6/22/07

In May we published an article: Because We Live Here, The human cost of feel good environmentalism, by Lance Waldren. George Sexton from Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Project contacted us regarding Waldren's article, complaining that the Tongass area was exempt from Clinton's roadless rule. Tonight we spoke with a man who logged near the Tongass. We will share both of their remarks:

"Just so you know, the 'Clinton roadless rule' specifically exempted the Tongass National Forest and was never applied there. In fact the Tongass is the only National Forest specifically excluded from the roadless rule. Read the rule. Which means that Mr. Waldren's article is a fabrication (aka bullshit). Not that the Pioneer Press or KBC would ever print anything of questionable veracity in order to advance a political agenda... "
Regards, George Sexton (Klamath  Siskiyou Wildlands Project) 5/18/07
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Tonight we met a man who lived and logged in Alaska. Responding to Sexton's complaint, Jerry Jones from Chiloquin, Oregon explained the situation:
    Yes,  Tongass wildlands was exempted from the roadless ban. However, all funds to create roads were virtually eliminated, so, with no funds to built roads, people could not log in the Tongass.

    Jones said that 90% of Alaska is designated 'roadless'. Most of the logging in Alaska is done by indian tribes, who formed corporations and they clearcut their forests and sold the products to foreign countries. What they would do is take logs with flaws, pay fees for inferior grade of wood, cut out the flaws, then sell the wood as premium quality wood.