Washington, D.C. – Just one week after the Bush
administration’s failed attempt to prosecute Greenpeace, the
group’s Executive Director, John Passacantando, appeared today at
the Endangered Forests Press Conference and Rally. The event, which
was attended by more than 50 individuals and forest protection
advocates, included creative street theatre and a giant slice –
more than nine feet tall – of a Douglas fir.
The slice of timber, referred to as “
Doug” has been travelling across the nation to educate and
inform the public about the impact of the Bush administration’s
timber policies on U.S. ancient forests. Speakers at the press
conference included representatives from the Coalition of
Environment and Jewish Life, American Lands Alliance, National
Forest Protection Alliance and Shenandoah Ecosystems Defense
Group.
“The Bush administration continues to use every means at its
disposal to try to squash our right to free speech. And I stand
with you today because it is time to put the public back in public
lands,” said John Passacantando, Greenpeace Executive Director.
“Despite the Bush administration’s scare tactics, Greenpeace will
not be deterred from our vision. We won
our unprecedented trial in Miami, and we now head back to the
forests to continue the work.”
Greenpeace is joining national forest organizations from around
the country in a summer of peaceful protests against President
Bush’s attack on old-growth forests as well as its attempt to
silence its critics. On May 17, 2004, Greenpeace became the first
organization to be prosecuted for the free speech activities of its
supporters. A federal judge dismissed the charges for lack of
evidence. The case arose from a peaceful protest in Miami exposing
a shipment of illegal mahogany from the Brazilian Amazon.
Under the theme of “Defending Forest, Defending Freedoms,”
Greenpeace will intensify its work on endangered forests in the
United States, which the Bush administration is attempting to put
on the chopping block. The international environmental organization
will work with individuals and grassroots organizations in states
including Alaska, South Dakota, Oregon and Virginia to expose the
White House’s pro-timber industry forest agenda.
“This is a vision that Greenpeace
shares with Americans and people around the world, a vision of an
end to all commercial logging on endangered forests,” continued
Passacantando. “A vision of greater protection for those precious
few five percent of ancient forests left in the United States.”
