October 1997
From: John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute

Dear activists:

It is not often that we at John Muir Project call on you for help, but this is a matter of the utmost urgency. Accordingly, we ask that you take a minute to read this announcement, for the future of our national forest system hangs in the balance, and a phone call from you to Senator Boxer's office THIS WEEK would make a REAL difference.

We urge you to act quickly to help stop one of the greatest timber industry ripoffs and threats yet to our national forests - the so-called Quincy Library Group (QLG) bill, S. 1028. We have the chance to stop it, and we need your help BADLY to do it! Here's what's going on, and what you can do:

QLG IS A TROJAN HORSE: This bill masquerades as "community input" but in reality it's a hoax designed to eliminate existing controls in the law that protect national forests from overcutting, watershed damage, and species extinction. QLG is a scam written by and for the timber industry, and while it directly affects only forests in the Sierra Nevada mountains, it's a Trojan Horse designed to open the door to similar bills for ALL national forests. If this one goes through, MORE WILL DEFINITELY FOLLOW! Your national forests will be next!

QLG IS A FRAUD: Lots of talk about protecting communities from wildfire, following environmental laws, and protecting roadless areas from logging. But when you read the fine print, it's REALLY about getting the cut out - the FINAL cut! This bill is worded in the most deceptive ways imaginable. You have to dig deep to see that it's really about doubling logging rates, increasing fire danger, and subverting our environmental laws. Even our friends in the House of Representatives got taken in by this fraud!

THE SENATE IS THE ONLY PLACE WE CAN STOP IT: The House voted overwhelmingly to pass this bill. Now the Senate is considering it, and word from the Hill is that mark-up is now scheduled for mid-October. That's TWO WEEKS. California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer are the original sponsors of the Senate version, S. 1028. Feinstein has rarely been a friend of the environment, but Senator Boxer is one of our few real environmental champions in the Senate. We must persuade her to remove her name from the QLG and actively oppose it!

BOXER IS THE KEY: Since QLG directly affects only some national forests in California, the Senate Rules afford us an opportunity to kill this bill. If one Senator from California opposes it, it's normally enough to ensure its quick death. Environmentalists have been able to rely on Senator Boxer in the past; now is the time to make sure she doesn't make the most grievous mistake of her career!

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please pick up the phone and call Senator Boxer's office in Washington.

The number is 202-224-3553.

Tell her that you want her to do the following:

1. Remove her name from the bill; and
   
2. Officially and publicly oppose it; and
   
3. Place a "Senatorial Courtesy Hold" on the bill, which will effectively kill it.

   STRESS THAT SENATOR BOXER MUST KILL THIS BAD BILL!

   Here are some sound bite arguments you can use:

   • QLG is a FRAUD. It doesn't represent any interests except those of Big Timber;
   • QLG will more than DOUBLE THE CUT on the national forests in the affected region;
   • QLG will OVERRIDE ALL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS such as NFMA, NEPA, and ESA despite hollow assurances to the contrary;
   • QLG is a CORPORATE WELFARE HANDOUT to Sierra Pacific Industries of Redding, CA;
   • QLG will INCREASE FIRE RISK, according to the best available science;
   • QLG is a BUDGET BUSTER. It will cost millions of dollars in direct taxpayer subsidies;
   • QLG is a TROJAN HORSE. It opens the door to privatizing national forests nationwide;
   • QLG is NO SOLUTION to rural communities' problems. It's just a short-term payoff;
   • QLG will DESTABILIZE RURAL ECONOMIES by increasing logging rates; and
   • QLG is the WORST FOREST DESTRUCTION LAW CONGRESS PASSED THIS CENTURY.

   Finally, Debbie Sease's quote bears repeating: "The Quincy bill is twice as bad as the Salvage Rider."

   You get the picture. Thanks for making this critical call. Please ask others to join you, ASAP. Redistribute this message far and wide. Let's make this one count. Ring Senator Boxer's bell really good this time, because our national forests may pay the ultimate price if we don't!

   202-224-3553
   CALL ONCE A DAY, EVERY DAY UNTIL SHE COMES THROUGH FOR US!
   202-224-3553
   HAVE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS CALL TOO! 202-224-3553
   

   We thank you and our forests thank you,

   • • • • David Orr and Chad Hanson
           Directors, John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute
           email: davidorr@aol.com
           
           URGENT: HELP STOP S.1028!!! (Qunicy Logging Bill)