Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

m·.o.r.e. from fhe ca~ilol' by Russ Sanford SIERRA CLUB GOES BERSERK There are 24,315,053 acres of National Forest in California. These are publi lands which are administered by the U.S. Forest Service in what is presumably the best interest of the total public. Most of the Forest Service Service personnel, at least those at the decision-making level, have been well schooled in all phases of land management. Their training and experience provides excellent qualifications for making those decisions which will render the best over-all use of the National Forest, whether it be for preservation, timber harvesting, mining, or recreation. My personal feelings are that if left alone, the U.S. Forest Service is well quilified to manage the forests in the best interest of the total public. BUT, the U.S. Forest Service has not been left alone. Only in recent years has the U.S. Forest Service become engaged in providing a recreational outlet for the public. And, as the importance of recreation became more demanding, well-organized groups such as the Sierra Club moved in and began to exert lheir pressure on the Forest Service. In lhe beginning the Sierra Club adopted atheme called "conservation" and were quick to gain the support of hikers, horsemen, fishermen, hunters, campers, and most other forms of outdoor recreation. In the beginning, it didn't make a bit of difference how the outdoor recreationist reached the place where he 'did his thing'. It did not matter if he arrived on foot, by horseback, or by mechanized vehicle. The theme was "conserve the public lands". And for anyone to argue against a theme like that, would be the same as disgracing motherhood, the American Flag, and apple pie. The Sierra Club played an important role in bringing about a better code of ethics for timber harvesting. They did much to make th~ public aware that the timber industry was leaving our National Forests in a shambles when their logging operations were completed. Through this public awareness, pressurcs have been .brought to eliminate such practices. Unfortunately, the Sierra Club's activities in this respect left the general public with the underlying suspicion that the U.S. Forest Service and the timber industry had been in 'cahooLs' all along. The_truth of the matter is that the U.S. Forest Service wasn't so hot ahout such practices from the beginning, but lacked the backing which was necessary to regulate and con trol the powerful timber interests. For this aloneLwe can extend thanks to the Sierra Club. strongest remaining adheren1s of the old mystical attitude towards nature.F or several genera tions, the adherents of such views were intensively educated in considerable numbers by tax-supported schools whose principal propaedutic devices were the stake and the rack. The sacerdotal attitude towards nature became less and less fashionable as more and more of its proponen ts were converted in to a greasy cloud of pollution that hung heavy over most of Europe. Once the air cleared, about twen ty generations ago, some thinkers began to suggest that if it was right and proper for man to shape his environmen t to fit his will - as was by then generally accepted - then he ough t to go ahou t this task in a conscious, systematic manner. This was the dawn of the modern era, which is convenien tly dated by Francis Bacon, who wrote in the lith century, HNatural science has therefore no 0 ther goal than to more firmly estahlish and extend the power and domination of men over nature". With his usual brilliant imagery, Bacon described the process we now call Research and Development as the means to mastering nature: "For you have but to follow and, as it were, hound nature in her wanderings, and you will be able. when you like, to lead and drive her afterwards to the same place again." Natur~, once the integument of the supreme forces of the universe, had finally been demoted to the status of a barnyard fowl whose central [unction was to lay eggs for breakfast at your pleasure. This ambitious program of Bacon's prospered beyond all expectation until just three, and then again, two generations ago in the aftermath of lhe War to End War and the depth of the Great Depression - some people began to ,fear that man have overstepped his station in life, that he had gone too far too fast. A scattering of voices began to advise man to stop his advance towards mastery of his eovironment...even to take -a few steps backwards. The idea that -man may and can shape his environment to his wishes, rather than his wishes to his environment, had produced such striking results that some people began to lose their nerve, and their faith in the ability and destiny of man. They feared the ancien t sin of hubris, and advised man. to cool it, least he offend the gods. The identification of gods who e noses must not be tweaked with nature, the environmen t, the physical world around us,_ completes the circle, in a sense, and places the curren t extreme enviionmentalist in closer rapport wiLh their ancestors of a thousand generations ago than with such founders of the modem era as Bacon, Galileo. and Newton. These nco-primitives are the eco-freaks. BACKLASH The public has been gullible in the initial acceptance of the Sierra Club's 'scare tactics' concerning ecology and preservation. But, the public has seen through the Sierra Club. This is evidenced hy the fact that our legislators and other public officials are having second though ts abou t these subjec ts and are recognizing tha t since the beginning of time, man and his pursuits are also an essential part of the ecology. In summary, the ierra Club is now suffering from the backlash of an 'oversell' campaign. They have been discredited and held up to public ridicule. LAST DITCH EFFORT ' Don't make the mistake of counting the Sierra Club Out just yet. They are making a tremendous attempt to secure Wilderness classifications for as much of California's public lands, as is possible. The Sierra Club is doing this in the most effective way possible: mass representations. Again, I must reiterate that it is my firm belief that the U.S. Forest Service knows how to manage the National Forests better than anyone else. But, by law, the U.S. Forest Service must respond to pressure. The Sierra Club has applied that pressure in such a way that the Forest Service is engaged in studying tile lands under their administration for the best possible benefit to the total puhlic. In performing these studies, the Forest Service has determined that certain specified areas should be classified as Wilderness. And that is as it should be. The Forest Service has also determined that n,uch of the public land should be designated for use by the general public in whatever manner is desired, as long as such use is not irreversibly detrimental to the public land. And that. also. is as it should be. Again, by law, the U.S. Forest Service must make its findings known to the gent ..al public before ,my action can be taken. This allows the public to approve or disapprove of the Forest Service plans. Such actions are accomplished through Public Hearings conducted by .the U.S. Fore.st Service. The Sierra Club, and its opinions and desires, are only kept alive because they have learned the necessity of making a 'good showing' at these Public Hearings. It makes no difference that their representatives at these hearings read prepared and identical speeches, Or that they are 'bused in' from many miles distant. What is important is that they show up in huge numbers. The sad part is that the off-road vehicle enthusiasts outnumber the Sierra Club twenty-to-one, but we are lucky to get a mere handful of people to tum out and express their views. You'll never win a race if you don't learn to RELAX! Don't foul up now! KLOTZ Chemical Racing Oil runs carbonfree to STOP PLUG FaUll NG once and for all! ... What's more, your engine actually runs 10-15° cooler with KLOTZ. KLOTZ contains Techniplate*, a very special ingredient that gives vastly superior film strength for reduced friction and increased RPM's. Run faster, cooler, cleaner, longer with KLOTZ. Want proof? Just try it ... and you'll never settle for an ordinary lubricant again! Write for further details on KLOTZ Chemical Racing Oil and other KLOTZ products like Ether Performance Additive, Nitro Racing Additive and Chain Lube. It you include 50¢, we'll also send a sew-on patch and decal. . Dealer inquiries are welco~e. ': Klotz Special Formula ~ Products Box 1343, Dept. eN 173 Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46801 KEY SOLUTION The way to defeat the zealots at the head of the Sierra Club is to outnumber them at every public hearing, large or small. Until we do, the tail will continue to 'wag the dog'! SIERRA CLUB'S NEWEST EFFORT The U.S. Forest Service has conducted extensive field studies, accompanied by public involvement, and has recommended that 238, I i6 acres located in the Klamath, Shasta-Trinity, and Six Rivers National Forests in Northern California, be designated as the "Trinity Alps Wilderness". Much of this acreage is presently classified as a HPrimitive Area'\ and the remainder is either private land or public land open to public use. Most of the land which the Forest Service proposes as Wilderness, is either not suitable or not presently accessible to off-road vehicles. The Forest Service further proposes that adjoining lands, some of which are located in the existing Primitive Area, be declassified and opened to general use by the publk. The Sierra Club has pretty much gone along with the Forest Service's proposal until just. recently, when they have advised their members to support a counter-proposal. The Counter-proposal, which was developed by the Sierra Club, calls for an estimated 610,i00 acres of the existing Primitive Area and adjoining lands to be classified as Wilderness. This proposal is so ridiculous, that even the federal agencies are soliciting responsible public participation. I' TTl ~Trademark IJ{I1@!l$PIJIfEII18GO FOUR PROPOSALS The Forest Service examined four basic alternatives with respect to the land In question. These were: A. Management for motorized public access and intensive resource management. '8. Management as Wilderness. C. Management as unroaded backcountry without motorized access, with or without formal classification of lands. D. Management under a combination of the above. The Sierra Club is in favor of Alternative "B ". There is no doubt that Alternative "D" is the best solution, however, to offset the Sierra Club's impact, WE MUST SUPPORT Alternative "A". ~RODU~tington OMPETITION Moto-X - YClE AL TERNATE ACTION I know that there are many people who would have liked to attend the hearing and lend their support, 'but were unable to travel the distance to Redding even though the 9th of December fell on a Saturday. You can help just as much as being there, jf you will write a letter to: Regional Forester D.R. LEISZ, ATTENTION 2100, 630 SANSOME STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. In your lelter, inform Mr. Leisz that you favor "management for motorized pubHc access and intensive resource managemenl" for the area being considered as the "'Trinity Alps \Vildemess". I If you have further questions, please address all inquiries and/or comments to Russ Sanford, c/o M.O.R.E., P.O. Box 26062, Sacramento, CA 95826. , J ... • .. I ElMET HOUSE • DEALERS SEND FOR CATALOG. 12010 W. PICO BLVD., LOS ANGELES, CALIF. 90064 PHONE (213) 479·4383 Desert Enduro 1661 2 Beach Blvd. Beach, Calif (714) 847-2202 r:........ ,........"""",~~ " i GREEVES - OSSA HODAKA i CARABELA -STEEN ~ i Sal.. 80 Service ~ iIll: N/CK NICHOLSON MOTOR S i 11573 VANOWEN STREET i ~ NO. HOLLYWOOD. CA. (2131 764-8674 .. -ir,~;r.;;"'rr.,·.IIII.1IIIIIIII.1J1 , ~ ~. ~ . Ul ;: w Z w -' () ~ u

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