Tree-sitting activist finds another perch (yup, Ferret again)

The Eugene Republican Guard ^ | April 29, 2003

[Clinging Bitterly]

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www.registerguard.com | © The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon

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April 29, 2003

Tree-sitting activist finds another perch

Activist Mike McCarthy is up a tree again, this time in front of the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House near downtown Eugene.

A week ago Monday, he took up residence in a sweetgum tree slated for removal by the nonprofit organization that runs the historic home and museum, which is near Skinner Butte at Third Avenue and Willamette Street.

The city gave the group permission to cut down five trees in order to return the home and its landscaping to its late 1800s to early 1900s condition, said Renee Grube, city recreation services superintendent.

At 6 a.m. this Monday, a team of volunteers for the nonprofit organization cut down three of the trees and left two standing: the sweetgum McCarthy's living in and an incense cedar nearby.

The crew removed a ring of bark around the base of the latter two trees, a technique called girdling that guarantees the trees' death.

McCarthy said he'll stay as long as he feels safe - neighbors and passers-by have been harassing him.

Grube said the city is prepared to wait him out.

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[nunya bidness]

I can also confirm it's our ferret.

[Cultural Jihad]

I can also confirm it's our ferret.

Nobody by that name.

"Our" ferret? He was a self-avowed anarchist, wasn't he?

[ET(end tyranny)]

Whew! Each time I see one of these threads, I expect to find the name of the tree sitter is my half sister.

Not this time though! Thank goodness.

[Rasputin_TheMadMonk]

FINALLY! Someone had the good sense to do the obvious and girdled the tree one of these fools is "protecting."

If they use this technique with all of the protester "protected" trees, it may be slow, but it gets the job done. After all, dead tree is a wonderful place to make a stand for Gaea...........

[Clinging Bitterly]

>> One property owner with a scoped rifle should end this guys career as a trespassor and thief.

Maybe. This guy is a friend of mine, who I've known for something like 27 years. A few years back, he tree sat at another location in town and experienced some difficulty with gravity. Got busted up pretty good.

Must be some kind of obsession with him. About three years ago he tree sat at this same location where he is now (maybe the same tree, I dunno). He has tree sat in an aging cherry tree in one of the city parks. He tree sat among trees slated for removal in a fairly large scale street improvement project along the river that runs through town.

He also gets involved in a local activity called "critical mass", where large numbers of bicyclists gather and clog a busy thoroughfare during rush hour, generally inconveniencing the taxpayers who fund the bikeways he likes to travel.

But other than his two obsessions, trees and bicycles, he's a pretty good guy, and you'll find him on our side of almosy any other issue. If I recall, it was he who, during the 1991 gulf war, scaled the tallest tree he could find in the Alton Baker Park, and lashed atop same tree one tall flagpole and a large American Flag.

Don't see him a lot lately, but we catch up by email and I see him on this forum from time to time. His Ferret screen name (and a few other subsequent ones) has been banned, but he does get on from time to time under an yet to be banned name.

Dave in Eugene

[Cultural Jihad]

Apart from occasional trespassing and selfishly and self-centeredly obstructing public thoroughfares so that ambulances and taxpayers can't get through, he's an okay fellow, eh? He sounds like a bully who uses bully tactics to get his fringe way. As a child was his toilet training especially traumatic?

[Hunble]

NOTE TO MODERATORS:

Can we please allow OUR Ferret back on-line?

[nunya bidness]

You can describe him any way you like. I was merely letting people know that the person in the story was known here as ferret.

Sometimes it helps to actually step away from the keyboard and get to know the people you meet here. Despite the difference in opinion.

[Cultural Jihad]

Can we please allow OUR Ferret back on-line?

What are you mumbling about? According to "Dave in Eugene of all places" the fellow is still here squatting on private property under another name.

[Jeff Head]

I had a number of reasonable, rational discussions with Ferret/Hobb/?. He is committed to his cause, albeit I believe his pet cause leans way over towards the socialist/marxist and even fascist inclinations ... this we know what's best for your land so we will regulate it kind of thing.

So, although I disagreed strongly with some of his leanings in that regard, and disagreed fundamentally ... he did aupport a number of other good causes in his posts and was generally fairly easy to talk to and discuss things with. Surpisingly, despite the willingness to violate others rights relating to the trees, he was way down on the much more militant activists in that regard. In addition, he was fairly supportive of the farmers at Klamath as I recollect.

Just my impressions.

[Hunble]

Hey, at least Ferret has enough guts to stand up for what he believes in. And as most of us know, he has supported many of us over the years also.

Even if his "tree hugging" may drive me nuts personally, I still honor and respect someone willing to fight for what he believes in.

[nunya bidness]

In addition, he was fairly supportive of the farmers at Klamath as I recollect.

You are correct and your memory serves you well.

[Cultural Jihad]

I still honor and respect someone willing to fight for what he believes in.

So would you also honor and respect, say, Nazi skinheads who burn crosses on the lawns of black families? How about bank robbers who believe that society owes them a living and are willing to fight for their beliefs? You ought to save your admiration for those who are committed to making their society a more peaceful and just place rather than for those who adhere to an ideology.

[Hunble]

No comment, but if I had to make a choice between you and Ferret tonight, Ferret has demonstrated over the years a better understanding of the principles of FreeRepublic.

I have a strong feeling that you do not know this person.

For those of us that have talked with him for years, we may laugh at his actions, but we knew that he was always one of the "good guys."

[Cultural Jihad]

A regular Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, eh?

[Hunble]

END OF TOPIC

Send me a private freep mail if you wish to continue this subject.

[NorseWood]

Hey Dave, this guy has been drinking too much water out of the Mill Race!

(From a reformed Duck)

[Noumenon]

Hey, bro - they're always i nseason around here. No bag limit, either. Kinda gamey, though.

[Grampa Dave]

You analysis of Ferret/Mike is the same as mine.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!