EF! demo at Timbmet, Oxford against imported rainforest timber

Timbmet

24th May A protest at Timbmet timber yard in Oxford took the campaign to ban Mahogany a step further. Brazilian TV, filming at the action, broadcast footage of Timbmet's owner declaring that "life in Brazil is cheap" - showing the people in the South the attitude of the North’s capitalist scumbag traders.

The station’s phonelines were jammed and protests erupted in Brazil as a result. It was a long, sweaty, tiring day - and tempers frayed. The demo highlighted a few problems and omissions in the organisation of the action, from concensus decision making to facilitation on the day. (Things to be discussed further in "Do or Die" and at the next gathering, perhaps?) However, good things were achieved: media coverage was excellent and the yard, and its nerve-centre the office, were totally shut down for the day. The pressure must be maintained to push the message home: MAHOGANY IS MURDER!