jefF-STOP: February 2006

"I chopped just one tree. I am doing no harm." -- Atlanta City Council

Today, I'm reading in the local Atlanta paper that the City Council wants to make it easier to cut down trees and reduce my city's signature tree canopy. [ajc.com]

I also read in the same publication about "Easter Island". [ajc.com]

So (big shocker), I wrote a letter...

OPEN LETTER TO THE ATLANTA JOURNAL

You can understand that my work with Trees Atlanta has me following the City Council´s vote on a proposed ordinance to make it easier to cut down trees in our city, but what makes today´s article about it REALLY interesting is the concurrent publication of a second article.

This one was on the subject of "Easter Island" as a travel destination. One of the factors contributing to the disappearance of this civilization (and thus its air of mystery) was deforestation.

I hope the City Council reads their own local paper. Or maybe not.

Maybe they will read this article and think "deforestation is yucky", but maybe they will read it and think "hey...if it brings people to Easter Island..." Maybe they will think that they could add deforestation to the NASCAR museum, Cyclorama, and the Margaret Mitchell House on the list of potential tourist draws.

Did your editors do this on purpose?

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I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.
And I´m asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs--
he was very upset as he shouted and puffed--
What´s that THING you´ve made out of my Truffula tuft?

Look, Lorax, I said. There´s no cause for alarm.
I chopped just one tree. I am doing no harm. [desertlorax.com]