We cannot forget that the national parks, forests, grasslands, seashores are not "federal land." They are our land, your and mine. If we lose them, we will never get them back. We must also remember that government is not bureaucrats. Government is us, and that simple notion is the foundation of democracy. Let's refuse to base our policy decisions on economics alone. Fifty years ago, Aldo Leopold gave us a better standard: "Quit thinking about decent land use as solely an economic problem. A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends to do otherwise."

The rush to privatize, commercialize and motorize our public-lands is wrong. That this effort is being aided and abetted by the political manipulations of anti-environmental Congressmen working in concert with the private business sector, is despicable.

What can we, the people, do to stop this effort and protect our public lands from those who would wrest management control from the American public?

Here are a few suggestions:

• Wild Wilderness is supporting the petition efforts of Free Our Forests, a grassroots organization from Washington State. Please add you signatures, and those of your friends and neighbors to the more than 20,000 signatories of the attached petition.

• The issue needs to receive broad public attention. Speak about it to your friends and associates. Let others know that they can learn more about this subject by visiting the Wild Wilderness website. Write letters to the editor for your local newspaper that try to inform others in your community about this issue. 
  
  Click here to view a sample letter
  Click here to view a sample editorial
  Click here for links to newspapers
  Click here for more media-related information

  
  
• What Should We Do?   Here is a document which provides excellent suggestions on this subject.

• Print, copy and distribute widely our flier entitled: "Do Not Buy a Forest Pass".
  
  To download in PDF format click here

  To download in Microsoft Word format click here
  (This doc. file can be edited and the high resolution graphic is fully scale-able).

• Should I purchase a pass?   There is no one answer to this question. Here are a few options compiled by the Conservation Chair of the Lane County Audubon Society, Eugene Oregon.

• Notice of Exemption   The National Forest Defense Alliance has created a notice to forest officers. It warns them not to issue a ticket and explains that you are on public lands for some reason other than recreation and are therefor EXEMPT for fee-demo.

• If you've gotten a ticket, received a warning, or you'd like to walk in the woods without purchasing a pass and don't know if you can legally do so, we're here to help. To speak with the Wild Wilderness Legal Defense Consultant CONTACT US.

• Want instant access to a variety of fee-demo related legal briefs, court transcripts and the like? Then check out the Anti Fee Demo Legal Resources  web site.

• Something was left on my windshield that looks like a ticket. What should I do? This essay, titled "Tips for Ticketees" isn't legal advice, but it just might help you better understand what's going on.

• Dealing With Tickets. Great information from New England Public Forest Advocates.

• The public needs to complain about what is happening. Write letters to your government representatives telling them your concerns. Write or call the Forest Service, BLM or other federal land management agency that is responsible for your public lands. Consider contacting the following specific persons in Washington:

 

President George W. Bush The White House Washington, D.C. 20250 Phone (202)456-1414 comment line 202-456-2461 Fax

'EACH OF YOUR SENATORS' U.S. Senate Washington D.C. 20510

'YOUR CONGRESSMAN' U.S. House of Representatives Washington D.C. 20515

• To find out who represents you and to learn how to contact them click here.
• E-mail addresses for U.S. Senators can be found by clicking here.
• E-mail addresses for U.S. Representatives can be found by clicking here.

• The large national recreation, conservation and environmental organizations need to be prodded into action. If you are a member of any organization which you think should become involved in this issue, then please speak up in local chapter meetings. Write your national organization leaders and urge them to actively act in your best interest. Encourage other local members to actively participate in this effort.

• E-mail your comments to the Forest Service Fee-Demo Department.

• E-mail your comments to the American Recreation Coalition's Fee-Demo Department.

• Use the official US Forest Service Fee-Demo Comment form.

• Add your name to this Internet petition.

• Get fresh ideas here. . .
  Read what your friends and neighbors are saying about fee-demo.

• Contact Wild Wilderness and ask for suggestions.

• And, finally, you could help support Wild Wilderness in our effort to bring this issue to national prominence. Your letters and calls and conversations are what we need most. A small contribution, although not necessary, would be very beneficial and greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support.

Fee Demo Protest, Summer '98

The United States is blessed with the largest base of publicly owned land of any country in the world. The federal government doesn't own this land; federal agencies, like our own Forest Service, are simply entrusted with its care. The American people own this land.

This document was prepared by Wild Wilderness. To learn more about ongoing industry-backed congressional efforts to motorize, commercialize, and privatize America's public lands, contact:

Scott Silver, Executive Director
Wild Wilderness
248 NW Wilmington Avenue,  Bend  OR 97701
Phone (541) 385-5261    E-mail: ssilver@wildwilderness.org