Commissioner of Public Lands throws Sierra Club out of REI

[eridani]

Sutherland throws Sierra Club out of REI

http://www.washblog.com/story/2008/10/9/15381/1715

Today (10/9) Commissioner of Public Lands, Doug Sutherland, was recognizing the DNR's Forest Stewardship Council's certification at the Seattle REI.

On hand were a couple of Sierra Club volunteers, including myself, passing out a one page letter from the Sierra Club. The letter starts with "We Congratulate DNR and FSC on this accomplishment", and goes on to say that more can be done for even better certifications.

This was apparently too much for Sutherland's staffers. They told us our papers weren't welcome, and had us removed from REI.

Let me say that again: The Sierra Club was thrown out of REI by the Commissioner of Public Lands, at a ceremony recognizing good stewardship!

To state what should be obvious: This was an event of the DNR, a public agency. We were NOT being disruptive, but passively handing papers to people entering the event at the doorway. Our papers were NOT attack pieces, but simply a policy-letter, both recognizing progress made so far, and suggesting ways to do better.