DAVID "GYPSY" CHAIN

 

 

June 17, 1974-September 17th, 1998

 

 

 

---

---

---

---

---

 

 

 

By today's standards, David "Gypsy" Chain was what we would call a tree-hugger.  However, his career was cut short by a tragic accident that amplified the voice of his fellow Earth First! Activists and brought nationwide attention to his environmental cause.  Chain was concerned primarily with the effects corporations and individual loggers had on the “old growth” forests of California (www.myhero.com) and worked extensively with the Earth First! organization.  David Chain and Earth First! believed that the Corporation’s Pacific Lumber Co. logging practices were destroying the ancient redwood forest as well as loosening the soil in the forest and causing mudslides.  Prior to David "Gypsy" Chain's death, the California Department of Forestry did not adequately enforece their deforestation laws to prevent these mudslides that "hurt water supplies and endanger fish and wildlife." (www.gualala.net). Chain's death brought attention to the unethical logging practices of major corporations that were violating the logging laws set by the state of California.

---

---

---

---

 

On September 17, 1998, the day of Chain's death, an Earth First! protest was being held  in which David "Gypsy" Chain was a participant.  They were protesting the Corporation's Pacific Lumber Co.'s illegal logging activities at Grizzly Creek.  Although the logger A.E. Ammons claims he did not know the activists were there, an eyewitness video taken on the day of the protest proves otherwise.  A.E. Ammons is heard shouting to the activists to get out of the forest and let them do their business, despite the fact that the protestors were non-violent and simply wanted to negotiate with the loggers.  A.E. Ammons then cut down a 135-foot Redwood Tree that subsequently fell on David "Gypsy" Chain, crushing him under the weight (www.earthfirstjournal.org).  A court case followed his death in which A.E. Ammons was cleared of all charges as of October 13, 2001.  However, soon after a 100-foot buffer was erected in the area to prevent logging in the area.  David "Gypsy" Chain's death also marked the "start of 'Gyspy Mountain Free State' blockades and sit-ins" (www.headwaterspreserve.org).

 

---

---

---

 

 

 

Since David "Gypsy" Chain passed at the young age of 24, there is not much that is known about his personal life.  However, we do know that he was born in Pasadena, Texas to Cindy and David Allsbrook.  As a child, David Nathan Chain formed a friendship with a boy named Chris Martin, whom inspired him to movie to Austin, Texas in 1994 where he was first introduced to Earth First!  David Chain, inspired by their efforts, made the decision to move to California to participate in the Save the Redwoods Campaign.  He was referred to by other Earth First! activists as "Gypsy" because it is a custom of activists belonging to the Earth First! organization to adopt an earth-related nickname, such as Julia "Butterfly" Hill.

 

We can all look to David "Gyspy" Chain to further our enviromental causes.  By using peaceful protests and sit-ins, we can pass legistlation and laws to help protect our enviroment.  For instance the lakes in the Adirondaks that are being polluted day by day.  If we send letters and try to negotiate with corporations that release excessive amounts of fossil fuels that pollute lakes as well as our New York Senators we can hopefully pass legislation to protect our lake ecosystems.    

 

---

---

 

 

http://www.headwaterspreserve.org/campaign-history.php   (information

http://www.earthfirstjournal.org/article.php?id=106  (information)

http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=dn_chain (information and pictures)

http://saveancientforests.blogspot.com/2007/09/we-remember-you-david-nathan-gypsy.html (information/pictures)

http://www.gapsucks.org/gwa/history/02-time/ (information)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

Brianna Adams