KELLY.COWAN@EBBS.CTS.COM
To all concerned:
For the past two days, I have witnessed The California Forest Products 
Commission advertising their "stewardship" to the environment minutes before 
the world news on CBS in two seperate commercials.
The first one showed a major forest fire, then a pleasant-looking woman came 
on and said that fires are a major threat to our forests, and that is why 
"they" support firefighters' efforts to battle blazes.  Then she went on to 
plug for the salvage rider (not mentioning it by name). She said that The FPC 
aids firefighters in reducing fires by removing dead timber.  She also 
insinuated the timber industry only removes the bad trees that produce 
uel."
Someone taking advantage of the "fire emergency" that has recently occured 
due to fire suppression?
For those of you that are up on fire ecology and proper forest management, 
you will be aware this is a line of crap designed to get the cut out and 
deflect critisism from the public about the timber industry's support for bad 
forestry- and good short-term business.  We know that this commercial most 
likely is the result of the hiring of a PR firm, such as
Burston-Marstellar, who specializes in "cleaning up" the reputation of dirty 
business interests.
On to the commercial I just saw.
ANOTHER handsome homely woman came on and claimed the timber industry cuts 
away from streams (with a lovely visual of a wild stream) to reduce erosion, 
keep the water clean, and provide safe cover for thirsty wildlife.
Nice message, but she failed to mention that cutting away from streams was a 
law forced by environmentalists.  Companies such as this were the very people 
opposed to protecting streamside timber from cutting, and while doing so, 
claimed that the action did not threaten the water, wildlife, or cause 
erosion!!!!
We have all seen the full page ads and commercials put out by the oil 
industry.  Some claimed stewardship to the environment by saying they 
developed cleaner gas--all the while they were lobbying behind the scenes to 
delay the production of electric vehicles.
Others claimed stewardship by showing beautiful pictures of wild and scenic 
areas their companies were forced to preserve because the law required them 
to mitigate damage done by setting land aside elsewhere.  Problem is--most of 
the areas they preserve are not so scenic and have little value to wildlife.  
Their commercials are as confusing as their message.  LIke "Do people care 
about the environment? (Visual of an eagle) People do."
I suspect that the timber industry has a lot more money since salvage sales 
are booming now, thanks to The President and 104th congress allowing the 
"salvage" rider to make it into law.   Goodness, it must cost a bundle to run 
all these commercials and take out full-page ads in major newspapers.  I 
wonder why they are doing this??????  I want to know what you think.
Is it
1) Because these are public service announcements
2) Because it is election year and the rebublicans have taken a beating on 
the environment.
3) Because the timber industry wants your guard down so they can slip more 
"riders" past the public.
4) Because polluters "really care."
Kelly.cowan@ebbs.cts.com
--- SLMAIL v4.5a  (#1137)
---------------