Posted on July 8, 1999
May 3, 1999
Journal Editor,
It's most disappointing to read Brooke Coleman's attack on REI in the
Summer '99 issue of the Journal, in particular our involvement in the Recreation Roundtable. I hope you'll share REI's statement on this matter with the same vigor Mr. Coleman pursued in criticizing REI.
I had called Mr. Coleman in February to request that he correct an
inaccurate comment he made in the Winter/Spring issue of the Journal about REI "profiting from snowmobile use," which is wholly untrue. Rather than correct his initial inaccuracy, Mr. Coleman decided to further editorialize about REI's former involvement in a group called the Recreation Roundtable and extrapolate for readers his opinion about REI's motivation for being involved in the organization. In addition to misinterpreting REI's involvement, he also chose to leave out my rebuttal of his suppositions and inaccurate conclusions.
The fact is that REI has worked for years supporting the outdoors. We've
worked for trail budgets, we've supported wilderness efforts and we've
funded projects to keep rivers wild and free. One would be hard pressed to find an outdoor retailer who has done more for longer than REI. In all of our work, whether as members of organizations, as project grant funders or through direct actions, our intent is always to support and represent
muscle-powered recreation.
The following statement further explains our position in regard to the
Recreation Roundtable and our reasons for resigning from the group. I
would appreciate that you share REI's view so that your readers, finally,
will have both sides of the story.
Michael Collins
REI Public Affairs Manager
Bluewater Response:
We applaud REI's decision to step down from the American Recreation
Coalition's Recreation Roundtable. It is vital that members continue to
protest user-fees, a program REI still supports "conceptually." This
program unfairly charges for land access we have already paid for, and
remains directly attached to legislative riders which motorize, privatize
and commercialize public lands. While the "concept" of the program is
harmless, the program itself will prove destructive.
In regard to Mr. Collins' attack on the Journal's article, during our conversation he was given every opportunity to clarify REI's position on motorization, commercialization and privatization of public lands, or
disassociate REI from the wise-use agendas communicated by co-members of
the Recreation Roundtable. He chose not to. We hope REI's resignation
from this group shows a change of heart, and we welcome their help in
protecting our public lands from exploitation.
Brooke Coleman
Bluewater Network
For more info, contact Bluewater Network:
Write: 300 Broadway, Suite 28, San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: (415) 788-3666 x149
E-mail: <bluewater@earthisland.org>
Surf: www.earthisland.org/bw
More on REI: Company and Bluewater Network Response