On September 26-28, climate polluters, corporate forest profiteers, and false climate solutions peddlers will come together to talk about “timberland investments” at a conference called “Who Will Own the Forest?” in Portland.
In Oregon, logging is the single largest source of climate pollution, and 70% of logging happens on privately owned forestlands. Increasingly, these forests are owned by big Wall Street investors, who manage their forests to maximize shareholder profit, not for the health of our communities, our forests, or our climate.
Capitalist investors grow profits, not forests. But we know that our forests are vital solutions to the climate emergency, and we must manage them to encourage carbon storage and climate resilience. When the capitalists come to town, we’ll let them know that our forests, communities, and climate will not be sacrificed for the rich to get richer! Join us on Sept 27th for creative resistance to the “Who Will Own the Forest” conference. Then, on Sept 28, join a different type of conversation, at the “Forests Over Profits” conference!
WED, SEPT 27: Mobilize to protest the ‘WHO WILL OWN THE FOREST?’ conference
On Wednesday, September 27 from 8am-2pm — grassroots activists and leaders from the forest defense & climate justice movement will converge at Portland’s World Forestry Center for a demonstration confronting Wall Street capitalists and putting them on notice that managing forests to maximize profits and stall climate action will be met with increasing resistance. There will be speakers, music, marching bands, theatrical performances, art & creative resistance, and more – come out to show these Wall Street elites that extractive forestry and false solutions are risky investments in the face of staunch grassroots opposition!
THURS, SEPT 28 — FORESTS OVER PROFITS CONFERENCE
On Thursday, September 28 from 10am-5pm — join the Forests Over Profits conference in Portland (more info on location coming soon). Communities and forests need real solutions to the climate emergency, industrial logging, and colonial land grabbing. In contrast to the corporate ‘Who Will Own the Forest?’ conference, communities and activists will come together to elevate real solutions and the need for fundamental systems change in the face of capitalist exploitation and the climate & biodiversity crises.
We’ll learn from speakers & panelists about approaches to forest management that support ecosystems, empower communities, and grow climate resilience, including from the Land Back movement and Indigenous land management systems, community forestry & land trusts, and sustainable forest management. Through presentations and discussions, participants will be encouraged to support real alternatives to corporate, profit-driven management. We’ll also hear from Atlanta allies who are fighting the Cop City project — which would turn a public forest into a military training facility for urban police.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT!
If you want to get involved & support the protest and/or the Forests Over Profits conference, have ideas to share or ways to contribute, or can house people coming from out of town, please fill out this interest/offerings form. Stay tuned – more info and details about the protest and peoples’ conference are coming soon!
Learn more and get involved at the next 350PDX Action Night
Wednesday, Sept 20, 6-8pm at the 350PDX office (3625 N Mississippi Ave, Portland) — Learn more about the rally and the Forests Over Profits alternative conference at the next 350PDX Action Night! We’ll also have an art making party to prep for the days of action on Sept 27 and 28. Like with all action nights, we’ll also have food & drink, announcements and actions from 350PDX teams. All are welcome! Please RSVP here.
On Wednesday, September 27 from 8am-2pm — grassroots activists and leaders from the forest defense & climate justice movement will converge at Portland’s World Forestry Center for a demonstration confronting Wall Street capitalists and putting them on notice that managing forests to maximize profits and stall climate action will be met with increasing resistance. There will be speakers, music, marching bands, theatrical performances, art & creative resistance, and more – come out to show these Wall Street elites that extractive forestry and false solutions are risky investments in the face of staunch grassroots opposition!
