Illinois PIRG alert: Bush administration proposes repeal of roadless rule
Dear Illinois PIRG supporter,
They've finally done it. For the past three and a half years, I've been writing to you about the Bush administration's efforts to undermine the Roadless Area Conservation Rule that protects 58.5 million acres of America's wild forests. But on Monday, the Bush administration proposed to repeal the roadless rule in its entirety - and allow timber, oil, and mining interests to tear a spider web of roads through America's last wild forests.
Please take a moment right now to submit an official comment to Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth and let the Bush administration know that you oppose the wholesale destruction of America's last wild forests. Then - even if you've never done so before - ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this along; there is no more important time to act.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser:
http://wildforests.com/wildforests.asp?id=11&id4=ES
Background
On Monday, the Bush administration proposed to repeal protections for 58.5 million acres of America's pristine national forests. The Bush administration proposal would allow many of President Bush's top campaign contributors in the timber, mining and oil industries to log, mine, and drill in pristine areas that provide 60 million Americans with clean drinking water and provide habitat for over 1600 endangered species. Even for an administration that has weakened so many environmental and public health protections, this proposal is extreme.
The Bush administration proposal would repeal the Roadless Rule that was enacted in January 2001 to protect 58.5 million acres of our last wild forests from logging and road-building. The Roadless Rule ensures that forests will continue to provide clean drinking water, habitat for wildlife, and endless opportunities for recreation and solitude. It was finalized after decades of scientific study, 600 public hearings, and 1.6 million comments in support of the rule. It is the most popular conservation initiative in our nation's history; more than 2.5 million Americans have submitted comment supporting the rule.
This support has reached into every sector of society. Even major wood products consumers like Staples, K.B. Homes and Hayward Lumber think logging America's last pristine forests makes so little sense that they've written the Bush administration to urge protection of America's roadless national forests. Now, it's only extremist elements of the timber, oil and mining industries that support logging these areas – but it's those elements that the Bush administration is listening to.
Fortunately, we now have the opportunity to stand up to these powerful industries and send a clear message to the Bush administration that Americans want to protect our last pristine forests. Please take a moment right now to submit an official comment to Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth. Then - even if you've never done so before - ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this along; there is no more important time to act.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser:
http://wildforests.com/wildforests.asp?id=11&id4=ES
Sincerely,
Diane E. Brown
Illinois PIRG Executive Director
DianeB@illinoispirg.org
http://www.IllinoisPIRG.org
P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.
A personal quest to promote the use of wind energy and hydrogen technology in the Great Lakes area of the United States. The Great Lakes area is in a unique position to become an energy exporting region through these and other renewable energy technologies. *Update 2014: Just do it everywhere - Dan*
No comments:
Post a Comment