Striptease press release - July 27, 2001

La Tigresa bares all and slows down logging in Albion, CA
For Immediate Release Contacts: (707) 459-0465 Beth Bosk July 27, 2001 (415) 331-1500 ext. 332

La Tigressa Albion Nation Forest Defenders Halt Logging Operations of The GAP / Mendocino Redwood Company In Albion's Enchanted Meadow for Second Day Albion, California. The Albion Nation, a community-based forest defense group made up of local neighbors, concerned conservationists and timber workers stopped logging today in the Enchanted Meadow, a pristine and rare wetland wildlife sanctuary on the Albion River in Mendocino county, north of San Francisco. Mendocino Redwood Company, owned by the Fisher family, who also own corporate clothing giants The GAP, Old Navy and Banana Republic, has filed six timber harvest plans on this small area, which is home to several endangered species including Coho salmon, Spotted owl and Marbled murrelet.

Loggers and log-truck drivers were met in the pre-dawn darkness and prevented from entering the timber harvest area by a large group of activists including La Tigressa, renowned bare-breasted poet. Tigressa's empassioned, earthy, sensual and spiritual poetry bemused, confused and delayed the work of the logging crews for several hours. Other activists blockaded roads and inundated the logging area next to Enchanted Meadow, successfully stopping the destruction of wildlife habitat for the second time in a week.

The day's actions culminated in a large rally for community members near the entrance to the work area. Logging activities harm the endangered Coho salmon because of resulting run-off from badly eroding slopes adjacent to the river. "Coho salmon in the Albion are still of native genetics, but in order to spawn in this river, they'll have to evolve legs to walk through the silt-laden estuary...if the other proposed plans are logged in this area, they'll need skis," said Albion Nation resident Bernie MacDonald. "We want to see a million La Tigressas," said Albion Nation activist Howard Sidel. "The sensuality of the feminine can change mass consciousness to value and respect Mother Earth." In 1992 the Enchanted Meadow was valiantly defended by the Albion Nation's direct actions for many months.

Multi-national logging giant Louisiana Pacific (LP) finally gave up trying to harvest timber there. The Fisher family bought LP in 1998 and has been logging in the Albion river watershed at accelerated rates. Community involvement in the ongoing struggle to protect the Enchanted Meadow is growing once again.

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