Joe,

Attached is a news release regarding the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group’s (AHUG) receipt of $116,000 in Pennsylvania tax dollars and AHUG’s involvement in hate speech. AHUG was awarded this money between 1998 – 2000 from the HDC, a bureau of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

AHUG received tax funds from HDC to implement various projects including educational programs for schoolchildren. One of the educational activities AHUG sponsored was an essay contest. In this contest 8^th grade students were asked to submit a one-page essay to answer the following question: What does Forest Stewardship Mean to Me and My Community. The first place essay was posted on AHUG’s web page until May 10, when it was removed as a result of the negative publicity that has been generated over its presence. Because it can no longer be found on AHUG’s web page we have included a copy for your review.

In a nutshell, the essay is about a futuristic chain saw wielding logger who is concerned over the decline in logging revenue his community receives as a result of those on the "dark side" who have stopped logging (the "archenemy" according to the essay). To avenge these losses, the logger kills the leader of the "preservationists" with his "lightsaw. After killing the preservationist the community’s problems are cured and the town once again prospers.

Rather than teaching a lesson of tolerance for people who hold different viewpoints, AHUG’s civics lesson was simple: people who hold opposing viewpoints are the archenemy and our lives will not improve until we kill those who disagree with us. How did AHUG teach this civics lesson? They awarded the student who wrote this essay 1^st place in the essay contest, presented him a $100 savings bond, and his picture appeared in the local newspaper (Kane Republican, 4/21/00).

The promotion of hate speech by AHUG as described above is consistent with the message that Ron Arnold promotes. Mr. Arnold was the guest speaker at AHUG’s annual meeting on May 11. Please read the news release below to see how this tax-supported organization is promoting yet additional hate speech by bringing in Mr. Arnold.

Hate speech can not be tolerated in America. Nor should the State of Pennsylvania award tax dollars to an organization that promotes hate speech. As we learned from Columbine High School, hate speech can lead to violence.

Robin Smith
(614) 538-9344

NOTE: This essay can no longer be accessed at this web site. It was removed from AHUG’S web page on 5/10/00.

As Duke Sandhopper walked out of what was to be the last Kane School Board Meeting, he thought, "It's such a shame that Kane Schools have to merge with Smethport due to a lack of funding. There must be something I can do." Quickly he hopped into his 2022 VW beetle and sped off to his home in Greendale.

He took a brisk shower and went to bed. That night, he head the strangest dream. An old man, who introduced himself as Kobi-Ron Denobi said, "The Forest is strong with you, Duke. Come to my hut in Wetmore and shall teach you the ways of the Forest."

When Duke woke up he ignored his dream and went to work at Kane Magnetics. Everything was normal until lunch. Then, Kobi-Ron showed up. He took Duke to his hut and told him, "you will now learn the ways of the forest, and you will become a logger." Then Kobi-Ron pulled out what appeared to be the handle of a saw and hit a button on the side. Immediately a glowing saw blade shot out. "This was your father's lightsaw. He, too, was a logger," said Kobi-Ron.

Over the next weeks, Duke learned to harness the Forest. He was very proficient with a lightsaw. He could cut down trees while fighting off a preservationist. One day, Kobi-Ron explained to Duke the responsibilities of being a respectable logger. "We loggers must maintain a healthy forest. We do this by harvesting trees before they reach their biological maturity. Sustainable forestry, through thinning, rotation, and cleaning is what we practice," explained Kobi-Ron.
"Speak in English, Kobi-Ron," quipped Duke.

To which Kobi-Ron replied, "First, we must harvest trees before they become too old, or reach their biological maturity, or else we would endanger the rest of the forest. Thinning is harvesting some trees when they are young, to improve the quality of the surrounding trees. When we harvest a particular stand that has met its biological maturity, that is rotation. And lastly, it is cleaning when we free a stand from an undesirable species that would, or might overtop them."   "What would become of the forest if we did not practice these forest management techniques?" inquired Duke.

"The forest would become biologically unstable. The largest and strongest plants would thrive, and the smaller would die off due to lack of nutrients and sunlight," replied Kobi-Ron unwaveringly.

One grave day, Kobi-Ron said to Duke, "Your training will be complete when you defeat Dark Vaper, archenemy of sustainable forest practices. But beware, do not give into preservationists, for they are the Dark Side."

Duke replied, "I will defeat Vaper and return the schools to Kane." Duke recalled the slow death of the other Board members of the district's financial situation. He said, "At one time, this school district was very prosperous and received $600,000 from the profits of the timber industry. At this present time, we receive only $25,000." Once or twice a year, the School Board faced the somber task of eliminating a program. First it was extra-curricular activities. Then, field trips. After that, sports and Science Olympiad teams were cut. When parents started to see this, they moved so their children would have a better chance at a good education. Eventually, the school was barely over state requirements. The buildings were poorly maintained. Other communities suffered the same fate.

At last, the school board was forced to consolidate with Smethport. The preservationists caused all this. They protested, argued, and took legal action to halt proper forest management. They told the citizens that the only correct way to manage the forest was to leave it alone. Many people believed them and helped them. By the time they say that following the preservationists only worsened the situation, it was too late. The fragile biological balance that allowed this area to grow the trees that brought in so much money was destroyed. Every year, the schools and townships were getting less money.

Duke snapped out of his daze and got back to work. He started his beetle, but before he could leave, Kobi-Ron came out and wished him good-bye, saying, "May the Forest be with you." Duke wasn't sure where he was going, but he knew the Forest would guide him. Suddenly, he was hiding behind a wall in a meeting hall. He was listening to Vaper praise the preservationists. "You acted in the best interest of the forest," he told them.

Duke knew it was time to strike. He wheeled around the corner while turning his lightsaw. Vaper immediately turned his on, too. As Duke swung his lightsaw, he heard Kobi-Ron's voice resonating throughout the forest saying, "Use the Forest, Duke."

Duke fought Vaper very bravely while explaining to the preservationists what they had done to the people of Kane. In one decisive blow, Duke struck Vaper down. Immediately after Vaper died, the preservationists were freed from a trance. They felt a sudden guilt for what they had done.

It took many years, but the natural balance required to grow so many types of trees that were very profitable for the area was restored. Once again loggers ruled and were the stewards of the woods. The timber industry grew better than ever and the schools also prospered from regained revenues. Duke had indeed succeeded in the task he set out to accomplish.

NOTE: Bold type has been added by Native Forest Council for emphasis. Bold type did not exist in the original essay as found on AHUG’s web page.

NATIVE FOREST COUNCIL
P.O. Box 2190 P.O. Box 21021
Eugene, Oregon 97402 Columbus, Ohio 43221-0021
(541) 688-2600 (614) 538-9344

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Robin Smith (614) 538-9344

TAX-SUPPORTED LOGGING GROUP BRINGS IN HATEMONGER

Kane, Pennsylvania—The Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group (AHUG), a tax-payer supported organization formed to promote the logging industry, has invited Ron Arnold—one of the nation’s leading hatemongers—to speak at its annual dinner meeting on May 11.

Arnold, who is the Executive Vice President of the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, has stated that he is "out to kill the f###ers" who are attempting to protect National Forests from further logging. He warns the "eco-facists" working to protect America’s publicly owned National Forests that "I’m coming to get you." Never one to mince words over his hatred for people who want to protect the environment, Arnold stated in a CNN interview that he wanted to "kill the b#####ds."

Who does Mr. Arnold want to kill? "You and me, and most everybody else in the United States, too," explained Robin Smith, Regional Director for the Native Forest Council. "According to a recent survey, nearly 70 percent of Americans want logging ended on our National Forests. That makes most Americans the target of Mr. Arnold’s hatemongering."

Mr. Arnold and AHUG are chilling public participation by demonizing and threatening those who have a viewpoint that differs from theirs. "These threats and intimidation must end," declared Smith. "Americans have a constitutionally guaranteed right to participate in our democracy without fear of violence from those who hold different viewpoints. While Mr. Arnold will attempt to downplay his vigilante rhetoric, hate speech as we learned from Columbine High School can lead to violence."

Organizations working to protect the Allegheny National Forest from destructive logging want to know why many local school district officials, township supervisors, county commissioners, and state legislators plan to attend Mr. Arnold’s speech. According to Jim Kleissler, Forest Watch Director for the Allegheny Defense Project, "If violence, or even threats of violence, occurs to any member of the conservation community, we will hold AHUG and these elected officials responsible."

"Why did Pennsylvania legislators funnel $116,000 to an organization that, in addition to promoting the liquidation of one of our national treasures—the Allegheny National Forest—provides a soapbox for someone who promotes hatred and violence?" asked Native Forest Council’s Robin Smith. "This transgression by our elected officials can not be tolerated. As their last act before they resign for their malfeasance, the state legislature should immediately force AHUG to give this money back to Pennsylvania taxpayers."

Hometown reporters are urged to contact local school district officials, township supervisors, county commissioners, and state legislators to ask if they support American’s constitutionally guaranteed right to participate in our democracy without fear of violence or intimidation from those who hold different viewpoints. If they support this right, ask them why they are planning to attend Ron Arnold’s speech at AHUG’s annual meeting on May 11. o

The Native Forest Council, a non-profit organization with headquarters in Eugene, Oregon, works to protect America’s 635 million acres of publicly owned federal lands from destructive activities such as logging, mining, grazing, and drilling for oil and gas.

The Allegheny Defense Project, a non-profit organization based in Clarion, Pennsylvania, works to protect and restore Allegheny forests.

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