OUR FORESTS AREN'T FOR SALESave our forests: sign the petition now

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests#petition

The petition text:

"Save our forests - don't sell them off to the highest bidder"
Don't let private companies chop down our woodland.

Protect trees for the conservation of wildlife and the enjoyment of the public.

And also, lest we forget, for the benefit of the trees themselves!

Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2010
To: Starlord
From: David Babbs - 38 Degrees <action AT 38degrees.org.uk>
Subject: Our forests aren't for sale

Dear Starlord,

The government is getting ready for a huge sell-off of our national forests to private firms. This could mean ancient woodlands are chopped down and destroyed. Walkers and endangered animals, like red squirrels and owls, would have to make way for Center Parcs-style holiday villages, golf courses, and logging companies. [1]

We need to stop these plans. Ancient forests like the Forest of Dean and Sherwood Forest are national treasures - once they’re gone, they are lost forever. A huge petition will force the government to rethink. If we can prove how strongly thousands of us are against this, we can make them back down.

Please click here to add your name to a petition saying “save our forests”

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-forests

The government needs to get new laws through Parliament before these plans can go ahead. That means we have time to stop them. If we build a huge petition, we will prove that the public doesn’t want precious woodland to be flogged off. That will make MPs think twice about voting for it.

When we work together, we can stop the government from forcing through these kind of bad plans. They probably think that with all the focus on cuts, no-one will have time to spare to speak up for forests. 38 Degrees members know how to work on more than one issue at once. We’re already standing up for the NHS and the BBC. We’re winning our fight against the massive cow factory farm in Lincolnshire. Now let’s stand up for Britain’s ancient forests together, before it’s too late and they’re gone for good.

Please help build the pressure before it’s too late. Add your name to our “save our forests” petition:

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-forests

Thanks for being involved,
David, Hannah, Johnny and the 38 Degrees team

P.S. If we can build a big enough petition quickly enough, we can get the government to drop these plans right now. Please forward this e-mail to all your friends and family, and ask them to sign the “save our forests” petition by clicking here: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-forests

NOTES [1]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/8082756/Ministers-plan-huge-sell-off-of-Britains-forests.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-plans-huge-selloff-of-britains-forests-2115631.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/24/forests-government-heritage-private-developers

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The bigger we are the more we can do. Please forward this email to your friends and ask them to get involved. 38 Degrees brings you together with over 175,000 people to take action on the issues that matter to you and bring about real change. To find out more visit our website, Facebook or Twitter. Donate: 38 Degrees doesn't accept money from government, big business, or political parties. We rely on donations from individuals to help pay for the technology, the research, the equipment and the small office we need to organise campaigns. Support our work by donating here. 38 DEGREES 2009 Registered Company No. 6642193

Love, Light & Laughter

Starlord

WHO CARES ABOUT FORESTS?

I've copied the following exactly as written from: http://www.avaaz.org/en/trees_not_tricks_uk/96.php

Dear friends around the UK,
Next week, a small group of European countries are planning to create a massive loophole that would further undermine the prospects of the upcoming global climate talks. A strong stance from the UK now could halt their plan, but only a national outcry will persuade the government to step up.
Since the Copenhagen summit, global climate negotiations have been on the brink of collapse, and a breakthrough is urgently needed. Now, Sweden, Finland and Austria are leading a push for an accounting trick that would let rich countries cut down as many trees as they wanted -- without having to report the increased climate damage.
The UK is well-placed to rally other European countries and stop this scam. But the new government hasn’t yet made up its mind on the issue. We know they want to be seen as the greenest government ever, and this is their chance to start strongly on the international climate stage. Let’s send a flood of messages to Climate Minister, Chris Huhne, urging him to be bold on climate and make forests count at next week’s meeting.  

Click below to take action:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/trees_not_tricks_uk/98.php?CLICKTF  

The negotiation over the forest loophole comes at a pivotal time. Political momentum on climate change has slowed -- while the climate crisis itself has grown worse. 2010 has been the hottest year ever on record, with a rising tide of climate-related disasters from Pakistan to Russia.

Forests are the lungs of our planet, sustaining people, animals and plants worldwide. They’re also a potential life-saver in the fight against climate change. But they’re threatened: deforestation already contributes to 20% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. We can’t let a handful of countries undermine efforts to protect them, exploiting forests to avoid taking on real action to protect our common future.

The UK can stiffen Europe’s collective resolve to tackle this issue, and inject vital new hope into the climate negotiations that will shape the world we all live on. Let’s show Mr. Huhne that people across the UK want our government to lead the way -- sign on and forward this message:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/trees_not_tricks_uk/98.php?CLICKTF

In the wake of the recession, the European Union has suffered a crisis of confidence on climate -- and faltered in its leadership. We know that Europe can lead the way on forest protection, because it’s done so before: earlier this year European citizens and leaders agreed to curb the devastating trade in illegal timber. As a major economic and political force in the EU, the UK government has a significant role to fulfill in shaping decisions.

In the sustainable future that we all seek, forests will be accorded the same respect by governments that they have always received from the world’s people. As we build a movement capable of overcoming climate change, let’s use this moment to protect the trees that have protected humankind for millennia.

With hope,

Ben, Iain, Alex, Graziela, Ben M, Mia, David and the rest of the Avaaz team.

Sources:

Cheating Countries Threaten Efforts to Save Forests: http://adoptanegotiator.org/2010/06/05/cheating-countries-threaten-efforts-to-save-forests/

Closing loopholes and bridging gaps: http://blogs.worldwatch.org/revolt/closing-loopholes-and-bridging-gaps-after-bonn

Make Forests Count explain the problems with loopholes: http://makeforestscount.org/problem.php

Love, Light & Laughter

Starlord