Bush May Face Environment Protests in Northwest

[Judi Lynn]

Bush May Face Environment Protests in Northwest
Thu August 21, 2003 12:12 AM ET
By Christina Ling

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush is likely to face protests on Thursday as he travels to Oregon and Washington to promote his environmental agenda and raise money for his re-election campaign. (snip)

(snip) In Oregon's Deschutes National Forest, Bush will promote what aides call "common-sense forest management," meant to prevent the catastrophic wildfires that often strike the western United States in the summer. (snip)

(snip) Opponents argue Bush's plan would quash environmental safeguards, public participation and judicial review and allow timber companies easier access to forests.

The Oregon Natural Resources Council has asked fellow environmentalists to turn out against Bush's "Stealthy Forest Initiative" -- a play on the official "Healthy Forest Initiative" -- at a fund-raiser at the University of Portland.

When Bush visited Portland last year, anti-war protesters clashed with police near the president's hotel, in what was one of the biggest demonstrations against his administration. (snip/...)

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3312265