For Immediate Release, April 1, 1996
Press Contact:
Mark Westlund ranmedia@ran.org
Donna Parker boycottmc@ran.org
RAINFOREST ACTIVISTS IN SIX U.S. CITIES COORDINATE
ACTIONS AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL DESTROYER!
ELEVEN ARRESTS AND COUNTING IN NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES,
SAN FRANCISCO, PORTLAND, SEATTLE, MINNEAPOLIS
In a nationally coordinated show of force, activists from Rainforest
Action Network and like-minded Rainforest Action Groups conducted direct
actions and demonstrations at Mitsubishi-owned businesses in six major
U.S. cities. Mitsubishi Corporation is one of the largest corporate
destroyers of the world's forests. It fully or partially owns logging
operations throughout the world. Mitsubishi corporate activities lay
waste to thousands of square miles of forest, and contribute to the
destruction of native rainforest cultures.
Todays nation-wide protest against Mitsubishis rape of the Earths
rainforests shows beyond a doubt that there is no safe harbor for
environmental destroyers, said Donna Parker, Mitsubishi Boycott acting
director: Mitsubishi is the worlds largest company, and has one of the
worlds worst environmental records. Mitsubishi could lead the world
towards a sustainable future. Until that happens, we will keep the
pressure on full force.
In New York, three activists scaled the Mitsubishi International
headquarters, and hung a banner with an April Fools Day message over the
main entrance: Dont Be Fooled... Mitsubishi is a hidden killer. Police
removed the climbers from the building, and all three were arrested.
In Los Angeles, three activists climbed the Beverly Hills branch of
Mitsubishi-owned Bank Of California, and hung a banner from the palm trees
in front of the building. Bank of California merged today with Union
Bank, also owned by Mitsubishi, to form the forth largest bank in
California. Mitsubishi Bank is the largest in the world, with over
$800-billion in assets, and funds many of Mitsubishis destructive
operations. Beverly Hill police swept the street, and four people were
arrested. As of press time, the climbers were still in the trees.
In San Francisco, six activists locked themselves to half-ton barrels
filled with concrete, and blocked the doors to the downtown offices of
Mitsubishi Bank and Mitsubishi-owned Bank of California. Four of the
protesters were arrested.
In Portland, Oregon, two climbers rappelled from the top of the 15-story
downtown Bank of California tower at lunch time, and unfurled a giant
30x20 foot banner: Stop Corporate Forest DestructionBoycott
Mitsubishis Bank of California. As of press time this protest was still
in progress, with no arrests.
Demonstrations also took place in Minneapolis and Seattle.
Rainforests are being destroyed at an accelerating pace around the world,
eliminating vast numbers of plant and animal species, and devastating the
traditional lands and cultures of the people who live there. Every year,
an area of rainforest the size of Italy is destroyed, and much of that
destruction derives from exploitation by multinational corporations.
Worldwide, Mitsubishi Corporation has timber and mining operations
stretching from the U.S. to Malaysia and Brazil. Mitsubishi Corporations
Alberta Pacific Chlorine Bleach Kraft mill is the largest wood pulp
processor in the world, running around the clock to process 300 truckloads
of trees a day. The Mitsubishi-owned Canadian Chopsticks Manufacturing
Company throws away 85% of the trees it cuts down to produce disposable
utensils because the wood is not white enough.
Mitsubishi Bank is the worlds largest bank, with over $800-billion in
assets; and when Mitsubishi-owned Bank of California and Union Bank merge
today it will create the fourth-largest bank in California, with over
$25-billion in assets. Mitsubishi Bank and its domestic holdings fund
environmentally destructive projects around the world.
Rainforest Action Network works to protect the Earth's rainforests and
support the rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots
organizing and non-violent, direct action.
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