Re: [-Tree Tribe Mail-] Saving Sequoias
M-L
shared the following with us all:
>OurGiant Sequoia National Monument is threatened again by
>logging.Giant Sequoia National Monument was created by President Bill
>Clinton in
> 2000. Ever since this spectacular monument was set aside to protect
>some of the largest trees in the world it has been threatened by
>logging
> interests and a Forest Service that seems more interested in logging
>than preservation.
Seems a shame that there are still people who are willing to log
anything that stands, and can be had for very little cost.
Here in Oz there was a logging company that wanted to set up an
enormous timber mill in Tasmania and many of us were opposed. It took
more years than anyone would like to remember for the decision to get
this company to stop building a new mill to devastate the Tasmanian
forest. It was worked on all fronts, getting people who invested and
deposited money with banks that took it in turn offering to supply
support for that company to show their displeasure by pulling out their
money. By demonstrating with their feet and finance each bank was
convinced to drop out of any deal.
Canvassing politicians, writing letters, from all members of the
community and all manner of "stand up and be counted protest" from
all sections of the community. Not only we who believe in trees, but
many that didn't worry too much about them as well.
In our state we had a small group ask for donations and take the
Victorian state government to the high court to have their intent to
log Brown Mountain in this state stopped. That case was won, and Brown
Mountain is safe. Though nothing is safe forever. Those of us who
are against logging as it has been happening since white settlement are
ever vigilant and ready to write and protest in any way again; if it
looks like money is trying to pillage too much of the natural estate,
which belongs to all the people of this country and the world.
Our aim is to have plantation timber as the main source of all wood.
But it will take time. There are many problems with plantation timber,
they can be overcome. But no one is going to put in the hard yards
while they are allowed to pillage old growth forests. We all know these
are more than trees of course. They are habitats micro climates,
research laboratories for future medicines and the lungs of the world.
So good luck with your endeavours to stop logging the Sequoia National
Monument. Some say stopping these big companies, greedy people is hard,
but compared to what? There are still things worth fighting for and
there are still things worth putting yourself out for, even if it's
only in a small way. No one expects people to die for their causes,
though there are those who do, but it doesn't take much to stand up,
write letters and make it known you think the world is worth saving,
even in this condition, when it can still recover. Even if it wasn't
on the brink, it would still be better not to push it there. One step at
a time, in time with others or not, it doesn't matter, any movement in
the direction of saving our natural environment, our plants and animals
is important.
Be well,
Charlie
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