Protestor Protests No Coverage
In my inbox this morning via the Redwood Peace and Justice Center e-mail list was an e-mail sent to John Driscoll, environmental issues reporter for the Times- Standard. It was sent by one, Kim Starr, apparently one of the folks involved in the anti- logging protests down by Nanning Creek near Scotia. Kim seems bothered by the fact that the Times- Standard isn't giving them the coverage they want, and asks for more coverage of their protests in the future.
Just speaking for myself, I say NOT! Not saying it might not be news of interest to some people. I'm sure those participating in the action might want to see a picture of themselves in the paper but, to me, seems we've been there and done that. I've lived up here over thirty years and I'm sure most would agree, we've seen our fair share of these anti- logging protests. It gets old. It's no longer newsworthy to most of us, I would think. That's not to say people might not want to discuss such issues, I'd just rather have something more interesting in my morning paper.
That said, I suppose it's at least as newsworthy as the obligatory, day(s)- before- Christmas- shopping story that so much of the main stream media feels it has to run within a few days of Christmas each year. So, since the Times- Standard ran this story today, I guess the Nanning Creek protestors are entitled to one day of coverage, once a year, if the local papers have the space to fit it in. So, you have my permission, Times- Standard, but just for one day. Sorry, I didn't read the Christmas shopping story and likely won't read the Nanning Creek Protest story, either.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:51 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
They already have had coverage, with one of them beating up a cop and getting tossed in jail. How long have they been protesting that "this" is the last old growth grove left in the whole wide world? I've heard them say "This is the last" to so many different groves I don't care anymore.
Well, that's a slightly different issue.
Sure, there has been coverage of other local protests, but those are a bit different than the stuff going on in the anti- logging protests. This same stuff has been going on, probably non- stop, for decades.
You're correct about the "This is the last..." line, though. They keep saying that and the media keeps reporting it. Never mind that most of the Old Growth is already in government hands.
I met a guy from L.A., when I was in Saudi Arabia. He said something along the line of, "They shouldn't be cutting down the last of the Redwoods...". He really believed that's what's happening.
But that's what the environmentalists, at least in this case, rely on. More coverage, to get people to support causes that arent't based in fact. You could extend that to other causes, like Global Warming, where the same problem exists, albeit with more publicity.
As I've said, though, we've had more than enough publicity over these tree demonstrations over the last 30 years I've lived up here. If they do something new, which I'm sure they will, that might merit additional coverage. Otherwise, this is old news.
You make some good points. Using language like "its the last biggest redwood forest" etc seems overblown because of similar inflated language that's been used for years.
However, I've looked into this Nanning Creek timber plan and am dismayed to see 200 acres of old-growth redwood getting cut to further fill Maxxam's pockets.
Yes, Maxxam and Charles Hurwitz ripping off the redwoods for all they're worth is an old story, but to ignore it is to satisfy those robber barrons. Should we also ignore torture by US soldiers, or our waning civil liberties just because its been covered before?
The protestors definitely need to do something new, you are right about that. But given that so much of what passes as "news" is meaningless drivel that has nothing to do with our lives and futures here on the North Coast, it is sad that the logging of such a large tract of ancient redwoods barely makes a blip in the papers.
Anon wrote,"But given that so much of what passes as "news" is meaningless drivel...".
Hey, I gave the T/S permission to go ahead with one story on the Nanning Creek protests since they published that story about Christmas shopping the other day. Is there no pleasing you?
Heh, sorry if I came off as ungrateful.
To clarify, I would rather see a story on the old-growth in Nanning Creek and its significance to this place, rather than on the protests.
Despite any hyped-up language, the forest in Nanning Creek was a truly important gem for Humboldt but like so many others was snatched away for Hurwitz.
Well, then grab the bull by the horns and write a story yourself and then submit it to the papers and see if they'll run it. Some papers take submissions from freelancers. I know the North Coast Journal does.
Heck, from the hard hitting commentary you've posted here, maybe one of the local papers would PAY for one of your submissions?
Good suggestion, Fred. I'll think about that.
One thing though, anon. Remember that this is old news so not many people are likely to read it. :-)
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