DISCLAIMER:  The following press release is to be used only for charitable and public education purposes as it was created using 501(c)(3) funds. Further distribution of this release must also be for charitable purposes, not for legislative lobbying. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                CONTACT:February 21, 2002                                                                                             Eric Uram, 608-257-4994   SIERRA CLUB URGES AMERICANS WHO CARE ABOUT AMERICA TO CARE FOR AMERICA Washington, DC: From the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the Olympics in Salt Lake City and the old-growth forests of Oregon, the Sierra Club is running television ads urging Americans who care about America, to care for America.  Reminding people of the role wilderness has played in shaping the American character; the ads encourage viewers to protect the landscape that "made us bold and big-hearted, quick to act, and certain that one person can make a difference." The television ads will run for the week of February 18th in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Texas, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Washington. "Since America's inception, whether the messenger was Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt or Wallace Stegner, the message has always been the same: loving the land is a part of loving America, and protecting our natural treasures is an integral part of protecting America," said Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club. "Americans have long sung the praises of America the beautiful as the 'land that we love.' These ads remind people how our landscapes shaped our national character and urge that we protect those gems." The ads quote Wallace Stegner's "Wilderness Letter," which was a driving force behind passage of the 1964 Wilderness Act.  Stegner argued that it was imperative to protect "a leftover from our frontier origins that could reassure us of our identity as a nation and a people." "Our heritage and our destiny are tied to wilderness," said Pope. "Americans honor the first and safeguard the latter when we protect our treasured landscapes, for our families and for our future."  Sample script to follow.  To receive a copy of the ad, please contact Eric Uram – 608-257-4994.Starting February 18, the ad can be seen athttp://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/media/. Sierra ClubTV :30"Character"2/03/02 Wildness shaped the American character.It tested and taught us...made us bold and big-hearted,quick to act,certain that one person can make a difference. As Americans, we are so linked to the land that:"Something will (go) out of us as a peopleif we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed."                   (Wallace Stegner) Care about America?  Then help us care for America.Contact the Sierra Club to make a difference.Together we can protect our country, for our families, for our future. Paid for by the Sierra Club.


Note from Erin: The ads are running during the morning and around news time in the evening (5 news and 10 news), on KCCI, WHO, and WOI.  Please look for them!

Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]