Redwood Nation Earth First!

by Kirsten Johnsen

"Redwood Nation" Earth First! has been working closely with and through the Mendocino Environmental Center for nearly a dozen years. Earth First! is a constantly evolving worldwide movement based upon the philosophy of biocentrism: each species has a right to survive and prosper independent of human intervention. The preservation, conservation and flourishing of all life processes is the center of focus, hence the term biocentrism.

The political tactics common to those who adhere to Earth First! are 1.) decentralized, locally based, community grassroots organizing and 2.) direct action aimed at the point of production. In addition to these commitments, Redwood Nation Earth First! has held firm to a strict nonviolence code for nine years. This includes refusing to engage in acts of sabotage against destructive machinery and tree spiking.

Redwood Nation Earth First! uses nonviolent direct action in the forests of the California North Coast to stop the destruction of old growth forest ecosystems and the myriad endangered species inhabiting them. The Mendocino Environmental Center has always proudly supported the work and commitment of Earth First! even throughout the darkest days of media smear campaigns as corporate PR firms and even elected officials have attempted to frame Earth First! as "ecoterrorists".

Throughout the past eleven years of nonviolent direct action campaigns, Redwood Nation Earth First! has been incredibly successful raising the political awareness of the public both regionally and nationally on vitally important ecological issues. Support for Redwood Nation Earth First! activism continues to spread across the country and deepen in our home community.

Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1998
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited


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