Old-Growth Redwood Products Draw Protest

Protesting the sale of products made from old-growth redwood, two environmental activists spent Tuesday chained by their necks to a Malibu lumberyard’s gates.

Andrew Koenig of Venice and Scott Garvey of West Los Angeles, both dressed in dark suits and ties, locked themselves to two of three gates to Malibu Lumber at 6 a.m. Tuesday, each using two U-shaped bicycle locks bearing stickers reading “Boycott Old Growth Redwood.” They said they planned to remain until the store closed Tuesday afternoon.

Malibu Lumber owner Erik Jorgensborg said that although a very small percentage of his products come from old-growth products--made from the diminishing number of redwoods that are at least 200 years old--he has refused to sign a pledge to stop selling them because of customer demand.