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“megaload mayhem,” continued...
ter-Lochsa Wild and Scenic River Corridor in Lochsa.” spite of opposition from the U.S. Forest Service We’re cracking up. Davis can’t be serious. officials, who claim authority in shipments across What would be the point? public lands. Thursday, Aug. 8, 4 pm The protests from Nez Perce tribal members Davis’ philosophy: Screw capitalism. Screw NPR and environmentalists broke out on Monday, (It’s not even liberal.) Screw recycling. Aug. 5, when hundreds of protesters formed “Sacrifice has to be equal, or we’ll never see a human barricade at the border of Nez Perce change,” Davis says. “I’m not sacrificing so long Nation and managed to halt the shipment for two as someone gets to play on their yacht. I don’t hours. Their goal: Stop mining at the Canadian recycle! I’m a high and mighty environmentalist tar sands that ravage the landscape and conand I’m not wasting my time recycling until I see tribute to climate change. Twenty people were corporations starting to curtail the amount of polarrested on charges of disorderly conduct that lution they’re pouring into our rivers, until I see first night. Late Tuesday, children and teenagers fracking stopped. It’s a waste of my time.” hurled rocks at another shipment, stalling it for We drive 20 miles down a winding dirt road 15 minutes. Eleven more were arrested. through the Selway River corridor until it deadNow it’s Thursday night, and we’re running ends at a white sandy beach enveloped by clear, on a half tank of gas. We pass the confluence green falls and untouched forest. where the Selway and Lochsa Rivers meet to Davis grew up in the Silver Valform the Clearwater. It’s pitch black ley in the ’70s in a union family in a on this narrow, two-lane stretch of booming mining town. He’s an Earth road. Haverstick has the brights on. Send comments to Up ahead, all you can see are imposing editor@inlander.com. First! “radical” (his word) and seasoned activist. He was arrested once, three coniferous trees. years ago, protesting an Imperial Oil Davis says he’s jonesing for a “canmegaload. Three times, he wonders aloud if I’m cer stick.” Yesterday, Wednesday, he had bought an undercover FBI agent, operating a sting. But and lost a $7 pack of cigarettes in minutes. State he has nothing to lose — no savings, no income, troopers and tribal police escorting the megaload hardly any material possessions. He could be arand its convoy of vehicles met protesters blocking rested tonight, but he can’t plan on it. Otherwise, the road head on and, in just 10 minutes, broke he says, he could be charged with a conspiracy past the demonstration. charge. Dozens of protesters then took off running None of the men in his family have lived after the megaload. Some went two miles on foot long past 60. He doesn’t expect to either. He has before jumping into cars to follow. Davis’ cigs no plans to have children because he’s confident were sitting on the hood when they revved beclimate change will spawn mass desperation and hind a train of vehicles, inching for hours behind nuclear war. All politicians talk about these days two police cruisers blocking eastward traffic. The is the economy at the expense of our environmegaload made it through Kamiah and into Forment. est Service lands uninterrupted. “Never does ecology come into the debate,” Haverstick described law enforcement’s he says. “Are we keeping the environment where strategy as the “other side of the chess board.” we can have clean drinking water, breathable air, Checkmate for Idaho. Protesters like Davis and nutritious food? … We’re destroying our godHaverstick need to try guerrilla tactics, they say. damned planet.” “Let’s get arrested tonight, bro,” Davis says The car suddenly stops. Davis says he’s gotta now. “Let’s get arrested for mooning the f---ing take a swim in the Selway. He rummages in his megaload. Think about it man. Get four or five trunk for his swim shorts. He digs out a pair of people together. Standing right in the middle of purple trunks. He jumps in the river and paddles the road. … Let’s moon those motherf---ers.” to the other side, floats on his back. Osprey and Haverstick imagines the headlines: “Full golden eagles sweep above the horizon. Cedar, Moon on the Lochsa Stops Megaload.” Or: grand fir and Engelmann spruce surround us. “Megaload Blinded by the Moon Stops at
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14 INLANDER AUGUST 15, 2013