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When politicians make promises, it?s easy to disregard them as political antics, as empty rhetoric. Some people have said to me, "You're not taking that promise seriously, are you? He's just another politician." It?s really unfortunate that this is what it's come to in our society. We don't put any faith or hope in our politicians. We don?t trust them. But we must hold them accountable, particularly when it's a clear statement about something that is so critical. I feel a deep responsibility to keep the focus on this unequivocal promise that Davis made.
Last summer was especially difficult for me, knowing that so much old growth was being cut. People were being arrested regularly, trying to slow down or stop the destruction, but nothing seemed to help. There were (and still are) a record number of tree-sits in Humboldt County, but the destruction continues. I thought perhaps I should tree-sit. On more than one occasion, I packed my backpack, ready to climb a tree. ?What can I do?? I kept asking myself. ?What is the best use of my energy??
Then the idea for a hunger strike came to me. I was surprised and scared. I had been working on forestry issues since moving to California in 1996, but never before had I considered doing something like this. Friends and family initially discouraged me from doing it. But it was clear I was supposed to do it. I felt very committed and determined.
On October 7, 2002, I started a hunger strike at the State Capitol in Sacramento demanding Governor Davis live up to his campaign promise. I didn?t just do this out of the blue. I first met with his staff on this issue. (In a meeting with Mary Nichols, the Secretary of Resources, I inquired about Davis? clear campaign promise. Her response was ?What are we supposed to do ? burn the person who wrote that speech??) We brought an emergency petition before the Board of Forestry in January of 2002, giving Governor Davis an excellent vehicle to implement his promise. We attempted to qualify an initiative for the ballot that will protect old-growth trees (that also meet species-specific minimum diameters) on non-federal land pre-dating California statehood (1850).
I ended up fasting for 52 days. Except for weekend breaks and holidays, I sat outside the Capitol every day in an attempt to bring attention to two simple concepts: 1) Governor Davis ? keep your word, and 2) stop cutting old growth.
After several weeks, I requested a meeting with Davis. He was unavailable, I was told. Although he refused to speak with me directly, his press office was forced to answer questions from the media. I found their responses both humorous and outrageous. Their mainstay was ?He saved all the old growth. He saved Headwaters.? Not true. In fact, the Headwaters agreement actually opened up more acres to logging than would have ever been possible without that horrific deal. Then they said that I was taking the quote out of context. After that comment, I asked, ?Exactly what part of ?all old-growth trees? was I taking out of context?? Then came ??there are some people who don?t want any trees cut down, period, and she is one of them.? Wrong. I have never advocated an end to all logging. ?Please do not ever misrepresent me again,? I said in a note I delivered to Steve Maviglio, Davis? spokesperson.
On the 50th day, Julia Butterfly Hill joined me for a press conference. The mainstream media finally covered the fast. She and others also agreed to fast with me until the Governor made good on his promise. The next day, Julia and I walked in to see Senator John Burton, President Pro Tempore of the Senate. In response to the fast, he requested that a hearing be held in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildlife.
I was relieved to have some sort of attention by the California legislature and agreed to end the fast. Although no action was anticipated from the hearing, we kept the issue alive. I know that a lot more people now know that we're still cutting old growth, and that's crucial. Every step along the way keeps it in the public eye. We don?t always see the direct results of our actions, but the ripples go out far and wide. People ask how I was able to do it. I think it?s similar to when one undertakes any challenging task. You plug away and you do it one day at a time. It was as though I was being taken care of on an indescribable level for the duration of the fast. I felt clear and guided throughout. There were a couple of particularly difficult days, but for the most part I had incredible energy and enthusiasm. Sometimes I even had more energy than those around me. However, occasionally I think back and wonder ?How DID I do that??
When I undertook the hunger strike I never knew what the end was going to be like. I just knew I had to do it. Some say that hunger striking is an extreme gesture. Most forms of direct action do seem extreme or radical to those who can only imagine working within the system. We work within the system, also. We file lawsuits, pursue acquisition and work to make laws that stop these barbaric practices. I see this action as just another tool in the non-violent toolbox. But sometimes we have to take other measures to bring things into the mainstream. We have to use whatever non-violent means are necessary to protect these last tiny fragments of our native forests.
This is a crucial time for life on our planet. There?s discussion of the use of nuclear weapons in a pre-emptive first strike by our country. There?s flag-waving and the eroding of our basic civil rights. I believe that working for the protection of these trees is not only a positive thing for me to do, it?s also patriotic. If patriotism can be defined as the love of one?s country, I can think of no better way to exhibit that love than to protect those places that still exist the way they?ve existed in this country for hundreds and even thousands of years. Old-growth preservation is something to be FOR, instead of AGAINST.
The bottom line is, until there is a law that says a landowner or a corporation cannot cut old growth, we, as a state and as a society, will be cutting old growth. As the Governor, there are numerous things that can be done to slow down or stop the cutting of old growth. But first, Davis must have the desire to do it. That is what is missing here. So although Governor Davis didn?t directly respond to my action, perhaps he?ll think twice the next time he makes a campaign promise?.
For more information on the fast, visit Fastforoldgrowth.org
For more information on the initiative effort and the Campaign for Old Growth, visit ancientrees.org