Associate
|
| Better World
Associate |
|
|
A Letter and Invitation
from the Executive
Director of SUWA
I don't represent any mining interests; I'm not heard. I don't represent any agricultural coalitions; I'm not heard. I don't represent any corporations; I'm not heard. I don't represent any or push any political agenda; I'm not heard.I'm a co-owner of our wilderness lands; I'm misrepresented. I'm a wilderness user; I'm misrepresented. I'm a supporter of 5.7 million acres of wilderness; I am unrepresented.
-- Testimony of a frustrated Utahn at a citizens' hearing conducted because Utah politicians would not allow public comment at a Congressional wilderness field hearing.
Dear Friend,
Against the wishes of their own constituents, Utah politicians are trying to ramrod anti-wilderness legislation affecting federal public lands through Congress this year. Indeed, the 1964 Wilderness Act, which is responsible for the national wilderness preservation system we take such pride in, is in danger. Because You and all Americans own these magnificent public lands, I'm asking you to join the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) in our efforts to preserve these wildlands.
The land I am talking about is unique in the world. It is a land of stunning wilderness, including some of the largest remaining blocks of unroaded land in the lower 48. It is a land of striking colors, sweeping vistas, intimate canyons, and some of the most unique rock formations in the world -- sandstone domes, arches, hoodos, spires, pinnacles, and buttes.
But the Utah politicians would like to see the last of these glorious wildlands -- which surround and connect the well-known national parks like Bryce, Zion, Arches, and Canyonlands -- mined, drilled, cut, and paved for the sake of short-term gain for a few.
Of course, this anti-wilderness legislation is just one prime example of the many attempts to provide benefit to special interests. But it is one that would set a tragic precedent. And, once these unique public wildlands are sacrificed to greed and short-sightedness, the loss will be irreversible.
Citizens in Utah demonstrated broad public support for a proposal which would protect an area equivalent to lust 10 percent of the state. Of the 22 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Utah, many citizens in Utah and across the nation propose to protect 5.7 million acres, the last remnants of our wild lands. That leaves 16.3 million acres wide open to oil and gas companies, multinational mining conglomerates, and other industrial developers. Is three quarters of the BLM public lands pie not enough to sacrifice?
"This is the single biggest threat our unique natural heritage in Utah -- and the national wilderness preservation system -- has ever faced."
Utahns have rallied by the thousands -- writing letters, testifying, and signing petitions in favor of protecting 5.7 million acres of wilderness on federal, public lands in Utah, the citizens' proposal. They have attended wilderness hearings, even when the Utah delegation silenced them by not allowing public comment.
Seventy percent of comments received by the Congressional delegation prior to the introduction of their bill supported the citizens' proposal for big wilderness. Yet the citizens' pleas have not been heard.
A recent nationwide poll conducted by USA Weekend received nearly 25,000 responses -- of these 93 percent favored the 5.7 million acre proposal.
While completely ignoring Utahns who want America's Redrock Wilderness left untouched for future generations, Utah's decision- makers have shunned people who live in the other 49 states who also have a stake in these wild public lands.
In addition, the politicians dismissed the advice of 31 professional biologists and ecologists. These scientists urged them to take into consideration criteria which would help protect our wildlife's long-term survival. For example, in their report to the delegation, they recommend that large, contiguous areas be set aside to best protect wide-ranging species like cougars.
Time is running out for the most unique and magnificent landscape in the United States -- the canyons and plateaus of southern Utah.
"A slap in the face of our kids and grandkids."
Rep. Jim Hansen -- already well-known for proposing a national parks closure commission and for trying to give away the nation's public BLM lands to the states -- and other members of the Utah congressional delegation are now trying to rush an anti-wilderness bill through Congress.
This is the single biggest threat our unique natural heritage in Utah -- and the national wilderness preservation system -- has ever faced.
The Utah politicians are pushing hard to pass their anti-wilderness proposal, H.R. 1745 and S. 884. This roughly 2 million acre proposal would open four million acres, an area the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, of pristine wildlands to unneeded and destructive development.
Using what is called "hard release" language, they insist upon making any remaining, undesignated wilderness available for extractive development. They also would prevent any undesignated lands from ever being designated as wilderness in the future.
A citizen living in southern Utah called hard release, which has never been incorporated into any previously passed state-wide wilderness bill and would set a devastating precedent for our wilderness preservation system, "a slap in the face of our kids and grandkids."
Adding insult to injury, the delegation's bill will not even protect much of the minimal acreage in their own bill. Their legislation proposes to allow off-road vehicle use and developments such as communications facilities in the few acres they are considering for so-called wilderness designation. Indeed, Utah politicians threaten the very concept of wilderness by such unprecedented legislation.
"These are destructive ideas, and the only sure way to stop them is to send a clear conservationist signal by defeating the Utah lands bill."
Among dozens of editorials that have appeared nationwide, The Washington Post commented that "This is legislation that would likely do more to weaken the wilderness system than to extend it. It shouldn't pass." The New York Times pointed out that "These are destructive ideas, and the only sure way to stop them is to send a clear conservationist signal by defeating the Utah lands bill."
SUWA's work to stop the exploitation of the pristine lands in question has included: organizing grassroots to make sure that citizens like you who love the land--and not just a handful of highly paid, anti-wilderness, industry lobbyists--reach Washington decision-makers with their opinions; mounting a major media campaign to inform the public about the importance of protecting--not destroying--our priceless national wilderness heritage; fighting the daily battles--from coal mining pristine areas to damming the few remaining desert streams--with administrative and legal actions, in order to preserve the integrity of the remaining wildlands in Utah. Without an immense effort now, we risk losing most of Utah's remaining pristine public lands to widespread development--including oil and gas drilling, mining, further expansion of Utah's existing road web into pristine lands, and unrestricted off-road vehicle use.
Utah politicians and others will continue to demand that environmentalists compromise, to come to the table to cut up the remaining 5.7 million acres of wilderness and designate less than that which remains wild.
What they forget is that the compromises have already been made. A half-century ago, we had 18 million acres of wilderness in Utah. Today less than a third of that is left.
With your help, we must ensure that the Utah politicians do not get their destructive way--passing a disastrous wilderness bill that forever opens to rampant development Utah's last wild places.
On the national level. support from thousands of people like You can help build a groundswell in favor of our precious public wildlands.
"As a Utahn for 40 years I have to say I am ashamed that my political representatives have chosen this road."
We know that the Utah politicians are a lost cause. Their bill is irredeemable. But thousands of voices from across the country must convince the rest of Congress that the Utah delegation's wilderness axe is simply wrong. That is why we need your support.
But remember, a groundswell depends on you making a decision to act right now--and not to file this letter away to be dealt with at a future time, when it will be too late for you to have any influence on the final outcome for the nation's redrock wilderness.
The Utah Congressional delegation is now rushing wilderness legislation, with its meager acreage and anti-wilderness language, through Congress at breakneck speed. They would like to see this issue "resolved" by the end of this Congress. That's why I'm asking you to act right now by joining SUWA.
Twelve years ago, SUWA was founded by a handful of people who wanted to protect the redrock wildlands. By joining SUWA's 19,000 members in making a stand for wilderness, you will receive our quarterly newsletter and action-oriented bulletins which empower you. They give you the information you need to write informed letters to Your elected officials.
For your $30 membership dues, you can also choose either the video Art in Stone or the set of eight color Ancient Images notecards of the canyon country. Or if you prefer, you can make your donation and forgo getting either gift. But whichever choice you make, please let me know I can count on you right away
So please, use the membership form to join SUWA to help our efforts to save the redrock wilderness and the integrity of the 1964 Wilderness Act. Time really is running out on America's magnificent redrock wildlands.
Best Regards,
Mike Matz, Executive Director
P.S. Regarding the Utah politicians' anti-wilderness bill, a supporter of the citizens' proposal said: "As a Utahn for 40 years I have to say I am ashamed that my political representatives have chosen this road." Please join SUWA today so we can work to prevent exploitation of your redrock canyon country.
Content © 1995 Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) Reprinted by permission.
|
| 
| Disclaimer . ©Copyright 1995, 1996, Better World Publishing All rights reserved. Better WorldSM and BWZ are Service Marks of Better World Publishing Questions and comments? | 
|