Open Letter by Art Harwood – Willits News, June 6, Mendocino Beacon, June 7, North Coast News, June 7, and Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 7, 1990
Editor:
Harwood Products feels that, in light of the recent bombing in Oakland of two Earth First! members, the organizers of Mississippi Summer in the Redwoods should consider calling off this event. Not only has the potential for further violence increased dramatically, but it seems that the environmental movement has nothing further to gain and, in fact, may jeopardize much of the gain they have achieved this past year if they go through with these plans. If Mississippi Summer in the Redwoods must happen, we feel that it is critical that all parties communicate with each other as much as possible to try to diffuse this situation and make this event as nonviolent as is possible.
Because of the increased awareness provided us by this unfortunate situation, the opportunity is here to work together to not only diffuse the situation, but to make positive changes in forest practices that will protect our forests, jobs and communities forever. We are all members of one community with far more in common than one might think. We can start here to develop a framework for conflict resolution that other communities can follow. We owe it to our families, our communities, and our planet to find a better way to work things out.
—Arthur “Bud’ Harwood
President, Harwood Products