Tweeters,
Here is an update on the Roadless Areas Policy. The protection of 58.5
million acres of pristine wilderness and the birds that depend on these
forests is at stake here, folks! I urge you all to take five minutes out of
your work day and call the White House - today!

FYI - I just called the White House myself to make my comments and was told
the 'Comment Line' phone number is (202) 456-1111.
Here is the statement I left on the White House comment voicemail:

"My name is Lauren Braden and I am calling from Seattle, Washington. I am
calling to urge President Bush to implement the Roadless Areas Policy
without further delay. It is President Bush's duty to uphold the law. The
Roadless policy is the product of years of broad debate, focused discussion,
and public comment. I personally attended one of these meetings and waited
patiently for three hours in order to deliver my comments in support of this
policy. There is a very strong mandate from the American people to
implement this Roadless Policy immediately. Thank you."

-----Original Message-----
From: Gopalakrishnan Parameswaran [mailto:shivanp at juno.com]
===== A message from the 'sasaction' discussion list =====

Dear friends and SAS action volunteers,
Here is the latest development regarding the Roadless Areas of our
National Forests . In spite of our beloved President's ( just kidding ! )
refusal to take a clear position , other than to delay and derail these
hard fought rules ; there appears to be a glimmer of hope .

Please call the White House at (202) 456-6798 and tell the President Bush
that it is his bounden duty to uphold the law whether he agrees with them
or not . These Roadless Areas rules were crafted carefully after
extensive public input . The vast majority of the American public from
all cross sections are fully supportive of this policy . The accompanying
e-mail provides more talking points . Thank you !

G. "Shiva" Parameswaran.

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "BERRY, Kristen America McClure" <kberry at AUDUBON.ORG>
To: FOREST-NEWS at LIST.AUDUBON.ORG
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 14:37:14 -0500
Subject: Judge DENIES Administration request for delay! Roadless Rule
court proceedings creep forward.
Message-ID: <591D21841F87D311A279009027AAE4BF3C3E5E at eagle>

Judge DENIES Administration request for delay! Roadless Rule court
proceedings creep forward.

The Bush Administration's attempts to avoid action on the roadless
policy,
signed by President Clinton on January 5, 2001, were met with a roadblock
in
the United States District Court of Idaho. Late yesterday, U.S. District
Judge Edward Lodge denied the Bush Administration's request for a delay
in
proceedings in a lawsuit filed, against the policy, by the State of Idaho
and Governor Dirk Kempthorne. Judge Lodge ordered the Bush
Administration
to file its response to the State's preliminary injunction today.

Consequentially, the Administration will be forced to take a position on
the
roadless rule, as it applies to the State of Idaho case, TODAY! That
decision will affect the entire roadless policy. It will affect ALL
states
where the roadless policy would be implemented.

NOW is the time to get letters, faxes, and calls into the White House
demanding action from the Administration. During Senate confirmation
hearings, Attorney General Ashcroft pledged to defend the roadless
policy.
He must be held to that pledge. President Bush needs to hear the same
mandate from the American people to implement the roadless policy that
the
Clinton Administration did while developing it. Please call the White
House
today, and let your voice be heard!

Call the White House at (202) 456-6798.


The Forest Protection Rule is the product of two decades of broad debate,
three years of focused discussion, 6 months of public comment, and over
600
local meetings and hearings on each National Forest and in each Forest
Service region.

The Rule, which protects 58.5 million acres of roadless forests, received
a
record-breaking mandate of 1.6 million public comments of which more than
95% called for the strongest possible protection for the remaining wild
National Forest lands. As a result of a February 5, 2001 memo from White
House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, the Bush Administration delayed
implementation of the Roadless Policy until May 12, 2001.

For more information or to send a letter of fax to the White House,
please
go to
http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/contact/default.asp?subject=29.