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Here are sample letters regarding two current critical environmnetal struggles. Please write to the Premiers of the respective provinces, and feel free to use these letters as a base (make your own changes, as form letters are not considered as valuable as personalized letters).
"FAN ( Forest Action Network) invites you to rid the world of Interfor, undoubtedly one of the worst destroyers of coastal temperate rainforests on the planet.... Interfor kicked off the 21st century by logging some of the last millennial trees left on earth.... visit the INTERFOR Hall of Shame."
Premier UjjalDosanjh E-mail: Ujjal.Dosanjh.Office@leg.bc.ca 156, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Phone: (250) 387-1715 Fax: (250) 387-0087
Jim Doyle July 29, 2000 To the British Columbia Government and the Premier of British Columbia: I am unequivocally opposed to cutting of the last remaining old growth in British Columbia and to the practice of clear-cut logging altogether in British Columbia. Furthermore, I am strongly opposed to the current (two-year) "harvesting" plans of Interfor, which your government has approved. As you are aware, the Elaho Valley, once 100 miles in range, now stands as a pathetic 10 miles of old growth. Decimated in June and July just in time for the Spring housing market in the United States. I am disgusted and deeply saddened by your inaction. You have publicly stated that it is your place to remain at arms length of these issues. On the contrary, the provincial and federal governments have a moral and legal responsibility to insure the future well-being of their constituents over the long term, both economically and in regards to health issues. It is fiscally, environmentally and medically against the best interests of the residents of British Columbia to allow large-scale cutting of old growth or clear cut logging in general. It has been well-established that clear cutting in the present time in Canada's history will, within 5-10 years (shorter in British Columbia's case), effectively obliterate whatever jobs it has created up to this point, and that clear cutting denies many diverse and long-term economic options for British Columbia, such as tourism, especially regarding old growth areas. Witness the 20%+ ecologically pristine land base of Costa Rica which effectively employs Costa Ricans in the eco-tourism business, or the carefully managed forests of Germany, keeping German families in business for literally hundreds of years. It has been well-established that clear cutting is associated with large-scale weather changes - including drought , flooding and loss of large-scale protection against the effects of sun on humans, amphibians and other life - and that it is associated with the largest source of toxins in the environment, namely the large-scale use of pesticides associated with tree farms which replace the forests, in addition to basic water quality issues directly associated with deforestation. These are serious health risks which you cannot afford to ignore. The argument for genetic diversity and it's undeniable link to our health and to largely untapped markets in medicine and food is in itself a case for leaving British Columbia's last remaining pristine watersheds and forests intact. The dollars in your pockets and in the pockets of the "forestry" companies and their shareholders from exploiting the Elaho Valley's resources and the resources of countless other BC regions are not only an insult to British Columbians and Canadians, they are a threat to us all, especially to your constituents. Shame on your current actions and Shame on your purposeful and calculated inaction. Withhold Interfor's current two-year "management" plan until the province thoroughly and impartially reviews the environmental status of the areas potentially affected, over a truly suitable period of time, and offers real democratic participation to the residents of British Columbia. Yours sincerely, printed on hemp � »� »� »� � BACK TO TOP
July 29, 2000 To the Newfoundland Government and the Premier of Newfoundland: I strongly oppose the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper's lobbying to log at Main River, and their current logging operations in that region. Current cutting is wholly inappropriate while the province reviews the environmental status of this area. Furthermore, I fundamentally oppose clear-cut logging altogether anywhere in Newfoundland. It is fiscally and environmentally against the best interests of the residents of Newfoundland. The provincial and federal governments have a moral and legal responsibility to insure the future well-being of their constituents over the long term, both economically and in regards to health issues. It has been well-established that clear cutting in the present time in Canada's history will, within 5-10 years (shorter in Newfoundlands' case), effectively obliterate whatever jobs it temporarily creates, and that clear cutting denies diverse and long-term economic options for Newfoundland, such as tourism, especially regarding old growth areas. Witness the 20%+ ecologically pristine land base of Costa Rica which effectively employs Costa Ricans in the eco-tourism business, or the carefully managed forests of Germany, keeping German families in business for literally hundreds of years. It has been well-established that clear cutting is associated with large-scale weather changes - including drought , flooding and loss of large-scale protection against the effects of sun on humans, amphibians and other life - and that it is associated with the largest source of toxins in the environment, namely the large-scale use of pesticides associated with tree farms which replace the forests, in addition to basic water quality issues directly associated with deforestation. These are serious health risks and economic risks which you cannot afford to ignore. The argument for genetic diversity and it's undeniable link to our health and to largely untapped markets in medicine and food is in itself a case for leaving Newfoundland's last remaining pristine watersheds and forests intact. The dollars in your pockets and in the pockets of the "forestry" companies and their shareholders from exploiting the Main River region's resources are not only an insult to Newfoundlanders and Canadians, they are a threat to us all, especially to your constituents. Shame on your current actions and Shame on your purposeful and calculated inaction. Deny the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper's lobbying in the Main River region until the province reviews the environmental status of this area thoroughly and impartially, over a truly suitable period of time, and offers real democratic participation to the residents of Newfoundland. Yours sincerely, � »� »� »� � BACK TO TOP
July 29, 2000
Ms. Annette Verschuren I will not purchase any wood products from Home Depot until you agree on a 100% moratorium on selling ALL old growth-based products NOW. Not in two or in three years from now - NOW. There is not enough old growth forest left British Columbia, or other parts of Canada for that matter, to sustain any cutting of intact ecosystems whatsoever. Nor is there enough intact forest left in the Amazon Rainforest, Northern California or SE Asia to justify Home Depot "phasing out" these sales by 2002 or 2003 rather than immediately. Please peruse carefully the following two letters I am now sending to the Premiers of British Columbia and Newfoundland - they outline the reasons why I stand firm in my decision to boycott Home Depot and other companies who are not taking immediate action regarding sustainable and eithicall practices. Yours sincerely, July 29, 2000 � »� »� »� � � �BACK TO TOP
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