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America's Forests: Not for Sale! Sample Letters to the Editor Write a letter to your member of Congress, or write a letter to the editor ("LTE") of your local newspaper. Below we have talking points and sample letters. Letter 1 You might not own a car or a house, but did you know that you – and I and every American – are part owner of 655 million acres of federal public lands and waters? Unfortunately, there have been a number of proposals in Washington, D.C., recently that would remove these lands from the public trust, selling them to mining companies, developers and other special interests at bargain-basement prices. Places that provided habitat for wildlife, lands that are a source of clean water could be on the chopping block under these proposals, putting the amazing HIKING/HUNTING/FISHING opportunities we enjoy there in jeopardy. Once these special places are sold they are gone forever. Together we are the stewards of this vast estate, and it’s time to let our elected officials know that we oppose the auctioning off our natural treasures to the highest bidder. Public lands belong in public hands. Letter 2 As part of our natural heritage, every American is part owner of 655 million acres of federal public lands and waters. We can thank conservationists like Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and Jimmy Carter for this rich legacy of national parks, forests and other protected lands. But places we once thought would be held in public trust forever are now at risk of being sold at fire sale prices for development, mining, energy and logging. The Bush administration has gotten a ton of negative press this year over its proposal to auction off hundreds of thousands of acres of public land managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. And Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) has offered similar proposals – to give land to mining companies and other developers at bargain-basement prices and to sell naming and advertising rights in National Parks. Our public lands should not be sold to benefit special interest groups, but remain in public hands for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club