Big Muddy
07-23-2015, 12:37 PM
Naked Berkeley Protesters Humping Trees
Robert Gehl
July 22, 2015
"""In what can only be described as a very silly and very itchy protest, activists at Berkeley decided to take off all their clothes and rub up against some eucalyptus trees that are scheduled to be cut down.
About 50 people showed up at a grove of the trees on the California campus, took their clothes off and – as the Daily Caller puts it – began to intimately interact with the trees.
The naked demonstration was organized by a photographer who is creating a collection of naked people prancing about in nature.
Local authorities are planning on cutting down thousands of trees in the area. Far from endangered or “special,” eucalyptus trees are an invasive species and the cutting is needed to preserve the environment and for fire prevention.
Ken Cheetham, one of the activists at the rally, said the plan to cut down eucalyptus trees is “extremely misinformed,” as the trees prevent fire by absorbing moisture and spreading it to the ground. Cheetham added that he does not believe invasiveness is a problem because species have migrated throughout history and “can find ways to adapt to each other.”
But Jon Kaufman, board member of the Claremont Canyon Conservancy — a group of 500 families that live in one of the areas targeted for cutting — said eucalyptus trees played a key role in spreading the fire in 1991. Several of the tree’s characteristics — particularly its oiliness, height and peelable bark — make it a significant fire hazard, he said."""
5181
Robert Gehl
July 22, 2015
"""In what can only be described as a very silly and very itchy protest, activists at Berkeley decided to take off all their clothes and rub up against some eucalyptus trees that are scheduled to be cut down.
About 50 people showed up at a grove of the trees on the California campus, took their clothes off and – as the Daily Caller puts it – began to intimately interact with the trees.
The naked demonstration was organized by a photographer who is creating a collection of naked people prancing about in nature.
Local authorities are planning on cutting down thousands of trees in the area. Far from endangered or “special,” eucalyptus trees are an invasive species and the cutting is needed to preserve the environment and for fire prevention.
Ken Cheetham, one of the activists at the rally, said the plan to cut down eucalyptus trees is “extremely misinformed,” as the trees prevent fire by absorbing moisture and spreading it to the ground. Cheetham added that he does not believe invasiveness is a problem because species have migrated throughout history and “can find ways to adapt to each other.”
But Jon Kaufman, board member of the Claremont Canyon Conservancy — a group of 500 families that live in one of the areas targeted for cutting — said eucalyptus trees played a key role in spreading the fire in 1991. Several of the tree’s characteristics — particularly its oiliness, height and peelable bark — make it a significant fire hazard, he said."""
5181