Stand Up Against Bush's Giveaway of America's Redrock Wilderness
You can't put a price on silence or solitude. You can't quantify the beauty of wilderness. And yet that's not going to stop the Bush administration from trying to sell off what should be the birthright of future generations.
In three days, this Friday, 110,000 acres of majestic Utah wild lands go on the auction block, to be sold to the highest bidders in the oil and gas industry. It's a last-ditch effort by a corrupt administration to further enrich its friends in the dirty fuels business. If they succeed, they'll leave a wasteland behind them.
Never mind that we the People of the United States just rejected the failed energy policy of "drill, baby, drill!" Never mind that once industrialized, these precious lands will be marred for centuries. Ravaging these places will put cash in the pockets of greedy speculators, even if it won't solve our energy problems.
The miraculous thing about America though, is that we the People have options. And one of those options is to take a corrupt and foolish administration to court.
This morning I stood with my friends at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) to announce an emergency lawsuit aimed at stopping this wanton destruction of Utah wilderness. Sharon Buccino, the head of NRDC's lands program, has been fighting the Bush administration for eight years, holding the line against an industrial juggernaut. She says it's illegal under federal law for the Bureau of Land Management to just snap its fingers and sell off national treasures. In its rush, BLM just ignored the rules.
Sharon's case will be among the last lawsuits NRDC ever files against the Bush administration. Most of those lawsuits have been successful. I don't know the odds on this one, but my fingers are crossed. It could be our last chance to protect these irreplaceable lands.
Bush may be a lame duck president, but he can still quack.
Help stop Bush's giveaway of America's Redrock Wilderness.
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If the BLM and NPS is going to open every square mile of wilderness to ATV's and other 4-wheelers what does it really matter if there are pumpjacks everywhere. The roads to and from the wellheads are greatly appreciated by that crowd.
Hey Bob, if OUR PRESIDENT had not kept us safe for the past 7 years, we would not have to be concerned about the enviroment. I just pray that your guy does as well.
Huh? What? How did he keep us safe by ignoring a briefing about bin Ladin wanting to attack America.
And had Bush done ONE THING to encourage alternative energy we might not be so utterly dependent on foreign oil.
Your post is nonsensical.
Oh brother...destroy the earth because we weren't attacked? Your rationale is pathetic!
That is not what you pray and you know it.
You believe your radio and TV are telling you the truth, and it has made you foolish.
There is no way to give you facts.
You are locked in place.
Vegas,
Does it count for or against GWB, that he did nothing in response to the dire warnings issued by all pertinent intelligence agencies as well as the numerous pleas of the administrations "Terrorism Czar" that "Bin Ladin determined to strike U.S." was "Flashing bright Red".
Leadership to lock the door before the horse was stolen, would have saved us from an excuse (9/11) for a war of choice for profit.
To the point. Every action taken by this administration has been "Policy for Profit"!
When a thief is in your house, filling his sack with your belongings, with the precious family treasures, entrusted to you by your ancestors to pass on to your children and grandchildren, what do you do Vegas? Shall we allow the rape of our Nation to continue. What action will you take to preserve what has been entrusted to you for your own seed to benefit from?
Bob, Lead, some among us will follow.
Where have you been? Terrorism and hate of American's is on the rise worldwide. Bush is horrible and hated...I only hope he is tried for crimes against humanity. ...and anyone who voted for him should be required to do community service to help repair the damage that he's done with their help.
Interesting how the Republicans see things only in black and white.. No shades of grey.. This also includes all or nothing when it comes to dollars for their friends.. No nuance or shades of grey in the wilderness that is home to wildlife and natural beauty.. Only thing that matters to these greed mongers is a way to make a dirty buck! Disgusted !!
Perhaps we should address the issue that Bush can do this RIGHT BEFORE he leaves office, even though he is no longer the president. It's a serious flaw in our legal system, just like the last minute pardon thing. It's just wrong.
Thanks for the call to action. I've signed the petition in an effort to stop the party of "take". For eight years it's felt like this beast has been feeding to satisfy it's endless hunger. The beast has no accountability, nor conscience.
When T.R set up the first national forest, it was a milestone for this country. Thinking back to the problems of this young nation at that time, its truly amazing that Teddy was so foresighted.
Now, as we watch our country, the beautiful wild places effected by modern isolation of the city dwellers and the active destruction of the biosphere by indifferent or even down right disdainful, criminally incompetent government, a battle must be waged; THIS issue is paramount.
This should not be a war along party lines, ethically this is mutually assured destruction for both sides of the house, with the unknowing masses asleep while we consume the wilderness for short term gain.
I, in no way am what is called a "Tree huger", for the most part a urban animal. The people, people such as myself, can be reached; awakened if you will.
However, name calling and shrill strident voices are sure to turn such as i away faster than a forest fire in times of drought.
This concerns everyone, whether they realize it or not, and continuous measured logical speech is the way to attack this greatest danger to the well being of our home.
Please explain what you consider to be 'shrill strident voices'. Are you referring to Robert Redford?
no.
Kindly Dori,
I don’t think that was Wilds’ intention. He was offering sound advice. The divisions of Partisan Politics have no place here. These issues cross all Political Lines. We are speaking of our common heritage and need share with others,,,, factually and truthfully with an open hand extended to all and seeking unity.
Those who have acted in frustration before, such as youth painting Hummers or setting them on fire at Auto dealerships, have harmed the perceptions of what should be more universal interests of our more widespread concerns. Reaching out to inform and educate is a much more positive and fruitful way to insure success than shouting.
He is offering wisdoms that will insure the numbers that will be needed to see this through.
Together!!!!!
JMO
All the best
Knute
You think "logical speech" will work with the Bush administration? Fool.
Logic does not reach the evil and greedy....and someone once told me.... "stupid is evil".... and Bush is no rocket scientist.
even those you see as the devil can be reached with the right word set, whether it is appealing to their "greed", or self interest; or someones more altruistic parts.
but name calling ("fool") does not win over your opponent, just causes animosity...
Good to hear a story of real importance. Sadly this is an all to familiar one, big money wins and we all lose. W is certainly giving away our national treasures but I rather doubt it has anything to do with his politics. Seems more likely it is about money and power. It is important to try to stop these actions (crimes?) from happening but more important to look into who is behind them. Rooting out those desiring profit at all costs is the key. In all situations we must seek out and spotlight these people, the politicians are merely the tools they use.
Thank you for the link, I signed and hope everyone else who reads your post does.
Bush is very consistent in adding to his legacy.
We can all only hope the NRDC is successful in fighting the continued give-away of our natural resources, now in Utah. If they are unsuccessful, and if I had a lot of money, I would bid for and buy this land to protect it; unfortunately, I don't have the money that celebrities and others have. I think about how much money was raised in the election recently and the bailouts, etc., and I wonder why this land cannot be purchased by a consortium of environmentalists/philanthropists who care. Maybe petitions work, but all too often they do not. Georgie's legacy is how much he hates the environment and how little he cares about the natural world.
I signed...twice. I have faith that NRDC will win this lawsuit. This latest--and hopefully last--- scheme of Bush's goes against all the regulations and laws that have been put in place for generations. The Redrock area is one of the most beautiful areas in our country. That land belongs to all Americans, past, present, AND FUTURE. Bush doesn't own the land, so he has no right to sell it to his oil and gas cronies. If this isn't stopped, I may just be going out there to do an old-fashioned protest myself.
I cannot fathom why George W Bush hasn't been impeached long ago.
Even without the whole Iraq thing and all the rest, his trampling of every environmental protection, civil right, consumer protection, etc has been a travesty. He has literally been nothing more than a bought-and-paid for agent of the ruthlessly minded monied interests that see our country as nothing more than something to be sold or sold-out for personal or corporate profit.
The red rock Colorado Plateau is one of my favorite places on earth and should be left alone. The public lands there do not belong to Utah or the US Government- they belong to the people of the United States. The government is nothing more than a trustee, charged with acting on behalf of current and future generations.
Bush and the NeoCons do not accept that fact. They see everything as being for sale and care not what damage is done as long as they get a cut. They are beneath contempt.
Dear Bob, do you think that this policy will change, I do not think so. While ago I read this article that makes sense and I wish it be published here:
http://democracyandsocialism.com/Articles/TheUSelectionsandchange.html
w again challenges us to wonder if he's cognitively impaired, big energy's hollow man, running a "pay to play scheme," or just impulsive enough to not care about anything but his days' workout and cuisine...maybe all of the above...
Utah has this great land, and yet they fund Prop 8 to use as a wedge issue to help people who want to destroy their land.
And the one has absolutely nothing to do w/the other.
Focus -- it's the Republican practice to hold only one thought (at best) at a time. Just because the state government of Utah is what it is, doesn't, in fact mean that we should abandon national parks, state parks, or the environment in general.
Thinking in terms of black & white is _their_ thing...
They could have used that money to help preserve this land though.
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