It is conventional wisdom that Bush is ignoring the rubble and devastation surrounding him and focuses on the notion that somehow the ends (presumably long into the future) will vindicate his legacy. Well, this typically short-sighted, corporate-friendly, ecologically hostile move on the part of the Bush administration will have a very negative legacy for us all.

NOW:

Signed by President Bill Clinton in 2001, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects nearly 60 million acres of the country's national forest lands from most road building, mining and logging. Over the last seven years, the Bush administration has tried to amend or repeal the landmark regulation to give states more flexibility. NOW travels to southeast Idaho to investigate how a proposed change in the rule threatens to open thousands of acres of pristine public lands to private development. In the report, NOW speaks to representatives from the ranching, environmental, and mining communities, as well an administration official. Who gets to control the fate of Idaho's vast roadless forests? Find out how you can help shape the answer.

You can download or podcast the entire program at the NOW on PBS site. And if you feel the need to let the government know how you'd like to see a little more green thinking, NOW has provided a contact point as well.

E-MAIL: IDcomments@fsroadless.org
POSTAL MAIL: Roadless Area Conservation-Idaho, P.O. Box 162909, Sacramento, CA 95816–2909
FAX: 916-456-6724