea Shepherd Brasil National Director - Sierra Club (2003-2006) Director - Farley Mowat Institute Co-Founder/Greenpeace Foundation (1972) Co-Founder/Greenpeace International (1979) paulwatson@earthlink.net Office: 360-370-5650 Fax: 360-370-5651 Cell: 310-701-3096 P.O. Box 2616 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA