Woodchip Export Protests in Maine and Alabama
10/25/95
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/* Written 1:03 PM Oct 25, 1995 by nfn in igc:nfn.tempforest */
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From: Native Forest Network
Woodchip Export Protests in Maine and Alabama
Woodchipping Protesters Give Maine Governor Big Send-Off
Augusta, Maine, October 23:
Maine Governor Angus King, on his way to Japan with
representatives of forest industry giant Bowater to seek markets
for Maine woodchips, received a send-off at the airport on October
23 by protesters from the Native Forest Network (NFN) and Maine
Earth First!. The protesters were there to draw attention to the
pending destruction of Wassumkeag (Sears) Island, Maine's largest
undeveloped island, for a proposed cargo export facility. Jim
Freeman of NFN engaged King in dialogue in which King claimed that
few woodchips would be exported from Sears. Freeman reminded him
of the studies which state that up to 90% of the cargo to go out
from Sears Island would be raw woodchips as the Maine Woods are
ground up and sent overseas for disposable paper and wood
products.
The defenders of Maine hoisted big banners, one proclaiming "Fish
or Chips? Stop the Sears Island Chip Port." A suitcase full of
woodchips was displayed where passengers had to stop at the
airport metal detector, and Maine businesspeople boarding the
plane for Japan were encouraged to take chips and ask the Governor
to sign them. Many did, proclaiming support for the Maine Woods
defenders. Traci Hickson of Web of Life encouraged King to "Stop
working for big business and start working for the people of
Maine."
Meanwhile, activists with the Japan Environmental Monitor have
been disseminating information on Sears Island in Japan in
preparation for King's 10-day visit.
For details on the Sears Island debacle see the EcoNet
nfn.tempforest conference, item #403.
Mobile Alabama, October 24:
A coalition of activists from the Southeast and beyond converged
in Mobile, Alabama today to protest the massive export of
woodchips from this port city. Scott Paper especially is guilty
of sending American forests overseas as chips to be turned into
disposable products.
The activists marched on the International Trade Center (ITC) and
the Army Corps of Engineers. The ITC, located near the ___river
where the chip barges arrive loaded from the interior, is
responsible for allowing international trade of woodchips which
should remain here as forests. Protesters also converged on the
federal building which houses the ACE, who continue to issue
permits for siting of chipping facilities with no public input.
According to Jake Kreilick of the Native Forest Network, who
helped organize the protest, the coalition demanded a region-wide
environmental and economic analysis of the imapcts of dozens of
chip mills and the export of huge quantities of chips.
Posted By:
Phil Knight
Native Forest Network Yellowstone
PO Box 6151
Bozeman, MT 59771-6151
(406) 585-9211
Email nfn@igc.apc.org