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� THE BEGGINNERS GUIDE TO TREE SPIKING ��
�Taken from EcoDefense: A Field Guide to Monkey Wrenching��
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�Expanded upon and tested by: Excessive Mayhem��
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This file is intended for all you anarchists out there who, like me,
wish there was something you could do to help our dying woodlands and our
earth. This is the first of what will (hopefully) be a long line of
Ecodefense files. All techniques described in the files of this series have
been tested and are proven to work if done properly. I should probably say
something to the effect of:
"This file is for educational puposes only and none of the techniques
described herein should be used at any time."
That's bullshit, and if the cops don't like it, they can kiss my ass. I
WILL however say:
"The author will not be held responsible for anything done as a
result of this file. He does not reccomend the use of any of the
techniques outlined in this file."
And I say this, because well, I ain't stupid. :)
Excercise your rights, your freedom of speech, and your right to a clean
planet.
Anyways, on with the file:
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Q. "Why do we want to save trees? They're just gonna die anyways! Why
bother? THEY'RE USELESS!"
A. "Fuck off. We don't need your kind of help. Take a look around, the
world is dying because of people like you. Even if you're not an
environmentalist you should get a kick out of this, because it gives you a
warm fuzzy feeling inside when you've done something that will cost someone
a lot of money and time. Plus, you're helping the Earth... So pay
attention here!
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Tree spiking is done to discourage the Freddies from chopping down a
beautiful forest so that they can make a few bucks. The process involves
driving a spike of some form (we'll discuss metal here, other types later on)
into a tree, either on a downward angle at the base, to stop the tree from
being felled, or vertically somewhere further up the tree, to kill the blade
in the saw mill.
Things you will need:
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Single-jack type hammer (one handed sledge) 2� to 3 pounds
- connected to a lanyard so it can hang around your wrist
Several dozen 60 penny nails (60d) about 6� inches long
- these are the actual spikes. This is the largest "common"
nail available. Remember when you're buying these that a person
buying 200 60-penny nails attracts attention...
Pair of small bolt cutters (14 to 18 inch)
- these should be connected to a rope in such a way that you can
hang them around your neck and shoulders (like a purse.. heh.)
Brown felt marker
- one that will mark okay on metal. Should also be connected to a
rope that you can hang around your neck (your gonna have more
chains than Mr. T by the time we're done!)
Smaller "carpenter's" hammer
- not much to this item, if you don't have one at your house... get
get one from a friend.. Or buy it with your nails to reduce
suspicion (heh heh)
Tube of caulk and caulk gun
- ya know, that silicon stuff for sealing windows.
Running shoes
- a good idea in case you get caught.
Backpack (Optional)
- good for getting to and from the scene with your equipment. Make
sure you wrap everything in cloth if so that it doesn't clang
Green army ammo bags make great nail transports
Cheap cloth gloves
- keep finger prints off
Method:
-------
1) Find a strip of forest that has recently been put up for sale or might be
in the future. The sooner you spike a forest, the safer it will be.
2) Go out and gather all your stuff.
3) Use the silicon caulk to cover the ends of the nails. This will deaden
your blows with the hammer, making stealth easier. *MAKE SURE YOU WIPE THE
NAILS CLEAN OF FINGER-PRINTS WHEN THE CAULK IS DRIED!*
4) If possible, get a trusted friend to go with you. You can have him be
look-out for you, or make him carry the hammer (MAN that thing gets heavy!)
5) Go into the forest. Don't be observed going in, or coming out for that
matter. Get all your gear ready. It's nice if you have some large
pockets on your clothing to keep the nails in there, so you don't have to
go digging for them. MAKE SURE YOU'RE WEARING YOUR GLOVES!
6) Okay, take your first nail. Decide where you want to put it. (Don't get
any smart ideas.. those things are sharp!) If you want to stop the tree
from being felled, place the nail on a 45 degree angle downwards around
the base. In doing this, you hope that the lumberjack might hit it with
his chainsaw. This method is somewhat less effective because you're not
going to do any damage to the chainsaw that can't be repaired in about 5
minutes, and you'd have to do it to a large number of trees before they'd
loose any time. If you choose to drive it straight into the tree (to kill
the mill blade), insert it at about eye level. (At least for the first one)
7) You've decided where you're gonna put it, now drive it MOST of the way in
to the tree. *DO NOT DRIVE IT IN ALL THE WAY!* Make sure about an inch
is sticking out.
8) With your trusty bolt cutters, clip off the head of the nail. This will
prevent the Freddies from coming with their metal detectors and prybars
and pulling out the nail.
9) Use the carpenters hammer to drive the now headless nail the remainder of
the way into the tree. If you're really ambitious, you can use a blunt
piece of metal to push it passed the surface, but this isn't REALLY
neccessary, as long as it's flush with the surface of the bark.
10) Take the marker and colour the end of the nail so that it doesn't shine
in the light.
11) Repeat steps 1 - 10 for every one of your nails, alternating the height
at which you insert the nails (makes 'em harder to find). If a tree is
smaller than 6� inches in circumfrence, don't worry, just cut off more of
the nail (so less is sticking in)
When to spike:
--------------
A general rule about spiking is "The sooner the better". If you spike an
area just before it is sold, it will be easy for the Freddies to find and
remove the spikes. If, however, you spike an area YEARS in advance, nature
will have time to cover the spikes, making it nearly impossible for them to
be found.
Soooo... I say spike your favorite area of forest TODAY. In 5-50 years
when it's up for sale (and it WILL be up for sale.. Trust me), phone the
company involved and tell them you've spiked it. They'll have to spend
valuable time and money to go into the forest with metal detectors to find
the spikes. And if you've done your job properly, they'll find 'em, but they
won't be able to remove 'em. Can you imagine the frustration? If enough
trees are spiked, the Freddies will realize that getting a few bucks out of
this land will be too costly to pursue, and abandon it.
NOTE: Be anonymous and call from a pay phone or divertor when you
tip off the company!
Field Notes:
------------
That just about wraps it up. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- If possible, work in a team. A team of 2 to 5 is best. Always
have one look-out. Be wary of anyone, the forest industry has
spent a lot of money on law enforcement lately. It's better to
be paranoid than sorry. You may want to invest in some walki-
talki's to aid in the look-out.
- Wear a pair of goggles or glasses when cutting the heads off
the nails. Those heads can REALLY fly.
- Be careful when buying nails. Don't go to the same store twice, or
a store in your area
- For really large trees, "Bridge Timber Spikes" are effective. They
cost about �.70 a piece and are much harder to find (therefore,
more "incriminating") They're a foot to a foot and a half in length.
They are also much harder to drive, a larger hammer would be used.
- Work as high up on the tree as is practical. People tend to see
things only at eye level.
- Helix spikes are ideal for this job. They are long spiral spikes.
The spirals make it difficult to get the spikes free, and next to
impossible with the heads removed. Problem with this type of spike
is that they're somewhat difficult to find, and very expensive.
You'll have to call around. If you find a store that sells them,
tell them you're making a bridge up on a remote piece of land.
You'll need a heavier hammer with a longer handle, and therefore
you'll have to be in good shape.
- Make sure your bolt cutters can handle the spikes BEFORE you get into
the woods. (Seems obvious, but you'd be surprised..)
- The best method for gaining access is the drop-off and pick-up.
Have someone drive you to within' walking distance of the intended
target and then pick you up at a different location in about 3 hours
time. NOTE: Time will vary depending on the number of trees you
wish to spike
- It's not necessary to spike all the trees. Just enough in proper
position to have a deterrent effect. The Freddies love money, and
saw blades are expensive.
- Be CAREFUL! Be careful to the point of paranoia. This is the ONLY
sure way to avoid capture. Make sure you leave NO evidence.
- Freddies seldom say it when an area's been spiked. They
hope that if they ignore the problem, it'll go away. If, however
you hear them talking about the crime, then you can be SURE they're
taking steps to find out who did it. So hide out for a while.
- Avoid imported spikes, as they are generally of cheaper
construction and might bend once the head is removed.
Stick to the U.S.A. or Canadian brands (No, I'm not a
patriot.)
- Don't be afraid to experiment. If you find a technique that
works well, hunt down one of the ANON members and they'll tell
you where to find me. Any suggestions will make it to later
revisions once I get a chance to try them out. In the past,
nail guns have been used to drive spikes. I've even heard of
a 50lb bow being used. Play around, but don't get stupid.
- Don't get caught. If you do, don't offer any info until you
get a lawyer to advise you. This is not a light crime.
People have been sent to jail for up to 6 months for this.
That's it. Be smart, be safe, and be environmentally friendly. If you
have any questions or comments, find me.. I'm in area code 905. If you know
an ANON member, tell them, they'll hunt me down.
I'd appreciate feed-back from any Earth First! members out there. I'm an
avid fan and member. Gimmie a shout, I'm anxious to see how many others
like us there are in the underground.
