RAN targeted by right wing anti-environmentalist campaign

From: Patrick Reinsborough <organize [at] ran.org>
Subject: RAN targeted by right wing anti-environmentalist campaign TAKE ACTION!
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001
List-Archive: <http://igc.topica.com/lists/uwa_updates/read>

Although this post does not pertain specifically to the U\'wa we thought
people supporting the U\'wa would want to know about this issue since it
has implications not only for RAN\'s work but the work of all activist
organizations who use non-violent direct action in the work for social
and environmental justice. Additionally although it appears that the
attack is orchestrated by timber giant Boise Cascade, the role of other
corporations like Occidental Petroleum is certainly not out of the
question.


In this Post -
1. ACTION ALERT! Defend the right to protest! Stop Boise Cascade!
2. Rainforest Action Network Press Release
3. SF Chronicle : June 21 Attack on tax status of environmental group
4. Wall Street Journal : June 21 Conservatives Seek IRS Inquiry On
Environmental Group\'s Status.


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#1 ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST RAN THREATENS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT
TO PEACEFUL PROTEST

TAKE ACTION!
TELL BOISE CASCADE THEIR DIRTY TRICKS WON\'T STOP GRASSROOTS FOREST
PROTECTION EFFORTS

As part of a propaganda campaign funding directly by global forest
destroyer Boise Cascade (and who knows who else - RAN has lots of
corporate enemies)two right wing think tanks have launched an
orchestrated campaign against RAN. These two groups, Center for the
Defense of Free Enterprise run by anti-enviro PR king Ron Arnold and
Frontiers of Freedom Institute(FF)founded by retired Senator Malcolm
\"strip mine\" Wallop are notoriously anti-environmental front groups for
the timber and oil industries. The campaign began last fall with the
launch of an attack site http://www.ranamuck.org, has involved contacting Boise
Cascade customers and RAN funders and even a June 13th Congressional
forum entitled \"Eco-Terrorism and Extremism\" in which Arnold and others
attempted to link RAN with property destruction and the \"Earth
Liberation Front\". Now Frontiers of Freedom has filed a petition to the
IRS requesting that RAN\'s tax-exempt 501c3 status be revoked.

The Congressional forum involved attacks on lots of environmental groups
but particularly highlighted RAN. To quote FF\'s press release \"Ron
Arnold, executive vice president of the non-profit think tank, the
Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, will spotlight the Rainforest
Action Network as an attack group not an environmental group. He will
present RAN