Flattop Logging at Biscuit Compromises North Kalmiopsis

Logging is on-going at the Flattop timber sale, partially along the infamous Bald Mountain road in the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area. Flattop is part of the extreme Biscuit fire logging project ?- the largest logging proposal anywhere on federal lands in modern history.

Logging at other Biscuit timber sales has left behind a long list of violations ?- everything from logging green trees to cutting within sensitive stream buffer zones. So-called "hazard tree" cutting near the Flattop timber sale has already resulted in logging within the protected Kalmiopsis Wilderness itself -? a blatant violation of federal law.

In yet another violation, the Forest Service is allowing logging vehicles to travel on a normally closed road heading into the Silver-Glory Non-Motorized Recreation Area ? part of the North Kalmiopsis Roadless Area.

Making matters worse, wet weather increases the likelihood of spreading the deadly Port-Orford-cedar root disease to uninfected areas. Despite this, the Forest Service has allowed logging to continue.

Flat Top is the third timber sale at Biscuit to be logged in 2004, in addition to extensive roadside logging.

Take action today!

Contact Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Peter DeFazio and ask them to:

1. Demand that the Forest Service revoke seasonal operating waivers at Flattop due to potential Port-Orford cedar contamination.

2. Prohibit the auction of other Biscuit logging sales until a full investigation of illegal activity and logging violations can be completed. This investigation should examine:

- logging in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness
- logging in sensitive stream buffer zones
- motor vehicles entering the North Kalmiopsis Roadless Area
- logging of green trees

3. Oppose attempts to gut environmental safeguards or judicial review for the Biscuit logging project.

Ron Wyden
Federal Courthouse
310 West 6th St, Room 118
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 858-5122

Peter DeFazio
151 West 7th, Suite 400
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 465-6732

Victoria?s Dirty Little Secret in Oregon

Several Medford patrol units responded Thursday night to calls made by Victoria?s Secret and the Rogue Valley Mall. An Ashland man was handcuffed and six others detained while an excited Victoria?s Secret employee tried to accuse the detained of a variety of crimes. Officers released everyone without charges after about 45 minutes.

About 20 Jackson County residents had gone to Victoria?s Secret to highlight endangered forest destroyed to ship more than million panty catalogs a day every day of the year. Forests in northern or boreal reaches of Canada are destroyed to make constantly the soft porn catalogs with zero recycled content, shipped nearly everywhere.

Along with the Medford protest, more than 100 actions took place today at Victoria?s Secret stores around the country. Negotiations between the corporation and the San Francisco-based environmental organization ForestEthics broke down earlier this Summer. ForestEthics has promised to organize against the company until Victoria?s Secret leads the catalog industry out of endangered forest destruction and into 50% postconsumer fiber within five years.

The protest group entered the Medford store at the beginning of the holiday season to inform customers about the issue and to inform employees about the campaign. Above the storefont sign they hung a banner reading ?Catalogs = Clearcuts? while a woman and her daughter ringed the mall with yard signs sporting a catalog style model complete with chainsaw.

Inside and in front of the store, more than a dozen women and men, some donned in lingerie distributed literature while talking with customers and employees. The demonstrators were met harshly. After calling for mall security a female customer grabbed for a videographer?s camera. Later a female security guard encouraged a pursuing Victoria?s Secret employee to grab for the man?s camera bag. The man pulled the bag back from her and after again being pursued ran.

After the actions a key campaigner in Portland suggested that Victoria?s Secret may need to straighten out its act by Valentines Day or the panty pusher would face a much bigger round two.