" Canadian Beetle Infestation Worries U.S."

[GreenPartyVoter]

GRANGEVILLE, Idaho (AP) - Northwest loggers are worried British Columbia may be forced to harvest as much as 21 million acres of forests to stop the mountain pine beetle, flooding the market and driving down timber prices.

The infected forests in British Columbia make up an area roughly 40 percent the size of Idaho. To combat the beetles, the province is increasing allowable timber cuts 78 percent; big trouble for mills throughout the Northwest.

"They're going to bury us in the sand," said Dick Bennett, owner of Bennett Forest Industries in Grangeville.

Bennett said the timber industry won't be as hot as it was in recent years because of an expected decline in the housing and building markets.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20060116/D8F5R6BO0.html

[tuvor]

1. I'm sure the interest from $5 billion will tide them over.

Hard to feel sorry for the US forest industry.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Seriously!

[pinto]

7. Washington State has moved to enact green construction codes,

and has garnered support from carpenter and lumber unions as well as environmental groups in supporting more environmentally sound use of timber resources while supporting local jobs. Earth shattering change? No. But that's the kind of step needed to move towards economically and environmentally workable solutions.

The timber industry is pretty vital, whether it happens here, Canada or Scandinavia. Lots of people live in wood frame houses and apartments.

Corporate subsidies are a typically Republican approach to resolving business challenges. There are other approaches, though. One is coupling environmental/social goals with labor goals in industry that benefit both. ie, the government has the legislative power to enact logging standards and the political capability to make them a reality when it garners broad based support.

Just my 2 cents and a little off topic with the beetle infestation...

[C_U_L8R]

2. Look out Canada

Bush is just looking for another reason to kick someone's ass.

(can anyone believe we actually have this homicidal maniac for a president???)

[Telly Savalas]

4. It's part of Paul Martin's plan to get tough on the softwood lumber issue.

Read about other elements of the plan in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4598952

[Taxloss]

5. I, for one, welcome our new Canadian beetle overlords. n/t

[Nikki Stone 1]

10. ROTFLMAO!!!

:D

[applegrove]

6. Yup. And watch the Americans come and buy the industry at rock

bottom prices!

They did that with cattle.

Beetle is a serious issue. I don't think it is Canadian.

[Telly Savalas]

8. This is arguably a direct consequence of LBJ's failure to deal with

the UK Beatle infestation in the 1960's.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. *lol*