In a stunning blow to the environment, the Obama Administration just approved a clearcut of 382 acres of timber in a roadless area of Alaska's Tongass National Forest.
The clearcut in the Tongass will involve building 6.9 miles of roads and rebuilding another 1.9 miles of old roads. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack put a temporary halt to timber sales in roadless areas of national forests -- but he approved this timber sale despite the concerns of people who care about this important temperate rainforest, home to numerous endangered species.
Vilsack argues it'll provide much-needed jobs for the region -- but even in troubled economic times, we cannot sacrifice the future of our planet! Urge President Obama to reverse this decision and ensure no more clearcutting and roadbuilding occurs in the Tongass.
We took action on “Reverse Obama Administration's Approval of Tongass Logging”!
# 26,683:
11:03 am PST, Nov 23,Mary Truelove, Indiana
# 26,682:
9:50 am PST, Nov 23,Helena Dworeck, Finland
# 26,681:
9:43 am PST, Nov 23,Mark Darling, Virginia
President Obama,
This disregard for the environment and the impact of even the smallest, seemingly insignificant action is NOT one of the reasons that I rallied my friends and even strangers to help you win the presidency. For me to rally so many in support of you with the hope that you instilled in me for the future is heart-breaking when I see the actions that come from you. It is the actions and not your promises that make you a good human.
Once roads and corporations are allowed in such an area, destruction will happen. History has taught us this, all that is required is to look at the colonization of the United States and the invaders' obsession with gold.
This idea sends shivers through my already depressed heart. I am losing my hope as quickly as the wilds of North America are being ruined.
Please save what we have left for future generations! YOU have the power to be a better human!
YOU have the power to protect what cannot be replaced!
# 26,680:
9:40 am PST, Nov 23,Darlene Mckenzie, Canada
# 26,679:
8:54 am PST, Nov 23,Heather Britton, Illinois
# 26,678:
8:17 am PST, Nov 23,Linda Moss-Badalamenti, California
# 26,677:
7:45 am PST, Nov 23,Erick Zurich, North Carolina
# 26,676:
6:53 am PST, Nov 23,Miles Nelson, Indiana
# 26,675:
5:05 am PST, Nov 23,Annett Oertel, Germany
# 26,674:
12:48 am PST, Nov 23,Anil Sanyal, India
# 26,673:
7:53 pm PST, Nov 22,Carlos Oropeza, New Jersey
# 26,672:
6:49 pm PST, Nov 22,Agnes Hall, Australia
# 26,671:
6:07 pm PST, Nov 22,Larry Hawley, Maryland
# 26,670:
5:52 pm PST, Nov 22,Littlewing RESTING FROMTEST, Utah
# 26,669:
5:39 pm PST, Nov 22,Name not displayed, Canada
# 26,668:
3:35 pm PST, Nov 22,Jim Nguyen, California
# 26,667:
1:22 pm PST, Nov 22,Rebecca Stover, Alabama
# 26,666:
12:23 pm PST, Nov 22,Steven Fahrion, California
# 26,665:
12:01 pm PST, Nov 22,Susanne Dawn Plumb, California
# 26,664:
11:32 am PST, Nov 22,Jahnavi Stenflo, Colorado
Please don't let your supporters down, President Obama. I am holding out faith that you are going to be "my" President, but some of your decisions are causing me to wonder if you will come through for those of us who really put forth the effort and energy and $$$ contributions to get you into office. Please don't let us down!
# 26,663:
11:12 am PST, Nov 22,Name not displayed, Washington
# 26,662:
10:40 am PST, Nov 22,Sarah Bennett, Texas
# 26,661:
10:27 am PST, Nov 22,Erin Ross, California
Please, President Obama, do the right thing and reverse this decision immediately! I live in Calaveras County, an area that is now a patchwork of clearcuts that have devastated our environment in more ways that I have time to describe here.
There is NO NEED for clear-cutting in any area, especially in a protected Wilderness area.
When I voted for you, I voted because I believed in your ability to stand up to the pressures of greedy lobbyists; please don't make me wrong. Please help me maintain my faith in your strength, integrity and goodness.
# 26,660:
8:53 am PST, Nov 22,Natalia RodrÃguez, Dominican Republic
# 26,659:
6:00 am PST, Nov 22,Elizabeth Collins, California
# 26,658:
5:27 am PST, Nov 22,Silvia Melo, Portugal
# 26,657:
3:03 am PST, Nov 22,Michael Foley, California
# 26,656:
2:31 am PST, Nov 22,Name not displayed, Estonia
# 26,655:
9:29 pm PST, Nov 21,Betty Kowall, Canada
# 26,654:
6:18 pm PST, Nov 21,Jeanie McNeill, Maryland
# 26,653:
3:55 pm PST, Nov 21,Name not displayed, California
