Guest guest Posted October 19, 2002 Report Share Posted October 19, 2002 **************************** *WildAlert *Friday, October 18, 2002 **************************** Dear Colleen, THIS JUST IN: THEY'RE OUT AND OUR FORESTS ARE SAFE FOR NOW! Both Houses of Congress have left Washington to send members home for the Nov. 5 elections. One of the bills we've worked hardest on in recent weeks, and spoken with you most about, is Rep. Scott McInnis's industry-inspired measure to curtail environmental protections and public participation and increase logging in the name of wildfire prevention on our National Forests. Mr. McInnis furiously tried to cut a deal that would allow his bill to advance but time ran out on him. Literally dozens of Wilderness Society staffers who've been working on wildfire breathe a bit more easily today. So will Wild Alert rs who love our forests (and that must be most of them, judging by the stunning number of letters, faxes and calls they produced on the issue). Also unfinished before the Congress left town was conference committee work on the giant energy bill. That, too, is good news. You'll recall that the House version includes a provision to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration and drilling. The Senate bill does not and our champions there-chief among them Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Harry Reid (D-NV), Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT)-are adamant that the Refuge will not be opened through the energy bill or any other vehicle. Welcome as the recess is, it offers only a short reprieve: the Congress will return a week after the election on Nov. 12 for a lame-duck session. The Alaskan delegation will again press for an invasion of the Arctic; Rep. McInnis will again press for his logging bill. His approach will compromise our National Forests, our environmental laws, and the right of citizens to participate in public land management decisions. It will also compromise any hope forest-dwelling homeowners have for a plan that might really offer them protection when the next wildfire season begins. We've asked you again and again for help on these matters and before we finally write an end to the 107th Congress, we will be asking again. Meanwhile, we struggle to find a way to thank you for all you've done and for what we know you will do again when we ask. Your enthusiasm and responsiveness beggar superlatives. While we haven't yet won protection for our forests and for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, we haven't lost yet, either. And the credit is yours! Please accept our deepest thanks. ************************************************** DO YOU HAVE A WORKPLACE GIVING PROGRAM? If your workplace has a giving program, such as United Way or the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), please consider choosing The Wilderness Society, number 0918, a member of Earth Share. Earth Share is a federation of 45 environmental groups, including The Wilderness Society. Its mission is to help safeguard a clean and healthy environment, save endangered species, and preserve forests in our neighborhoods and across the country for future generations. You can help by giving directly to The Wilderness Society, Code 0918. Or, you can contribute to all 45 member agencies by giving to Earth Share, Code 0900. For more info visit Earth Share's site at: http://www.earthshare.org/index.html ***************************************** To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival. -- Wendell Berry *************************************************************** For a full list of Action Items, visit http://www.wilderness.org/whatcan/takeaction.htm *************************************************************** An archive of past WildAlerts can be found at http://www.wilderness.org/wildalert/wildalerts.htm *************************************************************** To make a gift online to The Wilderness Society, click here https://secure-net.com/tws/join.asp *************************************************************** WildAlert is an email action alert system brought to you by The Wilderness Society to keep you apprised of threats to our wildlands - in the field and in Washington. WildAlert messages include updates along with clear, concise actions you can take to protect America's last wild places. You are welcome to forward WildAlerts to all those interested in saving America's wildlands. FEEDBACK: If you need to get in contact with the owner of the list, (if you have trouble unsubscribing, or have questions about the list itself) send email to <action. TO SUBSCRIBE: If you have been forwarded this message and would like to to the list, visit http://www.wilderness.org/forms/.htm or send a message to wildalert with 'SUBSCRIBE' in the subject line and your email address in the body of the message. "Live in peace with the animals. Animals bring love to our hearts, and warmth to our souls." Colleen Klaum "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." Immanuel Kant Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.