ALLIANCE FOR CITIZENS RIGHTS

BEWARE! THE EVIL SOUTHERN PINE
by Ken Freeman

"In all directions, the earth is clad in genetically identical, genetically 'superior' specimens of loblolly jammed into the dirt in straight rows- trees the timber industry calls 'vigorous' and 'thrifty,' all goose-stepping their way to harvest diameter." "This is the second time the forest-products industry has marched like Sherman through the South." (Quotes from the article False Forests in Mother Jones News.)
FACTS TO CONSIDER:

Georgia and Alabama are the two top producers of timber in the United States. This timberland is composed almost entirely of privately owned land.

Two years ago the Chief of the Forest Service, Chief Boswell, sent out an internal memo (assessment on sustainability) stating that the forests of the South could be managed in a "sustainable manner" if only the Feds could somehow gain regulatory control over them. Unfortunately, the statement continued, 90 to 95% of all Southern forests are privately owned. However, he felt that, using certain regulatory measures, Southern forests could be governed in an environmentally friendly manner in spite of this drawback.

The purpose of sustainable development as foreseen by "Agenda 21" of the United Nations is the transfer of control of all natural resources to a new form of governance composed of un-elected boards aligned with the UN and beyond the control of the voters, i.e. similar to the former USSR’s "Soviet."

These boards will use regulatory permits, fines and user fees to slow down growth and restrict the use of natural resources by private individuals or companies. To them, all resources should be controlled by the government or by NGO’s (non governmental organizations) such as the Nature Conservancy, Alabama Forever Wild and the like. Once these boards and trusts are established they cannot be controlled or eliminated, even by the governmental bodies that created them. They become an independent entity and take on a life of their own. i.e., Socialism and Fascism in the name of protecting the environment and Mother Earth.

In Governor Riley’s failed Amendment One, remember that large landowners were especially targeted with unfair taxation. Many believe that this was partially designed to drive producers out of forestry and force transfer of large tracts of land to environmental groups "for protection." The smaller producers (more voters to contend with) would easily fall in place later.

Enter "Pine Tree Pollution" and tree farms. According to the newest environmental propaganda, (see the attached article on "False Forests") pine trees (a) produce turpentine, which pollutes forest lands, (b) cause depletion of soils because they grow so much faster than native trees, (c) kill off wildlife because they are well managed with no dead trees for animal habitat and (d) cause erosion when they are cut and (e) contaminate water supplies because they are sometimes fertilized. One typical quote from this propaganda follows, Because of the perceived long-term cost of these “evil pine trees” to the environment, forest owners will be forced to repay, through mitigation fees, permits and fines, the cost to Mother Earth for the damage they are doing by depriving future generations of their fair share-all determined of course by the U.N. and the Global Government.

Enter Home Rule bill SB129 and HB40 with very broad based, undefined terms and regulatory powers to control pollution, weeds, animals, junk yards, public transportation (cars pollute too, you know) and sewage and water systems. None of these areas is defined. Just what "is" public transportation? What kind of animals will be controlled? Is all fertilizer pollution? Would the average farm with its old equipment constitute a junkyard? Under the authority created by Amendments one and three passed last November, local governments can now borrow up to 50% of the total accessed value of all property, including your private property, within county boundaries. With this new money they are free to form "un-elected boards" to control, fine, set fees and set regulatory permitting costs - all designed to be de facto taxes and punitive land use regulations. (Large portions of this money will go to NGO’s with no over site)

How long will it be, given the opportunity afforded by home rule legislation, before these environmentally correct mitigation fees are levied on pine tree plantations or cattle or hog feedlots or fish farms? Remember we already have selective taxation on cigarettes and alcohol and coming to your neighborhood soon, unhealthy "fast food" producers. How hard will it be to convince the average, brain washed by TV, citizen that these rich landowners deserve to pay up for the "good of all?"
Please read the linked article entitled "False Forests," which is mostly about Alabama Forests and the evils that they bring. Then read SB129 and HB40. Then read between the lines. You will not like what you see. The possibilities are endless with SB129 and HB40 in their present forms.
We need to all work together to either defeat these bills or amend them in such a way that they are much more narrowly defined in authority and scope and are placed directly under the control of the voters and NOT under un-elected boards, trusts or NGO’s which are unaccountable and can not be controlled.
Ken Freeman
Chairman, Alliance for Citizens' Rights

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE HOME PAGE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE LEGISLATION INDEX