Hello, people on my mailing lists. I feel obligated to send another message.

Here is a response from someone to whom the Brazilian rain forest e-mail
petition was sent:

>>This petition is a fraud, do not respond to it or send it on to anyone
>>else. It made the rounds about a year ago (the legislation it refers to was
>>in Brazilian Congress about two years ago, and is over and done with), and
>>has evidently resurfaced. Please, always remember: THERE IS NO SUCH THING
>>AS A LEGALLY VALID E-MAIL PETITION. Never has been, never will be.

I apologize for sending this on and causing you to waste precious time, if
you did respond. I'm usually quite resistant to e-mail myths, legends,
scams, petitions, and what have you, but this one seemed worthwhile and
valid. I think what happens is that someone discovers such a message and
forwards it to others who hadn't heard about it, and a whole new life cycle
starts. It's one of the consequences of the internet, and fortunately not
terribly malignant. Sorry about that.

Dennis

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 253-879-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 253-879-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html