.I don't trust many of the environmental petition situations that get forwarded to me so frequently--I have to research anything of that nature to get the facts first and then it seems there is usually a hidden agenda or perhaps a situation that is very complex and without a "good side/bad side".

This particular issue came to my attention lately, and although I am certainly not asking anyone to sign anything, it is happening in a town near where I live so I feel I should share it with like-minded individuals.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/292110203?ltl=1122229112#body.

The story first came to me from a local paper, which interviewed the pastor and gave a summary of the issue, which had become a big thing since it was posted on a website to try and find an alternative. The snide remarks of this pastor and his attitude toward the tree as a general nuisance got me curious since and I began snooping around and trying to find out more from other sources. At first I thought the man was telling all these posters/petitioners to "put their money where their mouth was" so to speak, and that seemed fair. If you want to change something, you should take an active part in seeing it get done. Then I discovered that the minister was telling the CITY to give him the money.

His main reasons as stated for the removal?

The tree drops leaves on the roof of the church and it takes too much effort to clean them up.

The church needs the space for parking.

that's pretty well it

The same tree service that has been contracted to do the work has stated that the tree is healthy and sound and poses no threat to person or property, but they are still ok to do the job as hired. Other completely rational alternatives have been turned down, such as curbside handicapped parking. The need for handicapped parking is a tough one, because I have a chair-bound FIL and I know accessability is a legitimate concern, but I would never want a healthy 200 year old tree ripped out just so I can get to the door a few seconds faster.

I'm tired of the mindset that the envirnonment is just a barrier and an inconvenience to human progress and desires. Since this fellow seems to be purely thinking in terms of dollars and cents and not of the aesthetic/emotional/spiritual value of such things, someone should sit him down and go over some things such as natural cooling abilities, wind breaks, pollution filters, and the potential for trees to increase property values.

I think the comment he made that chafed me most and got my attention was the one about comments and things said in the petition just making him want to get out there and et the thing done sooner.