"According th UNESCO's 1995 Seville Strategy for Biosphere Reserves, the first objective of the program is to 'Promote biosphere reserves as a means of implementating the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity.' This treaty was never ratified by the U.S. Senate because it was proven the treaty was based on a plan to place up to one-half of America into core wilderness reserves as the unstated goal of the USBRP, so why are we continuing the program?"

MAGNITUDE OF THE WILDLANDS PROJECT "Conservation must be practiced on a truly grand scale...Taken from the article "The Wildlands Project: Land Conservation Strategy" in the 1992 special issue of Wild Earth, Noss provides the whopping dimensions of this effort.

Core reserves are wilderness areas that supposedly allow biodiversity to flourish...For a minimum viable population of 1000 [large mammals], the figures would be 242 million acres for grizzly bears, 200 million acres for wolverines, and 100 million acres for wolves. Core reserves should be managed as roadless areas (wilderness). All roads should be permanently closed."

Corridors are "extensions of reserves...Corridors several miles wide are needed if the objective is to maintain resident populations of large carnivores."

Buffer zones should have two or more zones "so that a gradation of use intensity exists from the core reserve to the developed landscape. Inner zones should have low road density (no more than 0.5 mile/square mile) and low-intensity use such as. . .hiking, cross-country skiing, birding, primitive camping, wilderness hunting and fishing, and low-intensity silviculture (light selective cutting)."

WHAT DO RESERVES AND CORRIDORS REALLY MEAN? While this effort has a noble mission, the implications are staggering. As noted in the June 25, 1993 issue of Science, it "is nothing less than the transformation of America to an archipelago of human-inhabited islands surrounded by natural areas."

According to the Wildlands Project, "One half of the land area of the 48 conterminous [united] states be encompassed in core [wilderness] reserves and inner corridor zones (essentially extensions of core reserves) within the next few decades.... Half of a region in wilderness is a reasonable guess of what it will take to restore viable populations of large carnivores and natural disturbance regimes, assuming that most of the other 50 percent is managed intelligently as buffer zone." (Noss, 1992) If fully implemented, the Convention On Biological Diversity would have to displace millions of people through unacceptable regulations, nationalization of private land, and forcing people to move out of core reserve areas and inner buffer zones. It would seriously reduce the production of agriculture, forest, and mining products. In the process, millions of Americans could lose their jobs. In turn, the resulting scarce resources means the rest of us are going to pay double and triple for these products.

This may sound insane, but it's either being planned or implemented right now across America. Land is being condemned or zoned in reserves, corridors or buffer zones under a variety of names to reestablish or protect biodiversity and/or specific species. Should these quasi-religious theories and pseudo-science determine our future?

http://epi.freedom.org/mapwild.htm

http://epi.freedom.org/mapmabwh.htm#

Since the maps of individual states can no longer be found on the internet (I haven't located them since they disappeared over a year ago), I encourage you to order a map of your own state and see where you might be living in, say, 20 years or so.

-- (mass@delusions.com), April 17, 1999

Answers

I don't think that a degraded, logged-over, strip-mined planet is such a wonderful thing. Hey, call me a commie but I'll take a few grizzly bears anytime over more shopping malls.

If you right-wing reactionaries are so unhappy with the way things are going, then what do you suggest in their place? What is it that bothers you most?

I am an extreme left-winger. I hate the sprawl. I hate mindless consumption for the sake of a buying habit. I hate franchised lowest common denominator mall stores. I hate consumption. I love production. I love strength and freedom to laugh, to be gentle, to have fun.

We are crapping up the planet for junk, to have more than our neighbors. Beenie Babies, teletubbies, F150's, Suburbans, ski-boats, snowboards, home theaters, more junk, more loneliness, more stress, more, more, more, more.

I believe that we get the government we ask for. This is a democracy and what we place in Washington reflects what we want. You want a pretty-boy president? You vote him in. You want an intellect? You vote him in. You want an imitation cowboy? you vote him in.

There is no government conspiracy to take over you land and populate it with UN forces. There is a corporate conspiracy to feed you happy-time junk ideas so that you will distrust your neighbor, be cynical and compliant, and BUY MORE SHIT.

Kill the breeders

-- Kill the breeders (breeding@kills.com), April 17, 1999.

"There is no government conspiracy to take over you land and populate it with UN forces"

I don't believe there is anything in the Biodiversity plan that suggests populating our country with UN forces. If you are going to comment intellegently on the posted materials (including links), I suggest you read them first.

Thank you.

-- (mass@delusions.com), April 17, 1999.

Corridors are "extensions of reserves...Corridors several miles wide are needed if the objective is to maintain resident populations of large carnivores." I'm a large carnivore!

-- Tonto (Tonto @silver.com), April 17, 1999.

"It would seriously reduce the production of agriculture, mining and forest products." Hooray! Not a minute too soon in my book. Agri business has taken over farming, mining has stripped our land, and ruined the water and forest products have created thousands of acres of unstable land from clear cutting, which cause mud slides and pollute more streams. Don't you give a shit about the environement?

We fully intend to leave our small amount of acreage to a group for a wildlife sanctuary. We'd like some little remnant of the natural world left for species other than people. We are breeding ourselves off the planet. When all the large carnivores are gone, human beings won't last much longer. Get a clue. "With Man Gone, Will There Be Hope For Gorilla?" Read Ishmael and maybe you will better understand why corridors are important to the welfare of all of us as well as other large carnivores.

Kill the Breeders, I agree with you. I have seen the population double in my life time and the result is horrible. Our beautiful area has become a land of ugly malls, billboards the size of boxcars, condominiums for people who already have a home in the city, and of course the "shop 'til you drop" idiots, buying more useless junk to end up in landfills. It makes me sick to see more bull dozers, more highways and sprawl spewing out, gobbling up trees and farms. Some idiot woman has 8 kids and everyone is so joyful. She should have been neutered before the fact. I think it's obscene.. Yes, this is a right wing forum. I have met a few really nice people, but for the most part, the majority are worried much more about their souls and their preps than the planet. It really gets depressing. It's a fairly anthropocentric bunch, very little concern beyond their immediate family and religion. Thanks for your great post. I hate labels, but it's nice to know there's another liberal posting here.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), April 17, 1999.

Are you 2 enjoying your wasteful pieces of plastic? Hint: you're typing on it. YES! KILL EVERYONE! (cept uzzz and the wolves n stuff)

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), April 17, 1999.

Gilda, I grew up noticing the same things you have. A vast increase in population, our environment going to sh*t, smog moving into places it has never been before. Believe me, I don't like it any more than you! But for a United Nations organization working with OUR government to assign over OUR lands for non-human designation depriving private property owners and the rest of us the right to reside where we want to is WAY BEYOND overboard in dealing with this issue. This is not about big game stock being replenished in the United States. This is about relocating the populace to 'designated' areas for human use with around 1/2 of the United States acreage being designated as 'OFF LIMITS' for human use, of any kind. Not 'your' idea of human use, but the 'UNESCO' idea of human use. Dig a little deeper here. I have seen the future use maps for California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. What I saw was incomprehensible. I have resided in 2 of the above 4 states and recognize the geography. You have to see the future biodiversity map of YOUR state to understand.

I think that if the problem of overpopulation were a front page issue, then it could potentially be conquered, but you have to understand that we still live in a free society which cannot dictate how many children we produce. For governmental control to be effective, we would have to mandate limits on procreation, ala China and the one child family.

For you to wave a blandishment about this program being such a grand idea, is not truly understanding what is at issue here. I urge you to investigate further before rendering your opinions.

Thank you.

-- (mass@delusions.com), April 17, 1999.

Wildlands project et. al map for Texas http://alltexas.net/txnews1.html other states (note - these files take a while to download. Try the Texas one first) http://www.america-collins.com/biomaps.htm

-- noUNESCO (noUNESCO@outtamyface.com), April 18, 1999.

Marvelous! Thanks for the find, NoUnesco! Any of you posters live in California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona or Texas? Take a look at these maps and see where you won't be living in perhaps 20 years in any of the above states. Do I have your attention now?

-- (mass@delusions.com), April 18, 1999.

Thank you, in your great wisdom, for telling me I do not understand the issue. I wonder how on earth I ever got to be research chair for sustainable development in our area. I wonder why I DID bother to study both sides of the "corridor" situation. Did you?

Of course I have to admit the research chair means nothing. It's just a nod to the "tree huggers" and "furbie lovers" before developers bulldoze and pollute more land for condo's and malls. After all, that old stuff like water, air, soil, animals, trees, and biodiversity isn't nearly as profitable as malls, condos, boats, SUVs, and 7 lane highways leading to more malls, condos, boats, ad nauseam. Check out EDF's Scorecard for pollution sites in your state.

Population control, DON"T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. It's our God given right to go forth and fornicate. The church will not stand for family planning. Who cares about clean water, air and food! "Toxic Sludge is Good For You." More babies means more future consumers, more pollution, more babies.......... Surprise me. Tell me how many tons of disposable diapers and untreated shit, and how many tons of CAFO waste, goes into the water, soil and air every year in the U.S.

The corporations have done a fine job: you've bought their entire propaganda message. I'm surprised all you conspiracy nuts haven't read Edward Abbey's "Desert Solitaire" where he describes how a country would operate if they were planning to impose a dictatorial regime. He only missed on point #5; all the rest are still relevant, including point #4 which is: "Encourage or at least fail to discourage population growth. Large masses of people are more easily manipulated and dominated than scattered individuals."

But I'll be happy to give up my plastic computer when you give up your drinkable water. Better check it out though, most water is polluted and most people aren't even aware of it.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), April 18, 1999.

BEFORE ALL OF YOU SOCIALIST TREEHUGGERS FALL ON YOUR KNEES TO KISS THE ASS OF THE UN, PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND REVIEW ALL OF THE WONDERFUL SUCCESS STORIES OF A CLEANER, SAFE, WORKERS PARIDISE THAT HAS ALREADY COME TO PASS IN EUROPE,ASIA, AFRICA, OR ANYWHERE ELSE. ALL I SEE IS THE AGE OLD MANTRA OF: GIVE UP YOUR WEALTH AND FREEDOM AND WE WHO KNOW BEST WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER (MORE SAFE). IN REAL LIFE IT DEGRADES TO THE MASTERS AND THE SLAVES, WITH THE SLAVES HAVING NO WAY TO CHANGE THE STATUS. I DOUBT THAT IF THE KOSOVO ARMAINIANS HAD THE 2ND AMMENDMENT THE SERBS WOULD BE BURNING AND RAPING, BUT PARDON ME THESE POOR BASTARDS DON'T EVEN HAVE A BILL OF RIGHTS UNDER THE "PROTECTION" OF THE UN AND NATO. I GUESS THAT WOULD BE TOO MUCH "INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM" IN THIS CASE. AS TO CORREDORS AND ECO-ACRES, I GUESS SERBS AND NATO TYPES HAVEN'T GOT THE MESSAGE ON CREATURE "RIGHTS" YET. WHY DON'T WE START THERE, INSTEAD OF IN THE US, THEY SEEM TO NEED IT FAR MORE THAT WE DO, AND IF IT WORKS THERE (HA, HA), WE CAN ADOPT A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM HERE. ANY TAKERS? THE ONLY THING A BLUE BARET IS GOOD FOR IS TO USE AS A TARGET OR TO DEFICATE IN!

-- Wanna B. Free (sick@ofthissocialistcrap.com), April 18, 1999.

Wanna B. you're very good at screaming. Why don't you go to Yugoslavia and scream.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), April 18, 1999.

This is definitely OT, guys and gals.

Currently, there are several U.S. Biosphere Reserves already designated in California. These include:

The California Coast Ranges Biosphere Reserve, consisting of - (1) the Redwood National Park; (2) Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park; (3) Jebediah Smith Redwoods State Park; (4) Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park; (5) Redwood Experimental Forest; (6) Elder Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern; (7) Jackson Demonstration State Forest; (8) Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve; (9) Western Slope of Cone Peak, Los Padres National Forest; and (10) Heath and Marjorie Angelo Coast Range Preserve.

Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve, consisting of: (1) Golden Gate National Recreation Area; (2) Bodega Marine Preserve; (3) Farallon National Wildlife Refuge; (4) Point Reyes National Seashore; (5) Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary; (6) Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve; (7) Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary; (8) Mount Tamalpais State Park; (9) Tomales Bay State Park; (10) Samuel P. Taylor State Park; (11) San Francisco Pennisular Watershed; (12) Marin Municipal Water District; (13) Audubon Canyon Ranch.

Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, consisting of (1) Sequoia National Park; and (2) Kings Canyon National Park.

Santa Rosa Wildlife Management Area Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest

The bill to stop this is "The American Land Sovereignty Protection Act" - House (H.R. 883) and the Senate (S. 510)

Also, exec. policy is to impose a moratorium on road building/maintenance and restoration of post-flood damage in preparation for creating massive new "Wilderness Claims." Many new bills in the house this session for feds to aquire boquoo private lands to extend their strangulation control. What they can't do with regulation, they will do with the "poison carrot."

Yes, I have studied the issue for more than a decade. Was even part of a federally funded technical advisory committee in my area till found what they were up to. Didn't care to be used as "token" representation on the federal bulldozer. I live here. I have been in the trenches and the field and the urban/suburbanites are being fed the same BS and spin they get on y2k about the environment. It is all about control, not the environment.

Ever wonder what the collateral is on our national debt? Wonder no more.

-- noUNESCO (noUNESCO@outtamyface.com), April 18, 1999.

Aside from OT, the thread is doing what so many do around here, which is devolve into name-calling flames. So tiring. By the way,...KoFE

"Are you 2 enjoying your wasteful pieces of plastic? Hint: you're typing on it. YES! KILL EVERYONE! (cept uzzz and the wolves n stuff)

-- KoFE"

This is called the famous "TU QUOQUE", ("you too") fallacy in logical argument. Among other things it argues that your argument adversary's argument is invalid since he/she has done something of what they oppose. This type of argument is invalid. Yes, indeed, I am typing this post on a computer made of plastics and such,...and, I also endeavor in most of my life to live as if it was important that I not overly consume goods that are harmful to the planet...I reuse, recycle, repair, garden, can, limit the use fossil fuel-driven devices to the barest of bare minimums...I have a compost heap,...I don't use chemical fertilizers on a lawn...nor chemical pesticides,...a few pieces of plastic do not invalidate my other efforts.

For a list of other logical fallacies try:

a href="http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/tps-seti/baloney.html">Carl Sagan's Baloney Detector

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), April 18, 1999.

Carl Sagan's Baloney Detector

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), April 18, 1999.

Gilda, we're not going to get anywhere here, and although I don't normally attempt to put words in people's mouths, it sounds like you think the constitution and bill of rights are outdated and of no use today.

I also find it difficult to believe you have perused the future MAB/UNESCO map of your state. It really hits home when you do that.

For the record, I do not believe this to be a 'conspiracy' at all. It is being done out in the open, but notice that it is NOT being addressed in the mainstream media, either.

My opinion of corporate America degrades by the day, and has been for years now. I got the wake up call earlier than most, at about age 21. Too many technologies able to transform our lives and make this a more ecologically sustainable planet have been and are continuing to be suppressed, bought up and buried or ignored in the name of corporate greed.

Do I think the answer to sustainable development is to herd the masses up and relocate them to suit some cockamamey United Nations scheme? You have to be joking, but then I believe in the constitution and the bill of rights. I also do not find that people are born ignorant, they are kept that way. I think it has something to do with lack of education on the right subjects and too much misplaced trust. Thank you kindly for your time.

-- (mass@delusions.com), April 18, 1999.

I have seen the map. I have studied the "corridor" plan. I have no problem with it. Or course it won't work at all! When a few wolves, introduced into a few states, are shot almost immediately, with the backing of the Farm Bureau, then why on earth would anyone think this idea could work.

Thanks Donna for the link. I can't tell you how many times I have people say to me, "Your'e an environmentalist? You drive a car don't you?" Ergo, meaning you're not interested in the environment if you drive a car, use a computer, have electricity and don't live in a cave. I too try to follow the plan of "living lightly on the earth." It's amazing how much you can do, when you stop to think about it. I also welcome all wildlife, even though I'm from a family that believes "If it moves, shoot it. If it doesn't, eat it."

And as Daniel Quinn said, "Nothing threatens the future of the world more than the uncontrolled growth of our species."

Oh, and by the way massdelusions, I do not think this is a UN scheme to take over the world, or kill off the useless eaters, or institute the NWO; we'll do just fine all by ourselves.

-- Jean Scott (dezane@hotmail.com), April 19, 1999.

Sorry, that's my post above. I'm computer's acting up again. Now the printer has also quit. This has been the computer from hell. Obviously, it still is.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), April 19, 1999.

Gilda --- just like anyone, you don't have to come to this forum, obviously. Where is the vitriol in your posts any less than in those you scorn? Even though I disagree passionately sometimes with your points, I have always felt you brought something real to the group (I'm not saying this like it's my reponsibility to "judge that", just being descriptive). But you are going to force a flame war if you keep going like this across multiple threads ....

It does appear (I'm guessing) that the forum is maybe 90-10 anti-Clinton, but I would have said it was more like 60 so-called conservative and 20 so-called libertarian. That's not such a bad mix, considering most GIs are obviously not going to be mainstream to begin with.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), April 19, 1999.

Nah, BD. It's just that a couple of threads have begun recently which run close to gilda's heart. Mine too. It's wonderful to see the fire in her pen and the spark in her keyboard as she addresses issues of great heart and cosmic import. They allude to fundamental survival issues which were with us long before Y2K and, regardless of how much TWAWKI changes, will be with us well into the 22nd century, should we be lucky enough to be around.

I have become too benumbed by ridicule and diappointment to continue with the intellectual and philosophical commitment that gilda still has. But I surely agree with and support her.

You go girl.

Hallyx

"Shamed, dishonored, wading in blood and dripping with filth, thus capitalist society stands. Not as we usually see it, playing the roles of peace and righteousness, of order, of philosophy, of ethics--as a roaring beast, as an orgy of anarchy, as a pestilential breath, devastating culture and humanity--so it appears in all its hideous nakedness."---Rosa Luxemburg

-- Hallyx (Hallyx@aol.com), April 19, 1999.

Hallyx, I can respect that. I've said myself people sometimes mistake the "fire" around here for mere flames. People should read how folks talked to each other pre- and during- our own Revolutionary period when they actually CARED about some things. There are posts of yours I've loved and some I've hated: so what? Losing your voice or Gilda's would be a shame ..... or INVAR's (he said sneakily at the very end of his post, jabbing his finger into Hallyx-gilda's side just a little bit .....)

;-)

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), April 19, 1999.

Big Dog, if I didn't feel so passionately about the planet, I wouldn't get so firery and frothy. I understand your statement about crossing threads; one is religion. It's not that I don'trespect people's religion. it's just that, to me, it's all connected to the earth. I see "God," if you will, in every tree, animal, bird, weed, spider and dung beetle. So therefore, it irritates me that Christians say we are to worship a being we don't even know exists, and make sure our sould is in order so we can attain immortality,but if there is a spiritual other, it is in everything surrounding us. If I knew I was going to die tomorrow, I wouldn't do a thing different, and if I knew that "this is it, this is all there is," then that would be enough for me. Just to live among the beauty of the natural world is a treat I enjoy every day.

In fact I would be thrilled if an endangered species were found on our property and we were not allowed to bother it. But then, why would I want to.

Hallyx thank you for your unfailing support, I thought I would care less passionately about flora and fauna as I got older, but (sigh) that's not the case. And Donna, what would I do without your good links and quotes.

Sorry I'm so long in responding, but I was having terrible computer troubles, and I can't even blame them on y2k.

But there's one thing I don't understand. Kill the Breeders post was before mine and just as vitriolic, but nobody jumped on his case. How come? Why me?

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), April 24, 1999.

The problem and solutions are mute.

The NWO, so called, is irrelevant in the face of Y2K.

Preparing a new mentality based on a deep sense of the reality of being and its pre-eminence above Existance. Re-learning about LOVE may give rise to a new civilization.

Extinguish your egoes , gentlemen, always remember the longer you live the sooner you are going to die.

Generosity and Compassion first - these make freedom and justice possible.

It is TRUTH that makes us free, not the other way around.

The depopulation of the world is not a Gore UN plot fantasy it will be the inevitable result of Y2K.

So spend your time preparing and reviving the fundamental ideas of true government by wisdom of the people with guarantees of justice and true freedom for all.

Civil disobedience against a paternalistic dictatorship disguised as a democracy is the duty of a free and brave people.

ZORRO

-- ZORRO (Z@ZZZ.FREE), May 01, 1999.