Comments on: How many sins are in your mission statement?

By: Simon Counsell

Simon Counsell — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:59:25 +0000

FSC “is a vastly superior alternative to standard industrial logging. In forests that would otherwise be logged without third party oversight, FSC promotes practices that preserve ecosystem functions (like habitat and water quality) and safeguards the most ecologically valuable areas.”

Readers might like to see the latest posting on FSC-Watch, http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2008/03/21/The_FSC_in_pictures, which shows numerous pictures of what FSC certified logging operations actually look like on the ground (or from space).

Readers might like to try and identify where exactly the “preservation of ecosystem functions like habitat and water quality” is supposedly taking place.

By: Stan

Stan — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:40:20 +0000

Challenge accepted. Here it is, a short and straight-forward answer with no attacks.

“Simply, FSC certification isn’t the ultimate protection for endangered forests, but it is a vastly superior alternative to standard industrial logging. In forests that would otherwise be logged without third party oversight, FSC promotes practices that preserve ecosystem functions (like habitat and water quality) and safeguards the most ecologically valuable areas.”

Thanks for the work you do, I hope this means we can work together on this and other important issues in the future.

By: Dr. Glen Barry

Dr. Glen Barry — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:06:27 +0000

Stan,
Answer this one question in a short, straight forward manner with no personal attacks and I shall forever leave your forum in peace:

How does FSC certified logging of primary and old-growth forests “protect endangered forests”?

I have asked this question repeatedly of RAN, as have several thousand others, and you nor any of your fellow ancient forest sell-outs has provided and ecologically grounded, logically consistent response. In fact, you have not answered this at all. Here’s your chance Stan the Man. Put this attention grabbing political ecologist with 20 years studying this issue and a phd on this very topic in his place!

By: Dr. Glen Barry

Dr. Glen Barry — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:57:24 +0000

You are awful good at personal insults and very poor at discussing ecological issues. I was referring to the tag line on your web site. Yeah, I am just trying to cause trouble. Clearly logging ancient forests protects them. Give me a break.

By: Stan

Stan — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:02:33 +0000

Glen, RAN’s mission statement is: “Rainforest Action Network campaigns for the forests, their inhabitants and the natural systems that sustain life by transforming the global marketplace through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action.” Might want to double-check your facts before you go on a rant.

Far from “entirely rebuffing” your claims, we’ve addressed many of them here in the past (like this post). Further, I’m the webmaster at RAN and we’re not, as far as I know, blocking any email. Sure you have the right address?

I’ve got to wonder if you’re really interested in engaging on this issue or just like causing problems.

By: Dr. Glen Barry

Dr. Glen Barry — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:38:54 +0000

Great question! I see that RAN’s mission statement is:

RAN is campaigning to break America’s oil addiction, reduce our reliance on coal, protect endangered forests and Indigenous rights, and stop destructive investments around the world.

Over the past year tens of thousands of people have asked RAN to explain how their support for FSC certification of primary and old-growth logging “protect(s) endangered forests”. And they have been entirely rebuffed. Now RAN is blocking protest emails on the matter from http://www.climateark.org/alerts/send.asp?id=fsc_forest_liars

RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK, clean up your own house before talking about sins in your mission statement.
Dr. Glen Barry
President
Ecological Internet, Inc.