If a tree falls in a UAF forest it definitely makes a sound.

A loud one.

It seems hard to believe that a week ago almost nobody knew anything at all about the proposed cutting of trees surrounding the Geophysical Institute's satellite dish.  All of the sudden the chainsaws just showed up, and trees started falling.

I have to say I am extremely impressed with how quickly the grassroots campaign was launched.  Almost before the sound of the chain saws reached me in my office deep within the bowels of the Wood Center, I had received half a dozen emails alerting me to their presence and the imminent doom they planned on reigning down upon our pristine woods.

Chancellor Jones told me that within 48 hours he had received thousands of emails berating him for his callous clear cutting of the woods.  And despite his apparent hyperbole, I'm sure the emails came in the hundreds.

Apparently people really care about those trees.

But that's the type of society we are.  We are a people motivated by crisis, and it's not a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, I care about the trees and the war, but it's sad that it takes a crisis of such magnitude before most of us will do anything.

Yes, the chancellor received hundred of emails from people who love the beautiful trails behind the science buildings, but how many of those people work to take care of those trails on a regular (i.e. non-crisis) basis?

The Trails Club here on campus has a mission of maintaining and improving the trails, and their activities draw fewer than a hundred people—a lot fewer.

I'm sure if all those hundreds of people who sent emails would give a few hours a month to help them out they would appreciate it, and the trails would be exponentially better for all of them.

And it's not just that we are motivated by the big-time crises, we only want to participate in the big-time, high profile causes and activities.

We stand on street corners picketing Bush or Planned Parenthood—couldn't that time be better spent?

I hate to say it, but I would be willing to bet the farm that nobody was ever swayed by a banner they saw on a street corner.  Most of us try to avoid eye contact, let alone read or even understand the message of those protestors.

I would submit that those people standing on the street corners or marching in front of women's health clinics could serve the public better by volunteering that time to working on a political campaign, making quilts for expectant mothers, supporting or creating adoption service organizations, or even just helping their elderly neighbor with their groceries.

If that seems too strenuous, than perhaps you can at least vote—intelligently.

Notice I tacked a word on the end there.  Intelligently.

Don't just vote, any idiot can do that.  With all that time you stand on the corner, you could be thoroughly studying the issues, getting an in-depth and well-rounded view of the candidates, and then (God forbid) make a decision based on facts and not just slogans.

I know we are all busy.  Believe me, I know.   The Sun Star is a harsh, harsh mistress, as my wife (who hasn't seen me in the past 28 hours) will gladly attest to.  But even I have a few minutes here and there.  Even I can listen to the news on the radio as I'm driving home.

We owe it to ourselves to do something.

Just look at the power we have.

We stopped the chainsaws.  We forced the powers that be to listen.  Yes the chainsaws will begin again; yes trees will fall, but not as many.

And more importantly, now they know we are watching.  They know we are powerful.  They know that if we don't like something we can change it.

So let's use that power, not only when the trees fall down or when the country goes to war, but all the time, at all levels.

We can do it, I know we can.

I saw what you can do, you can't hide it now.

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