home of the wildlife conservation environmental and freedom activist

WWF, ONLINE AND ON THE GROUND - AROUND THE WORLD
http://www.passport.panda.org

Last year was the second warmest on record, beaten only
by 1998. One thing is certain: global warming will
affect you. But there is something you can do about it
today.

Your help is needed to ensure our only defence against
global warming, the Kyoto climate treaty, becomes
international law.  

WWF has drawn up a 'hit list' of 25 industrialised
countries that must ratify the Kyoto treaty to ensure
it comes into force. WWF will be targeting these
countries as part of its 'Go For Kyoto' campaign,
starting with:

- the European Union
- Japan

European Environment Ministers will meet on March 4th
to decide on the EU's support of the Kyoto treaty. If
they agree to back the treaty, we'll be a major step
closer to making Kyoto international law.

Go to: http://www.passport.panda.org

On the other side of the world, Prime Minister
Koizumi told the Japanese Parliament on Monday
4 February that Japan will ratify Kyoto. Without
Japan's support, Kyoto cannot become international law.
Let's make sure it happens.

Go to:
http://passport.panda.org/campaign/index.cfm?campaign=2118&lang=13&campaign_lang=13&frameset=1

(you may need to copy and paste the whole link
into your internet browser)

Hope you can take the time to help stop global
warming.  For more information, visit the Go for Kyoto
campaign site:
http://www.panda.org/goforkyoto

Many thanks,
Sarah Bladen
Online Campaign Officer
WWF International

The Senate is scheduled to vote this week on Sen. Daschle's energy bill,
which will keep oil rigs from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. With
your help we can improve on this bill by boosting fuel economy for cars and
SUVs and increasing our use of renewable energy sources. Opponents of this
bill are determined to defeat it or corrupt it with bad amendments.

You can help take a strong step toward a clean, safe and secure energy
future that protects special places like the Arctic Refuge. Please contact
your senator today.

The Sierra Club Action Network was recently upgraded to include lots of
great new features. Among other things, you can track every alert you've
participated in, tell your friends about alerts and print letters to send
via postal mail. Our Action Network is a quick and easy way to stay
involved and make sure your voice is heard. To set up your account click
the link below and click "create my account."

http://www.sierraclub.org/action/?alid=66&rf=-66301

Thank you for your time and support.

Sincerely,

Ryan Silva
Activist Outreach Coordinator

To: All Activists
From: Steve Holmer
Date: February 25, 2002

Farm Bill Promoting Biomass and Giving Away Forests Heads to Conference
Committee This Week

On Feb. 13 the Senate passed the Farm bill which poses a significant
threat to the National Forests if current language encouraging more
logging and less agency accountability are approved.  The bill now moves
to a conference committee this week to work out differences with the
even worse House passed Farm Bill.

Thanks to the hard work of forest activists, the final Senate bill
contains a compromise concerning stewardship contracting that will allow
for only fourteen "goods for services" contracts to be offered by the
Forest Service.  This is a significant improvement over the stewardship
language in the House Farm bill which gives the agency authority to give
away trees in all stewardship projects until 2007.  In addition, these
stewardship projects and hazardous fuels for biomass plants are limited
to the urban wildlands interface in the Senate bill but can be conducted
outside of this area under the House bill.

Now that the Farm bill has gone to Conference, the final details on
stewardship contacting as well as harmful subsidies for biomass using
forests will be worked out by the conferees.  Activists need to weigh in
with their concerns about biomass and stewardship contracting to the
conferees right away.

Conferees to Decide Fate of Forest Provisions in Farm Bill
The members of the Farm Bill conference committee have been announced.   
Of this group, we need strong support from these Reps and Senators:

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD)
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-TX)
Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA)
Rep. Eva Clayton (D-NC)
Rep. Cal Dooley (D-CA)
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN)
Rep. Gary Condit (D-CA)

Other Key Senators Who Can Help Influence Conferees

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Many of these Reps and Senators have been strong supporters of forest
protection in the past and we need there support now to stop these
harmful biomass and stewardship contracting provisions.  If your Rep. or
Senator is on this list, please contact their staff person who works on
forest issues at 202/224-3121 and let them know your concerns about
biomass and stewardship contracting and ask for their support to address
these problems in the Farm bill.    Please urge them to:

1)  Support the Senate Farm bill's version of the Forestry Section over
the House version.  While we are still opposed to the stewardship
contracting and biomass language in the Senate bill, it represents is a
significant improvement over the House bill.

2)  Oppose any new stewardship contracts that allow for trees to be
given away from federal lands.

3)  Oppose the $50 million in biomass subsidies using forest lands.

These second two requests are particulary important to include since it
is always possible that the Conference Committee will reject both the
House and Senate language and craft a new compromise on these issues.

Farm Bill Passes Senate
The Farm bill contains two extremely controversial provisions,
stewardship contracting and forest biomass subsidies that will
significantly impact National Forest and BLM lands for many years to
come.  These issues are important for forest advocates because the
authorities and incentives under these programs:

Accelerate "thinning" and/or logging under the National Fire Plan with
no environmental safeguards (no limits on tree size, age or areas in
which thinning and/or logging could occur).

Increase logging on National Forests and BLM lands regardless of how
much money is appropriated yearly for the timber sale program because
"goods for services" stewardship contracting allows the agencies to give
trees away to industry and to contractors in the name of 'restoration'
and 'fuels reduction.

Subsidize a forest biomass industry that encourages unsustainable
logging to feed the biomass plants on BLM and National Forest Lands.

Mock the very principles of forest restoration by providing major
incentives to log the biggest and most valuable trees on public land to
pay for more fuels reduction and restoration projects, causing the need
for more restoration; thereby creating an endless cycle of logging for
"restoration" and "fuels reduction."

Background on Farm Bill
Like the House Farm bill which has already passed, the original Senate
bill would have permanently authorized stewardship contracting until
2007 and provided $50 million in grants under the National Fire Plan for
the subsidization of a forest biomass industry fed from National Forest
and BLM trees until 2006.  The Senate bill is different than the House
bill in the sense that it links both the stewardship contracting
authorities and forest biomass subsidies to the National Fire Plan.  

According to language in the Senate bill, these programs are justified
because, "the accumulation of heavy forest fuels loads continues to
increase as a result of disease, insect infestations, and drought,
further increasing the risk of fire each year."  And because, "the
hazardous fuels removed from forest land represent an abundant renewable
resource, as well as a significant supply of biomass for
biomass-to-energy facilities."

Both stewardship contracting and the forest biomass subsidies are very
important to understand as a package.  Many of the stewardship
contracting authorities allow the agencies to give away trees for free,
allow contractors to craft their own 'restoration' and 'fuels reduction'
projects without agency oversight and allow the agencies to keep the
receipts for any money made on the projects. Although language in the
Senate bill places a "preference" for projects to be conducted in the
wildland-urban interface, the bill fails to define the term, and does
not make projects in the wildland-urban interface, to protect
communities, mandatory.

Further there are no limits on the size or age of trees to be provided
as biomass fuel or in what areas the biomass fuel could be collected.  
Without meaningful restrictions on biofuel origin or tree diameter, the
forest biomass grant program could subsidize logging in roadless, old
growth, riparian, other sensitive areas and in threatened and/or
endangered species habitat.

Once all these projects have started under the stewardship contracting
authorities, any material coming off public lands will be given, as a
subsidy, to whoever receives a forest biomass grant.  The biomass plant
will receive free trees from the public lands, receive a subsidy to pay
for the transportation of the trees, and possibly receive subsidies to
continue the long-term existence of the plant, regardless if all fuels
reduction/restoration work is completed.  

While, the original Senate bill limited grants to biomass to energy
facilities that have "an annual production of 5 megawatts or less," very
large plants (over 5 megawatts) would still be eligible for  $1.5
million per year in grants.  The timber and biomass industries worked to
remove the $1.5 million cap and make grants available to large energy
producers and unfortunately were successful in that effort.  The
industries have also fought very hard against adding any language in the
bill that would make an economic feasibility study of this new forest
biomass industry or ecological monitoring of fuels reduction activities,
mandatory.

Stewardship Contracting
Authorities under stewardship contracting, such as goods for services is
very similar to the purchaser road credit program, where the Forest
Service gave trees to logging companies in exchange for building logging
roads.  The purchaser road credit program was eventually terminated
because it led to massive subsidies, rampant abuse, environmental
degradation, and a loss of Congressional and public ability to oversee
the Forest Service, not to mention the construction of over 300,000
miles of new, ecologically damaging, roads across the National Forest
system.  Stewardship contracting simply reinstates this program and
expands it beyond roads to include just about any forest management
activity.

Currently, the Forest Service is allowed to enter into 84 total
stewardship contracts but only on a pilot basis, with a heavy emphasis
on monitoring to determine whether or not this program works.  However,
while only a little over 20 projects (out of the total 84) have begun,
only 25% of the projects are being monitored, and there has been no
report to Congress to determine how stewardship contracting has worked.  


Yet, Members of the Senate such as Sens. Crapo (R-ID), Burns (R-MT), and
Lincoln (D-AR), insist that the agencies need this permanent authority,
especially the "goods for services" stewardship contracting authority,
to help expedite fuels reduction work on public lands.  That's why
stewardship contracting authorities are tied to developing this biomass
industry.  As long as any area on public lands has a "fire risk" then
the agencies will be able to contract out the work using these
contracting authorities, with no accountability, to thin and log in any
area regardless of the size and age of trees, to reduce that fire risk.

We worked for the following changes to the Senate Farm bill Title VIII,
Section 808:

1. The biomass subsidy and stewardship contracting authorities must
remain a pilot program, where studies must be completed to determine the
economic feasibility and environmental impact of the programs, before
making them permanent.  All projects must be monitored/studied to
determine the ecological impact of the program before any new projects
are authorized.

2. Add environmental safeguards to the bill making it mandatory that all
projects must be done in the wildlands-urban interface.  Prohibit all
projects from roadless areas, wilderness areas, areas of high ecological
integrity, riparian areas, threatened and endangered species habitat,
and old growth ecosystems.  Prohibit projects from being able to
construct or reconstruct roads.  Prohibit commercial timber sales from
mixing with fuels reduction projects.

3. Eliminate the subsidy to biomass plants and the "goods for services,"
"receipt retention," and the "designation by description" contracting
authorities.

We were successful in limiting goods for services to only 14 new
stewardship contracts, but no environmental safeguards were added, and
the subsidy for biomass remains.  We were also successful in limiting
both of these programs to the urban wildlands interface.   Now that
Senate has completed work on the Farm bill, we hope to make further
improvements to the bill in conference committee.  But it will be a
tough fight.  Thanks for all your help.  


Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
mailto:wafcdc@americanlands.org
http://www.americanlands.org

Dear Members of Global Response's Quick Response Network:

This is a message from the Earth Day Network:

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (World Summit), to be held in
Johannesburg, South Africa in August-September 2002, will be a unique
multi-stakeholder dialogue about economic growth, social development and
environmental protection. For the first time in ten years, world leaders
will converge in one place to forge a common approach to sustainable
development. The World Summit could usher in an era of global cooperation
and action, throwing the spotlight on issues of international importance.

Despite a full decade that has passed since the first Earth Summit in 1992,
little has been done to mitigate a worsening environmental crisis.
Biodiversity loss, deforestation, climate change, extinction of species, and
a boom in the world's population have placed severe stress on our ecological
resources. In addition to this, poverty has doomed millions of people around
the world to lives of misery and suffering.

The World Summit offers us a unique opportunity to turn that all around.
However, partly as a result of the tragedy on September 11, 2001, there is
no guarantee that the World Summit will be a success. Only four leaders
(from a total of approximately 180 countries) have committed to attend. Yet
now, more than ever before, there is a great need to foster a spirit of
global partnership and solidarity. At this critical juncture in our history,
only the combined efforts of our leaders - those who represent the major
decision-makers of our society - can ensure we head onto the right path.

Earth Day Network, an international network of environmental activists, is
asking for help from Global Response's Quick Response Network.

PLEASE SIGN ON TO OUR LETTER petitioning world leaders to attend the World
Summit on Sustainable Development by sending an email to:
wssd-petition@earthday.net. Please indicate in the body of the message: 1)
your name, 2) your title (if applicable) and 3) group that you represent (if
applicable). You need not represent a group to sign the letter.

Earth Day Network will send the letter to each head of state invited to
attend the summit, and hold media events on Earth Day 2002 (22 April) to
publicize the letter and its thousands of signatures from all over the
world. If you also would like to send the letter individually to your
national leader, feel free to take this extra step, but we urge you at a
minimum to email us with your signature to the letter so that we may show
leaders the extent of public support there is for widespread, high-level
attendance at this critical international summit.

Please also forward this email widely. Together, we can make a difference
and put pressure on leaders to make the World Summit a success!

REQUESTED ACTION
Sign on to this letter:

A call to all Heads of State:

We, the undersigned citizens and groups, call on you to attend the World
Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in August -
September 2002.

The World Summit will mark the tenth anniversary of the 1992 Earth Summit -
the U.N. Conference on the Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. At
the Earth Summit, world leaders agreed to a set of principles for meeting
our needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

Ten years later, those principles for sustainable development remain largely
unfulfilled. Biodiversity loss, deforestation, climate change, extinction of
species, and a boom in the world's population are damaging our priceless
ecological resources. Human health is at risk worldwide due to pollution,
water shortages, and degradation of farmland. In addition, a growing gap
separates developing and developed nations, and a significant percentage of
the world's people live in poverty.

We cannot afford another decade of insufficient action. Now, more than ever
before, there is a great need to foster a spirit of global partnership. As
your nation's leader, you hold a position of responsibility, both to your
own citizens and to the global community. Securing the well-being of your
own citizens goes hand in hand with preserving the natural systems that
sustain us all.

The World Summit offers us a rare opportunity to build international
momentum for a sustainable future, in the twenty-first century and beyond.
We urge you to attend the summit and implement a strong follow-up plan of
action for your country.

Sign by sending an email to: wssd-petition@earthday.net

Indicate
1) Your Name
2) Your title (if applicable)
3) Group you represent (if applicable)

Earth Day Network thanks Global Response members for their help!
Additional resources:
www.earthday.net/goals/worldsummit.stm
www.johannesburgsummit.org
--
Laura O'Laughlin
Coordinateur Regional pour l'Afrique Francophone
Earth Day Network | Réseau du Jour de la Terre
811 First Ave, Suite 454
Seattle, WA 98104 USA
T +1 206.428.2027 | F +1 206.876.2015
olaughlin@earthday.net


********************************
Paula Palmer, Executive Director
Global Response
P.O. Box 7490
Boulder CO 80306
USA
TEL: 303-444-0306
FAX: 303-449-9794
Email: paula@globalresponse.org
Website: http://www.globalresponse.org

Global Response empowers people of all ages, cultures, and nationalities to
protect the environment by creating partnerships for effective citizen
action.  At the request of indigenous peoples and grassroots organizations,
Global Response organizes international letter-writing campaigns to help
communities prevent environmental destruction.  Global Response involves
young people as well as adults in these campaigns, to develop in them the
skills for global citizen cooperation and earth stewardship.

1. ACT BY THURSDAY TO SAVE WILDLIFE DISCOVERED BY LEWIS AND CLARK
Dams on the Missouri River-- America's longest river, which
carried Lewis & Clark on most of their journey --are pushing
native wildlife to the brink of extinction. We need your help
to restore natural flows. The Good News: You can ensure that
these dams no longer threaten wildlife with the click of a
button. The Army Corps of Engineers is considering a plan to
re-establish a natural rise and fall flow cycle in the river;
tell them you support this plan!

**THIS SIMPLE ACT WILL BRING WILDLIFE, FISH AND
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BACK TO THE MISSOURI RIVER!**

Click here to help: http://www.care2.com/go/redirect/2/3454
(DEADLINE: FEB 28TH, 2002)

Why the plan will work: The dams can operate to allow rising
flows in the late spring and early summer to trigger fish
reproduction and build river habitat. Then, they can allow lower
flows during the late summer to expose sandbars and provide
shallow water habitat.

This approach will help restore some of the Missouri's
important natural functions, making it a better place for
scores of native species. In addition, reforming dam operations
will make the river a first-class recreation and tourism
destination. Army Corps studies indicate that revised dam
operations would not prevent traditional uses (such as barging)
of the river and its floodplain.

TAKE ACTION NOW -- the Army Corps needs to know you care about
the Missouri's future by this Thursday, when a public comment
period runs out. Without your input, the river's wildlife could
perish, and river towns in seven states will miss a huge
opportunity to celebrate Lewis & Clark's bicentennial by
restoring their river.

Take 2 minutes and help save the Missouri River!
Click here: http://www.care2.com/go/redirect/2/3454

2. ACTIVIST TIPS
** Buy rechargeable batteries to reduce the amount of toxic mercury and
cadmium that leach into the soil when batteries are thrown away into
municipal landfills. Each year, Americans throw away 84,000 tons of alkaline
batteries.
** Buy unbleached instead of bleached paper products to reduce
dioxin emissions, which contaminate our water and the environment.

3. INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE:
"I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow
of human blood in human veins"
-- Langston Hughes

Dear Members of Global Response's  "Quick Response Network:"

Here's an urgent appeal from indigenous leaders and environmentalists in New
Caledonia, who are fighting for TIME to prevent irreversible destruction of
ancient forests and contamination of one of the world's most magnificent
coral reefs. Please send emails and faxes to New Caledonian and French
authorities, supporting Kanak chiefs' demands for a 2-year extension on the
comment period for an Environmental Impact Assessment on the proposed Goro
nickel mine. The government's 30 day comment period is insufficient for a
project of this magnitude, and the EIA must be made available in English
(currently only in French) so that it can be properly reviewed by
independent scientists. Your faxes and emails are critical at this moment!
Thanks, -- Paula Palmer

Letter of Appeal from New Caledonia:

Concerned citizens and indigenous Kanak leader of New Caledonia are battling
fear and a neo-colonial regime to stop large-scale nickel mining projects in
the Pacific island archipelago, which is a French Overseas Community. New
Caledonia’s physical isolation and its tropical climate, with extremes of
precipitation from long droughts to intense cyclones with high rainfall, as
well as it’s unusual near-toxic metal-rich soils, have contributed to an
extraordinary biodiversity and unusually high endemism. New Caledonia’s
coral massif, which is the second largest in the world after the great
barrier reef, has just been fomally recommended to the United Nations for
listing as a World Heritage site. While that process may take years to
complete, this bio-diversity hotspot is under immediate threat. A number of
multi-national mining corporations, Canadian, Russian, Australian, and
American are vying for the exploitation rights to the world’s largest and
richest laterite nickel reserves—the very soils that have cradled such
extraordinary flora and fauna. Canadian mining giant INCO is leading the
way.

INCO, Canada, in partnership with a locally created company, Goro Nickel,
and the French government which has 15% of the shares, has already built a
pilot sulfuric acid leachate plant at the extreme south of the island—at the
beginning of the south-easterly trade wind axis which runs the length of the
long, skinny, mountainous island, in a quasi-uninhabited region.  The
hydrometallurgical process is experimental and involves the use of large
amounts of sulfuric acid, the vapors of which can produce acid rain thus
putting all of New Caledonia’s forests at risk.  Large quantities of water,
containing high levels of dissolved solids, heavy metals, etc. will be piped
into the coral reef adjacent to an existing marine reserve.  The hundreds of
millions of tons of chemically altered solid wastes, containing many heavy
metals not extracted, will be dumped on land where ultimate transmission to
the nearby coral reef is assured in spite of claims to the contrary.  The
electrical energy to run the plant will be produced by a 180 megawatt
coal-fired plant. The coal, with a 1% sulfur content, will be imported from
Australia. This plant, together with another 300 megawatt coal-fired plant
planned by miner Falconbridge Canada, will assure that New Caledonia, by an
enormous lead, will become the world’s per capita leader in carbon dioxide
production.   Who will pay this carbon dioxide debt?  Nobody seems to have
the answer, but given the approach of the Rio+10 conference coming up in
September, this question is very poignant.

On November 21, 2001, nine Kanak Chiefs, representing the entire Kanak
population from Djubea Kapune, the region of INCO's proposed mine, presented
Christian Paul, French Secretary of State for Overseas Territories with a
detailed petition outlining their concerns about the mine and their demands
with respect to INCO's proposed project. Their concerns cover social,
cultural, legal, technical, economic and environmental aspects of INCO's
proposed mine. The Kanak leaders demanded a two year delay in the permitting
of the mine so that a public inquiry into socio-cultural impacts could be
conducted, and to allow enough time for an independent environmental review
of INCO's proposal (See www.miningwatch.ca for a copy of the Kanak
document).

INCO released its three volume Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on
February 4, 2002. The people of New Caledonia were then told they have only
have until March 7th to provide public comments. International scientists
have offered to provide comments on the EIA. However, Inco did not put the
EIA up on their web site until the evening of the 7th and it was in French
only. On February 7th and 8th, Allan Stubbs of Inco (VP Government and
Public Affairs) categorically told MiningWatch Canada that an English
language version does not exists. The consultants who prepared the EIA have
since, on February 18, told MiningWatch Canada that they did prepare an
English version of the EIA.

The provincial government of the Southern Province has already made public
statements that it will approve the project on March 7th, 2002. The project
will be benefiting from a 100% tax shelter for ten years and the near
absence of locally-applied environmental laws.

Please write to the president of the government of New Caledonia and to the
French Minister of the Environment. Ask for an immediate extension of the
public comment period on the Goro Nickel Mine from one month to 2 years.
Write your message in support of indigenous leaders and concerned citizens
of New Caledonia who have requested this delay in order to conduct an
independent scientific assessment of the project. The potential damage from
the Goro mine to New Caledonia’s ancient forest, magnificent coral reef and
indigenous lands warrants careful scientific study and citizen participation
in the decision-making process.

Fax or Email:

Mr. Pierre Frogier, Présidence du Gouvernement de la Nouvelle Calédonie
Fax : Int'l code + 687 24 65 50

Mr. Yves Cochet, French Minister of the Environment:
<ycochet@verts.imaginet.fr> and
FAX : Int'l code + 33 1 42 19 11 23

Mr. Thierry Chaverot, Office of the Environment, Southern Province
Fax : Int'l code + 687 24 32 56

NOTE: Please send copies of your fax/emails to: dakuwaqa@lagoon.nc

********************************
Paula Palmer, Executive Director
Global Response
P.O. Box 7490
Boulder CO 80306
USA
TEL: 303-444-0306
FAX: 303-449-9794
Email: paula@globalresponse.org
Website: http://www.globalresponse.org

Global Response empowers people of all ages, cultures, and nationalities to
protect the environment by creating partnerships for effective citizen
action.  At the request of indigenous peoples and grassroots organizations,
Global Response organizes international letter-writing campaigns to help
communities prevent environmental destruction.  Global Response involves
young people as well as adults in these campaigns, to develop in them the
skills for global citizen cooperation and earth stewardship.

To: All Activists
From: Steve Holmer
Date: February 26, 2002

Natural Trails and Waters Lobby Week April 27 - May 1

The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition invites you to Washington April
27 - May 1 to protect public lands from the damage caused by dirt bikes,
ATVs, snowmobiles, and jetskis.  To participate in the lobby week please
contact Alix Davidson, mailto:adavidson@americanlands.org, 202/547-5974.
The week will begin with a day of ORV issue briefings on Saturday April
27.  This will be followed by lobby training sessions on April 28 and
meetings on Capitol Hill April 29-May 1.  

The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition includes about 90 conservation,
recreation, hunting and other organizations working to protect and
restore public lands and waters from the severe damage caused by
off-road vehicles.  The Coalition and its member organizations work to
protect critical regions, including National Parks, roadless areas,
municipal watersheds and endangered species habitat, while ensuring that
laws regulating motorized recreation on public lands are enforced and
environmental quality is maintained.

As we look ahead this year there are a number of important opportunities
to address the environmental impacts of off-road vehicle use and to make
land management agencies more accountable for their stewardship
responsibilities.   

Enforcement and Monitoring is Lacking on Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Lands

The Forest Service and BLM are failing to control off-road vehicle use
on lands they manage resulting in millions of dollars in damage each
year.  The root cause of this problem is poor management exacerbated by
insufficient enforcement budgets that often require one ranger to
"patrol" more than one million acres.  In order to effectively protect
natural resources, wildlife and the safety of millions of visitors, law
enforcement personnel must receive additional resources.  

We are urging Congress to earmark $10 million in both the Forest Service
and BLM law enforcement budgets specifically for increased enforcement
of off-road vehicle regulations.  In addition, the agencies are not
effectively monitoring the environmental impacts of off-road vehicles as
required by law.  We request that Congress increase the agencies'
monitoring budgets by $20 million each and require that funding for
monitoring of all motorized trail projects be assured before the
projects can proceed.


Jet Ski Limits Threatened with Rollback

Twenty one National Seashores, Lakeshores and Recreation Areas are
required to engage in formal rulemaking this year in order to allow jet
ski use to continue.  If the Park Service does not issue such rules by
certain deadlines, it must discontinue jet ski use until it does.  The
Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIS) is currently seeking
support for a rider that would extend these deadline until the end of
2004.  An extension is unnecessary because the Service has had nearly
two years to complete its review and issue rules.   


Transportation Funding and Off-Road Vehicles

The House and Senate have already begun holding hearings in preparation
for reauthorizing TEA 21 next Congress.  This law currently provides
substantial funding for trail construction through the National
Recreation Trails Program.  Some of these funds are used for the
construction of off-road vehicle trails.  When Congress reauthorizes
this important legislation, we request that funds for off-road vehicle
trails also be made available for the monitoring and enforcement costs
associated with those trails.  Motorized trail projects should also be
required to have guaranteed funding available to monitor impacts
associated with motorized use before they are allowed to proceed with
construction.


Yellowstone National Park at Risk

On February 19, the Department of Interior released a draft supplemental
environmental impact statement (SEIS) which offers a number of
alternatives that would allow snowmobile use to continue in Yellowstone
and Grand Teton National Parks.  This document stands in stark contrast
to a rule issued by the National Park Service in 2001 that would
gradually phase-out snowmobiles from the Parks while maintaining winter
access through a mass transportation system using snowcoaches.  The
Service's rule is based on more than a decade of scientific and other
analysis which proves that snowmobiles are polluting the air and water,
harming wildlife and threatening public health and safety.

The members of the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition look forward to
working with you this year to ensure responsible stewardship of public
land and better management of off-road vehicles.  If you have any
questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact
campaign director Scott Kovarovics at (202) 429-2696 or
scott_kovarovics@tws.org.  
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
mailto:wafcdc@americanlands.org
http://www.americanlands.org

To: All Activists
From: Scott Silver, Wild Wilderness
Date: February 26, 2002

2002 Fee-Demo National Day of Action June 15

Five years ago, opposition to the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program
consisted of a handful of individuals. Today opposition to this
contentious program involves over 230 organizations and comes from
millions of Americans.  BUT DESPITE this , the few, but powerful,
proponents of recreation user fees still hold the inside track. The
American Recreation Coalition and their allies within Congress are still
successfully advancing their anti-democratic pay-to-play agenda.

That being the case, we have NO OPTION other than to take control of the
issue and to convince Congress and the media to acknowledge that the
American People OPPOSE Fee-Demo. We do not want this program to be
permanently authorized. We do not want our public lands commercialized,
privatized and over-developed. Instead we want public lands to be
adequately funded with public dollars and for the use of those lands to
always remain a public good that all Americans are FREE to enjoy.

To accomplish this, we will be staging the biggest, best and most
successful Fee-Demo National Day of Action yet.  In 2000 the Day of
Action involved 35 protests in 15 states.  We can, and must, do better
than that this time!

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE  --- June 15th

Please COMMIT to ORGANIZING or PARTICIPATING in a LOCAL PROTEST.

In the upcoming months, Wild Wilderness and other co-sponsoring
organizations will be keeping fee-demo activists updated as well as
sharing "themes / messages /  methods" and other ideas with all
participants.

At this time, we ask only that you mark your calendars and give us an
indication of how you or your organization might be willing to help make
this Day of Action the success that it must be.

To get involved with the 2002 Fee-Demo National Day of Action please
contact Scott Silver, Wild Wilderness, 541-385-5261,
ssilver@wildwilderness.org
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
mailto:wafcdc@americanlands.org
http://www.americanlands.org

Rainforest Action Network - Monthly Email Newsletter
February 2002

Welcome!  Thank you for being a partner in Rainforest Action Network's
campaigns.  Read on to get the latest news and learn how you can help
save the world's rainforests.

In this post:

   1. A Perspective from Indonesia: notes and analysis from the field
   2. Take Action: State of West Virginia
   3. Demonstrations Across the Country Spotlight Citigroup Investment

A Perspective from Indonesia: notes and analysis from the field

As the Old Growth Markets Campaigner, Jessica Lawrence monitors the
progress of U.S. corporations that have pledged to stop selling old
growth products.  She works to ensure implementation of commitments and
use of market leverage to protect forests worldwide.   In 2002, Jessica
is supporting RAN's campaigns by creating briefings, video and
photographic documentation of social and ecological impacts of
rainforest logging operations and oil extraction supported by major U.S.
corporations around the world.

Recently, Jessica's work has sent her to the forests of Indonesia to
study the plywood industry of Kalimantan.  And how U.S. buyers, such as
Boise Cascade, Home Depot and Lowe's, are helping fuel illegal logging,
social conflicts and habitat loss.

RAN has been working pro-actively with Home Depot and Lowe's.  In 1999,
both companies agreed to phase out selling old growth wood by the end of
this year.  However, both Home Depot and Lowe's have yet to phase out of
Indonesian plywood.  Meanwhile, Boise Cascade is one of the nation's
largest distributors of lauan plywood from Indonesia's old growth
rainforests.  RAN's investigations are shinning the spotlight and
uncovering the truth about Boise's suppliers in Kalimantan.

Below are Jessica's field notes.  Continue reading to find out how you
can persuade Boise customers to switch from the dinosaur of the logging
industry to recycled, sustainable alternatives.

January, 2002

I'm in Samarinda now.  I flew in to Balikpapan Sunday (saw a lot of
empty lowlands with no forests, some oil palms plantations but mostly
weedy grasslands where forests used to be).  In the two-hour car ride
from Balikpapan to Samarinda, houses of poor transmigrants from Sulawesi
line the road for miles. Thousands of hectares of burned forests have
regenerated a green understory of pioneering plants, but the now-dead
canopy trees are giant gray matchsticks that are likely to burn again in
March when the dry season arrives.

By far the largest amount of land was the deforested areas that are just
grasslands now. Exposed soil erodes to the bedrock or collapses in
landslides. Some areas support early attempts of farmers to grow crops,
but it looks as though the soil is infertile already.  (Supposedly some
local communities have turned these grasslands back into fairly diverse
secondary forests, but I'd guess they have a job ahead of them the size
of Texas at this point.)

Samarinda is interesting, and I should be able to get plenty of photos
right around town: the huge plywood mills, with huge piles of old growth
logs in the logyards, vast log rafts in the river, the deforested
landscape, landslides, etc.  No need to go on the river trip-- the
degradation is everywhere.

-Jessica
_________________________________________________________________

Take Action: State of West Virginia

Any photo of a deforested landscape from Kalimantan can be linked to
companies to show that the forest ended up as U.S. plywood.  The most
effective way to bring about change to these destructive logging
activities is to confront companies like Boise Cascade that are directly
affecting the forests by importing and distributing the wood.  To
pressure Boise, we need to convince the companies, universities and
municipalities that are buying from them to stop.

The State of West Virginia, which buys office products from Boise
Cascade, is currently deciding their next office supply contract.  If
they continue to do business with Boise, West Virginia will be
supporting rainforest destruction.  

Please take action below and contact Governor Bob Wise of the State of
West Virginia.  The state's office product contract with Boise is about
to expire and they are considering other bids.  Please take a moment to
encourage West Virginia to consider the environment in their contracts.  
Send a clear message to Boise that, like 9 out of 10 Americans, you are
concerned about wilderness preservation.

Write or email:

Governor Bob Wise
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E
Charleston, WV 25305
Toll-Free: 1-888-438-2731
governor@wvgov.org

Click here to send an instant email from the Governor's website.  Cut
and paste the text from below.
http://www.state.wv.us/governor/eForm.asp

Dear Governor Wise,

As one of Boise Cascade's customers, the State of West Virginia is
unintentionally contributing to the destruction of rare and endangered
forests and to the displacement of indigenous people around the world.

Boise Cascade's logging practices are out of step with modern public
values and are indefensible in today's marketplace. For these reasons,
Boise Cascade is now the focus of a large public consumer campaign.  If
West Virginia has any commitment to environmental protection, it is
important to dissociate itself from the public stigma regarding Boise
Cascade.

We hope we can count on the State of West Virginia to help lead America
towards a more sustainable future.  Begin a phase in of 100% post
consumer waste paper or tree free paper and include sustainable
purchasing in your procurement policies.  Please consider
environmentally sustainable vendor options when you renew your office
product contract.  

Regards,

Your Name
____________________________________________________________________

Demonstrations Across the Country Spotlight Citigroup Investment in
Controversial Fossil Fuel Projects

Responding to a call for an emergency week of action, student activists
in 50 different cities across the country demonstrated at Citibank
branches to protest the financial giant's involvement in the
controversial Camisea gas project in the Peruvian Amazon. The week of
action was part of an ongoing campaign to pressure the world's largest
bank to ban funding for environmentally destructive projects in
endangered ecosystems.

European bank, ABN/Amro, instituted a landmark policy last October that
prohibits the financing of extractive industries and projects that
destroy old growth forests in a first major step toward shifting the
world's financial sector toward ecological sustainability.  The policy
addresses all industries that destroy old growth forests, create
large-scale forest fires and devastate local communities.

"One of Europe's largest banks has vowed to halt all projects that harm
old growth forests and Citi should be the first U.S. financial
institution to follow suit," said Ilyse Hogue, global finance campaigner
with Rainforest Action Network.  "Instead of devastating communities and
paving the Amazon, Citi needs to catch up to modern values and meet the
challenge set by the European banks."

Citi is the financial advisor of the Camisea Project, a drilling and
pipeline construction project that threatens Peru's Lower Urubamba
Region in the Amazon, a biologically diverse area that is home to
several indigenous tribes living in voluntary isolation. According to a
study by the Smithsonian Institute, the Camisea Project will affect one
of the world's most biologically diverse regions.  Researchers found the
region to be in "nearly pristine condition," with virtually no evidence
of significant human impact. The Lower Urubamba Region is also the
legally recognized territory of three indigenous tribes, the Nahua and
Nanti and the Machiguenga.

"Citi is bankrolling rainforest destruction, global warming and the
displacement of indigenous peoples," said Vanessa Pierce, a student
leader at Grinnell College.  "The Camisea Project is one more example of
its complete lack of environmental and social standards.  Students are
joining together to say 'Not with my money' to the world's most
destructive bank."

An initial Environmental Impact Assessment report found that the Camisea
project's socio-cultural impacts could include loss of food resources,
contamination of drinking water, loss or damage to archeological sites,
changes to existing economic activity, and the spread of disease. Shell
and Mobil, both original partners in Camisea, withdrew from the project
after investing more than $250 million.  The project has been on hold
since 1998, due in part to strong opposition from human rights,
environmental, and indigenous groups around the world.

Last week's events were part of an ongoing international campaign to
transform the funding practices of the corporate financial system.  The
campaign targets Citi specifically as the world's  #1 funder of fossil
fuel projects and America's largest investor in environmental
destruction and social inequity.

Through lending, underwriting, mutual funds and funding government
politics, Citi profits off projects that destroy fragile ecosystems,
accelerate global warming and displace communities.  The campaign has
included hundreds of demonstrations, a boycott of Citibank credit cards
and non-violent direct actions.   As part of the campaign, RAN and
PowerShift, in conjunction a broad coalition of groups, are calling on
Citi to lead the corporate financial sector in ending destructive
investments in fossil fuels and deforestation.

"Citigroup is in a position to make solar power the most affordable
energy in America," said Mark von Topel of PowerShift.  "By shifting
its' investments away from destructive fossil fuel projects like Camisea
and funding clean energy, Citi can take a stand against environmental
destruction and raise the bar by which all financial institutions are
measured."
____________________________________________________________________

Make a difference in our dynamic campaigns and donate online!
http://action.ran.org/donate.jsp

***********

AOL Links

<a href="www.ran.org ">RAN's website</a>
<a href="http://www.ran.org/action/alerts.html">Action alert</a>
<a href=" https://action.ran.org/donate.jsp"> donate</a>

*******
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
To subscribe to this list, send a blank message to: ran-updates-subscribe@igc.topica.com

To read archived messages, go to http://igc.topica.com/lists/ran-updates

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rainforest Action Network
221 Pine Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA  94104
tel: 415-398-4404
fax: 415-398-2732
URL: http://www.ran.org/

IN THIS POST:

1. U’wa Communiqué February 14, 2002
2. The Bush Oil-igarchy's Pipeline Protection Package by Arianna   
Huffington
3. SF Chronicle Editorial: Fighting for Colombian oil
4. El Tiempo: Interview with Anne Patterson, US Ambassador to Colombia
5. GX  ACTION : Contact Colin Powell! Don't let U.S. Weapons Kill in
Colombia!
6. AP Colombian Gov't Launches Airstrikes  Feb 21

For background info on the U'wa struggle see : www.ran.org
www.amazonwatch.org and www.uwacolombia.org

Last week Colombia's escalating cycle of violence finally exploded with
a return to full hostilities between the Colombian military and the FARC.
The Bush administration has now made it clearer that US involvement in
Colombia is no longer just about the War on Drugs but is overtly about
protecting US oil companies and meeting  US fossil fuel addiction.   But
who will pay the price to keep Colombia's oil pipelines running?  As a sign
left behind in the formerly de-militarized zone reads "The gringos give the
arms. Colombia provides the dead."   For more details on the Colombia
military's invasion of the rebel zone and actions you can take for peace in
Colombia see #5 and #6 below.
The comunique below is the U'wa response to Bush's proposed $98 million
in military aid to protect Occidental's Cano Limon pipeline.  As the U'wa
point out this further militarization of the region will pave the way for more
oil exploitation.  Already in the Capcachos drillsite in the southern corner
of U'wa ancestral territory the Spanish oil company Repsol-YPF has struck
oil and plans to develop the site.   As the series of op-eds and the
translated interview with US ambassador to Colombia Anne Patterson make clear US
oil interests are driving US policy in Colombia.  How many more ecosystems,
cultures and innocent civilians must get caught in the cross fire before
we recognize that the cost of oil addiction is too high!?
Peace groups around Colombia have been preparing emergency mobilizations
to demand a political negotiated solution to the civil war.  In Arauca, the
province that contains much of the U'wa ancestral territory and is home
to the 18th Brigade the Bush plan would fund, 30,000 people engaged in a
mass sit-in.  The protests was drawing attention to links between the 18th
Brigade and paramilitaries who have escalated their killings in the
region. Members of the brigade stand accused of the recent murder of a key
witness to the 1998 Santo Domingo Massacre which has become an internationally
recognized example of the Colombian military's endemic human rights
violations.  As Witness for Peace reports  - on February 19th social
organizations and people from Arauca protested in front of the US
Embassy in Colombia. One woman let her voice rise above the crowd saying, “The oil
in Arauca has been a curse for us. The only thing that it has brought us,
and continues to bring us, is death and destruction.”

Speak out against Bush's oil war in Colombia!  Take action! (#5 below)
Contact Secretary of State Colin Powell and ask him to push for a
re-start to peace negotiations and to insure that U.S. weapons aren't being used
as part of the offensive.  Educate your community and organize to break the
fossil fuel chain of destruction.  For resources on fighting fossil fuel
addiction by targeting Citigroup the world's largest funder of fossil
fuels see : http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/citigroup/20h_globalwarming.html

GLOBAL ECOLOGY!  GLOBAL DEMOCRACY!  NOW!

* * * * *
#1.
U’wa Traditional Authorities
Cubará, February 14, 2002

COMMUNIQUÉ TO THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION

The U’wa Community represented by the U’wa Grand Council and the U’wa
Traditional Authority, addresses the difficulties faced by our Sarare
region that is partly Our Ancestral Territory established by our Highest
Colonial Letters.

We express our voice of protest and rejection before the national and
international community against the actions of Armed Actors that
destabilize the normal development of rural and indigenous communities and that in
some way affect our way of life and integrity.  The aforesaid permits our
support of the mobilization, in a healthy manner, taking place in the Tame
municipality of Aruaca, to make the demands made by the mobilized
communities understood, since the Colombian people make most of the
sacrifices in every sense of the word, and also demand the Colombian
State that it must listen to the outcry of the Sarare and Arauca communities
which is also the feeling of the Colombian People, our non-U’wa brothers from
the outside world (Riowa).

The United States is also financing Plan Colombia, the struggle against
drug trafficking, which signifies the increase of violence in the department
of Arauca, Boyacá and North of Santander and Our Ancestral Territory,
assigning US $98 million to protect the Caño Limón Pipeline in Coveña, solely for
having found oil in the Capachos 1 well without seeing that what
Colombia needs is more investment in social, health, education and employment
programs, so that we can live in Peace.

For the U’wa People it is fundamental that the Ancestral and Traditional
Territories are respected and conserved with a socio-cultural vision,
since these give us our daily sustenance and maintenance of all living beings.

The U’wa People and the inhabitants of the Sarare region wish to live in
harmony with nature and within a tranquil space.  The territories of
Indigenous Peoples are territories of Peace.  The government and
petroleum multinationals are the first responsible for the social and
environmental problem in the Arauca and base of the mountain region, and in second
place are the actors of the armed conflict, for the dynamiting actions against
the Oil pipeline that cause the contamination of water, pastoral areas and
watershed basins of the Arauca River. These actions are affecting
climatic changes and the basic sustenance of our communities.  We have the right
to freedom of expression and thought.

But it is the actors of the conflict that drive the country into wars
that have no reason to exist.  At each step they leave havoc, misery, and the
gravest thing is that they attack LIFE.  These actions are on occasion
unjustified and bring destruction to individuals who are the least
implicated; which hurt the communities which have suffered and are the
most needed in the Country.

In addition, and taking advantage of this space, we want to reiterate
one more time for public opinion, to Ecopetrol, the Colombian Government,
Multinationals, and especially to Occidental of Colombia, that we will
never step back from the process of territorial defense, and neither will we
change our cultural principles as it is clear that cultures with
principles have no price, which means that we will not permit oil exploration or
development in our sacred territory, this is a position and thought that
surges from our ancestral millenary law and our cultural principles.  
And if oil was found in the Capacho sector and they plan to export it, they are
violating the rights of our ancestors and our mother earth, which
belongs to all who live in This beautiful Blue planet.

IN DEFENSE OF OUR CULTURAL RIGHTS, OUR MOTHER EARTH AND THE SOVEREIGNTY
OF OUR ANCESTRAL TERRITORY.

U’WA PEOPLE PRESENTE!

* * * * *

#2. The Bush Oil-igarchy's Pipeline Protection Package

By Arianna Huffington

With the stench of Enron growing more acrid each day, you'd think the
last thing President Bush would want is to be seen toadying to another
deep-pocketed energy giant.

Well, you'd be wrong.

In a shameless handout to a poor-little-me corporate mendicant, the
president wants to spend close to $100 million to help Occidental
Petroleum protect an oil pipeline unwisely built in war-torn Colombia.

For years, in a seedy little deal worthy of a Graham Greene novel, the
oil company has been paying the Colombian army to protect its interests,
forking over $1 for every barrel of oil produced. In fact, one out of every four
Colombian soldiers in the field is assigned to looking after
Occidental's assets. The trouble is, they aren't doing a very good job.

Colombia's guerrilla forces, which don't look too kindly on foreign
multinationals in their midst, have made a habit of blowing up the
pipeline. Last year alone, it was bombed 170 times and was out of commission for
266 days, putting a definite downward drag on Occidental's profits.

So here comes President Bush riding to Oxy's rescue with Super Huey
helicopters and U.S. Special Forces to train a Colombian Army brigade to
protect the pipeline. When it comes to Social Security, Bush can't wait
to privatize, but when it comes to corporate security, he can't wait to
"publicatize."

After years of insisting that our military involvement in Colombia will
be limited to fighting the drug trade, why has the administration suddenly
decided to thrust America deeper into a 38-year civil war -- a war that
took an explosive turn on Wednesday when President Andres Pastrana broke off
peace talks and ordered the armed forces to retake control of the
demilitarized area held by the rebels?

Could it be the over $9 million that Occidental has spent on lobbying
since 1996 -- much of it used to push for more and more U.S. military aid to
Colombia -- and the $1.5 million the company donated to federal
campaigns between 1995-2000?

"It is something we have to do," said Anne Patterson, America's
ambassador to Colombia. "It is important for the future of the country, for our
petroleum supplies and for the confidence of our investors." Our
investors? Since when is U.S. foreign policy a publicly traded commodity?

Maybe I missed the memo, but I thought the Bush administration was all
about promoting the "genius of capitalism" and foursquare against the
government bailing out capitalists who make bad business decisions. (Team Bush is
in danger of injuring itself if it doesn't stop patting itself on the back
for "doing nothing" when a desperate Ken Lay played Dialing for Deliverance
with Don Evans and Paul O'Neill). And let's face it, Occidental's decision to
build an oil pipeline in a country in the midst of a bloody civil war
isn't exactly the kind of boardroom brainstorm that gets taught at Wharton.
Indeed, even as the pipeline was being built, it was under attack. So
Oxy chairman Armand Hammer cut a deal with the rebels, paying them millions
to keep the oil flowing.

And now the oil-igarchy in the White House has chosen to reward this
shining example of the idiocy of capitalism with a no-strings-attached corporate
welfare check. Testifying before Congress last week, Secretary of State
Colin Powell summed up the administration's position: "We thought a $98
million investment in Colombian brigades to help protect this pipeline
is a wise one and a prudent one. What makes this pipeline unique is that it
is such a major source of income." Income for whom? It's the new, improved
Powell Doctrine: "U.S. military might should never be used -- unless it
helps Corporate America turn a profit."

The question is: where do we draw the bottom line in the sand? According
to Ambassador Patterson, there are more than 300 additional sites with
infrastructure of strategic importance to the United States in Colombia.
Are we going to pay to protect all of these, too? And what about the other
pipelines around the world that are "a major source of income?" Will
"investing" our military to keep them up and running prove "wise and
prudent" or a foreign policy nightmare?

The reckless decision to elevate corporate interests above the public
good in Colombia risks dragging American troops into a military quagmire.
Imagine a mother getting the following notice from the Defense Department: "We
regret to inform you that your son was killed in the line of duty while
in Colombia. Secretary Rumsfield and Occidental Petroleum wish to extend
their deepest sympathies. Please accept our condolences and a coupon for a
free tank of gas."

Sound far-fetched? It is, because, on second thought, Oxy will never
give taxpayers free gas in exchange for our pipeline protection subsidy.
Instead, we'll pay for it three times over: on tax day, at the gas pump, and,
finally, when the flag-draped coffins start being shipped home.

* * * * *

#3. SF CHRONICLE LEAD EDITORIAL

Fighting for Colombian oil
Wednesday, February 13, 2002

PUSHING DEEPER into the Colombian quagmire, President Bush is proposing
a major escalation of U.S. involvement in that country's civil war.

What's worse, the main reason appears to be to protect an American oil
company.

The administration's foreign operations budget request for 2003,
presented to Congress last week, includes $538 million in aid for Colombia, $374
million of which is for the military and police. Most of this aid, as in
recent years, is limited to counter-narcotics activities -- a thin fig
leaf over a growing involvement in the Colombian government's war against
leftist guerrillas.

Now, however, the administration wants to dispose of the fig leaf
altogether and get directly involved in fighting guerrillas. The budget request
includes $98 million to create, train and equip a Colombian army brigade
(about 2,000 soldiers) to protect a 483-mile pipeline from the Cano
Limon oil fields, operated by Occidental Petroleum Corp. of Los Angeles, to
the Caribbean port of Covenas.

Colombia's two guerrilla armies, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), oppose foreign
involvement in the nation's oil industry, and frequently bomb the pipeline. This fight
over oil, like all other aspects of Colombia's 39-year civil war, is morally
complicated and full of bloody abuses by all sides.

To get directly involved in helping the Colombian government fight the
rebels would be to repeat previous U.S. mistakes in civil wars from El
Salvador to Vietnam.

But for many administration hawks, who yearn to re-enact the Cold War,
Colombia is a new front in the fight against communism. Much of the
blame for the new policy switch goes to Otto Reich, the State Department's
director of Latin America policy, whom Bush appointed during a
congressional recess in December to avoid lawmakers' strong opposition.

Reich and other hard-liners are working quietly to undermine the only
feasible way to end the war -- the struggling, U.N.-moderated peace
negotiations.

The new U.S. policy reeks of corporate welfare. Cano Limon produces
about 35 million barrels annually -- which, at a cost of $98 million, adds up to
about $3 per barrel in subsidy to Occidental.

Let Occidental pay for its own security. And let the Bush administration
reposition itself as a force for peace, not war, in Colombia.


* * * * *
#4. The United States Will Protect its Interests in Colombia
El Tiempo Interview with U.S. Ambassador to Colombia, Anne Patterson
February 10, 2002

Question: As part of the United States budget for 2003, the Bush
administration proposed spending US$98 million to protect the Caño
Limón-Coveñas oil pipeline.  Why is the United States now concerned
about economic interests in Colombia?

Ambassador Patterson:  All of this began eight months ago, in
discussions with General Fernando Tapias (Commander of the Colombian Military
Forces) and members of the Colombian government.  We explored different types of
cooperation, and we came to the conclusion that protecting the Caño
Limón-Coveñas pipeline was a crucial project.

Specifically, why the Caño Limón - Coveñas?

Colombia lost almost US$445 million due to attacks against the pipeline
last year.  Furthermore, to speak frankly, after September 11, the issue of
oil security has become a priority for the United States.

Does this mean that after September 11th, the political landscape
changed and Colombia has become a more important source of oil for the United
States?

Yes, after Mexico and Venezuela, Colombia is the most important oil
country in the region.  After what happened on September 11th, the traditional
oil sources for the United States (the Middle East) are less secure.

And what role does Latin America begin to play in this scenario?

Latin America could not cover a shortage, it could not supply (us) in a
crisis, but it allows a small margin to work with and avoid price
speculation.

In the United States it is said that by investing US$98 million for Caño
Limón - Coveñas, only the interests of Occidental (Petroleum Company)
are being protected.

Oxy is only one of the partners in the pipeline-- it has only 15%.
Eighty-five percent of the resources, the earnings and the royalties
that are generated are shared by (the Department of) Arauca, the municipality
and the (national government).

Why only Caño Limón - Coveñas and not Ocensa, for example?

Ocensa does not have the problems that Caño Limón - Coveñas has, where
last year there were 170 guerrilla attacks.

Why not protect another type of infrastructure?

Because we do not have the resources.  Protecting a pipeline is
relatively easy.  It is more difficult to protect (electricity infrastructure) and
water systems, which are more disperse.

What other types of initiatives might there be from the United States?

We have offered our support to the passing of the ATPA (Andean Trade
Preferences Agreement) in Congress.   Furthermore, we are looking at
alternatives to offer relief to cut flower producers, for example, until
(ATPA) is passed.

Coming back to the US$98 million, will it be possible to extend the aid
to anything other than oil?

There are more than 300 infrastructure points that are of strategic
interest for the United States in Colombia.

Concrete places?

Yes.

What types of places?

I cannot speak of details.

Does this mean that what you are doing in Caño Limón - Coveñas could be
extended to other types of projects, oil or infrastructure?

Yes, but we are going to wait to see how things go with this project for
Caño Limón - Coveñas.

Some Congresspeople say that this means opening the door for the United
States to participate in the counterinsurgency fight.  Is this true?

It’s true that this is not an anti-narcotics issue, but it is something
that we must do.  It’s important for the future of the country, for our oil
sources and for the confidence of our investors.

The fact that you are moving away from the principal goal of Plan
Colombia, which is anti-narcotics, causes concern…

I want to be very clear here, this is different than Plan Colombia, but
Plan Colombia continues.  We are going to continue with its goals.  We have
requested more money, more than US$400 million, to sustain Plan Colombia
projects.

The FARC demanded that Plan Colombia be discontinued.  What do you say?

I don’t think so, but I do not respond to stupidities spoken by
terrorist groups.

They also requested the removal of foreign (military) advisors (from
Colombia).  Is this possible?

No.

This is not negotiable?

No.

Why provide all of the US$98 million to the 18th Brigade in Arauca,
instead of creating a new (brigade)?

Frankly, we have discussed this issue a great deal and we have come to
the conclusion, with General Tapias and his advisors, which it is easier to
strengthen a battalion that is already working in an area.  We are
trying to duplicate our experience with the Counter-Narcotics Brigade in Larandia
(Caquetá).

In the United States Congress, some Congresspeople say that this aid
would be used to protect oil companies and not Colombian democracy…

The pipeline represents an important percentage of the Gross National
Product (GNP), and a country cannot lose a percentage of its production
for a long time without it affecting its democracy.

Nevertheless, it continues to be military aid…

If a country has an income source like Caño Limón, which loses almost
US$500 million in one year, it cannot pay teachers, it cannot build health
centers, nor can it pay “public forces” (Armed Forces and police), so the
resources are fundamental, and furthermore, oil exports are very important for the
country.

There is also the aid for an Anti-kidnapping Plan.  How would this work?

We are offering training for the GAULA (Unified Action Groups for
Personal Security-joint operations between Armed Forces and the Police) and the
military experts in anti-kidnapping (operations).  We want to continue
with the training at all levels, improve intelligence and help to establish
analysis centers for the anti-kidnapping program.

Would you then need to request more money from Congress?

There is no money, so we would need to find it.  But this is not a very
expensive program, between an additional US$25 and 30 million, so
perhaps we could find it in other budgets without needing to go to Congress.

Back to the US$98 million…what kind of aid will this translate into?

To begin, (it will be for) training of the 18th Brigade, which has
control over this area.  And then approximately US$60 million for the purchase
of helicopters, communications equipment and intelligence.

How will the pipeline be protected?

With intelligence, community action programs, and strengthening of
police stations.

Are there a set number of stations?

I believe there are between three and five, but we have not come to this
depth of detail yet.

Will there be an increase in the number of people in the Brigade?

We are working on this with General Tapias, but I think so.

Will this investment in Caño Limón be sufficient to give confidence to
the oil companies?

Ecopetrol (the Colombian State Oil Company) tells us that there is a lot
of potential oil near the Caño Limón pipeline, so that if there is more
security, it is possible that there could be production and it could be
exported through the pipeline.

Specifically with Oxy, do they appear calm enough to continue in the oil
field of Samoré, for example, with this initiative?

I don’t know, but Oxy has spent a lot of money in this country in
exploration.

Have any other oil companies mentioned that with this initiative they
would come to Colombia?

What I know comes from Ecopetrol.  I can tell you that we have not had
much interest from United States’ companies to invest in Colombia, in spite
of the possibilities, because of the security issue.

With these initiatives, would the interest increase?

Yes, but this is my opinion.

What would happen if Congress resists passing this US$98 million?

They simply resist, but I believe that in spite of the big debate it
will create, at the end of the day we will see it pass.

Where is the initiative now?

We have put forth the proposal and we entered the debate.  Generally we
receive the final budget at the end of the year, in November.

So the US$98 million would be for next year?

Yes.

What will be the strongest argument for the government to defend this
proposal in the U.S. Congress?

Colombia has great potential for exporting more oil to the United
States, and now more than ever it is important for us to diversify our oil
sources.

* * * * *
# 5. Global Exchange Colombia Update Feb 22 2002

http://www.globalexchange.org/colombia/

Dear Friends:

The Colombian conflict took a frightening turn yesterday when the
3-year-old peace talks between the Colombian armed forces and the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) broke down. According to news reports,
Colombian aircraft launched an offensive against the Switzerland-sized rebel zone
of control with more than 200 air sorties attacking some 85 sites inside
the zone. The offensive threatens the resumption of an all-out war in
Colombia.
(See #6 below)

Colombia's civil war has already taken far too many lives. US military
aid to this country has only made matters worse.  The collapse of the peace
talks and the government offensive into areas ceded to the rebels will
almost certainly deepen the already-unacceptable bloodshed.

Please help us promote peace in Colombia. Send a letter to Secretary of
State Colin Powell today asking him to urge the Colombian government
back to the bargaining table and requesting that he investigate whether US
weapons supplied under Plan Colombia were used in the offensive. You can send a
fax directly to the State Department from the Global Exchange website:
http://www.globalexchange.org/colombia/faxAction022102.html

In modern wars, most casualties are civilians. With the breakdown of the
peace talks, civilians are now in great jeopardy. The ordinary citizens
of Colombia will not gain anything from an all-out war. The only winners
will be the most extremist elements within the Colombian military and the
guerrilla forces.

The almost-certain consequence of a sudden FARC departure from the zone
will be the arrival of right-wing paramilitary forces, death squads with
documented ties to the Colombian military. These forces, which have
killed thousands of people in recent years, including campesinos, human rights
defenders, trade unionists, academics and community leaders, will likely
seek to exact reprisals on civilians for suspected support of the
rebels. The Colombian government must do everything it can to guarantee that
this does not happen.

It is important to note that recent US actions have added fuel to the
fire. Increases in US military aid have certainly emboldened the most hawkish
elements within the Colombian military. The abrupt shift in rhetoric by
Bush Administration officials from support for counter-narcotic operations to
discussing counter-insurgency efforts and urging protection of the
Colombia assets of US oil companies has, in effect, given the Colombian military
the green light to attack the rebel zone.

We are especially concerned that weapons provided through Plan Colombia
may have been used in the recent offensive and/or will be used in this
deepening conflict. If this is true, it would violate US law. The Bush
Administration and members of Congress should immediately undertake an investigation to
ensure that no US military assistance provided through Plan Colombia are
being used in this offensive, nor will they be used in any future
actions.

Please send a fax to Sec. Powell today, and keep visiting the GX website
for news updates.

En Paz,

Colombia Program, Global Exchange
colombia@globalexchange.org
415.255.7296  ext.228 or 800.497.1994

* * * * *
#6

The Associated Press
Colombian Gov't Launches Airstrikes
Thu Feb 21, 5:43 PM ET
By ANDREW SELSKY, Associated Press Writer

SAN VICENTE DEL CAGUAN, Colombia (AP) - Military jets flew hundreds of
sorties against a major rebel stronghold Thursday, bringing Colombia's
38-year civil war into a potentially bloodier phase after the peace
process was abruptly halted.

Bombs were falling on rebel territory just hours after President Andres
Pastrana, angered by a rebel hijacking of a civilian airliner, broke off
peace talks and condemned the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia, or FARC.  The government ordered 13,000 troops to advance on the rebel
stronghold, and three planeloads of counterinsurgency troops landed at
an airport in Florencia, a three-hour drive to the west.

Army officials said 85 targets were hit in the first wave of attacks on
the rebel safe haven, a Switzerland-sized area that was the site of the
peace negotiations. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Targets included clandestine airstrips and rebel training camps in the
zone, which Pastrana ceded the area to the FARC in November 1998 in an effort
to bring the 16,000-strong rebel army to the negotiating table. The rebel
haven in southern Colombia is sparsely populated, with about 100,000 people.

A top army commander predicted a bloody fight, but there were no signs
that military troops had yet entered the zone.  "It's dicey, and we will
surely suffer casualties, but we have a moral obligation to win this war," Gen.
Euclides Sanchez told Caracol Radio.

Residents in the rebel area's largest town, San Vicente del Caguan,
posted white flags at their homes in hopes of bringing protection. "The white
flags symbolize peace. We don't want anything to happen," said homemaker
Amelia de Ficaro, 68.

Citizens stripped six vehicles abandoned by the rebels along a road
outside town. Also left behind was a sign that referred to U.S. anti-drug aid to
Colombia. "The gringos give the arms. Colombia provides the dead," it
said. Some 3,500 people are killed annually in the 38-year war.

A rebel in camouflage uniform and brandishing an AK-47 rifle manned a
checkpoint outside San Vicente del Caguan. "We'll keep patrolling
because this is Colombia and we're all over Colombia," he said. He waved through
some journalists, wishing them "feliz viaje" - happy trip.

The FARC did not comment on the offensive. Phone lines to rebel
headquarters were cut shortly after Pastrana condemned a rebel hijacking of a
civilian airliner on Wednesday. Guerrillas kidnapped a senator and released 29
crew and passengers. The hijacking and weeks of rebel bombings belied FARC
pledges to seek a cease-fire by April.
Many Colombians rallied around Pastrana, whose peace policy had been
highly unpopular.

"Colombia was generous with the guerrillas, but now there is no way to
continue this process," said Sabas Pretelt de la Vega, a top business
leader.

"We should have done this a long time ago," said Army Cpl. Carlos
Vanegas, standing guard on a highway leading to the rebel zone.

"Everybody is tired," said Samuel Dominguez, a cheese vendor in Bogota,
the capital. "Now we have to accept that we are at war and confront it.
Hopefully, we will win."

The United States reiterated its support for Pastrana's government.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan offered his "good offices" to find a
political solution and called on all forces to spare civilians. Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch urged the government to prevent
right-wing paramilitaries from entering the zone and killing civilians
suspected of collaborating with the rebels.

U.N. peace envoy James LeMoyne, who got the two sides to agree to
cease-fire talks last month, expressed concern for the safety of residents in the
zone. He, too, feared paramilitaries could take advantage of the offensive to
hunt down citizens.

The escalation comes as Washington is considering expanding training and
equipment deliveries to the Colombian military. At any given time, there
are about 250 U.S. military personnel, 50 civilian employees and 100
civilian military contractors in Colombia.

Sanchez said none were participating in Thursday's offensive.

The U.S. government has limited its military aid to counter narcotics
operations but has also labeled the FARC a terrorist organization -
leaving open the possibility it could provide aid to fight the group. The George
W. Bush administration has asked Congress to authorize $98 million to train
and arm a Colombian army brigade to protect an oil pipeline.

Colombia's war pits the FARC and a smaller rebel group, the National
Liberation Army, against government troops and an outlawed paramilitary
militia.

Pastrana, who had staked his presidency on bringing an end to Colombia's
war, insisted that the three-year effort toward making peace with the
FARC had not been wasted. He said the military was stronger than it had ever
been. And he said the process was proof that the FARC could not
negotiate in good faith.

---------------------
If you would like to be on an U'wa discussion list please go to  http://igc.topica.com/lists/uwa-int

News Release:
Wednesday, February 27th 2002

Neither Early Warning nor Early Listening - What the CGIAR is Not Doing:

Silent Science

If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all?  When the
policy committee of the world’s most important agricultural science network
met last week, they evaded all the tough questions related to transgenic
maize in Mexico - the crop’s center of genetic diversity. Last year, and
again last month, the Mexican Environment Ministry confirmed that farmers’
maize varieties in at least two states had been contaminated with DNA from
genetically modified maize.

“Hot tamale” dropped:  The uproar over the Mexican transgenic maize scandal
has derailed industry plans to get EU governments to abandon their de facto
moratorium on GM  (genetically-modified) crops and produce.  Brussels had
hoped to raise the issue during the EU’s Barcelona round in March.  But as
Nature Biotechnology magazine reported in February, jitters over the Mexican
debacle were causing both industry and pro-biotech governments to reconsider
pressing for a decision that might go against them.  The joint statement
issued by more than 140 civil society organizations (CSOs) on February 19th
reinforced their concern.  The moratorium issue will not come up until the
EU’s October meeting. See: http://www.etcgroup.org/article.asp?newsid=298 to
view the joint statement.

Meanwhile, the Genetic Resources Policy Committee of the CGIAR (Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research) met in Los Banos, Philippines
February 20-22nd.  The CGIAR speaks for the 16 International Agricultural
Research Centres responsible for the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 70s.
One of the 16 centres, CIMMYT (the International Maize and Wheat Improvement
Centre in Mexico) has been embroiled in the contamination debate largely
because it has the world’s most important maize gene bank.  CIMMYT is not
regarded as a cause of GM contamination nor is its bank contaminated.  But
CIMMYT and CGIAR not only develop new plant varieties and conserve genetic
diversity,  they are purported to offer scientific leadership and an early
warning system when problems arise.  “After listening to the Mexican
Government’s alarm bells for almost half a year, maybe our genetic guardians
need  an early listening system,” suggests the ETC group’s Pat Mooney.

Said and not said:  Among others, farmers’ organizations and governments
looked to the CGIAR meeting to bring clarity to the controversy surrounding
GM pollution in a center of diversity and to suggest steps that could be
taken in keeping with the precautionary principle adopted by governments as
part of the Biosafety Protocol.  In the end, the CGIAR declined to act.  The
research network was more concerned for its institutional safety than in
biosafety.  The committee concluded that it did not have enough information
to act; that further studies were needed (but declined to suggest whose
responsibility they should be), on the implications of GM contamination for
genetic diversity , gene banks, and intellectual property.   The committee
only gently opined that FAO, UNEP, or UNESCO, (anyone but CGIAR) might want
to look into the matter.  Finally, they congratulated the Mexican government
and CIMMYT  for their transparency in dealing with the issue.

Early warning denied: The committee was expected to cut through the
confusion surrounding methodologies for GM testing and provide an early
warning for the international community.  Instead, they chose to use the
manufactured furor over methodologies as a reason not to act.  Farmers and
CSOs had expected the committee to rise above the academic squabble and
simply address the direct statements of the Mexican Government confirming
that the countryside was contaminated.  The meeting will be remembered for
the CGIAR’s silence and passivity.

- Field contamination ignored:  The committee would not state that
regardless of the debate over test methodologies, Mesoamerican governments
should enact the precautionary principle and assume that there is maize
contamination;

- Moratorium support sidestepped:  The committee turned down a proposal to
commend the Mexican government’s current moratorium on genetically-modified
crops and, instead, “noted” the policy;

- Precautionary principle discounted:  While acknowledging the importance of
the situation, the committee refused to follow the recent U.S. precedent of
invoking the precautionary principle to restrict the planting of GM cotton
in some areas of the United States where wild or feral cotton is found. “The
U.S. is hardly a center of diversity for cotton and cotton is much less
vulnerable to GM pollution than maize,” notes ETC’s Silvia Ribeiro in
Mexico;

- Gene banks endangered:  Despite a general consensus that field
contamination will lead to gene bank contamination, the committee and CIMMYT
did not advise bank directors to take any specific actions or propose any
specific policies or procedures;

- Intellectual property policies compromised:  Although it vaguely noted
that there might be patent issues involved, the committee did not decide to
formally notify the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that GM
contamination involving in-trust material held in CGIAR gene banks could
compromise access to bank accessions;

- Biodiversity Convention dismissed:  The committee rejected a proposal that
it ask the Convention on Biological Diversity to look into the issue of
transgenic contamination in a Centre of Genetic Diversity even though the UN
Convention has stressed the importance of such Centres and is meeting in
April;

- Farmers’ Rights ignored:  The committee did not respond to the request
that the CGIAR gene banks guarantee the continued access of farmers to
uncontaminated gene bank accessions.

"For the world's farmers, the CGIAR’s attitude is very troubling”, says
Mexico’s Ernesto Ladron de Guevara, of the farmers’ organization UNORCA,
“because the seeds they have in trust are the contribution of farmers of the
whole world with the understanding that the seeds remain the patrimony of
humankind. The CGIAR is obliged to ensure that farmers can obtain good
quality, patent-free and transgenic-free seeds from the gene bank
collections." Ladron de  Guevara is also the representative of the Genetic
Resources Commission of Via Campesina.

Doctor Alejandro Nadal in Mexico City concludes, “CGIAR has failed to take
responsibility by ignoring that genetic contamination will eventually make
it very difficult or impossible to rejuvenate  their seeds.   By not calling
for a moratorium to stop the sources of contamination in Mexico, and by
failing to take steps to protect all centres of crop diversity, CGIAR is
contradicting the precautionary principle." Dr. Nadal is the director of the
Science and Technology Program at Colegio de Mexico.

The “protecting their bottoms” line: With the CGIAR planted firmly on its
own hands, many organizations that have signed the Joint Statement will take
the matter to the Convention on Biological Diversity when environment
ministers meet in The Hague from April 8th to 26th.   The issue is also
bound to be discussed at the UN/FAO Committee on Food Security and at the
World Food Summit that will take place in Rome in early June.  “By that
time,” Pat Mooney admits, “the obfuscations around methodologies will be
long past, and governments and CGIAR will have to discuss the real threat to
food security.  The world will also want an explanation from the CGIAR as to
why they failed to provide farmers with an early warning.”


For further information:

Silvia Ribeiro:   silvia@etcgroup.org (52) 5555-63-26-64 CST - Mexico City
Pat Roy Mooney:  etc@etcgroup.org (204) 453-5259 CST - Winnipeg

To: All Activists
From: Alix Davidson
Date: February 26, 2002

Support Park Service Decision to Protect Yellowstone National Park from
Snowmobile Damage

The National Park Service has just released a new analysis of the impact
of snowmobile use on Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The
Park Service needs to hear from you that it should not back away from
its original decision, based on years of study and overwhelming public
involvement, to protect these national treasures by phasing out
snowmobile use in the two parks. Please call or write the Park Service
and ask it to CONFIRM the original phase out decision.

Background:
In November 2000, after a three-year public process that included 22
public hearings and over 65,000 public comments, the National Park
Service issued a decision to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone and
Grand Teton national parks over a four-year period. The existing mass
transit system would be expanded to ensure public access to the parks.
The decision, based on a decade of scientific studies by university
researchers and government agencies, found that snowmobiles are damaging
the parks’ wildlife, clean air, natural sounds and quiet, and unique
experiences that Americans expect to find in their national parks. The
Environmental Protection Agency described the underlying science as
“among the most thorough and substantial base that we have seen
supporting a (National Environmental Policy Act) document.”

Last year, however, Interior Secretary Gale Norton, at the urging of
snowmobile industry, directed the Park Service to reconsider its
decision, claiming that science and technology had not been adequately
studied in the original decision. The result, released today, is an
environmental analysis known as a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement [SEIS]. This latest document, however, contains no new
scientific or technological information. In fact, the SEIS itself points
out that the snowmobile industry failed to provide the Park Service with
any significant evidence that was not already part of the original
decision to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton
national parks.

In recent years, an average of 66,000 snowmobiles travel through
Yellowstone during the three-month snowmobile season, and the best
science continues to show that protecting Yellowstone Park requires a
phase out of snowmobile use. Only one of the four management
alternatives in the SEIS would implement the original Park Service
decision. Under the others, wildlife would continue to be harassed,
soundscapes disrupted, and unhealthy pollution would continue.

Take Action by May 29th:
The release of the SEIS begins a public comment period and public
support for the original Park Service decision is the only way it will
be implemented.  Please support the decision to phase out snowmobile use
in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks by sending your comments
via e-mail to mail to:grte_winter_use_seis@nps.gov or send to: Winter
Use SEIS, P.O. Box 352, Moose, Wyoming 83012 by May 29, 2002.

Please remind the Park Service that:
--Americans want Yellowstone and Grand Teton to remain peaceful places
in winter where bison, elk, and other wildlife are not harassed by noisy
vehicles.
--That snowmobiles in the two national parks continue to cause
pollution, make rangers sick, and prevent visitors from hearing the
eruption of Old Faithful or enjoying the solitude that Americans expect
from their national parks.
--That the original, science-based phase out decision should remain in
place because it is the only way to adequately protect the nation’s
first National Park and nearby Grand Teton national park.

Check out the SEIS at this website:  www.winteruseplanning.net.

For more information, please contact Alix Davidson at
adavidson@americanlands.org or Hope Sieck at the Greater Yellowstone
Coalition at hsieck@greateryellowstone.org or
http://www.greateryellowstone.org

**********************
WILDALERT
Tuesday, February 26, 2002
**********************

Dear WildAlert Subscriber,

The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument urgently needs your
help.  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) monument staff is
proposing to close several areas to grazing because local ranchers
agreed to "retire" their grazing permits and have sold them to an
environmental group, the Grand Canyon Trust.  This is a win-win
situation for the land and the ranchers.  Unfortunately, some local
residents are vigorously opposing the proposals.  The BLM needs to
hear from you that it is doing the right thing in allowing the
voluntary closure of parts of the monument to grazing.  Send a
letter to the BLM on or before Thursday, February 28, 2002:
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=1144

BACKGROUND
BLM is proposing to close a portion of the Last Chance grazing
allotment and all of the Big Bowns Bench grazing allotment to
livestock grazing in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument.  (An allotment is an area of land leased for livestock
grazing.)  These areas have outstanding wilderness qualities -- the
17,000-acre Big Bowns Bench area is within the North Escalante
Canyons/The Gulch Wilderness Study Area and most of the 91,400 acres
in the Last Chance area that would be closed are in Wilderness Study
Areas or have been found by BLM to have wilderness character.  BLM
has already closed other parts of the monument to grazing and will
likely propose closing more if unfounded local opposition doesn't
prevent it.

A WINNER FOR THE LAND
Closing portions of the monument to grazing would allow for
improvements in the quality of streams, vegetation, soil, and
wildlife habitat as well as help protect archeological sites from
trampling by cows.  Mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and other
wildlife will enjoy more and better forage because they will not
have to compete with cattle.  And recreation opportunities in these
areas will improve because the areas will look more natural and
conflicts with cattle at watering holes, for shade, and on trails
along streams will be reduced.  

AND A WINNER FOR THE RANCHERS
The ranchers (also known as permitees) willingly sold their permits
to graze cattle in the monument to the Grand Canyon Trust in order
for the areas to be closed and they were paid a good price.  Since
1999, the Grand Canyon Trust has spent nearly $1.1 million to
acquire and retire grazing rights in the monument.  While these
retirements reduce slightly the total number of cattle grazed in the
monument, they increase the profitability of livestock operations
because the permits are sold willingly for a fair price.

ECONOMICS FAVOR CLOSURE
Some people in the towns surrounding the monument oppose reducing
grazing in the monument, arguing that it would devastate the local
economy. This simply isn't true.  All told, the grazing rights
purchased by the Grand Canyon Trust make up just 13 percent of the
grazing in the monument.  And those permits generated only $13,650
per year in receipts to the federal treasury and only $1,706 per
year directly back to the counties.  In addition, there will be "no
net loss of grazing" from these retirements.  All of the ranchers
who sold grazing permits to the Trust have indicated to the BLM they
will continue to graze the same number of cattle in others areas of
the counties surrounding the monument.

TAKE ACTION
Now is the time to let the BLM know you support the closure of Big
Bowns Bench and the Last Chance area to livestock grazing along with
other actions to retire grazing permits in the Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument.  Comments to the BLM are due on or
before Thursday, February 28, 2002.  Send a letter to the BLM from:
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=1144
or write the BLM directly with these points:

-- The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a national
treasure.  If you have been to the monument or hope some day to
visit, tell the BLM about why you value this special place.

-- Closing 91,412 acres of the Last Chance area and 17,083 acres of
the Big Bowns Bench area would enhance protection of both the
ecological values and the archeological resources the monument was
created to protect.

-- These areas have outstanding wilderness qualities. The 17,000-
acre Big Bowns Bench area is within the North Escalante Canyons/The
Gulch Wilderness Study Area and most of the 91,400 acres in the Last
Chance area that would be closed are in Wilderness Study Areas or
have been found by BLM to have wilderness character.

-- Putting these areas off-limits to cattle grazing will protect and
enhance the health of the land within the monument, especially the
lands along the monument's streams, and reduce conflicts between
livestock grazing and other uses of the land, including recreation.  

-- The BLM should reallocate the grass in these areas from livestock
grazing to wildlife, to reduce competition for food between cattle
and deer, pronghorn, big horn sheep and other animals.

-- Economics favor these proposals. These proposals are a win-win
situation for the BLM, the land users and the land.  The ranchers
who ran cows on these areas have voluntarily given up their permits
and have been compensated by a conservation organization.

-- Thank BLM for these proposals and urge the agency to move quickly
to implement these and other voluntary grazing retirements within
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Send your letter to:
Thom O'Dell
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
190 E. Center Street
Kanab, UT  84741
Fax: 435-644-4350


***************************************************************
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@tws.org>.

TO SUBSCRIBE: If you have been forwarded this message and would like
to subscribe to the list, visit
http://www.wilderness.org/forms/subscribe.htm or send a message to
wildalert@tws.org with 'SUBSCRIBE' in the subject line and your
email
address in the body of the message.

Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society works to protect America's
wilderness and to develop a nation-wide network of wild lands
through
public education, scientific analysis and advocacy.  Our goal is to
ensure that future generations will enjoy the clean air and water,
wildlife, beauty and opportunities for recreation and renewal that
pristine forests, rivers, deserts and mountains provide. To take
action on behalf of wildlands today, visit our website at
http://www.wilderness.org

The U.S. Senate is set to vote on an energy bill that
both protects the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in
Alaska from oil drilling and supports clean energy.
Act Now! Urge the Senate to protect the Arctic Refuge
and its wildlife, and advance practical solutions to
America's energy problems.

You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_arctic/wk8bxn4178xxiw

Spread the word! Tell your friends to send a message
to their own senators to protect the Arctic Refuge!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_arctic/forward/wk8bxn4178xxiw

We encourage you to take action by March 31, 2002

Senate to Vote on Massive Energy Bill

----------------------

Weigh-in to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
in Alaska from oil drilling and support clean energy.
Act Now!

----------------------

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action
on this alert by going to the following URL:

http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_arctic/wk8bxn4178xxiw  

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email
program, and edit the letter below as you wish. Do
not delete "-YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW-" and "-END
OF LETTER-". Please do not add your name and address
to your letter. Our system automatically does this
for you.  

We STRONGLY encourage you to make edits directly to
our sample letter below, and put the alert talking
points into your own words. An individualized letter
is worth ten computer generated letters. Of course,
hundreds of unedited letters will still create a large
impact, so please reply even if you don't have time
to personalize the letter.

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Senator Hillary Clinton
Senator Charles Schumer


-------YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW---------

The U.S. Senate is again debating our nation's energy
policy. I urge you to support provisions in energy
legislation that place energy efficiency and environmental
protection before oil industry interests. In particular,
I support provisions to:

* Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska
from oil drilling;
* Catalyze the development of clean and renewable energy
resources; and
* Increase fuel efficiency in cars and light trucks
to a modest 35 mpg by 2013.  

Increasing CAFE to 35 mpg by 2013 will save over 2.5
million barrels of oil a day by 2020 -- more oil than
we currently import from the Persian Gulf. It will
help curb global warming by reducing oil consumption
and millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and
will save consumers billions of dollars in fuel costs.

I also request that you oppose wasteful and destructive
taxpayer subsidies for the fossil fuel and nuclear
industries, but support consumer tax credits for advanced
technology vehicles that deliver substantial fuel savings
and air quality benefits. Additionally, please oppose
any amendments that weaken the vehicle fuel efficiency
provision in the Daschel-Bingaman Energy Bill.

Thank for you for considering my views. Please do not
make the same mistake made last year by the U.S. House
of Representatives, which passed an energy bill that
would increase oil drilling and energy use. I ask you
to work for an energy bill that decreases our dependence
on oil, protects the environment, and provides true
energy security.

-------END OF LETTER-------------------------

Sincerely yours,

To: All Activists
From: Steve Holmer
Date: February 28, 2002

Subject: Upcoming Events and Activist Resources


Dogwood Alliance's 5th Anniversary Membership Meeting - March 22- 24

Located at Camp Mcdowell in the Bankhead National Forest, Nauvaoo,
Alabama.  The Dogwood Alliance, an organization of 71 Member Groups, is
celebrating five years of protecting Southern forests and communities.  
REGISTER EARLY!  Please check out Dogwood's website at
www.dogwoodalliance.org to preview the invitiation and register early.  
For more information please contact Lynne Faltraco at 828-288-9503 or
lynne@dogwoodalliance.org


North American Wilderness Conference - May 3 - 5, Seattle Washington

Preserving North American wildlands and waters in the US, Canada and
Tribal Nations is the theme of this year's conference sponsored by The
Wilderness Society, the Northwest Wilderness and Parks Conference and
many more groups.   For more information and to place your name on the
conference mailing list, send your name, address and email address to
mailto:osseward@juno.com You can also check out the conference website
at http://www.speakeasy.org/~nwwpc


Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration, August 4 - 9,
Tucson AZ - Abstracts Due March 7

Arid lands restoration, indigenous peoples' work in restoration,
invasive species control, public lands restoration and land-use planning
are among the topics for this year's conference.  If you are interested
in submitting an abstract or posters to the conference the deadline is
March 7.  Please submit your applications online at http://www.ser.org
or contact Bill Halvorson at mailto:halvor@srnr.arizone.edu if you don't
have internet access.  For more information about attending the
conference, please see http://www.esa.org/tucson  


Northwoods Threatened by Lawless Logging

On December 7, 2001, Acting Regional Forester Donald Meyer reversed
Munising District Ranger Teresa Chase's decision to log and burn 100's
of acres in the North Hickey area of the Hiawatha National Forest,
located just east of Munising, MI.  This was the second time the sale
was appealed by Heartwood and Northwoods Wilderness Recovery, and the
second time Chase's decision was found to be in error.  Ranger Chase
refused to have a 30 day comment period for the second Environmental
Assessment (EA), as required by law.  The Appeal Reviewing Officer (ARO)
ruled in our behalf stating that "I agree with the appellants that the
public should have been given the opportunity to comment."   

Another area threatened with logging that activists are working to
protect as Wilderness is Michigan's Trap Hills.   Please see
http://www.northwoodswild.org/traphillswilderness_aa_arc.htm for
information about this threatened forest.  For more information about
how you can help the campaign to protect the Trap Hills, please contact
Rob Cadmus at: mailto:rob@northwoodswild.org

Antioch Launches Masters Program in Environmental Advocacy and
Organizing

The Environmental Studies Department of Antioch New England Graducate
School has announced a new masters program in Environmental Advocacy and
Organizing that offers political education and social action training
for people interested in working in the advocacy field.  The program
begins in the fall of 2002.  For more information please see
http://www.antiochne.edu/prospects/esm/advocacy/default.htm


The Natural Guard Needs You!   Redwoods At Risk Until March 24

One of the greatest natural treasures on Earth is in imminent danger and
will be destroyed if enough people do now find it in their hearts to
respond and respond now.  The federal and state government have released
a letter to Pacific Lumber Company (PALCO) of Humboldt County,
California that allows them to begin cutting seven hundred acres of the
largest unprotected redwoods in the world. Called the E stands, these
are the best unprotected trees of the 211,000 acres PALCO owns, the
crème de la crème: trees 15' in diameter, some over 2000 years old, some
groves perfect, unentered, no stumps- the forest primeval.

Even though the trees are known habitat for the marbled murrelet and
other endangered creatures, PALCO is being allowed to cut these stands
under the deal struck for the Headwaters about three years ago.
Progressive-sounding "habitat conservation plans" or HCP's create
loopholes in the Endangered Species Act and give the company permission
to destroy hundreds of marbled murrelets even though their population is
crashing in California. Any cutting of trees must be suspended when the
murrelets come back to roost in the trees on March 24. So the chainsaws
and bulldozers are rushing to cut and drag these monarchs as fast as
possible.

For dealing with this and other assaults on our sacred Earth, we have
banded together into a new all-volunteer organization called the Natural
Guard.  Please join us at either Grizzly Creek or Swimmer's Delight
campgrounds from now until March 24 to do everything peaceful in our
power to stop this cutting.  We hope to make a strong enough stand to
buy time for these trees and the life they hold.   For more information
please contact Ben White, Animal Welfare Institute, 360-378-8755, cell
phone: 360-317-5685 or mailto:freedom@rockisland.com
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7t