🚀 go-pugleaf

To:       All Forest Activists
From:     Jim Jontz and Steve Holmer
Date:     February 7, 1996
 
Subject:       Forest Congress Alert -- To Those Attending, And All
               Who Care About Our Forests
 
Two weeks from today, the 7th Forest Congress begins!
There are three concerns we have heard most often from activists:
 
1) What's the plan for using the Congress to get a clear message
across about the destruction of our forests?
 
2) What other activities are being planned for activists who are
coming to Washington while the Congress is being held?
 
3) What is the organization/communications system we have that
people should be aware of?
 
 
I. SENDING A MESSAGE
 
With regard to a clear message, we suggest that the place to begin
is sending a polite but emphatic letter to the leadership of the 7th
Forest Congress laying out how critical the issue of "lawless
logging" is to the future of our forests.  We cannot have a dialogue
about visions for our forests, without restoring the rule of law and
recognition of the role of citizens in planning for our waters,
wildlife, and forests.
 
Enclosed is the letter that we have drafted.  Given the limited time
that we have before the Congress, we would like to send this letter
to the leadership of the Congress -- and release it to the press -- on
Wednesday, February 14.  
 
We would like two categories of signers for this letter.  GROUPS,
whether you are planning to be represented at the Congress or not. 
INDIVIDUALS, who are planning to be at the Congress.  Really, to
have an impact we need a lot of people on this letter.  We will do
the best we can to make edits but we will not be able to go
through an extensive editing process. The key is to keep it short
and to the point!
 
Remember, the purpose of this letter is to DEFINE what this
Congress is all about.  It's about the crisis facing our forests
because of the "logging without laws" rider and past abuses.  It's
about the need to repeal the rider and change course to protect our
forests, not destroy them.  We want to get the word out to the
press now, to lay the groundwork for what happens at the
Congress, so that it will be measured by this "yardstick."
 
PLEASE CALL (202)789-2844x291, fax (202)682-1943, or e-mail
WAFCDC@igc.apc.org if you can sign this letter.  
 
II. WISE USE OF LEISURE TIME
 
We want people to make their trip to Washington effective.  Some
participants may decide that they want to visit Capitol Hill, or the
Administration, or the press to talk about the issues they care
about, if things are a little "slow" at the Congress.
 
Here is what we recommend:
 
1)  Fax a written request to the CEQ right away at 202/456-2710
(follow up with a phone call to 202/456-6224) to make an
appointment to see Katie McGinty, Dinah Bear, or Tom Jensen.  We
must take advantage of this opportunity to convince the White
House that REPEAL OF THE RIDER is the only solution to logging
without laws.  Come and tell the story of your forest, bring photos,
fact sheets, etc.  This may be as close as you get to the White
House and only when President Clinton is convinced that the rider
is a big mistake will he work to repeal it.
 
2)  Other Administration appointments you might try to make are
the Agriculture Department (Sec. Dan Glickman), the Office of
Management and Budget (deputy director T. J. Glauthier) and the
Forest Service (Chief Jack Ward Thomas).  These people are all
mistakenly talking about how timber sales under the rider are
following environmental laws and they need to be alerted to what is
happening on your forest.  
3)  Please visit your own Senators and your state's Representatives
to ask for their support for the Furse Bill and the Bradley/Boxer bill
to repeal the rider. Of course, thank them if they have signed on.  
 
4) Please visit our Senate and House target lists for cosponsors,
asking to talk to staff and getting across the message about your
forest.  A list of these targets is attached.  No need to make
appointments, unless you have a couple special ones you want to
make sure to see.  Just show up at the office, ask to talk to the
staff who handles forests (if you don't have the name), and go to
work.  Do as many as you can.  This is really critical work:
remember that this is THE BEST CHANCE WE HAVE to get
cosponsors for the Furse and Bradley/Boxer bills.  
 
5) When you are on the Hill, don't be bashful about stopping in to
see our friends and champions to say thanks, ask for guidance, and
give them "ammo" to use.  Rep. Furse, Rep. Miller, Rep. Vento,
Rep. Morella, Rep. Boehlert, Sen. Bradley, Sen. Boxer, Sen. Leahy,
Sen. Chafee, and many others deserve our thanks. 
 
6) And finally, the press.  Find out from your home town
papers/other media who covers Washington D. C. for them (many
have stringers or news services).  You should call and try to see
them when you are here.  You need to give them the "news" about
forests and the rider and why you are here.  
 
 
III. LOGISTICS AND COMMUNICATIONS
 
WAFC is working with the National Forest Protection Campaign,
Audubon, and others to organize our efforts as best as possible.
 
The WAFC office will be staffed throughout the Forest Congress,
day and night, starting February 17 (Saturday).  This is so that you
will always have somewhere to call to get information or help. 
OUR PHONE IS 789-2844x291 or 288.  
 
Information Center
 
We weren't able to afford a "war room" at the hotel, so we will
make the WAFC office a war room and communications center.  We
are located at Defenders of Wildlife, 1101 14th NW, 14th floor
(we're actually on the 12th floor), at the intersection of "L" and 14th
Streets NW.  You can reach us from the McPherson Square metro
stop (go up 14th Street) on the blue/orange line, or from the
Farragut North metro stop (go east on L Street) on the red line.  
 
Strategy Discussion, Monday, 12:00 Noon - 2:30 p.m., at Defenders
of Wildlife
 
Please feel free to stop here if you are in town
Saturday/Sunday/Monday.  We know that Audubon people will be
having a caucus on Monday that will be opened to all activists
beginning at 2:45.  This will be in the Maryland Room at the
Sheraton Hotel where the Forest Congress will be held.  They are
also sponsoring an informal reception Monday evening for everyone
who is attending the Congress with a cash bar.  
 
We want forest activists to have the chance to mingle and talk
Monday if they are not Audubon people, so from 12:00 noon to
2:30 p.m. we will be sponsoring a strategy discussion and "open
house" at the Defenders of Wildlife conference room here.  Activists
are then invited to join the Audubon briefing and activist
workshops beginning at 2:45.  
 
The National Forest Protection Campaign will be holding an activist
briefing and workshop with message training by Matt MacWilliams
on Tuesday morning.  Time and location for this session are not yet
available but will be communicated as soon as possible.
 
Debriefing
 
Every afternoon/evening, after the Congress has finished (and
people finish work on the Hill or wherever), we will sponsor a
debriefing/planning session for all forest activists to share what they
have learned, discuss the next day's events, and so forth.  This will
be held at the Defenders of Wildlife Conference room on the 14th
floor here, at 6:00 p.m. daily, starting Tuesday, Feb. 20.
 
Communications Captains
 
Communicating with 150+ forest advocates during the Congress will
not be easy.  It is likely that we will have materials to distribute
daily, and various other information to pass through the ranks.  For
that purpose, we would like to seek volunteers who are willing to
assume responsibility for their state or region to take on this
responsibility.  (Will we need "table captains"?  We don't know at
this point -- we'll try to figure out).
 
Please let us know if you are willing to volunteer to serve in that
capacity. We will no doubt need other volunteers as well (for
duplicating, messenger service, etc.).  If you have some time for
this, let us know.
 
Thanks for your interest in this event.  We don't have much time
to pull this together but with everyone's cooperation, we can use
this "Week in Washington" to give a big boost to forests.  
  
Jim Jontz                     Steve Holmer
 
 
 
To:       Board of Directors and Senior Sponsors of the Seventh
          American Forest Congress
 
From:     the Undersigned individual participants in the Seventh
          Forest Congress, and concerned Citizens Groups
 
 
February 14, 1995
 
Dear Directors and Sponsors:
 
Many of us are looking forward to participating in the Seventh
Forest Congress in just a few days.   All of us have a great deal of
interest in the Congress because we care as you do about the
forests of our nation and their link to clean water, clean air, fish
and wildlife, and the wild places we love and want to leave for our
children.
 
We commend you for the responsibility you have taken on as
directors and senior sponsors of the Congress, understanding that
you have given much to make the Congress a success.
 
We share your interest in setting up a new, more open conversation
between the many different people involved with and concerned
about America's forests, and recognize the opportunity the Forest
Congress presents to begin to achieve this purpose.
 
We have learned that the Congress will begin by developing a
common Vision for America's forests a generation hence, and
proceed to establish several Principles to guide us toward that
Vision, and then Next Steps.
 
But we must tell you, first, what our eyes see when we look at our
forests today.  
 
Our vision today is one of forests in crisis.  We see fish on the
brink of extinction, wholesale destruction of wildlife habitat, rivers
swollen with silt, native forests being clearcut, and the ecological
integrity of aquatic and forest ecosystems unravelling.
 
We also see a crisis of society, in which our interests as citizens are
no longer respected by the government entrusted with the
stewardship of our forests. 
 
As you know, the fundamental laws of our land have been
suspended by Sec. 2001 of the Rescissions Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-19). 
The Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the National
Environmental Policy Act, and other laws pertain to every other
public and private action in this nation but not to the sale of timber
from our national forests.
 
We see our rights as citizens to participate in the decisions affecting
our forests terminated by "logging without laws."  We see the
courts powerless to uphold the rule of law which is fundamental to
sound forest policy.  We see the sham of our public officials
allowing massive environmental destruction in the name of a "forest
health" emergency.
 
There is an emergency, indeed.  
 
The emergency is the assault of industrial forestry on our forests
which is not new, but has been dramatically escalated by the
passage by the Congress and signature by President Clinton of
"logging without laws."
 
This rider, "logging without laws," is fundamentally in conflict with
the notion of an inclusive, participatory process upon which the
Forest Congress is based.
 
The rider is fundamentally in conflict with the idea of the rule of
law as the basis for the sound forest policy that the Congress
envisions.
 
The rider is fundamentally in conflict with the premise of the
Congress that we can have a common Vision for our forests for the
next generation based on an overarching set of Principles.
 
For that reason, we must ask that you as the Board of Directors
and the Senior Sponsors of the Seventh American Forest Congress
consider the contradiction between our nation's current "logging
without laws" policy and the ideas behind the Forest Congress, and
speak out clearly and persuasively for the repeal of Sec. 2001 of
P.L. 104-19.
 
You are in a position of great responsibility for conduct of the
Congress, and the policies by which the future of our forests will be
determined.
 
We urge you, because of the leadership responsibilities you have
assumed, to speak out.
 
The rider is wrong.  
 
It is destroying our forests, making meaningless discussions about
the interests of future generations.
 
It mocks the central tenant that our nation possesses both the
knowledge and the desire to produce wood fiber within the
constraints of laws to protect all forest resources.
 
It is fundamentally at odds with the notion that the future of our
forests will be determined in an open and participatory process.  
 
We are eager to come to the Congress and be a part of a process of
new and more open communication about the future management
and policies governing our nation's forests, both public and private. 
 
But first we need your help in speaking out for repeal of "logging
without laws."
 
A delegation from among us will be contacting you soon.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
List of Targets for Co-sponsorship of Furse Rider Repeal Bill, HR
2745
 
Neil Abercrombie -- HI -- fax (202)225-4580  
Rob Andrews -- NJ -- fax (202)225-6583  
Richard Baker  -- (R-LA) -- fax (202)225-2150     
John Baldacci -- ME -- fax (207)942-5907          
Bob Borski -- PA -- fax (202)225-4628        
Corrine Brown --FL -- fax (202)225-2256 
Tom Campbell (R-CA)-- fax  202/225-6788                
Ben Cardin -- MD -- fax (202)225-9219        
Michael Castle -- (R-DE)  fax (202)225-2291  
Barbara Rose Collins - MI fax (202)225-6645  
Cardiss Collins -- IL -- fax (202)225-8396   
Gary Condit -- CA -- fax (202)225-0819       
Bill Coyne -- PA -- fax (202)225-1844        
Kika de la Garza -- TX -- fax 202/225-2534   
Peter DeFazio -- OR -- fax (202)225-0373     
Lloyd Doggett -- TX -- fax (202)225-3073     
Vern Ehlers -- (R-MI) -- fax (202)225-5144   
Chaka Fattah -- PA -- fax (202)225-3127 
Harris Fawell -- (R-IL) -- fax (202)225-9420 
Tom Foglietta -- PA -- fax(202)225-0088 
Jon Fox -- (R-PA) -- fax (202)225-3155  
Martin Frost -- TX -- fax 202/225-4951       
Sam Gejdenson -- CT -- fax (202)225-4977     
Pete Geren -- TX -- fax 202/225-2786         
Sam Gibbons -- FL -- fax (202)225-8016       
Henry Gonzalez -- TX -- fax (202)225-1915    
Gene Green -- TX -- fax (202)225-9903        
Jim Greenwood -- (R-PA) --fax (202)225-9511  
Lee Hamilton -- IN -- fax 202/225-1101       
Jane Harman -- CA -- fax (202)226-0684       
Earl Hilliard -- AL -- fax 202/226-0772      
Steve Horn (R-CA) -- fax 202/226-1012        
Jesse Jackson, Jr.  IL - fax 202/225-0899    
William Jefferson -- LA-- fax (202)225-1988  
Tim Johnson  -- SD -- fax (202)225-2427      
Sam Johnson (R-TX)  fax 202/225-1485         
Paul Kanjorski -- PA -- fax 202/225-6511          
Marcy Kaptur -- OH -- fax (202)225-7711      
John Kasich (R-OH) no fax available                    
Sue Kelly -- (R-NY) -- fax (202)225-3289          
Patrick Kennedy -- RI --(202)225-4417        
Dale Kildee -- MI -- (202)225-6393      
Gerald Kleczka -- WI -- 202/225-8135         
Scott Klug -- (R-WI) -- (202)225-6942        
Rick Lazio -- (R-NY) -- (202)225-4669        
Sheila Jackson Lee -- TX -- 202/225-3317     
Sandy Levin -- MI -- (202)226-1033      
Bill Lipinski -- IL -- (202)225-1012         
Bill Luther -- MN -- (202)225-3368      
Thomas Manton -- NY  -- 202/225-1909    
Karen McCarthy -- MO -- (202)225-4403   
Cynthia McKinney  -- GA -- (202)226-0691     
Patsy Mink -- HI -- (202)225-4987       
David Obey -- WI -- No Fax Available                   
Ed Pastor -- AZ -- 202/225-1655         
L. F. Payne -- VA -- (202)226-1147      
Marge Roukema --(R-NJ) -- (202)225-9048 
Bobby Rush -- IL -- 202/226-0333        
Mark Sanford  (R-SC) -- No Fax Available                    
Jim Saxton -- (R-NJ) -- (202)225-0778        
Chuck Schumer -- NY -- (202)225-4183    
Robert Scott -- VA -- (202)225-8354          
Louis Stokes -- OH -- (202)225-1339          
Ray Thornton -- AR -- (202)225-9273          
Pete Visclosky -- IN -- (202)225-2493        
Jim Walsh -- (R-NY) -- (202)225-4042         
Curt Weldon -- (R-PA) -- (202)225-8137       
Pat Williams -- MT -- 202/226-0244      
Bob Wise -- WV -- (202)225-7856         
Frank Wolf -- (R-VA) -- (202)225-0437   
Dick Zimmer -- (R-NJ) -- (202)225-9181  
 
Senate Targets to be Original Cosponsors to Repeal Legislation
(Please fax thanks to Sens. Bradley and Boxer)
 
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) 415/956-6701  Thanks!
Patty Murray (D-WA) 202/224-0238 
Ron Wyden (D-OR) 202/225-8941
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 202/224-5902 
Bill Bradley (D-NJ) 202/224-8567  Thanks!
Paul Wellstone (D-MN) 202/224-8438
Tom Daschle (D-SD) 202/224-2047
Dale Bumpers (D-AR) 202/224-6435
John Chafee (R-RI) 202/228-3976
Jim Jeffords (R-VT) 202/228-0338
William Cohen (R-ME) 202/224-2693
William Roth (R-DE) 202/224-0354
Olympia Snowe (R-ME) 202/224-1946
Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) 202/224-9750
Daniel Akaka (D-HI) 202/224-2126
Paul Simon (D-IL) 202/224-0868
Max Baucus (D-MT) 202/228-3687
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) 202/224-2852
Christopher Dodd (D-CT) 202/224-1083
Russ Feingold (D-WI) 202/224-2725
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 202/228-3954
John Glenn (D-OH) 202/224-7983
Ted Kennedy (D-MA) 202/224-2417
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) 202/224-9707
John Kerry (D-MA) 202/224-8525
Carl Levin (D-MI) 202/224-1388
Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) 202/224-2626
Clairborne Pell (D-RI) 202/224-4680