Should Berkeley's protesting tree-sitters be evicted?
By laylomo
@laylomo (165)
United States
November 24, 2007 8:12pm CST
University of California have legally won the legal right to remove a band of tree-sitters who have resided in oak groves overlooking the Berkeley campus. But now the problem is the method to remove them, in the midst of the liberal capital of California.
The issue arose when the University wanted to build a $125 million training facility for its Golden Bears Athletic team over dozens of evergreen coast live oaks. Protesters have been in the trees since last December 2nd. It is unclear how many there are or who they are. Many rotate during the night, wear masks, and give false names.
The City of Berkeley, as well as others, are planning to sue the University under the claim that the new stadium would be "environmentally and seismically unsound," which campus officials deny. The judge hearing these cases had ordered an injunction halting construction while the case was still under deliberation. UC had claimed its much better for their athletes and promised to plant 3 trees for every tree knocked down.
So what do you think should be the course of action? What should/can be worked out?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Nov 07
Are these trees rare and will cutting them down cause the evergreen coast live oaks to become extinct? In that case, the trees should remain. I do not like the idea of tree sitters, however, and there should be a way to maybe cut down only a few, or design the training facility to accommodate the trees. If it is used to train athletes, maybe running around or through the trees would be better for their stamina.
@raychill (6525)
• United States
25 Nov 07
I agree with the tree-sitters that they should cut down trees for a training facility. But I don't know, I guess there is always a chance for compromise. However, when the law is involved they'll just take the people by force and arrest them or something probably. It's nice that there are still people who protest and believe in their rights, or the rights of the trees.



