Hearing in Sacramento Re. West Point Timber Sale

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE INVOLVED? EPIC SUGGESTS SOME GOOD OPTIONS:

1. Hearing in Sacramento on the West Point Timber Sale
Monday, May 2, 2005,
1:30 pm in Courtroom 5 before the Hon. William Shubb
Federal Building
501 "I" Street in Sacramento
Corner of "I" and Fifth Streets
(parking across the street by the Amtrak station)

Witness the judicial process! Show support for EPIC's fight to turn
around the Forest Service policy of logging old growth while calling it
"fire protection."

We will be presenting arguments against Forest Service plans to cut
over 1,000 acres deep in the Klamath National Forest backcountry. They
are using fire as a pretext for logging, removing the largest, most
fire-resistant trees in this remote area. We argue that this would
greatly increase the risk of fire and fragment and destroy old-growth
forests and other important wildlife habitat, where the northern
spotted owl and the extremely rare Siskiyou Mountains salamander live.


2. Last chance to see the nationally renowned play,
"WHAT'S FUNNY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?"
Theatre troupe Human Nature presents a three-person comedy review that
has been performed around the U.S. over the last two years. Their final
performance will be

Saturday, April 30, 2005
Eureka High School
J Street and Del Norte
Show begins at 8:00 pm
Admission: Sliding scale $2.00-$5.00
Call for information: 629-3670

Directions from Highway 101: Go east on Harris to J Street; north on J
about 6 blocks; the high school is on the east side of J Street.


3. REPORT FROM THE AMAZON--Saturday, April 30th, 7:00 pm
at Beginnings in Briceland
Earth Films presents a slide show, short film, discussion and dinner,
followed by live music by

Staci Falcis and Shilo

James Ficklin and Nicola Peel have recently traveled to the rainforests
of Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, investigating the devastating effects of
oil driling for an upcoming documentary. Come see a stunning slide show
and short video about the Amazanga Indians who are trying to preserve
their ancestral land. For more information, please call 707-925-0012.


4. Endangered Species Act is In Danger—Write to Congress Today!
There is a major push in Congress to weaken the Endangered Species Act.
The ESA is an important tool to protect species and their habitat from
practices that degrade and destroy water quality, forests, and
remaining wild places.

Last month, Representative Dennis Cardoza introduced his
deceptively-named "Critical Habitat Enhancement Act," (H.R. 1299).
The bill would actually weaken protections for endangered species and
habitat. It would create a series of loopholes, unattainable
standards, and hollow duties that would eliminate crucial habitat
protections. It is not an enhancement bill; it is a destruction bill.

TAKE ACTION: Please write a personal letter to your Member of Congress
asking him or her to support the Endangered Species Act. Ask them to
oppose H.R. 1299, the Critical Habitat Enhancement Act, and any bill
that would weaken protection for endangered species and habitat.

To find your Member of Congress, go to
http://www.house.gov/>http://www.house.gov

SAMPLE LETTER:
[Please personalize make your letter to include personal reasons why
you want to protect species which are listed or in danger of
extinction, or any experiences you have with these species and their
habitat.]

DATE

The Honorable (Name)
United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (Name):

As your constituent, I am writing to express strong support for the
Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act has been a safety
net for wildlife, fish and plants on the brink of extinction. It has
been successful in protecting the bald eagle, the American alligator,
the gray wolf, the pacific salmon, as well as many other species.

However, the Endangered Species Act is under threat from some Members
of Congress.

In particular, Representative Dennis Cardoza's Critical Habitat
Enhancement Act, H.R. 1299, would undermine protections for the places
that imperiled plants and animals need to survive and recover. It would
create a series of loopholes, unattainable standards, and hollow duties
that would eliminate crucial habitat protections.

Scientists tell us that one of the most effective ways to protect
species is to protect the places where they live. The Endangered
Species Act protects the critical habitat that is needed to prevent the
extinction of endangered fish, plants and wildlife. The Endangered
Species Act requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to use the most
rigorous science available when developing common sense solutions to
prevent the extinction of endangered fish, plants and wildlife.

We owe it to ourselves and future generations to be good stewards of
the environment and leave behind a legacy of protection for endangered
species and the special places they call home. No species, however
small or insignificant, should be lost on our watch. Extinction is
forever.

Please support the Endangered Species Act. Please oppose H.R. 1299,
the Critical Habitat Enhancement Act, and any bill that would weaken
protections for endangered species and habitat.

Sincerely,


Your name
Your address


--------
Jan Bramlett, Office Manager
The Environmental Protection Information Center
P.O. Box 397
Garberville, CA 95542
707.923.2931
707.923.4210 (fax)