Date: Tue, 23 May 95 15:12:41 EST
Message-Id: <49B899231BA@Defenders.org>
Reply-To: biodiv-l@ftpt.br
Originator: biodiv-l
Sender: biodiv-l@ftpt.br
From: "Chuck Beretz" <CBeretz@Defender.Defenders.org>
To: rainfor.general@gnosys.svle.ma.us
Subject: ESA Today Issue #44
X-Listserver-Version: 6.0 -- UNIX ListServer by Anastasios Kotsikonas
X-Comment: Biodiversity Information Network List
ESA TODAY
Tuesday, May 23, 1995
NEW STUDY FINDS TIMBER JOB LOSSES OVERESTIMATED
The Portland Oregonian reports that timber industries and the federal
government alike severely overestimated the loss of Pacific Northwest
jobs due to protection of ancient forests. A survey conducted by the
Oregonian found that in the last six years, 16,695 wood products jobs
were lost in Oregon and Washington. Idaho had a net gain of timber jobs
during the same period. The government called for a loss of at least
20,000 jobs. The Northwest Forest Resource Council, an industry group,
had estimated losses of 65,700 jobs.
COMMERCIAL FISHING WOMEN SPEAK OUT FOR ESA
Writing in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Anne Mossness, past President
of the Women's Maritime Association, criticized Slade Gorton's
extinction bill as bad for families and jobs. "Our livelihoods as
fishing people depend on the web of life. It's not just the salmon, the
owl, the marbled murrelet, the wolf, the commercial fisherman or timber
worker. It's the whole fabric of life."
ESA TASK FORCE MEMBER ATTACKS RABBI'S VALUES
Testifying on May 18, Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious
Partnership for the Environment spoke in support of the Endangered
Species Act. The rabbi, in his testimony, reminded the Task Force of
the moral rationale for protecting species, stating that "every living
thing has meaning. The sages of the Talmud... realized that nothing,
not even a species we might consider unnecessary or a nuisance, was
created in vain." After the rabbi was out of the Committee Room, he was
taken to task by Wes Cooley (R-OR) who asked how he could possibly argue
for preserving every species when in Africa hemorrhagic fever was being
spread when "rats urinate into the air" and people breathe the vapors.
Monday's Washington Post quotes a Cooley aide explaining the
congressman's statement: "You can't say every living thing has its
purpose when there are deadly diseases borne by vermin.
LOGGING DEAL THREATENS RAINFORESTS OF SURINAME
The Saturday, May 13 issue of the New York Times reports that logging
concessions threaten to destroy 7 million acres of tropical rainforest
in South America. The deal is being pushed by three Indonesian and
Malaysian companies eager to branch out as timber stocks dwindle in
their own countries. The companies would pay $3.00 per acre/year for
logging rights, up to ten times less than industries of the Pacific
Northwest pay. In an attempt to persuade the Suriname Government to
refuse the timber deal, Medical researchers are focusing on the economic
value of protecting the source of medicinal plants.
This message has been forwarded by the following member of the
Endangered Species Coalition:
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Defenders of Wildlife Internet: cberetz@defenders.org
1101 14th Street, NW Suite 1400 fax: 202-682-1331
Washington, DC 20005-5601 phone: 202-682-9400
"Somebody told me it was frightening how much topsoil we are
losing each year, but I told that story around the campfire
and nobody got scared." -- Jack Handey "Deep Thoughts"
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