Does the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) support or oppose the proposed NorCal Wilderness Bill?
Not as they wish it would be with the proposed “boundaries changed”, nor how acceptable it would be to IMBA if mountain bikers were accepted in wilderness, but as it is currently presented.
Yes or No?
IMBA seem’s to be quite comfortable being on the fence. In light of the current political climate, do they find this position an effective one?
It appears to me that IMBA sits on the fence letting others fight the hard battle to defend our recreational access in the hope that they won’t offend the environmental organizations responsible for kicking mountain biking out of our public lands through wilderness bills and Forest Plans. IMBA hopes that by following this political tact of appeasement and fence sitting eventually the NGO’s will see what great guys IMBA and mountain bikers are – “we’re environmentalists too!” – and will support a change allowing mountain bikes in wilderness.
Right – and monkeys will fly out of my butt.
If you doubt me just read what a past director of the Sierra Club and the hero of the environmental movement (and founder of EarthFirst!), Dave Forman, has to say about changing the wilderness designation to allow mountain biking in the following document:
http://www.warriorssociety.org/News/mtn_bike.pdf
IMBA’s message; we are not against the bill we just want boundaries change. Now that’s a passionate message to fight for our access. IMBA fails to educate the MTB community on the true state of our forests and on the lies of the Sierra Club.
I’ve dealt up close and personal with the Sierra Club rep. when they attempted the wilderness designation in the National Forest in Orange County. Those ignorant fools did not even know what trails existed here. Their wilderness proposal would have banned mountain bikes from 100 percent of the single track in the Cleveland National Forest, including the San Juan Trail.
The Warrior’s Society had no patience for these fools and rallied the mountain bike community against them. What help did IMBA give me save IMBA’s Legislative Rep., (Gary Sprung) justification for the Sierra Club’s actions in a phone conversation with me “You can understand why their concerned since President Bush is going to mow down the forests.”
If I want rhetoric such as this I’ll contact the Sierra Club.
As many of you know my weekly news I openly challenged the Sierra Club and the press to prove me a liar when I analyzed their Forest Plan and revealed to the public just what their mantra “Protect and Restore our Forests” meant to fire prevention and control as well as the public’s access. But like cockroaches they “hid” from the light and would not challenge me; it is far easier to treat the public like fools and deceive them with pithy slogans. They were cowards not unlike IMBA’s cowardice to openly confront the Sierra Club by letting their supporters know the net affect the Sierra Club’s and Center for Biological Diversity proposed Forest Plan would have on their access.
Where was IMBA? What effective support did they give the Warrior’s Society in fighting to oppose the Sierra Club’s wilderness proposals? What support did IMBA give me in educating to the MTB community on the effects the Sierra Club and CBD’s Forest Plan would have on their access to the 4 National Forests in SoCal? Did IMBA read my assessments that I emailed to their leadership?
They did not pass on the information on the Sierra Club’s and CBD’s Forest Plan carried in my alerts that expose their proposals and would protect access in the SoCal National Forests, one of the biggest mountain biking communities in the world, a leader in National Land Use Policy, as well as one of the biggest markets for MTB products (with many companies also selling products to the off-road community).
IMBA was worthless due to their policy of appeasement.
I have remained silent lately, tired of the last 5 years of fighting both the Wilderness Bills and Forest Plans pushed by the Sierra Club and Center For Biological Diversity – both of which would have banned mountain biking from our local National Forest.
But I know my opposition well and they will be back, so for now I rest for the next battle to kick us out of our local national forest; and when it comes I will again show the Sierra Club and CBD to be liars and deceivers with the same brutality and lack of mercy as I have afforded them in the past.
And if IMBA fails to effectively fight with me as they have in the past they’ll be subject to the same.
As Machiavelli stated when asked if it is better to be loved or hated he said neither – it is better to be feared.
For now I rest. I have found it useless to debate IMBA and far more effective to analyze them, their statements and the appeasing legacy of IMBA’s past actions. The arena of public opinion can be a brutal one with only our past statements as the legacy of our effectiveness. I find less satisfaction in the words of men as I do in the net effectiveness that is the net result of those words.
I find no contentment in IMBA’s words and even less with their actions.
The following alert was sent to us by our friends at the BRC. As you know there are several wilderness bills dealing with areas outside of Orange County that are close to approval and will result in the loss of our recreational access. Unlike IMBA, the BRC does not operate out of fear or appeasement, but with aggressive action.
Chris
AKA “Dances With Hornets”
>***** BRC ALERT ***** BRC ALERT ***** BRC ALERT ***** BRC ALERT ***** BRC ALERT *****SITUATION:
Three important Wilderness bills are awaiting action in Congress. You need to act NOW to show the members of the House Resources Committee that the recreating public does not support these bills.
* Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act – Sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson (H.R. 233)
*”Wild Sky” Wilderness Bill – Sponsored by Rep. Rep. Rick Larsen (H.R. 851)
*”Boulder White Clouds” Wilderness Bill (a.k.a “Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act” (CIEDRA) – Sponsored by Rep. Mike Simpson (H.R. 2514)
WHY ACTION IS CRITICAL AT THIS TIME
Each of these bills is likely to see action in Congress in the coming months. Recently, Resource Committee staff and Chairman Richard Pombo visited areas some of the areas proposed for Wilderness in these bills.
While in our area, key committee staff met with representatives of BRC and indicated the sponsors of all three bills appear unwilling to amend the legislation to address concerns of recreationists at this time.
Now is the time to let members of the House Resource Committee know how many recreationists oppose these bills.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
We have developed a “3-Step Action Plan” in order to maximize your time and effort in this important issue. If that’s all you need to know, scroll down to “BRC’s 3-Step Action Plan” below and follow the simple directions.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM BRC
I want to stress how important it is to act NOW. There are three primary reasons why:
1. Despite our best efforts, legislation whose primary effect is to reduce access continues to be introduced in Congress. Each of these Wilderness bills has one thing in common: there is no need. No eminent threat exists to these lands. Unless recreationists, both motorized and non-motorized, speak up now — this sad situation will continue.
2. The opportunity is golden! To Chairman Pombo’s great credit, members of his Committee aren’t making these decisions from behind some desk in Washington D.C. Chairman Pombo, as well as key Committee staff members recently visited the lands at issue. They talked to both supporters and those in opposition. The issues are fresh in their minds and I doubt we’ll ever have a better chance to show just how unpopular these bills are.
3. Local input has been exhausted. We have never seen a more concerted effort to attempt to negotiate and reach some middle ground. Sadly, all efforts to compromise utterly failed.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Recreationists worked every angle, used every tool, and pulled every string to try to wrangle some sort of compromise here. The sad fact is that the “professional environmental lobby” in Washington D.C. is trumping all common sense and reason.
The only way to counter this is if recreationists take action today. A priceless treasure is at risk, and if we allow them to take our prized public lands now, I fear that none will be safe in the future.
As I motioned above, BRC is very appreciative of our members’ time and efforts. We don’t issue these kinds of alerts often, and will not issue them unless we believe our members have a chance to influence the issue.
Please take a minute to act on this alert. Even if you live far away from these lands, understand that these are public lands and all American’s have a say in how they are to be managed. Also know that now is the critical time for you to really make a difference. Your action on this alert may end up being like the first drops of rain in a mighty flood.
BRC 3-STEP ACTION PLAN.
Step 1: Email the House Resources Committee
No excuses here! We’ve made it super simple with our Rapid Response Center. Simply click the link below and follow the directions. Be sure to email this to your friends and family so they can help!
Click here, and follow the directions.
http://capwiz.com/share/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7964521
Step 2: Call your Congressman
No excuses here either! Using BRC’s Rapid Response Center, calling your Congressional Representative is INSANELY EASY!
Simply click here:
http://capwiz.com/share/home/
and enter your Zip Code and dial the numbers!
Important tips:
• Tell the staff member your name and that you are a voting constituent.
• Tell the staff member that you oppose H.R. 233 the “Northern California Wilderness bill,” H.R. 851, the “Wild Sky Wilderness bill” and H.R. 2514 the “Boulder White Clouds Wilderness bill.” Be sure to urge your representative to oppose these bills.
• Tell the staff member that you view and enjoy public lands with vehicles and/or mountain bikes and you do not support any legislation that eliminates your access to America’s public lands!
• Mention your membership and support of The BlueRibbon Coalition.
Remember: Be polite and keep your message clear and concise. Clarity and reason are more persuasive than excessive emotionalism.
Step 3: Forward this alert to your friends and family!
Be sure to mention that BRC doesn’t issue these kinds of alerts in the “willy nilly” fashion, and if they take a few short minutes it really could make a difference.
***** END ALERT ***** END ALERT ***** END ALERT ***** END ALERT ***** END ALERT *****
