Comments on: Logging Metal Detector

By: cliff

cliff — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:35:11 +0000

@ davo, even though tree spiking has been “denounced” it still happens quite a bit, even their own people admit that the “denouncement” was just lip service to get the FBI off their a$$. and yes drunk drivers are auto terrorists.

By: Davo

Davo — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:30:04 +0000

Tree-spking has been denounced by environmentalists for years…I find it very hard to believe that this is still a common hazard encountered by loggers.

By: Eion

Eion — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:53:52 +0000

Asbestos: the presence of foreign objects in trees is one thing, deliberately putting them there to slow down logging (at the risk of injuring loggers - especially given that the spikes can’t be seen) is quite another. Your analogies of negligent employers and drunk drivers are not on point, because in those other cases the underlying intent is not there. Terrorism may be a little strong, but the people involved style themselves as ‘eco-warriors’, so it doesn’t seem totally overblown to me.

If you want to slow down a logging operation, there are peaceful ways of doing it that aren’t likely to injure anyone: sit-ins, for example, or deflagging trees that are marked to be felled. Spiking is just low.

By: asbestos

asbestos — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:35:02 +0000

Calling this “eco-terrorism” is off base. if I get on a crowded bus with a bomb that is wrapped with nails and set it off, I am a terrorist. To call this a terrorist act waters down the word. Trees often have foreign objects in them, like rocks, nails from old wires or fencing. This all goes back to a single incident over 20 years ago. The cause of that incident is debatable. So if someone runs a company and does not follow safety guidelines and that kills a worker are they a “empoyo- terrorist’? Are drunk drivers (20,000 deaths a year) auto-terrorists.?

Can’t we all just talk about tools?

By: Benjamen Johnson

Benjamen Johnson — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:41:31 +0000

After reading the above link the guy even though he tries to frame a rational argument his final paragraph betrays his true nature.

“If people in the future do get hurt through responsible Spiking, it is the responsibility of the Forest Service and and timber companies involved; they had been warned.”

I think that says it all.

By: Old Coot

Old Coot — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:07:27 +0000

Below is the url for a long dissertation about tree spiking written by someone who supports the concept. The use of ceramic spikes is noted at the top of page #5.

http://www.peterherrick.com/content/treespiking.htm

By: Benjamen Johnson

Benjamen Johnson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:48:57 +0000

Old-Coot: I hadn’t heard about the ceramic spikes, but it doesn’t surprise me.

I didn’t really want this post to be about eco-terrorists, but I wrote it knowing full well why products like this exist.

It’s a shame that some people value other peoples lives so little — yet I’m sure they value their own life above all else.

It’s not like logging is the safest profession in the world, but they don’t need the added risk. These are just guys like us trying to feed their family.

I personally think anybody found spiking trees needs to be charged with nothing less then attempted murder (premeditated at that) and given the maximum penalty the first time.

By: ek

ek — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:02:02 +0000

yeah, make them one with the earth they love so much

By: Old Coot

Old Coot — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:14:10 +0000

Eco-terrorists in the Pacific Northwest switched from ferrous spikes to ones made of a ceramic material to avoid detection. IIRC, several loggers were seriously injured by chains broken by those units. IMO, anyone cowardly enough to spike a tree should get to meet a chipper up-close and personal.