AR-News: 'It's As Simple As That, The Trees Are Going To Go'

[jim robertson]

http://www.komotv.com/stories/30917.htm

'It's As Simple As That, The Trees Are Going To Go'

April 22, 2004

By Bryan Johnson

Snohomish County officials vow that a series of arson and attempted arsons 
at building projects will not have an impact.


SNOHOMISH COUNTY - Snohomish County officials say they plan to start 
management deliberations next week and vow that a series of arson and 
attempted arsons at building projects will not have an impact.

Councilmember Jeff Sax told KOMO 4 News that Snohomish County must be 
prepared for a popular growth of approximately 300,000 people in the next 20 
years. He says at least 20 percent of that number will locate in areas now 
considered rural.

Sax says he recognizes that the message from the suspected eco-terrorist is 
a warning to stay away from the interface of present growth and forested 
lands.

But Sax told KOMO 4 News: "We are going to build where the land is the 
flattest and the driest. It's as simple as that, and trees are going to go."

The councilman added: "Trees have to be removed to build homes, what can I 
say? You know trees are a renewable resource, we can grow them back."

Comments like that are exactly what frustrate environmentalists and appear 
to infuriate those on the fringe. In other areas, the Earth Liberation Front 
has vowed to torch what is built in such areas.

But so far, ELF is not taking credit or responsibility for the fires near 
Snohomish, or the attempted fire bombings Wednesday near Monroe.

The response to the threats and fires included a meeting Thursday morning 
between Snohomish County officials and some state lawmakers. State 
Representative Kirk Pearson (R-Monroe) sponsored legislation passed two 
years ago allowing longer sentences in such arsons.

He hopes if someone is caught, they will receive a sentence of at least 7 
years in prison.

State Senator Val Stevens of Arlington told KOMO 4 News she plans to 
introduce legislation next January to add a crime of eco-terrorism to state 
law books and to require state agencies to establish a system which will 
track the activities of eco-terrorists.

Stevens points to the fact that the release of 10,000 mink from a farm near 
Sultan would probably result only in charges of trespass and malicious 
mischief, and might not even result in prison time for anyone convicted. She 
says laws must be updated.




Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to 
embrace all living creatures.            Albert Einstein

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