Call for Follow-Up Action to GR Action #2/99: Save Ancient Temperate
Rainforests / Chile
The Boise Cascade shareholders and Board of Directors meet this week, on
the
15th and 16th, respectively. They need to hear our concerns about their
chip mill project in Chile, known as "Cascada Chile." Please make phone
calls or send faxes APRIL 12, 13 AND 14. The coalition of organizations
working to stop "Cascada Chile" and save Chile's temperate rainforests is
sending out this urgent call for action this week.
(For more information, please see the Global Response website for Action
Alert text #2/99)
URGENT CALLS NEEDED TO STOP MASSIVE CHIP MILL IN HEART OF CHILE'S
ENDANGERED FORESTS
This week, at noon on Thursday, April 15, Boise Cascade will hold its
annual board meeting in Boise, Idaho. It is critical that the Cascada
Chile project in Ilque Bay, Chile is discussed at this meeting. Below
we have listed two members of the Board who we hope to convince to raise
the issue of Cascada Chile and the problems associated with the project
at the Board Meeting. We need your help.
(1) Call Gary G. Michael, Director, Chairman and CEO of Albertson's, in
Boise, Idaho at (208) 338-3722 and Edson Spencer, Director, Former
Chairman and CEO of Honeywell, at Spencer and Associates in Minneapolis,
MN at (612) 333-3650.
Tell them to raise the issue of Cascada Chile at
the Board Meeting because:
Environmentalists around the world are concerned about this
project because of the threats it poses to Chile's endangered native
forests.
a. Chile is home to one-third of the world's remaining
temperate "frontier" or primary forests and Cascada Chile would double
the amount of native forests logged in Chile — virtually guaranteeing
Chile's deforestation.
b. More than 90 % of animal and plant life in Chile's
forests only exist there and will be lost forever if Cascada Chile goes
forward.
Citizens' groups in the U.S., Chile and across the world are
particularly concerned that the project is going forward despite strong
opposition from those most directly impacted by the project: the Chilean
citizens.
a. A 1996 poll found that 83 percent of the people living
in the Santiago metropolitan region said that the loss of native
forests is their principal environmental concern.
b. More than 150,000 Chileans signed a petition supporting
the goal of protecting Chile's forests.
(2) Call George Harad, CEO of Boise Cascade, at (208) 384-6161 or fax
him at (208) 384-4912. Ask Mr. Harad why he continues to push forward
with Cascada Chile despite the mounting evidence of enormous
environmental, economic and social costs for Chile.
Background: Cascada Chile is a proposed $180 million complex in Ilque
Bay, Chile for processing native wood for the production and export of
oriented strand board and wood chips. Production is expected to begin
in 2000 or 2001, pending the outcome of a suit filed against the project
challenging its constitutionality.
GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental
activists. In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace and
justice organizations around the world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops "Actions"
that describe specific, urgent threats to the environment; each "Action"
asks members to write personal letters to individuals in the corporations,
governments or international organizations that have the power and
responsibility to take corrective action. GR also issues "Young
Environmentalists' Actions" and "Eco-Club Actions" designed to educate and
motivate elementary and high school students to practice earth stewardship.
To receive Global Response materials by e-mail, send an e-mail message to:
majordomo@igc.apc.org In the body of your message, type this text:
subscribe globresmembers
Justine Cooper
Volunteer/Intern Coordinator
Earth Day Network/Earth Day 2000
91 Marion Street
Seattle, WA 98104 USA
(206)264-0114 x212 justinec@earthday.net
www.earthday.net
