Urgent....!!! Please sign up ASAP...!!!!!!

Marley Farley · Feb 2, 2011

Please sign this as soon as you have read it if you agree there is a pre-written letter to fill in MPs name & yours & send... That's all.. Please.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is dreadful...!!!!!

Today's the day! In a few hours, MPs will have their

first chance to vote for or against the government plans to sell our

forests.
Click to expand...

The more of us who email our MPs - the more pressure MPs will be
under to vote to save our forests. Please email your MP now.

Dear Marley,

Today's the day. In just a few hours, MPs have their first chance to vote for or against the government's plans to privatise our public forests.

That this vote is even happening is thanks to all we've done together.
Our petition - referred to in the motion in Parliament - is over
400,000 people strong and rising. Local Save Our Forests groups are
springing up all over the country. Nearly 70,000 of us have emailed our
MPs.

Thousands of us have chipped in to get people-powered ads in today's
national newspapers. When MPs check the papers this morning, they will
see our campaign, and the number of signatures on our petition, splashed
across the Independent, Times, Daily Mail, and the Daily Mirror [1].

But we’re not done yet. Let's make sure that as MPs go to vote, our voices are ringing in their ears.

MPs will be able to check their emails during the debate on their phones! So let's make sure that they hear our voices as the vote gets underway. Make sure MPs continue to hear from their voters today.
Take 2 minutes to email your MP. It's easy to do, just put your
postcode into the website to find your MP and see some suggested text.

Click here to get started:

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/tell-your-mp-to-save-our-forests

Today's vote isn't the end of the campaign - whatever the outcome. But it will be the end of the beginning.
Next time MPs vote on this issue, it could be a make-or-break vote to
pave the way for privatisation. The more MPs we convince this time
round, the more chance we have of stopping those votes ever happening
and stopping the sell-off.

David Cameron, Nick Clegg and government officials will be using all the arm-twisting tricks they know to get MPs into line.
They want to avoid the embarrassment of losing a vote, even when they
are already losing the argument. But together we can make sure MPs are
feeling the pressure from us. Let's make sure MPs realise, if they support selling off our forests, they will have to answer to their local voters.

Make sure MPs continue to hear from the voters today. Take 2
minutes to email your MP. It's easy to do, just put your postcode into
the website to find your MP and see some suggested text.

Click here to get started:

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/tell-your-mp-to-save-our-forests

Thanks for getting involved,

David, Hannah, Johnny and the 38 Degrees team

PS Word of mouth works! Share the campaign on Facebook, Twitter and email at this exciting time.

NOTES

[1] You can see the ad on the blog or on page 18 of The Independent, page 24 of The Daily Mail, page 18 of The Mirror or Page 28 of The Times
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Marley Farley · Feb 2, 2011

RE: Urgent Urgent....!!! Please sign up ASAP...!!!!!!

I and my other half have already sent the letter to our MP... Go for it folks, this is not good... Reminiscent of Maggie & privatisation selling off BR, GPO etc..... We certainly cannot stand any more buildings & this will be dreadful if they are sold off...

Aesculus · Feb 2, 2011

RE: Urgent Urgent....!!! Please sign up ASAP...!!!!!!

Just done it =]

Phil A · Feb 2, 2011

Done.

clueless1 · Feb 2, 2011

I've done it. I used the template letter, but added the following paragraph on the bottom:

"I'd like to remind you that the government is not the owner of public land, the public are. I'm aware that there have been public assurances that public access will not be restricted, but to be honest we have seen so many false promises from government before, including the current government, so it is quite understandable that people, voters, will be skeptical."

It takes some restraint to remain polite in these matters I think. I think its diabolical that they are even considering it. What next? Privatise fresh air?

I'm not entirely opposed to the principle of privatisation, where it is appropriate (I can't think of an example just now though), but what worries me, as I'm sure applies to many, is that once the woods are sold off, even with so called protections, we'll soon see access restricted and ecosystems destroyed. I reckon it will start with over priced parking facilities, then access restricted to certain times of day, then we'll be walking along a well established path when we come to an impassable bit that the machinery has churned up, and loads of felled trees everywhere, then the signs will appear, that for health and safety reasons the route is temporarily closed because heavy machinery is in use, etc etc.

As is always the case, our government (whatever name they carry) fails to learn from the mistakes of others. A few years ago there was a bit of a public opposition on the island of Minorca. Most of the island is privately owned and land owners had restricted access. As far as I know the people got their way, and the government had to introduce a new law to force land owners to open up their land.

barnaby · Feb 2, 2011

Done..............

ARMANDII · Feb 2, 2011

I wrote to my MP as soon as the news broke on the national network. I think we're all distrustful of any government that wantS to sell/hive off/give away our vitally important forests - and I'm no exception. It's very bad for the blood pressure when you listen to the bland, patronising, and false explanations, assurances of "trust us, all is well and the forests will be even better protected than under the present system." The government is well aware that they are entrusted with the care and protection of our forests. They want to sell the forests off to their friends knowing full well that once in private hands the public will have no say in the running of them. Assurances that nothing will change, the forests won't suffer or be badly run by the private sector ring extremely hollow. Private business are profit driven, profit derived by slashing running costs [labour and resources] to the bone. Private business will not manage our forests as the guardians of our heritage and
be the custodians of the forests future. The Forestry Commission has been described, by the government, of
having "conflicting interests" because not only do they manage most of our forests but farm and sell timber as
well. Basically, what they saying is that they want to give the business to their friends! While I hate
to point this out a lot of British money is involved in the deforestation of the Amazon forests so we don't set
a good example. Some charities like the Woodland Trust are willing to take on some forests but they will need
money from the government annually to do so, and we know that they won't get a quarter they need.

wiseowl · Feb 2, 2011

Done
I will send my MP an email every day and will visit him at his surgery once a week.

[size=large]EVERY FOREST IS A BONUS[/size]

Aesculus · Feb 3, 2011

Reply from Nick Herbert (Conservative MP for Arundel & South Downs & Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice)

Dear Mr Bullock,
Thank you very much for your e-mail about the Forestry Commission, which I read with great care.
I appreciate your concern about this extremely important issue and completely share your desire to protect our forests, woods and trees.
However, I have read the Government’s consultation document and I fear that the proposals have been misrepresented.
I have just written an article for the West Sussex County Times about this, which I have pasted below. This can also be found at the following link:

http://www.nickherbert.com/media_centre.php/421/Forests

You might also be interested to see the Hansard debate on the proposals, as well as the consultation document itself. You can read these at the following addresses:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110202/debtext/110202-0003.htm#11020248000004

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/forests/index.htm

The consultation is an opportunity for everyone to have their say, but I can assure you that we will not do anything that puts our precious forests at risk.
I agree with David Cameron that it is right to see if we can produce a system that is better for access, better for habitat, better for Natural England and better for the countryside that we love.
Thank you for writing to me about this very important issue. Naturally, as a minister I supported the Government’s position on the Opposition Day Debate motion. But we will listen to all the concerns raised.
I am sorry if this is not the answer that you were seeking, but I hope that what I have said will go some way towards reassuring you.

With kind regards.

Yours sincerely

NICK HERBERT

NICK HERBERT

MP for Arundel & South Downs

& Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice
Click to expand...

Daisies · Feb 3, 2011

[size=large]Done! [/size]

Marley Farley · Feb 4, 2011

Thanks everyone for signing, but come on everyone else, this is very important..!!

Marley Farley · Feb 4, 2011

I have had a reply too from my MP... Please feel free to click on the link & read it... Keep reminding your MP of your feelings about it.......

Dear Marley,

Thank you for contacting me about proposed changes in the ownership and

management of some of the country's forests. Let me say at the outset that

I very much share the concern that we need to maintain and protect access to

our forests and that we need to ensure that they are properly managed for

future generations.

As you will know, the Government is considering selling off some land (such

as that currently used for commercial timber sales) whilst other land such

as the 'heritage' forests may be leased to community groups and charities

such as the National Trust.

A number of local residents have raised concerns about this and so I wrote

before Christmas to DEFRA. At that stage I think that the plans were not

well developed and so the reply that I received did not give a lot of

information.

Most people were worried that the private or voluntary sectors would be

unwilling or unable to protect wildlife and forest habitats properly, and

that vast areas of forest could be lost to developments of various kinds.

In his initial reply, the Minister argued that forests in England which

currently provide valuable environments for wildlife will remain protected,

and that measures will be put in place to preserve public and environmental

benefits.

Since that letter was written, the Government has now published a full

consultation document which you can find here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/forests/index.htm

I would encourage you to have a look at this document and feed in your views

as part of the consultation process.

There has been some suggestion that when the issue was debated in Parliament

this week it was necessary to vote against in order to 'force a re-think'.

In fact, decisions about what is to happen have not yet been taken and the

consultation process only started last week, so it seems premature to write

off that process.

Instead, what I have done is written again to DEFRA, recognizing how many

local people care passionately about our forests, setting out the very real

concerns that many of my constituents would rightly have if this process was

not properly handled. I will let you know when I have a response.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely

Steve Webb MP
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Tiarella · Feb 4, 2011

Done.

Phil A · Feb 4, 2011

Our mp voted against a re think, so i've sent a further template email, but took a leaf out of Dave's book & added a bit....

Dear Mr Heath

I am writing to you to ask why you voted against the motion calling on the government to rethink its plan to privatise our woodlands?

I'm sure you're aware of the huge campaign across the country to stop these proposals. I saw a poll that said 84% of the British people want to keep our woodlands in public ownership. I hope you will reconsider your position and in any future vote, you will vote to stop the sell-off.

The woodlands are NOT yours to sell, they belong to the public. Successive Governments have sold off the Sterling silver from our currency & now even the copper has been sold off.

You have no rights to sell woodland that is in public ownership, its the enclosures act all over again. The commons were stolen from the people & now you are trying to steal the woodlands.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Best wishes,
Ziggy Searchfield.

ARMANDII · Feb 4, 2011

Aesculus said:
Reply from Nick Herbert (Conservative MP for Arundel & South Downs & Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice)

Dear Mr Bullock,
Thank you very much for your e-mail about the Forestry Commission, which I read with great care.
I appreciate your concern about this extremely important issue and completely share your desire to protect our forests, woods and trees.
However, I have read the Government’s consultation document and I fear that the proposals have been misrepresented.
I have just written an article for the West Sussex County Times about this, which I have pasted below. This can also be found at the following link:

http://www.nickherbert.com/media_centre.php/421/Forests

You might also be interested to see the Hansard debate on the proposals, as well as the consultation document itself. You can read these at the following addresses:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110202/debtext/110202-0003.htm#11020248000004

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/forests/index.htm

The consultation is an opportunity for everyone to have their say, but I can assure you that we will not do anything that puts our precious forests at risk.
I agree with David Cameron that it is right to see if we can produce a system that is better for access, better for habitat, better for Natural England and better for the countryside that we love.
Thank you for writing to me about this very important issue. Naturally, as a minister I supported the Government’s position on the Opposition Day Debate motion. But we will listen to all the concerns raised.
I am sorry if this is not the answer that you were seeking, but I hope that what I have said will go some way towards reassuring you.

With kind regards.

Yours sincerely

NICK HERBERT

NICK HERBERT

MP for Arundel & South Downs

& Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice
Click to expand...

I think that's your MP's just patted you on the head, told you to trust him, that all is well in the nasty old world, and now you can go out to play!!
Click to expand...

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Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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Tiarella Optimistic Gardener

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ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

Urgent help please :)

Choisya pruning advice please: urgent?

Urgent tree advice please ?

Urgent help please! Veg patch gone wrong!

Urgent advice needed re soft water please

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