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Heritage Forests Campaign News Release

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2002

CONTACT: Le Evans, NET, 202-887-1342 or 202-487-7465 (cell)

New Ads Criticize Bush, Corporate Interest Ties

Enviros Tell Bush To Keep Promises, Listen to the Public – Not Corporate Lobbyists Washington – At a time when the public is increasingly suspicious of the White House's handling of environmental policy, the Heritage Forests Campaign is launching a new TV ad and website – www.allears.org – that call on the Bush administration to keep its promises on national forest protection.

"The Bush administration has turned a deaf ear to the overwhelming public support for environmental issues like national forest protection," said Jane Danowitz, director of the Heritage Forests Campaign. "The White House could pay a political price if it continues to listen to big corporations and not the American public."

The TV ad, entitled "All Ears," criticizes the Bush administration for failing to uphold the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, an historic measure to protect 58.5 million acres of pristine national forest land. The ad calls on the White House to listen to the overwhelming public support for the roadless rule and cites the 1.6 million comments submitted by Americans favoring national forest protection. Viewers are also encouraged to visit a new website – www.allears.org – to learn more about the Bush administration's mishandling of the national forest issue. Similarly, the Heritage Forests Campaign is running ads in key locations along the DC Metro and on The Hotline.

www.allears.org provides documentation of promises made by Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Attorney General John Ashcroft to uphold and defend the roadless rule and cites specific examples of the Bush administration's failure to keep those promises. The site also documents the close industry ties to key officials in the Bush administration and the strong public support for national forest protection.

The TV ad and website come on the heels of a CNN/Time poll that shows growing public support for strengthening environmental laws. According to the poll, only 36 percent of Americans trust President Bush to protect the environment. As the Congressional campaign season begins to heat up, the poll also shows the environment to be one of the top four political issues.

The TV ad hits the airwaves in Washington, DC on Thursday, just one day after Agriculture Secretary Veneman is expected to make her first appearance before the House Resources Committee. She is expected to face tough questions about her handling of national forest policy.

For more information, please contact Le Evans at (202) 887-1342

The Heritage Forests Campaign is an alliance of conservationists, wildlife advocates, clergy, educators, scientists, and other Americans working together to uphold protection of our National Forests. Heritage Forests Campaign's partners include Alaska Rainforest Coalition, American Hiking Society, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, National Environmental Trust, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, US PIRG, and The Wilderness Society.