USA-ALL and SUWA

[DaveInDenver]

A member of my 4WD club (Rising Sun 4WD of Colorado) posted this today on our club mailing list. I thought it is poignant and so I wanted to forward it here. Not to force the political issue, but the honest truth is that with a Democrat-controlled government we really do need to watch groups like SUWA, who are usually unreasonable and uncompromising in their positions. They do not believe in a dialog of give and take.

We all know that it's just as much the OHV, 4WD and MTB publics' land as it is equestrian or anyone else. SUWA and groups like them feel that unless you use the public lands solely by their approved methods, you are not worthy of it's access. Some lands are appropriate for mining and lumber or motorized access, while some are best preserved with minimal impact or limited access.

We are willing to concede that Wilderness is sometimes necessary and so we approach BLM and USFS comments with that assumption at least in principle. SUWA does not fundamentally believe that motorized access is even an option and now they have the legislative and executive power to force their agenda with much less opposition.

This is a reminder for continuing vigilance and never to let your focus be shifted. Don't ignore calls for comments when the public is asked, be sure to let your Representative and Senator know your view. Consider joining advocacy groups and volunteering.

http://www.usaall.org/
http://www.sharetrails.org/
http://www.imba.com/
http://www.u4wda.org/
http://www.hightrails.org/

>From the Northern Colorado Trail Riders group:

Inevitable Wilderness?

Imagine nearly 40% of the approximately 22 million acres managed by BLM in our state designated as Wilderness. Along with almost all the roads imagine the loss of access to historical places, resources, and you favorite camp sites, trails, or riding areas.

A Wilderness designation would make much of these things inaccessible to most Americans and we find this unacceptable. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) thinks over 9 million acres of Wilderness in Utah is not only acceptable but a great idea. Of course they do. Then they and their out of state supporters would have a monopoly on public land. The huge foundations that give millions to SUWA and whose parent companies pillaged the land in the east can now buy themselves a clear path to heaven and a good nights sleep. Sure SUWA and their supporters claim to protect the environment, but really is it about anything other than control and power? If they're so concerned about the environment why don't they put more money into service projects and education and less into suing taxpayers and governments?

SUWA has been pushing for their Wilderness bill for over a decade. Amazingly the bill grew by millions of acres over a few short years. Apparently they had missed a few million acres of untouched pristine land. It easy to do when you travel roads and trails inventorying "roadless" areas. Funny you also encounter vehicles on roads and trails, no wonder why they think the land is overrun with them. Maybe they should try hiking off road once in a while.

So far we have been fortunate. But I am afraid our luck has run out. Now it's time to roll up ourselves, take of the gloves and really get ready to rumble. The political climate has prevented them from making too much progress, but they have been tenacious in pushing for the closure of public land in Utah. With the recent elections and inevitable change coming to Washington D.C. SUWA sees a much anticipated opportunity, and they will capitalize on it with all due haste. This is evidenced by the recent posts on their website. You MUST read this post SUWA Message.

Now folks, I am not a conspiracy theorist nor do I cry the sky is falling when it isn't, but you must believe me when I say this is serious. This is very serious. SUWA will have the best shot they have ever had of taking away your ability to visit those favorite place you and your family enjoy. Well I take that back, you can walk to them if you want.

This harms all of us on a personal level, it harms us on an economic level, it harms our local governments ability to gain money to fund K-12 education, and therefore harms our school children public education, it harms our ability to be energy independent, it harms our land managers ability to manage the land, and the list goes on. Excessive Wilderness designations areas simply plain harmful and wrong.

Luckily none of Utah's congressional delegation support the Wilderness push, but radical senators and congressmen from other states do, and they will again introduce the bill for consideration come January. Now before you cry yourself to sleep tonight know this, there is hope, and there are things we can do stop this from occurring.

Our ability to prevent the otherwise inevitable and intervene will wholly depend on you and the choices you make. Government hasn't been very effective at representing you lately, nor are we convinced that without serious prodding will they help us much on the issue of Wilderness. This is where USA-ALL and our partners come into play. We carry a big stick, and we know how to prod elected representatives. USA-ALL will vow to fight on your behalf to the best of our ability. We have successfully beat pro-wilderness clowns in court, on the field, and in the halls of congress before. We can do it again.

If you want us to stop these broad Wilderness designations it is imperative that ALL of you join our organization and unite with us in defending our home and our way of life. By joining with us we join your voice with thousands of others against harmful wilderness designations, and possibly in support of other areas that may be a good place to preserve as Wilderness. We aren't completely closed to the idea of some Wilderness. But certainly not over 9 million acres of it. As a member of USA-ALL we keep you posted on all the important happenings regarding your ability to enjoy public land in Utah, chances to make a difference by volunteering, and tips on how, when, and why to contact elected or government officials. We work on your behalf everyday, and advocate for your interests to all. We hope you will sense the urgency of the looming issues, choose to join our organization, and give us the opportunity to serve you. If not us please join another organization that better represents you and will work to make our shared world a better place.

Join USA-ALL Today!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Thanks Dave!

I've been out of town all weekend with a handful of U4WDA Board Members. This is a real threat. We all want Wilderness too, but the agenda they will push to get it will threaten access to countless "epic" routes throughout Southern Utah. Simple boundary re-alignments and cherry-stemming would prevent many of these issues and the Wilderness would be more widely accepted, sadly SUWA doesn't seem to be open to a compromise of any sorts.

Joining all the motorized advocacy groups is HUGE, but don't stop there. Ask your vendors what they do to support land access, ask them who they support! Ask your fellow club members the same. We can only save access to our hobby through teamwork!

 

[roadkill]

and don't forget to get active and call and write your congress critters. now is the time to do absoluetly everything you can. so the economy is down and your broke and you can't donate to any organizations, fine no big deal. instead pick up the phone and call DC or write a letter; can't afford an extra stamp, write an email. there is no excuse to sit on the sidelines and watch the game, everyone can participate.

 

[Paul R]

Now is definitely the time to get involved.

Below is SUWA's statement about the election, please don't take the politics in the thread out of context. Lets all band together to help save Utah's public land!

SUWA is excited and will be pushing strong we need to do our part too!

www.suwa.org:80/site/PageServer?pagename=Election2008_EDMessage

The new Obama administration and Congress will give us an unprecedented opportunity to protect the redrock country.

I was deeply moved last night watching President-elect Obama’s acceptance speech. His words brought hope to those of us watching in Moab, as they did to the crowd in Chicago. In the midst of all the challenges facing our nation - the economy, the wars, a declining environment - I can believe again in a better future for my children.

Yes, we still must work hard to reverse the awful legacy of the Bush administration. But after eight long, hard years, we are about to face perhaps the best opportunity for wilderness protection in SUWA’s 25-year history.

The next Congress also brings us new opportunities for redrock wilderness designation. We have enormous work ahead to educate these new senators and representatives, but with your help, I know we can do it.

President-elect Obama recognizes the threats from climate change and understands we can’t drill our way to energy independence. His thoughtful views are welcome as these issues bear heavily on the future of the Colorado Plateau. And, he will bring a welcome change in leadership to key public land agencies. If he surrounds himself with appointees who understand the importance of wild country, wildlife, healthy landscapes, and a fit planet for our children, wilderness should do well.

We will encourage the new Secretary of Interior and staff at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect southern Utah’s wilderness, including such places as Labyrinth Canyon, the Dirty Devil, the San Rafael Swell and Cedar Mesa by:

Reviewing disastrous last minute Bush administration decisions for legal violations, including the six awful land use plans the administration just approved, which open millions of acres of redrock wilderness to oil and gas leasing and ORVs.

Reforming the BLM, which manages more of our most spectacular western public lands than any other agency and which folded like a house of cards in a tornado to anti-wilderness interests under pressure from Bush appointees.

Giving meaningful protection to the redrock, by re-instating the process, born under President Clinton and killed by the Bush administration, that gives Wilderness Study Area protection to lands identified by the BLM as having wilderness character.

Please join us at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance in celebrating this long-awaited political change! We’ve fought hard for eight years just to hold onto Utah’s Redrock: now we’re excited to move forward, with you, to protect this extraordinary landscape.

Thanks for all your support and work towards protecting the Redrock.

Sincerely,

Scott Groene
Executive Director

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance depends on activists like you to support our advocacy. Please make a contribution to our work by clicking here. Sign up to be a grassroots leader or activist by clicking here.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

It is extremely unfortunate I agree.

 

[DaveInDenver]

and don't forget to get active and call and write your congress critters. now is the time to do absoluetly everything you can. so the economy is down and your broke and you can't donate to any organizations, fine no big deal. instead pick up the phone and call DC or write a letter; can't afford an extra stamp, write an email. there is no excuse to sit on the sidelines and watch the game, everyone can participate.

Yes! I would add only one thing, writing a letter in your own voice and mailing it is a very effective way to let your Congressional rep hear you. They get thousands of crackpot emails everyday, but a soulfully crafted and typed letter will generally cut through the noise much better.