Action planned for April 26th Anti-Sprawl-Forest Defense Alliance

Dear Eco-minded Citizens,

We are a coalition of grassroots activists and community protection groups around the world that have come together to promote a very important event. On April 26th groups spread all over the world plan to act in solidarity to educate the public regarding the valiant protection efforts of activists defending old growth forests, as well as activists defending rural communities from the sprawling developments that are growing out of the cities. We are calling this action Mass Tree Sit 2003.

This event is meant to be more for education and celebration than protest. We envision families, friends, and community groups coming together to share the fun of speaking out. Currently there are nearly three-dozen active treesits that are protecting native forests and old growth trees around the world and we want to show our support to these brave treesitters. So we will be sitting in trees and beneath trees in visible public places flying banners in their honor.

Our actions will make clear that our forests and the public trust resources they provide for us, like air, water, and wildlife are being decimated. The world's forests are primarily being used for paper and construction rather than moderating erosion, stabilizing the climate and protecting biodiversity. In the US alone there has been an incredible decades-long explosion in suburban sprawl that is invading rural communities and outlying cities. With every new home built, we are unraveling our web of life and wiping out very special native landscapes here and abroad.

We want to inspire action by citizen's and government representatives to ensure that forests and open spaces are protected. We want to ensure everyone recognizes the priceless public trust value of leaving our earth's biologic integrity intact. We want to see a ban on the cutting of all species of Old Growth trees. We want to end clear cutting, as well as the use of herbicides in our watersheds. We need to develop alternative building materials and restrict the expansion of urban development. Instead of more houses we want urban renewal and rural open space protections.

We have lots of information available about safe ways to climb and sit in trees. Please contact us about this event and know that you will be joining other like-minded groups and individuals from all around the world.

Please respond with your endorsement and share how you will participate in solidarity. Send response to WorldTreeSit2003 [at] aol.com and/or for more information send a blank email to: worldtreeclimbday2003-subscribe [at] yahoogroups.com to join in on the discussion of the first of many more annual Mass Tree Sit events.

Thank You,
John Griffith, Writers for Redwoods and Watersheds, Humboldt County, CA
Deane T Rimerman, Cascadia Defense Network, Olympia, WA
Kirk Murphy M D, Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles
Traci "Bear" Thiele, Redway Forest Defense, Garberville, CA