BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Environment Sale of Federally Protected Land

I'll try to be brief and tell you what is going on.

In the 1950's President Eisenhower signed an Executive Order to federally protect the Oak Flat lands of Arizona from ever being developed or mined.

Oak Flat is a wonderous wildland, with soaring cliffs, year-round water, and also contains a place revered by the Apache. It has never been soiled. It belongs to ALL Americans, and the wildlife that have depended on it's water for thousands of years.

When Gov.Janet Napolitano went to DC to become head of Homeland Security, a temporary replacement inherited her job till the next election: Az. Sec. of State Jan Brewer.

Jan Brewer used her new temporary position to make a deal with two foreign mining companies to buy this protected land.

(The people of Arizona had no vote on the matter.)

The only way to do that was with the approval of the US Congress.

Enter Sen. John McCain. He has quietly taken this opposed land "swap", renamed it "The Southeastern Land Trade and Conservation Act", slipped it into a bill containing 30-odd other environmental changes, and got it passed thru the US Senate.

The only thing lacking is a signature of a President.

These two foreign mining companies, BHP and it's partner have horrendous environmental records spanning the globe.

It hurts to see the people of the United States, (and Arizona) losing federally protected and sacred land because crooked politicians play secret games

Short-sighted, short-termed individuals are going to destroy an area untouched for tens of thousands of years - so they can create a couple of hundred jobs for a few decades.

THIS IS YOUR LAND.

Also, the World needs to know that the Az Immigration Reform Law is the doing of the Az Legislature and Jan Brewer. We never voted for that. So, please stop being mad at the people of Az. WE DIDN'T DO IT.

Anybody know anyone who can help save Oak Flat? or how to write the President and ask him not to sign it over?

The two notorious mining companies are: Rio Tinto and BHP.

Please help stop this pollution of land that belongs to us all.

I would go public - more than just here. I'd get loud and look up news tips...you know I have something somewhere. They are email addresses of news casters.

I'd also look up how to get a petition going. I've seen some even come across by email, asking me to sign. I read through them and then decide.

Here's the link to the email addresses for the news people. I would type up a very nice, short, specific, as informative with the least amount of words and bulk send it to all of the news stations. Don't leave any of them out because you don't know who's desk it wll end up running by. Some of these may be outdated. But, it's a start.

News Links

I am suprised sometimes by the people who are willing to take the information I have or that at least tell me what information that Ineed to get for them in order to move forward.

Also, I've not heard that alot of people are mad at AZ. We're hearing many are forced to agree with needing some type of immigration reform. I say open the borders, but everyone pays taxes, no freebies. Don't think that'll take off though.

Hope this other information helps a bit

That is ONE GREAT LIST! Thank you! I saved it. I recognize that some aren't current, like Tim Russert, who has died.

There was a column about John McCains' very poor environmental records, "Cowardly, Greedy John McCain" in the NY Times, by Paul Krugman. It was reprinted in my local paper today.

So wrote Paul Krugman about Oak Flat. Then! THEN! I wrote the President!

The San Carlos Apaches have had a visit from the Suits in DC about this. I had a friend attend since I wasn't up to the hike.

He said that the tribe was so gentle and polite as they showed the Suit the herbs they need from Oak Flat, and so polite and respectful as they explained how sacred this land is to them, and that the Suit looked bored.

As far as everyone being mad at us: There is a real boycott going on of Az, the city of L.A. wouldn't even let it's police come to the conference here this month. The State of CA is boycotting us. Teams won't come play, Conventions cancelled, bands cancelling tour dates.

And, the news I read around the world makes it sound like the citizens of Az. voted for the bill.

We do have a huge problem with illegal entry and drug smugglers and something has to be done.

But, the bill pushed thru makes it 'suspicious' to have dark hair or skin, or an accent. And that is not right.

Thank you again for the list!