LETTERS: STICK TO THE FACTS ABOUT SIERRA CLUB

To the editor:

There seems to be considerable confusion in the Ozarks about what the Sierra Club is and is not.

The Ozark Chapter of the Sierra Club is a grass-roots group with around 10,000 members in Missouri out of about 625,000 members nationwide. This is a state organization and deals with statewide conservation, legislative and political issues. Our members determine our positions.

The Sierra Club does not solicit or accept grants from any government agency. Our funding comes from membership fees, donations, fund raising and foundation grants.

We are not Communists, whackos, pagans or tree worshipers. Were are deeply concerned about clean water and air, public health protection, private land stewardship and public land management.

The Sierra Club is not a special-interest group that seeks to gain monetary rewards for its members by influencing public officials and public policy.

We are not outsiders trying to push a global agenda on rural residents, and we are not seeking to deprive landowners of their property rights. One issue in the Ozarks is whether multinational mining corporations should be granted permits to conduct operations on publicly owned land. This has nothing to do with private property rights, and those who claim it does are blowing smoke.

We do comment on most timber sales in the Mark Twain National Forest. Our primary concerns are clearcutting and management of public land to benefit the logging industry.

I would urge responsible citizens in the Ozarks to reject the rantings of a few deluded hate-mongers. Finally, we take very seriously acts of violence, threats, harassing phone calls and published material which libels our organization and members. We will not hesitate to use the full force of the law in bringing to justice those who use such tactics.

KEN MIDKIFF, Program Director

Ozark Chapter of the Sierra Club

Columbia