Hunger Striker Continues Protest Of Old-Growth Logging

Environmental activist Susan Maloney is on her 50th day without food. The 40-year-old woman from Humboldt County has been hunger striking outside the state Capitol to save California´s old-growth trees. She hopes her drastic measures will grab Governor Davis´ attention. And she wants to force him to take action on a campaign pledge he made in 1998 to protect all old-growth trees from being cut down.

Environmental groups estimate that less than three percent of native forests in California are still standing. But state forestry officials say they´ve already done a lot to protect old-growth trees. There are almost 70,000 acres currently protected in state and national parks. And officials say the government is continuing to buy even more land to protect the trees.