IAT NEWSLETTER

March 2003

Calendar of Events | Environmental News | For Sale | Fundraisers

Letter from the President | Letters | Newsletter News | Organization Information

Poetry | Quote of the Month | Websites of Interest

Dedicated to Peace on Earth

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"IT'S ABOUT TIME WE BEGIN IT,
TO TURN THE WORLD AROUND . . . "


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ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
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Co-Founder/Former President - Marcelle Orswell (notmartha2@yahoo.com)
Co-Founder and Secretary -- Theresa Shea (
Tree1A@aol.com)
Co-Founder/Webpage Designer-Sandy Clark
(tybrenn@attbi.com)
Co-Presidents -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@sprynet.com) and
Mary Ledford (
eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
Web Site -- --
http://home.attbi.com/~tybrenn/iat/

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,

I have wrestled mightily with this, because my inclination about IAT has always been something along the lines of:  "far be it for me to get political on this show" -- well, no more than is absolutely necessary, anyway.  So I decided to take a different tack instead.  At this point in our turbulent world, we have all come down on our own side of the fence with respect to the war in Iraq.  And whether for or against, I think we all recognize that the greatest thing we can do for ourselves and our society is to speak out and make our thoughts known.  Teddy Roosevelt said, "It is unpatriotic not to raise one's voice in a democracy," and now, maybe more than ever, that is absolutely true.

Therefore, if it is your inclination that this war is immoral, get involved. Attend rallies, write letters.  Be counted.  If, on the other hand, you see the war as a conduit to our greater health and well-being, do your bit there too.  Perhaps our greatest example is our beloved teacher, John Denver, who never shirked from standing up for what he believed in.  Well folks, I'm here to tell you that John's hand is in yours -- can you feel it?  And even if it seems that you are tiny, remember the quote I shared with you a few months back, that I can't help but repeat now:  Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Whether it was by our doing or not, we won a great victory in keeping the "wolves" from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this past month.  We can do great things.   We can also do terrible, unspeakable things.  But most importantly, we must let our actions be a reflection of who we are in the world.  We owe John nothing less.


My heart to yours,
Ann

(PS -- On a personal note, I will be starting a new job on 31 March, and my time is going to get a lot more limited.  Therefore, I'm asking for your patience when you write regarding address changes, etc., -- it may take a little more time than it used to to get those things done.  And thanks to all who contributed this month! -- AS)

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QUOTE(S) OF THE MONTH
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There is no way to Peace; Peace is the way
~Unknown

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FUNDRAISER
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DON'T FORGET.....


If you know of a John Denver memorial site in your area, please send details to Todd Barker (TheDenverRealtor@aol.com) and/or Jennifer Hunter (jenden1099@yahoo.com) to include in our IAT Fundraiser. The deadline for submission is April 1, 2003. Please email Mary at eagleshorses@yahoo.com
for any further information.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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March 29, 2003  Monterey Sing-Along with Joel Hannel of South Lake Tahoe, 7PM.  Email Judy Therrien at jtherrien@pacbell.net for more information

April 4 & 5, 2003  Dade City, Florida / "Florida Old Time Music Championship" / Sertoma Youth Ranch (813) 991-4774  Jim Strickland: Mrethnc@aol.com Admission: $5 - $12
http://www.dadecity.com/fotmc/guestofhonor/Jim_Connor/

April 5, 2003 Windstar Chat with Sue DiCicco and friends (other Board members).   There will be a Windstar Chat Saturday April 5th 9:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. Pacific Standard Time An opportunity to ask questions and interact with Windstar board members and other interested folks about, the Windstar board meeting in January, Programs, Membership, how you can volunteer to help, the Advisory group, and any other questions, ideas, or concerns about Windstar. Where:
http://chat.wstar.org you will be re-routed to the chat site from this url.  Questions should be sent to harlean@peoplepc.com

April 5, 2003 * Stafford, England / "Friends of John Denver" in the U.K.'s "Denver Day" at Walton Village Hall
http://www.fojd.org.uk <president@fojd.org.uk>

April 19, 2003 Phil Christie Earth Day Concert, Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N. Lake, Altadena, Ca. 91001,
Reservations/Information: (626) 398-7917. For more info, check out Phil's website -
www.philchristie.com

April 26, 2003 Jim Curry Earth Day Concert with Pete Huttlinger, Chris Nole, Richie Garcia and Alan Deremo, at The Grove in Upland, April 26th. For information - contact Anne Curry at
jbcurryiam@msn.com and check out Jim's website at www.jimcurrymusic.com

April 26, 2003  Heart of Ohio Windstar Connection presents What One Can Do Earth Day Concert:  A Tribute to John Denver; Mark Cormican, Cottonwood Stone and the John Denver Memorial Peace Cloth,  7 p.m., First Unitarian Church 536 Linton St., Cincinnati OH Donation $4 at the door - under 16 free; Proceeds benefit The Windstar Foundation.  For more information, contact Mev Wilson,
macaddict@fuse.net

April 26, 2003 Picnic In The Park, San Gabriel Park, Georgetown, TX with the Country Road Singers. The music will probably begin around 1:00 p.m. For more information, contact JoLynn Long at jdspirit@cox-internet.com

May 2-4, 2003 PA Friends of JD Retreat / Lebanon, PA Gretna Glen Camp, 87 Old Mine Road $50 payment to Patricia Liddic / 533 Lexington Road / Lancaster, PA 17603 by March 5, 2003. <
liddic@lancnews.infi.net>

May 3-4, 2003 Claremont Spring Folk Festival, Claremont, CA May 3 - 1:00pm Jim Curry and Timberline / 3:00pm John Denver Sing-Along Tickets $10 presale or $12 at the door.
http://www.claremontfolkfest.org doug.thomson2@gte.net

May 10, 2003 Charlie Zahm, Chris Westfall and Tad Marks present an evening of folk music at the Salem United Church of Christ, Doylestown, PA. Starts at 7:30, tickets are $10, children under 12 free. For more info, check out the web site:
www.geocities.com/aneagleflight/doylestown.html?1026912790440 or email pahough@aol.com

March 29, 2003 Monterey Sing-Along with Joel Hannel of South Lake Tahoe, 7PM. Email Judy Therrien at
jtherrien@pacbell.net for more information

REMINDER::: The John Denver Memorial Peace Cloth is available for all JD-related events. Please email
peaceclothinfo@yahoogroups.com for more information, or see our website at www.johndenverpeacecloth.com

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LETTERS
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ON WAR
**

Many of you wrote, expressing your feelings about the current crisis in Iraq; please continue to do so -- sharing your words is not only a comfort to you, but to your fellow IATers as well.  Please be advised, however, that this is an open forum without judgement or censure -- it is not intended as a debate -- AS
*****

From Sue Wells (suzyw@earthlink.net)

I'm not sure what kind of comments you want, but here are some of my feelings. I believe this war is wrong. I'm saddened (and ashamed) that my country is being dragged into war by greedy and power-hungry politicians. Thousands of people in Iraq, who don't deserve it, are going to die. We in the USA are going to be more susceptible (not less) to attacks by terrorists. Bush is arrogant, proud and egotistical, and 'pride goeth before a fall', so we can't be sure we're going to win this war. War doesn't accomplish anything good. Also, we are going to be paying for Bush's ego trip for decades. Most of the people in other countries are strongly against this war, and I believe the ONLY reason Bush has as much support as he does here at home, is because of 9/11/02. let's face it, it was a boon to Bush's career. That's just one of the tragedies of it. If that attack hadn't happened, Bush wouldn't be enjoying his 59% approval rating right now.

It's making my heart ache that war is being 'romanticized' by the press, and anyone who disagrees, and doesn't believe in the war, is being called 'un-patriotic'. Well, PEACE IS PATRIOTIC. And there isn't anything 'romantic' about war.

Peace, Sue Wells
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From Joanne (SEA9J@aol.com):

Dear IAT,

I guess sharing our feelings helps to alleviate some of the fear and pain we have about war.

We live about 20 miles from the WTC and knew three families who lost their sons on 9/11. Viewing the awful disaster site makes you think of the war torn areas in the world and brings the prospect of war so close to home. Now we are about to destroy Iraqi and my heart aches for the poor innocent women and children who will suffer so much. It seems we are planning to destroy and then rebuild which will cost billions of dollars for everyone. I am truly sorry that we have not been able to secure a peaceful resolution and still pray that God will guide our leaders to peace.

Thanks.
Joanne
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From Tom Price (tomprice222@yahoo.com)

Dear IAT,

I have been listening to "It's About Time" and really feeling John's presence. Feeling that he is offering us the love in his heart and soul that we may accept and live out of our true purpose on this beautiful planet that gives us life.

All the best to You.
My Heart to Yours,
Tom Price
*****

From Carolyn Matthews (MyMountainSpirit@aol.com):

Hi,

A lot of you know that I have a son in the United States Air Force.  Greg returned home from a 3 month deployment in Kuwait in mid-January, thankfully, but I ask that you visit this site:
http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html and take a few minutes to thank the men and women who are there now, ridding the world of one less dictator and bringing freedom to the Iraqi people. Let's pray for a safer Middle East and an end to terrorism world wide.

Carolyn

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From Lia (wildskies@wanadoo.fr)

Hello, IAT,

I have a feeling that this war was planned months ago and that no-one could have prevented it. Reason is a thing that does not have the same meaning for every-one. Billions of dollars are being spent on this war when we need it so badly to end hunger and starvation in the world and save our planet. We take it right out of the mouths of our babies, take it away from the hands of the poor... John showed us the way. How can world leaders be so wrong in thinking that God would agree with this.  I am extremely disappointed to see that all diplomatic efforts have failed despite hopeful signs of cooperation from Iraq.  All we can do now is pray for the Iraqi people.

By the way, I am 49, a French national living in France.  I am not against the US, I like the American people and my favourite singer is American. But I am - like so many people in my country - against war, a war that simply does not seem justified.

Let peace be our vision.
Lia
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From Judith Gabriel (judithgabriel@msn.com):

Think and Feel Love! As someone we know said "Love is the answer, love is the way, love is in knowing just what to do and what to say and love is the reason and love is the why and love is in heaven right here on earth and peace inside. Inside your heart, deep in your soul, within each part and in the whole!" JD, "Wandering Soul"

AND he also said "It's all right, it's all right, we can make love, we can fight." Choice. And although I feel that we did too little to resolve the issue in Iraq diplomatically for the last 12 years and then demanded things to happen immediately, there are those who feel we need to fight. Choice again, right. We can only pray that those who made the choice for us know things we don't. Still feel Love and diplomacy 12 years ago would have been a more conscious and enlightened choice. But we can still feel love in our hearts for everyone involved. Not that we have to be sloppy sentimental and "in love" with everyone, but to hold the feeling and the thought that everything is a creation of the whole and is a part of us and we of them and that they deserve to live and be blessed and be forgiven, perhaps then we can help to create "heaven right here on earth and peace inside."

Peace to All,
Judith Gabriel

(PS -- The John Denver Memorial Foundation is now a 501(c)(3) and can receive tax deductible donations. Although no concert is planned at this point for this year, stay tuned for new developments because hope springs eternal and with spring finally here maybe some positive things will happen despite the war.)

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From Rose (rtcouture@yahoo.com):

Hi IAT!

My feelings about this war are so mixed up. I want protection from the evil men in Iraq and bin Laden...at the same time I don't want innocent people to be killed or injured. I don't want our soldiers to lose their lives or limbs. If JD is above watching all this, I know he is heartbroken. GOD HELP US ALL!

Rose in Michigan
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From Susan Leaver (susanleaver@yahoo.com):

Hi,

I've been watching extensive news reports through PBS and the BBC over the last few days. I believe that the coalition forces are doing the best they can to deal with a very difficult situation.

To our American friends, know that I love you, and your country.
Susan Leaver - New Zealand
*****

OTHER LETTERS
**

From Harlean Peterson (harlean@peoplepc.com)

Hello to everyone on this list.

All of us have a tremendous desire to see Windstar be all that we know it can be in our hearts. We have all pushed, pulled, cajoled, loved one another, and at times butted heads in our commitment and desire to create that. I love you all. What I am saying now comes out of my love for all of you, and our love for Windstar.

This is a make or break year for Windstar. If we don't expand membership and get things rolling, it will probably be Windstar's final year.  Membership remains at about 450, which is insufficient to pay for our fixed administrative expenses, including rent, supplies, phones, and contract services.  Our admittedly ambitious goal for 2003 is to increase membership to 1500 by yearend in order to achieve financial stability.

Windstar cannot operate much longer without achieving financial stability, folks.

However, the plan that has been put into place by the board makes me very hopeful that we can make Windstar soar. The people who are what Windstar is about are being tapped to make it work. We are all in this together, it is ALL of us or NONE. Everyone now needs to step up to the plate and make their piece of the whole a successful program or project, and support the other leaders in making their programs and projects successful as well. (Every Advisory group member/program leader is on this list) Everyone on this list who is not a program leader needs to look at the Board of Trustees responses to the Windstarvision ideas and see if there is a team you can lead. If there isn't, contact one of the people who are program Leaders and volunteer to work with them. This has GOT to be a team effort, and it has to begin NOW.

It is time to put past differences and hurts aside and work together toward Windstar's future. And, if new differences and hurts arise in the process of creating this future, we need to address them as new individual concerns, NOT as more baggage connected with the past. It may take strong spirits and loving hearts, but I know we can do it. It is the only way we can make Windstar work. It is the only way Windstar can grow and be all we know it can be .

I love you all, and I look forward to working with all of you.

Hugs,
Harlean Peterson
*****

From Sherry Cook (backhomagain@yahoo.com)

Our Florida Windstar Connection will be having three booths in the Sierra Club's Annual Earth Day Event(Keep It Clean And Green)at Florida House here in Sarasota, FL on April 12th. I am in charge of the entertainment and will be playing and singing John's songs, along with a couple of other entertainers. One, Shawn Wells, is a JD friend from Bradenton. He has invited a guest who is a regular on the Florida Folk circuit, whom I am anxious to hear! There are a couple of other possibilities, too! We will have a Kid's Corner booth, which will have recyclable and nature based crafts. They will be potting their own "Home Grown Tomatoes"(!), and we will be making bird feeders out of 8oz. plastic water bottles. We are expecting around 200 kids. Our other booth will be a Windstar Connection booth, which will have information available on Windstar, products available from the Windstar store, and we will, hopefully, be signing up new members.

Last year, this event had 2,000 visitors that day! We're hoping our little connection here will grow that day...at least by a few! If anyone would like to come and enjoy a very "green" Earth Day celebration, we would be thrilled to have you! There will be MANY vendors and also the hybrid vehicles will be here to check out. If you would like more information, either call me at: 941-371-8223 or e-mail me at: backhomagain@yahoo.com

Hope to see you there!

Peace and joy,
Sherry :)
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From Nancy Holloway (NancyAHolloway@cs.com):

The March issue of the Connecting Connections newsletter, published by the Windstar Foundation Connection Program, is now available for download at
http://www.cubica.co.uk/windstar/

Nancy Holloway
Windstar Connection Program Coordinator

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WEBSITES OF INTEREST
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From Annalisa Berns (aberns@hotmail.com):

Opportunity for People Traveling Abroad to Make a Difference

TravelDonations, a non-profit organization [501(c)(3) status pending] has been launched and we hope that you will consider assisting our efforts. The mission of TravelDonations is to deliver excess clothing and household goods to orphanages around the world. At the present time, donations are being prepared for delivery to Atlanta, Alabama, South Africa, Chili, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras with new requests received daily.

You can read more about our current efforts at
http://www.TravelDonations.org or write info@traveldonations.org

TravelDonations was designed to utilize unused luggage space of international travelers to provide much-needed items to distant charities. Travelers wishing to participate may contact
http://www.TravelDonations.org to be matched to a charity in their destination country. Before their departure, the traveler can pick up a suitcase containing clothes and other needed supplies. The bag is checked with the traveler's own luggage and upon arrival at their destination, a representative from the local social service agency will pick up the suitcase. If the traveler desires, they can deliver the items in person.
**

From Susan Leaver (susanleaver@yahoo.com):

Hello,

You may be interested to look at our website which is finally up
www.IJDMF.org.  I would like to draw your attention to our products page - as you will see we have goodies for sale.

Susan Leaver
INTERNATIONAL JOHN DENVER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
*****

From Mary Schott (kitsas_mom@yahoo.com):

Please support The Ecology Fund:
http://www.ecologyfund.com and click for the "John Denver Remembrance" group.

My heart to yours,
Mary


(Please don't forget to keep sending in suggestions for this column!  -- AS
)

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FOR SALE
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Peace Cloth Items!

Don't forget to check out
www.johndenverpeacecloth.com (Peace Cloth Store) for exclusive John Denver items. All proceeds benefit The John Denver Memorial Peace Cloth. Also -- if you shop online, please visit our virtual mall: www.johndenverpeacecloth.onecause.com -- every sale at a store in the mall returns a donation to the Cloth.
*****

Wildlife Creations extends heartfelt prayers to those facing uncertainty in this time of war, to the innocent children, and those going in harms way. May God watch over them and guide us to finding peace. If you're looking for something special for a special someone, come check out what Wildlife Creations (http://www.geocities.com/wldlifecreation) has to offer!! We have many items relating to John Denver and other items that would make fantastic gifts for people you know and love! Remember...with Easter just around the corner, these would make great gifts! Or gift someone who is hard to buy for, something that they will talk about for years!. From keychains, snowglobes, t-shirts, potpourri jars and more!!! We're sure you'll find something! And remember, whenever you purchase from Wildlife Creations, you're not only giving a gift to someone you know, but to the Windstar Foundation and also the National Wildlife Federation, in John's memory, for wolf education as all proceeds are given to them. For more information, you can email us at wldlifecreation@wildmail.com.

Peace and God Bless,
Diana and Susan

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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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From Carole Romanowski (whispjesse@aol.com):

The Shrinking Forest

I read about an interesting environmental issue in the Journal News, my daily newspaper, I would like to share with you. It relates how human impact on landscape can influence disease risk.

According to Felicia Keesing, a biologist at Bard College, who published a study in the February issue of the journal Conservation Biology, urban sprawl has forced animals inhabiting formerly dense forests in the heart of the Hudson Valley to live in smaller patches of forest land. As a result, ticks which spread Lyme Disease, are on the rise in these forest patches, increasing the risk of human exposure to this disease. According to the Bard study, the density of infected ticks was higher in forest areas of 5 acres or less. Ticks become infected by feeding on small rodents, such as the white-footed mouse, and other mammals, such as squirrels and raccoons.

Even though Lyme Disease occurs nationwide, it is particularly prevalent in woody and grassy areas in the Northeast U.S., from Maine to Maryland, plus in Wisconsin and in Minnesota.

Furthermore, Dr. Leonard Sigal, director of the Lyme Disease Center at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J., did a study on 14 small forest areas, mostly growing maple trees, in Dutchess County, N.Y. Scientists using nets to collect ticks found the number of infected ticks increased as the forest plots decreased in size.

Therefore, as animal domains are encroached upon by society, putting "more people, more scars upon the land", animals are being forced to inhabit smaller domains, increasing the density of ticks and Lyme Disease in these areas, bringing "more scars" upon mankind.
**

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DenLines 3/20/03

1. SHOWDOWN IN THE SENATE: Victory for Arctic wildlife refuge

By a 52-48 vote, the Senate rejected an attempt to change the law to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Big Oil's allies in Congress tried to use war with Iraq as an excuse for drilling, and Interior Secretary Gale Norton pressured high-powered special-interest groups to lobby fence-sitting senators. But Defenders of Wildlife helped make the case that drilling would destroy America's greatest wildlife preserve while doing little to help reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The best scientific estimate is that the refuge holds only six months of oil, and even that won't become available for 10 years.

To read Defenders of Wildlife President Rodger Schlickeisen's statement on the vote, click here:
http://www.defenders.org/releases/pr2003/pr031903b.html .

2.  WOLF ALERT: Norton endangers 'crowning achievement' by reducing protections for wolves

A new federal rule -- classifying gray wolves in most of the Lower 48 states as merely threatened rather than endangered -- has just been announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It's the first step by Interior Secretary Norton toward putting wolves under the control of states where politicians want to eradicate these magnificent animals. The Fish and Wildlife Service "is turning its back on one of its crowning achievements" by setting the stage for removing gray wolves from the endangered species list in the Lower 48, Defenders President Schlickeisen said.

"Returning the wolf to a portion of its former range has been a remarkable accomplishment for the Fish and Wildlife Service and conservationists across the country, but quitting before the job is finished threatens everything we've all worked for," Schlickeisen said. "The goal of the Endangered Species Act is species recovery, not perpetually holding off extinction. We're so close to that goal with the gray wolf that it would be tragic for us to stop now."

Express your outrage over Norton's actions. To urge her to restore protections for wolves, go to
www.savewolves.org.

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3. NO REFUGE: 100th anniversary of wildlife preserves tarnished under
Norton's leadership

America marked the centennial anniversary of the national wildlife refuge system on March 14. From Florida's tiny Pelican Island, where President Theodore Roosevelt established the first refuge in 1903, the system has grown to more than 95 million acres and 540 refuges. Refuges offer spectacular concentrations of migratory birds and provide some of the last strongholds for endangered species survival. But the system is chronically under-funded, with a $2 billion operations and maintenance backlog, hampering efforts to help endangered species, restore habitats and clean up pollution. Even as Norton lavished praise on these wildlife sanctuaries last week during a celebration at Pelican Island, urging Americans "to join with us in protecting these natural treasures for the next 100 years," she was lobbying to open the crown jewel -- the Arctic refuge -- to oil drilling.

To urge your senators and representatives to support a significant investment in our wildlife refuges, go to
www.SaveRefuges.org. To join our campaign to force Secretary Norton to resign, go to www.stopnorton.org.

4.  COURT VICTORY: Judge stops plan to kill predators in Idaho

In a lawsuit by Defenders of Wildlife and other environmental groups, a federal judge has quashed a Bush administration plan to shoot, trap or poison three-quarters of the coyotes, foxes, badgers, ravens and other predators from hundreds of square miles of public lands in southern Idaho. The Agriculture Department contended that it was necessary to kill the predators to protect the imperiled sage grouse, but environmentalists pointed out that habitat degradation, not predators, is responsible for the decline of the sage grouse. "We hope this decision will put an end to the nonsense that predators are depleting sage grouse populations," said Todd Tucci, the attorney representing the environmental groups in the lawsuit.

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5.  STOP THE SLAUGHTER: Park service kills 200 Yellowstone buffalo

Yellowstone National Park is home to America's last free-roaming herd of buffalo. But this month, the National Park Service rounded up 231 of these buffalo near the park's northern entrance and shipped them to slaughter. Why? Because ranchers insist that buffalo will give their cattle the disease brucellosis. That's even though there's never been a documented case of this happening. Buffalo are killed every year when they venture outside the park in winter to search for food. Defenders of Wildlife joined other organizations in protesting this slaughter in a letter to Secretary Norton. To read the letter, click here
www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/prairie/bison/norton.pdf.

Help save Yellowstone's buffalo. To send an e-mail urging Norton to stop the slaughter of these symbols of the American West, go to
www.denaction.org and respond to Alert # 217.

6.  KIDS POWER: Gold medalist Amanda Beard says your letters will help save dolphins

By writing letters to Washington, schoolchildren helped persuade Congress to start "dolphin-safe" labels on tuna cans. But a decade later, the Commerce Department is trying to weaken the requirement for the labels, and we're counting on kids to speak out again to protect dolphins. We're asking students in grades 1-12 to write letters to President Bush on the importance of protecting the "dolphin-safe" labels. We'll pick the three best letters, and winners will receive U.S. savings bonds of $1,000, $500 and $250. For more information, go to
www.kidsplanet.org.

Olympic gold medal swimmer Amanda Beard has joined our campaign to save dolphins. "Defenders and I are calling on school students across the U.S. to get involved and stop the harming of innocent dolphins while catching tuna," she said. "I am committed to dedicating every free moment I have to educating students about this issue, and I hope that kids from around the country will participate in this contest and help us protect this incredible animal."

Defenders of Wildlife
1101 14th Street, N.W.
Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20005

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POETRY
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From Wendy Nelson (
Ladron23@aol.com):

I am home today-----and in the early hours of last night, I finished a poem about thoughts that I have had over the past week....Complete joy has been in my life this past week, and I feel so much so to share with others-----so that in doing so----perhaps the agony, pain, sorrow, worry, may ease...for a bit.....

I have to feel this way, otherwise, I am so worried for my son in DC at the Senate Building...

So, for what it is worth, I composed this poem in the most positive feelings I could find within me.....

Joy

Ever so silently; in the essence of the moment
That arises with the new morn's breath,
Almost unnoticed until;
Caught within the sunrise's radiant and glorious quest.

Joy

There; in a second of a
Heartbeat's turn,
I look around me and yearn,
And then the magic of this moment
Brings warmth and peace flooding through me.

Joy

Radiating ever so effortlessly
My heart caught up within, there is no doubt.
So wonderful to invite,
So much happiness to share,
Looking at all the perfection
Our world bears.

Joy

Wake up to the magic
That each day brings.
Listen to what is
Singing in the wind.

Joy

Soulful thoughts
Straight from the heart,
A new way to be,
Certainly many possibilities
There are 'a waiting
To see....

Joy

Tiny specks of life,
Bursting with all their might,
Emerge through the soil,
How hard was it for them in their toil?

Joy

Now swaying in earth's soft and caressing breeze,
They bend down and whisper their secret with ease.

Joy

To be alive, to be living
To embrace all with simple giving

Joy

(c) Wendy Nelson
March 17, 2003

I send this along with a great deal of love and peace within my heart.....

Wendy

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NEWSLETTER NEWS
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If you would like to submit articles, news items, stories, poetry, or any other pertinent information to IT'S ABOUT TIME, please e-mail any of the IAT staff. The submission deadline for the next edition is Aptil 19, 2003. Please be sure to include any contact information so that members can e-mail or snail-mail for further details.


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The content of this newsletter is entirely at the discretion of the "It's About Time" staff. Contributions, as always, are welcomed, although inclusion is not guaranteed. All contributed material may be subject to editing for content and length.
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". . . IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START TO LIVE IT,
THE FAMILY OF MAN,
IT'S ABOUT TIME
AND IT'S ABOUT CHANGES . . .
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME."


**************************

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