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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I think Sharon Buccino should lobby the Obama admin to OVERTURN any transaction that sells off public land in the last , say 60 days, of the Dubya admin. What is happening is OUTRAGEOUS.
Okay, where is the auction block and why can't concerned citizens mass there in opposition to the sale of these lands? Time for action, not passivity and polite legal efforts that yield no results.
Or why doesn't a group or a consortium of environmental groups just keep bidding and bidding and outbid the industries and then when Obama comes in, he can forgive the "debt" and return the land to its rightful owners, the American people?
I signed it for what good I think it'll do.
When Bush "took" office in 2000, he thought that gave him the deed to America.
Now Chrysler is closing all of it's plants: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aRa0jVzM922w&refer=us
Probably gonna wait 'til it's too late and sell 'em to China.
After practically everyone in the US screamed AGAINST the Bank giveaway; (bailout); looting; AND THEY STILL DID IT. I don't think Bush is gonna pay any attention to US anymore. Do you???
Still, I singed it and :::::::sighed:::::::
A funny story for everyone. Years ago a friend of mine who was an officer of the Sierra Club, was bemoaning to me, all the money that they were having to spend on legal fees to thwart the land
grabs and abuses of James Watt. I told him they were going about it the wrong way. He rather
indignantly asked what I would differently. I said that for a mere $20K or less, you could have a
contract taken out on him. He thought for about 20 seconds, and then said, "Nah, we could never
get away with it." I was kidding of course, but once in a while, it does seem an attractive expedient.
See Ed and Deb Shapiro's Profile
Dear Robert Redford- it is a joy to have a person with your integrity and respect for the enviornment be an outspoken voice. The earth is sacred. It is sad that this admin is ignorant and has been so callous. I support you in all your endeavor.
Thanks,
Ed
To Robert Redford,
I just clicked on the link and e-mailed my support in your efforts to stop this madness. I also heard you on MSNBC this morning with Andrea Mitchell. I commend you for trying to prevent the sale of our beautiful wilderness. I can only hope that we can succeed. It would be a travesty to sell this land. I believe in this cause and want to do anything and everything possible to preserve our heritage for future generations.
Just when you think the Bush administration can't possibly go any lower, they manage to do just that.
Thank you for alerting the public to this disgraceful final act of the Bush/Cheney years.
This absolutely, distresses me to no end. A further example of this present administrations, (Bush/Cheney), obsession with overturning any rational protections of Common Lands, irrespective of long term LOSS, damage and degradations of our wilderness areas for short term gain (Financial) and exploitation.
What will follow is clear and of necessity to facilitate these exploitations.
Roads to scar the land.
Installations and drill site equipment.
Fencing to secure these facility investments.
Restricted access. (Excused on grounds of National Security)
Disruptions of natural migration routs of the animals.
No accusations here,,,,, just truth,,, and acknowledgment of these intrusions that will be,,, of necessity.
I was raised on these lands, hiked, camped, rode horseback for miles and miles, enjoyed the beauty and vistas, most untouched by man. Leaving nothing behind, more than a footprint or a small circle of ash from a fire for the night, that too was turned under as to leave little or no trace in passing.
To tread lightly,,,, EVER so lightly,,, that all who followed would enjoy what I had,,,, as carefully as I could offer concern for this heritage. More than a joy in my heart,,, but a near reverence. I have a watercolor, on my wall I painted of Bryce Canyon, just above my head.
What will be,,, for our children? Once LOST,, what will be there for them?
I want America to progress and prosper. I DO!
But at what cost?
All the best
Knute
Email notification of opposition accomplished, Mr. Redford, and thank you for making us bloggers aware of Bush/Cheney's tricks to rape our economy and land.
THANK YOU Mr. Redford. My wife and I have been heartbroken over this since learning of it. We'd always hoped that something would be left of the magnificent redrock West to inspire our children and grandchildren and beyond, and provide them the same deep treasure of solace it has for us. We feel as if our soul is being stolen from us, a place that we could depend upon to heal our spirit and allow us to continue to survive the madness of the modern world. Obama's election provided that promise, then it was immediately crushed by the criminals and thieves at Bush's BLM. Thanks again to you, NRDC, and SUWA for all you do. One last question: If this approach fails...is it possible for American citizens to bid on these parcels...and thus effectively block the companies? I've heard some of these land leases go for $2.50 an acre...meaning all of the proposed land could be purchased (until Obama takes office) for a fairly reasonable price. I'm sure there are rules on who can bid...but thought I'd mention it anyway. Again, thank you thank you thank you.
At this point, is there anyone who is surprised by anything Bush pushes that will harm the America that most of us would like to pass on into the future? I don't think so. Bush is just a pathetic puppet of the rich men and women of big oil. He has always been that and nothing more. We can only expect him to get worse in his waning days. We just all need to be alert and vigilant so that we can ensure that his legacy includes all his treacherous attempts to undermine our our future.
Robert....now it's Obamas time to perserve our land and ensure that we become energy independent, will you be as critical of him, because I don't remember your concerns being voiced during the Clinton years? Of course I don't remember Gore being so passionate about global warming during those years either. I will have great respect for you to hear you be critical of anything the incoming admistration does that you don't agree with.
In the words of Sarah Pallin and the rest of the repugs...
Drill Baby Drill---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you all hit the link at the end of Redford's article? It takes you to an NRDC site which generates letters advocating on behalf of this issue; it takes less than a minute to do the work.
Utah's canyons and many obscure petroglyphs contained therein are a national treasure, part of our great nations' blessed wonders. I agree with ptarantino. This is one of the favorite places of anywhere I've ever been. The surreal beauty is breathtaking, the fragile desert soil is rare and takes centuries to grow centimeters. Bush once again proves what an idiot he is. Selling this BLM land to the energy industry is indeed casting pearls before swine.
Yes,, Mouselion,
They,,, Bush/Chaney,,, just put Iraqi OIL up for sale, Anwar too, now Utah.
Seems a pattern is developing here?????
But silly me,,, WE were assured,, it is not about THE OIL.
All the best
Knute
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