From 293 signers, representing four million American Voters
The Convention on Biological Diversity (Treaty DOC 103-20) should NOT be ratified in its present form. The document language is vague and leaves critical questions unanswered. For example, what are the "alien species which threaten ecosystems," referred to in Article 8? Who will define those species?
How can the Senate possibly ratify a document that calls for the eradication of undefined "alien species" which may include cows, horses, sheep, chickens and virtually all livestock?
How can the Senate ratify a document which says the United States "...shall take legislative, administrative or policy measures" to facilitate the transfer of technology to the governments and private sector of "developing" countries, without knowing what technology is to be transferred or how the owners are to be compensated? How can the Senate commit the United States to provide "...new and additional financial resources..." to developing countries as required by Article 21, without knowing how much, how often, and to which countries?
We believe the document is deliberately vague on these and a host of other issues, so as to avoid public awareness of the painful answers these questions require. If the treaty is ratified in its present form, these questions will be answered in relative obscurity by appointed bureaucrats, far away from public view and public accountability.
In its present form, this document is little more than a massive declaration of objectives which establishes a Conference of the Parties (COP) to translate those objectives into specific requirements to be imposed upon "developed" countries in order to transfer resources to "undeveloped" countries. Ratification of the document in its present form would not only give to the COP the keys to the U.S. Treasury, but would also turn over to the COP virtual control of our nation's natural resources.
Our concerns are not relieved by the Administration's "understandings," or the State Department's Memorandum of Record which attempts to explain the document's flaws. The document itself prohibits reservations to its provisions and dispute resolution is specified to end at the International Court of Justice. No explanation offered by the Administration or the State Department can supersede the authority of the document itself.
The document's vague language, its requirement to make open-ended, unlimited financial commitments, its requirement to transfer unspecified technologies, and its requirement to implement the protocols established by unelected (and unaccountable) appointees (the COP), combine to render this document, in its present form, unworthy of further consideration by the Senate.
Therefore, these 293 signers, who represent more than four million voting Americans, urge you to reject the Convention on Biological Diversity until such time as the questions raised here are satisfactorily addressed in the document.
Thank you,
Abundant Wildlife Society of North America, Gillette, WY
Adirondack Blue Line Confederation, Gloversville, NY
Alabama Forestry Association, Montgomery, AL
Alaska Timber Truckers Alliance, Thorne Bay, AK
Alaska Women in Mining - Juneau, Juneau, AK
Alaska Loggers Legal Defense Fund, Hoonah, AK
Alaska State Snowmobile Assn, Anchorage, AK
Alaska Women In Timber, Ketchikan, AK
Alaska Forest Association, Ketchikan, AK
Alaska Loggers Association, Hoonah, AK
All-Terrain Vehicle Assn of Minnesota, Osseo, MN
Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, Kane, PA
Alliance for America, Caroga Lake, NY
American Lands Access Association, Grand Junction, CO
American Timberman & Trucker, Chehalis, WA
American Environmental Foundation, Navarre, FL
American Foods Group, Inc., Green Bay, WI
American Rights Coalition, Temecula, CA
American Land Rights Association, Battleground, WA
American Agri-Women, Shannon, IL
American Policy Center, Chantilly, VA
American Loggers Solidarity, Forks, WA
Anchorage Snowmobile Club, Anchorage, AK
APA - The Engineered Wood Association, Tacoma, WA
Arizona Trail Riders Assn, Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas Timber Producers Association, Little Rock, AR
Assemblywoman Kathleen Honeycutt 34th A.D., Hesperin, CA
Associated Builders & Contractors of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Association of Consulting Foresters, Bethesda, MD
Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs, Neenah, WI
AZ Citizens Coalition on Resource Decisions, Phoenix, AZ
Baltimore 4-wheelers, Inc, Baltimore, MD
Bitteroot Snowmobile Club, Hamilton, MT
Bitteroot Chapter Montana Women in Timber, Hamilton, MT
Black Hills Forest Resource Assn., Rapid City, SD
Black Hills Women in Timber, Spearfish, SD
Black Hills Regional Multiple Use Coalition, Rapid City, SD
Blue Ribbon Coalition, Pocatello, ID
Calif. Assn of Business, Property and Resource, Grass Valley, CA
California Desert Coalition, Riverside, CA
California Assn of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs, Sacramento, CA
California Forestry Association, Sacramento, CA
California Independent Petroleum Assn, Bakersfield, CA
California Trappers Association, Citrus Heights, CA
California Taxpayers Network, Inc, Alpine, CA
Californians for America, Fullerton, CA
Carbon County Stockgrowers Association, Rawlins, WY
Chelan County Citizens Coalition, Cashmere, WA
Children of the West, Inc, Rock Springs, WY
Chinchilla Industry Council, Westerville, OH
Citizen's Resource Group, Enterprise, OR
Citizens for Responsible Zoning & Land Rights, Maiden Rock, WI
Citizens for Private Property Rights, Sullivan, MO
Citizens for Constitutional Property Rights, Crestview, FL
Citizens for Responsible Resource Use, Hoguiam, WA
Citizens for the 2nd Amendment, Kettle Falls, WA
Clearwater Resource Coalition, Orofino, ID
Coal. of AZ\NM Counties for Stable Econ Growth, Glenwood, NM
Coastal Chapter of T.R.E.E.S., Coquille, OR
Colorado Wool Growers Association, Arvada, CO
Colorado Cattlemen's Association, Arvada, CO
Colorado Snowmobile Assn, South Fork, CO
Colorado Public Lands Council, Arvada, CO
Columbia Gorge United, Stevenson, WA
Common Man Institute, Gillette, WY
Common Sense Resource League, Oranvile, WA
Communities for a Great Northwest, Libby, MT
ComNet, Lewiston, ID
Concerned Citizens Coalition, Cove, AR
Contra Costa County Citizen's Land Alliance, Byron, CA
Cour d' Alene Snowmobile Club, Hayden Lake, ID
Ctzns for Recognition & Prsv. of Property Rts, Berthoud, CO
Curry County Oregon Project, Brookings, OR
Cycleland Family Park, Nacagdoches, TX
Davis Mountains Trans-Pecos Heritage Assoc., Alpine, TX
Eagle Forum of CA - SW Riverside Chapter, Temecula, CA
Earthcare Contractors Coalition, Hollow Rock, TN
El Dorado Builders Exchange, Placerville, CA
Environmental Conservation Org, Hollow Rock, TN
Exotic Wildlife Association, Ingram, TX
Fairness to Land Owners Committee, Cambridge, MD
Far West Equipment Dealers Assn, Dixon, CA
Florida Trail Riders, Inc, Titusville, FL
Forest Farmers Association, Atlanta, GA
Forest/Rights-of-way/Turf Coalition, Madison, WI
Franklin County High Markers, Preston, ID
Gallatin Valley Snowmobile Assn, Bozeman, MT
Georgia Recreational Trail Riders Assn, Tucker, GA
Glenn-Colusa Cattle Women, Williams, CA
Gold Prospectors Assn of America, Temecula, CA
Gorge Resource Coalition, Odell, OR
Graham Co. Chapter -People for the West, Pima, AZ
Grand Junction Gem & Mineral Club, Grand Junction, CO
Grassroots for Multiple Use, Inc, Hamilton, MT
Grassroots of Washington, Kettle Falls, WA
Harney County Stockgrowers, Burns, OR
Highland Co. Citizens for Const. Prop. Rights, Lake Placid, FL
Hill Country Landowner's Coalition, Georgetown, TX
Home Rule Committee, Placerville, CA
Illinois Valley Water Right Owners Assn, Cave Junction, OR
Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs, Marseilles, IL
Illinois Agri-Women, LaMoille, IL
Illinois Valley Resources Coalition, Cave Junction, OR
Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas, Austin, TX
Indiana Four Wheel Drive Assn., Evansville, IN
International Bowhunting Organization, Vermillion, OH
Josephine County Sourdoughs, Grants Pass, OR
Kern County Farm Bureau, Bakersfield, CA
Keystone Off Road Riders, Johnstown, PA
Koetenai Timber & Land Coalition, Libby, MT
Landowners for Responsible Resource Mngmt., Kennesaw, GA
Las Toturgas 4Wheel Drive Club, San Bernardino, CA
League of Private Property Voters, Battleground, WA
Lehigh Valley ATV Association, Allentown, PA
Lewis County Farm Bureau, Morton, WA
Lost Dutchman's Mining Association, Temecula, CA
Louisiana Loggers Assn, Winnfield, LA
Madison County Preservation Coalition, Madison, VA
Magic Valley Trail Machine Assn, Twin Falls, ID
Maine Conservation Rights Institute, Lubec, ME
Meeteetse Multiple Use Association, Meeteetse, WY
Methew Valley Resource Alliance, Winthrop, WA
Middle Atlantic Four Wheel Drive Assn, Windham, NJ
Minerals Exploration Coalition, Lakewood, CO
Mississippi Loggers Association, Quitman, MS
Mobile County Land Owners Association, Mobile, AL
Molalla Timber Action Committee, Molalla, OR
Montana Trail Vehicles Riders Assn, Great Falls, MT
Montana Farm Bureau Federation, Bozeman, MT
Montanans For Multiple Use, Hungry Horse, MT
Mother Lode Goldhounds, Auburn, CA
Motherlode Research, Auburn, CA
Motorcycle Trail Riding Assn., Grand Junction, CO
Multiple Use Association, Shelborne, NH
Multiple Land Use Review, Kuna, ID
Mzuri Wildlife Foundation, Reno, NV
NASCO, Fort Atkinson, WI
National Federal Lands Conference, Bountiful, UT
National Inholders Association, Washington, DC
Nevada Farm Bureau, Sparks, NV
New Hampshire Landowners Alliance, Campton, NH
New York State Conservation Council, Ilion, NY
New Mexico Woolgrowers, Yeso, NM
North Olympic Timber Action Committee, Port Angelas, WA
North Shore Association, Watersmeet, MI
North Central Montanta People for the West, Zortman, MT
North Carolina Fisheries Assn, Newbern, NC
North Carolina Forestry Association, Raleigh, NC
Northwest Mining Association, Spokane, WA
Northwest Timber Workers Resource Council, Elgin, OR
Ohio Association of Animal Owners, Pleasant Hill, OH
Okanogan County Cattlemens Assosciation, Tonasket, WA
Okanogan Resource Council, Omak, WA
Okanogan Wildlife Council, Okanogan, WA
Oregon Sportsmans Defense Fund, Inc, Salem, OR
Oregon State Grange, Portland, OR
Oregon Lands Coalition, Salem, OR
Oregon Women for Agriculture, Dayton, OR
Oregon Independent Miners, Veneta, OR
Oregon State Home Builders Association, Salem, OR
Oregonians in Action, Tigard, OR
Outdoors Unlimited, Inc, Haysville, UT
Over Snow Access, Inc, Big Timber, MT
Ozark Trail Vehicle Association, Rogers, AR
Panhandle Off-Road Vehicle Association, Moscow, ID
Panorama West Chptr, WA State Loggers-Truckers, Tonasket, WA
Pennsylvania Flyers Association, New Tripoli, PA
Pennsylvania Land Owners Association, Waterford, PA
Pennsylvania Coal Association, Harrisburg, PA
People for Harding County, Reva, SD
Pineywoods Chapter - SCI, Nacogdoches, TX
Private Landowners of Wisconsin, Woodman, WI
Putting People First, Helena, MT
Putting People First - CO Chapter, Broomfield, CO
Ravalli County chptr. Montana Minnina Assn., Florence, MT
Ravalli County Farm Bureau, Stevensville, MT
Red River Dirt Riders, Denton, TX
Resource Protection Institute, Hemet, CA
Rim Chapter - People for the West, Overgaard, AZ
Riverside County Taxpayers Assn, Hemet, CA
Robert L. Robeson, Seattle, WA
Salmon Chapter - Grassroots for Multiple Use, Salmon, ID
San Juan Wise Use Alliance, Pagosa Springs, CO
Santa Rosa Citizens for Const. Prop. Rights, Pensacola, FL
Save Our Industries & Lands (SOIL), Hines, OR
Seafood Producers & Processors Of Texas Coast, Port Bolivar, TX
Shasta Alliance for Resources & Environment, Redding, CA
Sierra Valley Women in Timber, Loyalton, CA
Sierra Communities Council, Grass Valley, CA
Sierra C.A.R.E., Plymouth, CA
Snowmobile North Dakota, Bismark, ND
So. ID Chapter, Northwest Timber Workers, Horseshoe Bend, ID
South Big Horn Mule Use Association, Worland, WY
Southeastern Fisheries Assn, Tallahassee, FL
Southeastern Wood Producers Assn, Hilliard, FL
Southern New England Trails Conference, Millville, MA
Southern Logging Coalition, Quitman, MS
Southern Oregon Resource Alliance, Bostberg, OR
Southern Timber Purchasers Council, Atlanta, GA
Southwest Meat Association, Arlington, TX
State Representative, Dist 48, Coquille, OR
SWEAR ATV Club, Madison, WI
T.R.E.E.S.-Roseburg Chapter, Dillard, OR
21st Century Science Associates, Washington, DC
Tehana Alliance For Resources& Environment, Corninis, CA
Texas Shrimp Association, Aransas Pass, TX
Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association, San Angelo, TX
Texas Trapper & Fur Hunters, Nacogdoches, TX
Texas Wildlife Association, San Antonio, TX
The Umbrella Group, Hoguiam, WA
The Paladin Group, Palm Springs, CA
The Fishermen's Coalition, Coronado, CA
The Conservative Caucus, Inc, Vienna, VA
The New 49ers, Happy Camp, CA
The Multiple-Use Council, Sylva, NC
The Freedom Five, Elcojon, CA
Trail Riders of Houston, Houston, TX
Trailblazers, Southlake, TX
Trans Texas Heritage Association, Alpine, TX
Turfgrass Producers International, Rolling Meadows, IL
U.S. Business & Industrial Council, Washington, DC
Ulster County Trappers Assn., Olivebridge, NY
Ulster County Federated Sportsmen, Kingston, NY
United Four Wheel Drive Association, Shelbyville, IN
Utah Wool Growers Association, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Fed. of Gem & Mineralogical Society, Salt Lake City, UT
Vermont Assn of Snow Travelers, Inc, Montpelier, VT
Vermont Forest Products Assn, Greensboro Bend, VT
Vermont Property Rights Center, Underhill, VT
Virginia Carolina Trailriders, Boydton, VA
Virginians for Property Rights, Warrenton, VA
VT Assn. of Snow Travelers, Inc, South Burlington, VT
WA Women for the Survival of Agriculture, Sunnyside, WA
Wallowa County Court, Enterprise, OR
Washington Prospectors Mining Association, Seattle, WA
Washington Wool Growers Assn, Moses Lake, WA
Washington State Farm Bureau, Olympia, WA
Washington Lands Coalition, Chehalis, WA
Washington Contract Loggers Assn., Olympia, WA
Washington Property Protection Coalition, Hoguiam, WA
Washington Log Truckers Conference, Federal Way, WA
Washington Cattlemen's Association, Ellensburg, WA
Western Mining Council, Reno, NV
Western Traditions Coalition, Denver, CO
Western States Coalition, New Harmony, UT
Western New York Environmental Federation, Sanborn, NY
Wild Rivers Conservancy Federation, Forks, WA
Wilderness Impact Research Foundation, Elko, NV
Willamette Valley Miners, Salem, OR
Wind River Multiple Use Advocates, Riverton, WY
Wisconsin Agri-Business Council, Madison, WI
Wyoming Woolgrowers Association, Casper, WY
Wyoming Resource Providers Coalition, Riverton, WY
Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, Laramie, WY
Yellow Ribbon Coalition, Springfield, OR
ADA Beef Co., Inc., Ada, MI
AgImages, Ltd, Bird Island, MN
Alan Warren Outdoors, San Antonio, TX
Alpine Meats, Stockton, CA
Bogart Enterprises, Las Cruces, NM
Boise Cascade Corporation, Yakima, WA
Bond Trucking, Rochester, WA
Brewer Cycles, Henderson, NC
Brushy Creek Custom Sires, Taylor, TX
Casey J. Silverthorn Trucking, Tonasket, WA
Castro Valley Properties, Inc, Palo Alto, CA
Channel Corporations, Juneau, AK
Coastal Ford Tractor, Salinas, CA
Concrete Use, Raymond, WA
D.K. Vino, Inc, La Mesa, CA
E & K Wise Logging, Myrtle Creek, OR
Edwards, White & Soag, San Diego, CA
Gonzales Irrigation Systems, Gonzales, CA
Hahn Machinery Inc, Two Harbors, MN
Hastings Pork, Hastings, NE
Industrial Reporting, Inc, Richmond, VA
J. W. Brown Ent., Inc, Tocama, WA
Jack W. Miller Logging Co., Winlock, WA
Law Offices of Ben A. Wallis, Jr, San Antonio, TX
Micco Interprises, Murrieta, CA
OTSS Enterprises & W.A. Properties, Bakersfield, CA
Quality Publishing, Inc, Tucson, AZ
R.C. Farms, Gonzales, CA
R.C. Investments, Gonzales, CA
R.C. Packing, Gonzales, CA
Rianda Family Trust, Gonzales, CA
ROI Management Corp, Evergreen, CO
Stewart Wildlife Calls, Inc, Waco, TX
Supercone, Inc, Poway, CA
TaVare, Tera Bella, CA
Tejon Ranch, Lebac, CA
Triumph Associates, Ltd, Ketchum, ID
Yeoman Marine, Inc, Laramie, WY