Market of Choice is no longer my choice

Josh Schlossberg, Cascadia's Ecosystem Advoca, 21.04.2007 00:23

MARKET OF CHOICE COMPLICIT IN DESTRUCTION OF OREGON'S FORESTS
author: Josh Schlossberg e-mail:  thombanjo@riseup.net

Supposedly eco-friendly Market of Choice supports clearcutting and herbiciding by banking with Umpqua Bank, whose board of directors are the most destructive timber barons in Oregon.

Protesting Market of Choice's "poor choice" of banking with StUmpqua

On Thursday, April 19 Cascadia's Ecosystem Advocates (CEA), Cascadia Forest Defenders (CFD) and the UO's Forest Action held a citizen demonstration outside Market of Choice in Eugene to urge Market of Choice to stop banking with Umpqua Bank, whose board of directors is personally responsible for clearcutting and herbiciding hundreds of thousands of acres of Oregon's forests.

Members of CEA and CFD held a 9 foot banner outside of the store saying "Save Oregon's Ancient Forests: Boycott StUmpqua Bank" and other signs, as well as passing out leaflets (on tree free, sugar cane based paper) to Market of Choice customers.

Leaflets asked customers to call Market of Choice and urge them to do the right thing by withdrawing their accounts from Umpqua Bank and placing them in an environmentally responsible local bank. Postcards addressed to Market of Choice owner, Mr. Wright, were passed out as well as brochures explaining Umpqua Bank's ecocidal practices.

Hundreds of customers were made aware of the issue and dozens of individuals approached protesters to learn more about it. Despite one "friend" of Market of Choice owners and Umpqua Board of Directors who thought native forests were an "unpicked crop" and who didn't believe in global warming, the public was almost entirely supportive of the rally and expressed surprise and concern about Market of Choice's decision.

Umpqua Bank board of directors includes: Allyn Ford, CEO of Roseburg Lumber; Dan Giustina, CEO of Giustina Resources; and Lynn Herbert, CEO of Herbert Lumber.

Despite Market of Choice's green, eco-friendly image, by continuing to bank with Umpqua Bank, they are complicit in the destruction of Oregon's precious forests and watersheds.

Shannon Wilson, Co-Director of Cascadia's Ecosystem Advocates (CEA), says: "CEA has contacted Market of Choice owner Mr. Wright several times over the last three years about their support of the destruction of tens of thousands of acres of Oregon's forests by banking with Umpqua. The environmentally aware Market of Choice customers would be appalled if they knew of the Market's support of the devastation of Oregon's quality of life."

homepage:  http://www.wildernessdefenders.net
phone: 541-688-2600

e-mail:: thombanjo@riseup.net

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Response from Market of Choice? 22.04.2007 - 16:13 They have been responsive to important issues in the past. They supported PCUN's boycott of Norpac, for example, which helped PCUN gain a victory for the farmworkers. Did the protesting groups actually talk to the Market of Choice's board of directors? Note: The Ashland Co-op also held out and had an account at Umpqua for years..... Vegan1forpeace> Board 30.04.2007 - 13:14 Yes, the board of directors has been contacted for the past several years with no response. After a few more rallies and postcards sent in from the public, we will attempt to communicate once more. Josh>