Ceci's Sharebook 

WELCOME

Exciting news! Last week a court ruled a second time on our lawsuit to protect roadless areas on national forests, calling into question nearly 300 oil and gas leases let since 2001. This is just the latest of several tremendous victories we've had in the past year together. Our Inside Story has more details.

Here at The Wilderness Society, we are looking ahead to a promising new Congress while keeping a wary eye on the administration, which has proven time and again that no development proposal is too outlandish to consider.

In this holiday season, I hope you find some time to reflect on all that our natural world means to you, and all that you have done to defend it.

Thanks for all you do,
Kathy Kilmer
Director, E-Communications

Go Wild

Cache Creek Wilderness, California

Venturing along rolling green hills dotted with old oak trees, a hiker can gaze to the west and spot the gentle peaks of the coastal mountains or look east and marvel at the grandness of the Sierra Nevada. Bald eagles soar above as free-roaming Tule elk graze in the open grasslands of the foothills and a mountain lion ventures down a steep canyon to drink from the cool waters of Cache Creek. This natural beauty and wild scenery can be found just 60 miles outside of Sacramento in the newly designated Cache Creek Wilderness Area.

Go there

Take Action

Help Save America's Open Spaces

You've seen the effects of development on our rapidly dwindling open spaces. America is losing 6,000 acres of open space each day. The Forest Service has identified loss of open space as one of the four major threats to public and private American forestland. Such development threatens our nation's ability to manage public lands to maintain healthy forests for wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, and public recreation.

The agency has decided to tackle the problem, and it's asked the public to weigh in. Please join us in letting the agency know how important this issue is. Click here to take action.

Inside Story

With Congress and the president pushing for more development across some of America's most cherished landscapes, 2006 was a very challenging year for conservationists. Even so, with your help, we've been able to achieve a great deal this year:

• We thwarted numerous, well-funded attempts to open the spectacular Arctic Wildlife Refuge to drilling.
• We stopped a reckless plan to sell off public lands to mining and development interests.
• Our lawsuit on behalf of pristine areas on our national forests resulted in reinstatement of the Roadless Area Protection Rule.

There's much more. Check it out and give yourself some credit.

Photo: Roadless Forest area in South Carolina. Photo courtesy of Butch Clay.

News

President Bush May Open Alaska's Bristol Bay to Offshore Drilling. Read the full story here

Sen. Jeffords Wins Ansel Adams Award For Commitment To Preserving Nation's Lands. Read the full story here

Support Our Work before Year's End

It's hard to believe, but the New Year is right around the corner. We at The Wilderness Society are counting on you to help build on our accomplishments in 2006 and make 2007 a landmark year for wilderness!

Click here to make a tax-deductible donation of $50 or more before 2006 ends to support our work for the coming year.

As special thanks to the first 150 donors who give $100 or more, we'll send you one of our stunning 2007 wilderness wall calendars.

Before 2006 closes, take an important step to protect our remaining wildlands for the next generation. Make your tax-deductible donation today.

Words To Inspire

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
-- Winston Churchill

The Wilderness Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving American wilderness. Our mission is to ensure that future generations will enjoy the clean air and water, wildlife, beauty, and opportunity for recreation and renewal provided by pristine forests, rivers, deserts, and mountains. As a subscriber to WildAlert, you join more than 300,000 Wilderness Society members and supporters in our efforts to protect and restore America's wild places.