From the open publishing newswire: This is a quick shout-out to let everyone know that the EARTH FIRST! Organizers' Conference and Winter Rendezvous is still happening next week in Santa Barbara.

All are invited, but people with skills are especially needed to come down and help make this party a reality.

PLEASE COME TO THIS PARTY! The Organizers' Conference portion will occur from Feb 11-13 and the Winter Rendezvous portion from Feb 13-15th. For details on where it is, what to bring and other valuable information, check out 2010oc.org.

thanks for reading this, and may the forest bewitch you. hope to see y'all in Santa Barbara!

 http://2010oc.org

From the open publishing newswire: The Klamath Justice Coalition organized a blockade in northern California this week, to stop a U.S. Forest Service logging contractor from damaging any sites held sacred by the Indigenous Karuk Nation.

Before daybreak on December 16, members of the indigenous-led Coalition gathered at Orleans Mountain Lookout Road within the Six Rivers National Forest and set up a large fire in the roadway.

Fortunately, the logging crew took the moral and legally responsible path and turned back without involving the police.

"This morning's small but important victory marks the beginning of our campaign to defend Karuk sacred sites and protect the health of our forests," says Karuk Ceremonial Leader Leaf Hillman, in a Press Release issued after the protest.

From the open publishing newswire: [This is really horrific; please take a few minutes to let the BLM know that Oregon water-dependent species will be irreparably harmed by all the action alternatives, and that herbicide use should be phased out, instead of tripled.]

The Oregon Bureau of Land Management is currently proposing to increase toxic herbicide use on BLM public lands in Oregon from about 17,000 acres of herbicide spraying a year to control invasive plants to almost three times as much -- 45,000 acres a year, and to increase the number of herbicides used from four to 12 herbicides on the west-side of the Cascades and 16 on the east side... claiming that there is higher public acceptance of herbicide risks east of the Cascades. The BLM offers a narrow range of alternatives, rejecting public suggestions to increase the use of non-herbicide control methods... and to prohibit use of the very potent Acetolactate Synthase-inhibiting herbicides (Chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron methyl, sulfometuron methyl, imazapic, and imazapyr) which are particularly risky to use in aerial spraying or boom spray applications. Failing to incorporate or combine any of these public proposals and the suggestion of only using herbicides as a last resort, the BLM is offering 5 alternatives, four of which use herbicides, with alternative 1 being no herbicide use, which they admit they are not taking seriously, saying it is for comparison purposes only.

*Mail comments (today) to: Vegetation Treatments EIS Team, POB 2965, Portland, OR 97208-2965, or email (but confirm receipt) to:  orvegtreatments@blm.gov

From the open publishing newswire: Blue Mtns. Biodiversity Project (BMBP) needs your help. The BMBP has been saving native Oregon forests through ground truthing, comments, and legislation for over 18 years. BMBP is opposing the Experiment Forest (EXF) project outside of Bend, OR. The EXF project area is part the Pringle Falls Experimental Forest which is located with the Deschute National Forest; about 25 miles southwest of Bend, OR. The EXF project is a beautiful mature Ponderosa pine forest has not had significant natural or human disturbance since 1865. This forest is unique because of the heavy logged that has taken place outside of Bend for the last century. This is one of the few and rare forests that has been allowed to grow back to its natural and native state.
Right now the Deschutes National Forest is accepting comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). All comments should be in by Monday, November 2nd, 2009.

Please support the "No Action" alternative. We are hoping for as many comments to protect this forest as possible. Please feel free to use the sample comment letter or write one of your own.

All comments should be addressed to:
Shane Jeffries
District Ranger
Bend/ Ft. Rock Ranger District
1230 NE 3rd St.
Suite A-262
Bend, Oregon 97701

 http://bmbp.org

From the open publishing newswire: This involves modifying and tampering with public records, corruption, deceit and unfair treatment of the general public regarding the Bureau Of Land Management's planning process and handling of public comments for the John Day Basin Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement and other matters.

It would serve the public interest best if the John Day Basin Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement was rendered not worthy of further consideration and set aside in the same way as its nasty sister, the Western Oregon Plan Revisions

From the open publishing newswire: N.E.S.T : the Northwest Eco-system Survey Team is in need of climbers and Ground supporters to join them in the forests of Mt. Hood N.E.S.T. is out climbing along the quadrants of the proposed LNG pipeline. The purpose: locating nests of the red tree vole, the main food source of the northern spotted owl. We need all the help we can get whether in the form of: climbers, ground support, $, veggies, climbing/ camping gear...everything helps.

NEST is putting out a call for volunteers. We need able bodies would can climb, do ground support, watch camp, and help out as much as possible. This is a pressing matter. These units need surveyed to gather resources and comments to stop the pipeline going through Mt. Hood.

Questions about ride shares, or general information contact Shawn at: 10101010@riseup.net

From the open publishing newswire: After almost two years of preparation, the Forest Service has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Mt. Hood Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Plan. Currently Bark needs volunteer help in collecting data on the 8 proposed OHV areas.
Bark Public Service Announcement

This release of the DEIS begins a 60-day comment period in which the public can respond to the proposal before October 28, 2009. If you would like to communicate with the Forest Service regarding the OHV Plan, write, email or call Jennie O'Connor Card Mt. Hood National Forest 6780 Highway 35 Parkdale, Oregon 97041 (541) 352-6002 ext. 634

From the open publishing newswire: N.E.S.T : the Northwest Eco-system Survey Team is in need of climbers and Ground supporters to join them in the forests of Mt. Hood
N.E.S.T. is out climbing along the quadrants of the proposed LNG pipeline. The purpose: locating nests of the red tree vole, the main food source of the northern spotted owl. We need all the help we can get whether in the form of: climbers, ground support, $, veggies, climbing/ camping gear...everything helps. To contact call 503-890-5194

 http://forestdefensenow.org

From the open publishing newswire: The people accused of (or credited with) defending the Elliott State Forest from logging a few months ago had another day in court today. They are now free to travel out of the state and go on with their lives until their next court date, scheduled for October. Please show your support; their legal team is helping them free of charge, but there are likely to be be some large expenses to come, depending on the outcome of the legal process.

Learn more at the website forestdefensenow.org or forestdefensenow.blogspot.com.

And here is a Democracy Now interview transcript from just after the arrests to help you understand what's going on, in case you hadn't heard:

From the open publishing newswire: One tree-sitter to descend after week defending people from blasting

PETTRY BOTTOM, W.Va. - After six full days in an 80-foot-tall poplar tree, Nick Stocks will voluntarily come down at 10:00 a.m. today. Since Tuesday morning, Stocks has been living on a platform 30 feet from Massey Energy's Edwight Surface Mine, preventing further blasting over the community of Pettry Bottom. Stocks will turn himself immediately over to the State Police. Fellow tree sitter Laura Steepleton remains in a neighboring tree with no immediate plans to come down.

We are seeking donations of sleeping bags; sleeping pads; rain gear; headlamps, flashlights & batteries; hand held radios and more.

 http://www.climategroundzero.org

From the open publishing newswire: On Friday, August 7, Josh Schlossberg and attorney Lauren Regan of the Civil Liberties Defense Center filed a tort claim notice against the City of Eugene regarding a March 13, 2009 incident where Schlossberg was falsely arrested, injured, and jailed by Eugene Police Department Officer Bill Solesbee while Schlossberg was legally distributing brochures from the edge of a public sidewalk in front of Umpqua Bank in downtown Eugene.

Schlossberg, a local forest activist, was civilly informing bank customers of the irresponsible logging and harmful pesticide practices of Umpqua's chairman of the board, Allyn Ford.

The charges of "intercepting communications" and "resisting arrest" were dropped after prosecutors viewed Schlossberg's confiscated digital video footage clearly showing him legally standing at the edge of a public sidewalk. The tape shows Officer Solesbee illegally demanding he leave-which Schlossberg is in the process of doing, while stating to Solesbee that he believes the officer is in error for forcing him to leave the public sidewalk. Solesbee falsified police reports and attempted to file unwarranted charges against Schlossberg as a result of this incident; and the Chief of police has ratified this dishonest conduct once again.

From the open publishing newswire: The community of Molalla has been very active in protecting the Molalla River watershed. Through their efforts, Senators Wyden and Merkley recently introduced the Molalla River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2009. This act will protect 21 miles, and approximately 7,000 acres of riverside land, through Wild and Scenic River designation.

Sunday, August 9th, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Come hike and learn about Bark past and present activism in the Molalla River Recreation Corridor. This hike will explore the highest point of the watershed, Table Rock, which rises to an elevation of 4,881 feet with panoramic views of the Cascade volcanic range. The trail ascends approximately 1000 feet in 2.3 miles (4.6 miles round trip) and crosses a boulder field for a small portion.

***NEW MEETUP LOCATION! After ten years of meeting at the old Daily Grind, we have decided to begin meeting at the Hollywood Trader Joe's at 4121 NE Halsey in Portland. It is across the street from the Hollywood Transit Center, near the I-84 exit 2.***

From the open publishing newswire: Calling all those who love Cascadia and wish to defend its threatened ecosystems - for the kickoff of CasT.A.Z. - a midsummer Cascadia Temporary Autonomous Zone! CasTAZ begins will be held Sat-Mon, Aug 1 -3, within an hour's drive of Eugene, Oregon. Location details will be announced, shortly! Please join us - for a day, a week, the whole summer, or beyond!

A skill-share and community building event, Cas T.A.Z. will be held in the heart of the Willamette National Forest, surrounded by a tract of beautiful and threatened ancient forest. Co-created by all participants, content and activities will be shaped by all those who attend. Please come ready to engage and take an active role! Workshops and discussions will be followed by strategy sessions and direction building for current and future campaigns. Please bring your workshop ideas, discussion topics, and suggestions! There will be space to add to the schedule and improvise, throughout the week. There will be no fully stocked communal kitchen. Please come with your own camping supplies, food for yourself and the community. Where?: The site of Cas T.A.Z. is home to many acres of native old growth forest, slated to be logged before 2011, by the Seneca Jones Timber Company. These 300-400 year old trees support a fragile ecosystem, inadequately protected by the USFS.

 http://foresestdefensenow.org