S
o
ummer
Action
The sun’s out and revolution’s in the air.
un can be so decadent, so bour-
geois. But it doesn’t have to be.
This is, after all, one of the most
progressive and politically organized cities
in the nation. There’s a full slate of activi-
ties statewide this summer to turn your
lazy, empty summer days into a time of
cause and purpose.
This summer marks the launch of
Cascadia Summer, a concerted effort by
many local organizations to step up
activism, involvement and mobilization.
This campaign is an alliance of groups
with a wide spectrum of skills and tactics,
including the Cascadia Forest Alliance,
Cascadia Forest Defenders (Eugene),
Forest Action Network, Blue Mountains
Biodiversity Project, Mazama Forest
Defense, Northwest Ecosystem Survey
Team, Klamath-Salmon Action Network,
Cascadia Defense Network, Shuksan
Direct Action, and Olympia and
Springfield Earth First!.
Events for summer start with a June 14
International Day of Action for Jeff “Free”
F
26 JUNE 5, 2003
Story by Brian Boone o Photos by Kurt Jensen
Luers. Despite the moniker, Free is cur-
rently serving a 22-year sentence for his
role in the 2001 Romania SUV fires.
Though simultaneous events will occur in
various locations, Eugene will hold the
biggest rally, boasting speakers and a soli-
darity parade to draw attention to Free and
his ever-lengthening stay as a political
prisoner.
That ought to get the protest juices
flowing as things kick in to high gear for
summer solstice. Friday, June 20, John
Henry’s will host the Solstice Benefit for
Cascadia Summer. The cost of the show is
a sliding scale of $7 and up, and features
performances by The Ovulators, The
Shudders, Tom Hienl, Danny Dolinger and
the Fabulous ThunderCraig.
Next up is the Magical Activism
Weekend at the Canceled Eagle Timber
Sale in Estacada, June 20-22. Organized by
the Northwest Pagan Cluster and Seattle
Earth First!, the event aims to unite earth
activists with pagans, defined as those who
want to use magical tools for positive
change. Each group will share specific
tools for protest, including blockading,
tree-sitting, grounding, meditation and
awareness.
June 22-28, Greenpeace and the
National Forest Protection Alliance will
sponsor “Endangered Forests, Endangered
Freedoms,” a weeklong forest activist and
campaigner training program. Participants
will learn tactics needed to effectively
protest deforestation, while also taking in
the gorgeous scenery of western Montana.
Similar in spirit and purpose is the Action
Training Camp, which will commence July
18-20 near Portland.
The World Trade Organization returns
to the U.S. June 23-25 with its
Agribusiness Ministerial in Sacramento.
Cascadia Summer and numerous other
organized groups will meet to protest the
WTO’s push for genetically modified tree
farms and the development of biotechnolo-
gy in general. This is going to be huge; if
you can go to only of these events this
summer, make it this one — history just
may repeat itself.
Activists have long antagonized
Umpqua Bank because its largest accounts
are timber interests, and its board of direc-
tors includes many barons of the timber
industry, notably the owner of Roseburg
Forest Products — an aggressive logger of
old-growth forests. If you don’t like that
little tidbit of information, then leave July
17 free for the Statewide Day of Action
against Umpqua Bank.
Eugene is arguably as well-known for
its superior bicycling as it is for its
activism. Now you can combine the two
while fighting for the future of forests by
joining the Trek for Trees, an Aug. 2
pledge bike ride. Aiming to raise funds and
awareness for forest defense, the ride goes
from Eugene to the Willamette National
Forest with a return trip on August 3.
For more information about Cascadia
Summer events, visit www.cascadiasum-
mer.org, or you can also contact locals Jim
Flynn and Leeanne Siart with Eugene’s
Cascadia Forest Defenders at 684-8977. o