IAT NEWSLETTEROctober 2005
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Calendar of Events | Environmental News | For Sale | Fundraisers |
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Letter from the President | Letters | Newsletter News | Organization Information |
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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@comcast.net)
Co-Presidents -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@comcast.net)
and
Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
Web Site -- -- http://home.comcast.net/~tybrenn/iat/
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,
Another October 12th has come and gone. It simply seems impossible that it's already 8 years that John is gone. There are moments when the pain is still so fresh and my heart feels broken anew. This year was like that.
October 12th found my Peace Cloth friends and I in a car, driving from Ouray to Telluride, Colorado. We'd had an "exciting" time of it in Aspen, having weathered my best pal's emergency surgery, among other unexpected bumps in the road. (Let me offer my thanks to all of you who attended our Peace Cloth event on Friday, and helped to make it a success. Unfortunately, we weren't able to attend any other events over the weekend – the only place we saw was the inside of Aspen Valley Hospital!)
After a hearty breakfast at Sandy's in Ouray (MUST go if you're in the area), we started off, finally relaxing and enjoying the trip. John was on the stereo and the weather was gloriously clear and sunny, the sky "the blue you can only see in the high mountains." We pulled over onto the shoulder and began to take pictures – the scenery was just like a Colorado post card. Suddenly, we spotted two hawks dancing with each other in the sky, and what song should just happen to come onto the stereo at that moment, but "The Eagle and the Hawk"? We turned it up, and our tears flew. The next song was "Rocky Mountain High". With all the built-up tension of the trip, not to mention the anniversary day, we found ourselves utterly bawling. But despite the pain, being with these people I cherish, being in the mountains with John, ultimately brought me so much peace. Peace I hope you all found a little bit of this year.
My heart to yours,
Ann
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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"Though the singer is silent, there still is the truth of the song...."
~John Denver
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FUNDRAISER
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Nothing to report this month
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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October 27, 2005 – Reading, PA – Casa Grande, 5-10 PM Music Extravaganza III: Funk & Folk--Music for the Environment, to benefit Earth Song Environmental Foundation www.earthsongfdn.org for more information
October 28, 2005 - Germany - Kerstin Siewek - Concert for Children with cancer * http://www.kerstinsiewek.de
Gerhart-Hauptmann-Realschule in Gelsenkirchen-Erle 20:00 H / Information under "Next Benefit-Concert"
October 29, 2005 - Annapolis, MD - 5th Annual "Music From the Mountains" - The Hard Travelers and Friends – Chris Nole, Bill Danoff, Mollie Weaver, John Sommers http://www.musicunites.com/Schedule.htm
October 30, 2005 - Columbia, MD - "Music from the Mountains", Encore performance to benefit the Columbia Orchestra, 3:00pm Jim Rouse Theatre / http://www.musicunites.com
November 4 & 5, 2005 - Pennsauken, NJ - The Rocky Mountain Memory show, a "Tribute to John Denver" starring Ron Rich and the Stone Tree Band * 7:30pm Central Center for the Performing Arts / 2300 Merchantville Ave., Pennsauken Tickets: $15 (856) 317-9052
November 7, 2005 – Pacific Grove, CA – Mack Bailey in concert, St. Mary’s By-the-Sea at the corner of Central and 12th Street. Donation: $10. All are welcome! Info: Judy T in Monterey: jht@pacbell.net or 831-373-7780. Afterwards, we want to join Mack at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch for more of his incredible songs!
November 12, 2005 - UK - Friends of John Denver's annual "Denver Day" - Avenue Bowling Club, Gaveston Road, Coundon, Coventry CV6 1GZ * 11:00am < president@fojd.org.uk > http://www.fojd.org.uk
November 13, 2005 - Minneapolis, MN - Orchestra Hall / Chad Mitchell Trio Reunion Concert / Tickets $20 - $45 Mini folk-festival with the Chad Mitchell Trio, The Kingston Trio and Tom Paxton. 1-800-292-4141
December 3-4, 2005 - Annapolis, MD - Hard Travelers Annual Christmas Show at the Rams Head Concert Hall in Annapolis. Saturday, 12-3-05 show at 7:00pm / Sunday 12-4-05 show at 6:00pm *http://ticketing.ramsheadtavern.com
December 9 & 10, 2005 - Newcastle England * "An Evening With John Denver Music" - A Tribute Concert performed by Steve Kern 7:00pm / Kirkby Church Hall / Kirkby-In-Cleveland 01642 714061 or 01642 713575 for tickets Steve Kern: http://JohnDenverTribute.com
December 17, 2005 - Doylestown, PA - Christopher Westfall will present "Sounds of the Season." 7:30pm Salem United Church of Christ / 186 East Court Street < jht@pacbell.net>
December 31, 2005 - Haddonfield, NJ - Christopher Westfall will play at the First Night town celebration. 7:00pm < jht@pacbell.net >
January 23, 2006 - Largo, FL - The Rocky Mountain Memory Show, a "Tribute to John Denver" starring Ron Rich and the Stone Tree Band / Shows at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, Largo Cultural Center / 105 Central Park / Largo, Florida Tickets: $15 (727) 587-6793
April 28-30, 2006 - PA Friends of John Denver – Annual Spring Retreat - Bitter Goose Lodge $55 - Deposit of $20 required. Make checks or money orders payable to Susan Spohn / 628 Hemlock Street / Pittsburgh, PA 15202 Info: < spohn@infionline.net >
June 17, 2006 - Baltimore, MD * 2nd Bi-Annual "Nightingala" "A Musical Tribute to John Denver" Concert for John Hopkins School of Nursing. / Peabody Conservatory of Music / 1 Mount Vernon Place / Peabody Concert Hall 8:00pm / 6:00 - VIP "Great Chefs" Reception in the Peabody Library * http://www.musicunites.com/Schedule.htm
Weekends - Every Friday & Saturday - Branson, MO * "John Denver Lives" - Dinner 5:00pm & performance 5:30pm-6:30pm $24.95 Hillbilly Inn & Dinner Theatre / Hillbilly Inn Motel / 1166 West Highway 76 / Branson, MO 65616 info@hillbillyinn.com * 1-800-535-0739 www.johndenverlives.com * rodphil549@aol.com
(thanks to Emily Parris and the Rocky Mountain High newsletter for many of these dates; thanks too, to Karen Tupek for keeping us up to date with Mack Bailey’s schedule, Judy Therrien for information on Chris Westfall’s engagements, and Deb Sanderson for news of events in California)
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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From Terriace@aol.com
It's hard to believe just one year ago this month that my husband and I were enjoying a wonderful trip to Aspen, Colorado to celebrate John Denver's life and our 30th anniversary. What a difference a year makes!
This past August 31st., our 31st anniversary, found us on the road escaping the chaos of New Orleans, LA after hurrican Katrina. My husband Don, like many stubborn men, refused to leave town because of his business, but agreed to go to the downtown Hilton hotel right along the Mississippi river, which, believe it or not, is higher ground, folks. We had evacuated numerous times before to the Hilton without much trouble, but they were not Category 5 hurricanes.
On Sunday, August 28th at 9:30 am, Don, myself and a friend, Carrie, checked into the hotel on the 14th floor. We ate a paid lunch and dinner at a buffet there, took a nap, read, etc., until around 7:30 pm. At that time we decided to gather up our things and head down to the third floor where there were few windows in the area of many meeting rooms, ballrooms and bathrooms. We could hear the wind howling outdoors by this time and knew the higher up you were, the higher the winds would be. Not wanting to be up 14 flights of stairs in the dark, in a room where a window might possibly be blown out, we decided the safest place was in the ballroom area. In fact, the hotel suggested it. The second floor was for patrons with pets.
We were the first to arrive and set up our little place consisting of one sofa, a chair, side table and a coffee table. We had taken pillows from home plus the pillows and a blanket from the room, because at that time, the air conditioning was freezing. By midnight, the electricity went out, emergency lights went on and we prayed silently. We had our own flashlights as did others. The mix of people consisted of young and old, black, white, Hispanic and Asian. The Hilton provided baby beds and cots for the elderly. The Coast Guard, National Guard and NOFD were staked out there on the same floor with us so we felt relatively safe. That is, until all hell broke loose after several hours of too many folks using bathrooms that became nightmarish and disgusting. Flushing became a real problem and people who were not guests of the hotel began arriving off the street for safety. The sewer system became overloaded and some pumping stations couldn't keep up with the amount of rainfall.
THE HILTON staff were capable, gracious hosts. When electricity went out, skeleton staff continued to cook three meals for everyone in a buffet style setting for free. By candlelight we ate very good food, water, coffee, juice and soft drinks. The kitchen was run on emergency generators. However, some folks became very greedy and hoarded food. Seeing this, the staff quickly decided to serve portions to the guests. They also noticed people taking more than one plate of food and feeding it to their pets. These people were allowed to eat, of course, but the food was not to be fed to pets. If you had a pet, you stayed on the second floor and brought your own food for your pet.
During the peak of the storm, winds howling, rain pouring, debris flying all over the place, windows breaking and children screaming, we began praying more earnestly. We were frightened, but still felt safe, until the weight of the rainwater and wind damage on the flat roof above us caused the ceiling to start falling to the floor, leaving gaping holes in the ceiling and buckets of water pouring into the area. It didn't help that the hotel swimming pool was above us and naturally, overflowed onto the rooftop.
By the afternoon of August 29th, Monday, the storm had past. From hotel windows facing the street before us, we could see a dry street with a lot of debris from high winds but not any flood waters. It wasn't until the early wee hours of the morning of Tuesday, August 30th, that we heard radio reports of the 17th Street canal levee break on the east side, which meant the city of New Orleans would be flooded in no time. I shouted an exlepletive or two and told my husband we had to get out right then and there. He found out we had time to get into our car that was parked high on the fifth floor and drive on dry streets to get onto the Mississippi River bridge and head across the river where we live in Algiers, a subburb of New Orleans. We were home by 9a.m.
The streets were lined with fallen trees, telephone, electrical and cable wires. Huge billboards were bent in half, store signs blown everywhere and many rooftops were scattered along neighborhoods. THERE WAS NO FLOODING IN THE AREAS WHERE WE LIVE. We quickly stopped at our daughter's house, emptied her refrigerator, gathered more baby things and left. Her house had only minor damage to the roof, nothing bad. She had evacuated to Birmingham Saturday before the storm.
We dropped our friend off at her apartment where she insisted she'd be ok and stayed by herself with no electricity. She had bottled water and plenty of food but wanted to stay near the phone in case her work called her in to help clean up. She works for Walmart, and sure enough, they called her in to clean up after a week.
Weaving through trees, signs, poles, and driving up one way streets the wrong way, we were able to finally reach our home. Miracously, our home was intact. A few shingles were blown off the roof, a tree fell on the greenhouse, a lean-to attached to the garage. Our neighbor's trees fell into our driveway, as did parts of his roof, and a large tree in our front yard had many branches fall onto the front lawn, but none on the house. We made our way to the front door, let the cats out, cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer, gathered more clothing, more important insurance and work related papers, showered and left at noon to drive to Birmingham, Ala. where our son lives. We stayed just outside of Jackson, Mississippi that night because we couldn't get gas and we were exhausted. Don waited two hours in line for gasoling. On Wednesday, August 31st, our anniversary, we drove to Birmingham. For three weeks we stayed there before heading back home. While it was nice being with them, it was great to return to our own home, beds, rooms, etc. Dorothy was right, there's no place like home, for now anyway.
During our time away, the two cats remained behind with lots of water and food outside for them. We were able to contact neighbors who stayed at their homes and they fed them while we were gone, thank God. All in all, we are truly blessed to have escaped the chaos that remained in downtown New Orleans. I know of so many horror stories from within our own family who did not fare as well because they lived in the flooded areas. Volumes could be written, stories told, hundreds of movies made on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which in Russian means cleansing. How appropriate!
It's now October 3, 2005, we're back at work seeing our orthodontic patients. Many patients are living elsewhere but will drive in for appointments as they are not far away. Some will return by December, some never. We're still very fortunate, praise God.
One year ago this week we were headed to Aspen for a wonderful trip. Aspen, Colorado sounds like a great retreat just about now. Wish I could have been there this October 2005.
Terry Nolan
P.S. My granddaughter, Audrey, 3 mos., loves for her MiMi, that's me, to sing Sunshine on My Shoulders to her as a lullably. Smart kid, eh?
(Thanks for sharing your story, Terry – AS)
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From Carole Romanowski (whispjesse@aol.com)
"Joyful and Loving and Letting it Be...."
An environmental issue was reported recently in my newspaper, "The Journal News", about the numbers of Atlantic sturgeon, an ancient fish, dangerously at low levels and nearly depleted due to overfishing for many years in the Hudson River here in N.Y. State. Apparently this is not only indigenous to N.Y. but also, according to the Pew Institute for Oceanographic Services, the world's sturgeon population's future is bleak due to, not only overfishing but also because of polluted waters. Sturgeon are coveted for their caviar in the Black and Caspian Sea where the crisis is greatest, followed by the waters in Europe and Asia.
Therefore, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Estuary Program has in full swing a release and study program to restore sturgeon in the Hudson River to normal levels. Atlantic sturgeon were fitted with sonic tags to track wild and hatchery-raised fish of this species to determine their habitats, movements, homing instincts and health. Sturgeon are tracked in spring and summer, either by boat or by records kept by fishery technicians at a station each time a fish passes by that checkpoint.
Because sturgeon were overfished by the end of the 1900's, fishing for them is banned in the Hudson River. Females return to spawn only once every 3 years, and it takes females 20 years to mature enough to spawn. It takes males 13 years, so the sturgeons' recovery will be slow. Hatchery-raised fish released into the river take 6 - 10 years, so it is 10 - 14 years before those fish begin having offspring to recover the species.
Habitat monitoring is important to establish the sturgeon's whereabouts so fishing can be banned in that area and also to check the batteries in their sonic tags in case they've run out. This can be checked by catching the sturgeon in nets.
Further, sturgeon habitats give marine biologists a chance to check the bottom of the river floor where worms, clams and shrimp - macroinvertebrates - live. These creatures' health determines the sturgeon's well being in an interdependent manner since the creatures rely on the river's overall health and pollution levels.
Obviously, fisherman for decades did not learn of "letting it be" when it came to disturbing sturgeon survival. Therefore, to all the marine biologists involved in this project, "I sing to your spirit..." and commend your endeavors. If N.Y. State is successful in restoring the sturgeon, the larger issue of the river's overall health will produce a healthy and working ecosystem and prove true John Denver's words that "to live on the land we must learn from the sea."
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From Joan Kurtz [rangerfan@hotmail.com]
Hi, IAT -- here's a book review to share with everyone:
Books that Sing
Many a family will want to load up the minivan for an outing expressly to her John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads, which has just been released in a book-and-CD package, adapted and illustrated by Christopher Canyon (who also adapted the late singer’s Sunshine on My Shoulders for kids). Jaunty artwork with the busy color and texture of a patchwork quilt add to the listen-while-you-look fun.
(Publisher’s Weekly, October 10, 2005, p. 65)
Take care-
Joan
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From John Rowe (EdOlczyk@aol.com)
Hi IAT,
I wanted to pass along some brief snippets of news having to do with JD in light of the coming and passing of the anniversary date of his tragic death.
His music has been widely regarded as having greatly influencing the world. There's no better evidence than when the titles to his songs are used in non-musical situations, or when passages are used in the same.
It is my opinion that Rocky Mountain High has to be regarded as one of the most famous songs ever written. The title is quoted in so many instances, among them in the sports world.
Whenever a sporting event has taken place in Colorado, and the local team won (in this case, my team), the sportscaster on the news says "it was a Rocky Mountain High for the <sporting team> as they won today's showdown". The newspaper has also used RMH in its headline for a story on a game played in Colorado.
Earlier this week on a sportstalk segment, 3 guys (the regular host and 2 others that do on-air commentary and fill ins) were partaking in a roundtable football discussion. The Denver Broncos came into the conversation with their 1st place status, and that it was "high time" in Colorado. So one of them broke briefly into song (and did a very credible job, nice voice) with "Rocky Mountain High in Colorado".
And of course, when there's a great happening such as a championship for Colorado teams in that given sport (the Broncos and Avalanche), the segment breaks into the chorus of RMH (Greatest Hits version).
Another situation happened a few weeks back, also on a sports segment, where a local female reporter spoke of a return trip to a city by airplane when she enthusiastically exclaimed "that's right, we'll be leaving after the game tomorrow for <city> and all my bags are packed and I'm ready to go!"
And then on a recent occasion, the weatherman alluded to the air clearing after our recent firestorms, saying with a gentle smile "in the wake of all the soot and ash that has rained down on us; tomorrow we'll be experiencing a 'Sunshine on my Shoulders' kind of day".
About a year ago, there was a feature photo published in the L.A. Times showing a young mother and her 3ish year old daughter out for a walk on a very nice balmy day in a park alongside a small lake feeding ducks with the caption "sunshine on their shoulders".
All this warmed my heart greatly, in a way I as a JD fan could never describe, but all JD fans can and could relate in their own way.
I wasn't able to attend the festivities in Aspen or Monterey (I've been to both in recent years, Monterey for the 1st one in 1998 and Aspen in 2000 and both produced lifelong memories), but I was able to reflect in my own way, in solitude the life and times of John, what he meant to me and still does.
Peace,
John Rowe
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From Carole Romanowski (whispjesse@aol.com)
Requiem for a Prophet
The sun still rises in the east
But it's dimmed radiance is an epitaph
.....a statement of a fallen prophet
Transfigured into an angelic seraph.
The Rockies still arise majestic
But their ascent misses their loving friend.
The eagle still soars to magnificent heights
But his flight's less purposeful toward an end.
Why did the light of a remarkable being
Be extinguished so cruelly in Monterey Bay?
In precious seconds and so tragically
.....the answer's not ours to say.
But the last eight years find John's spirit's with us.
His being here will never cease.
For his footsteps were left for us to traverse
'Til our souls greet him in eternal peace.
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WEBSITES OF INTEREST
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From Debra Chilton (wilco@paclink.com)
This is a slide show of the Vancouver for Peace Fair. Watch it all the way through and you'll see the Peace Cloth.
http://www.orpeace.us/media/vancouver/flash_detected.html
Deb
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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. We now have a shopping cart to make your purchases easier!
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. The Peace Cloth now has eScrip -- please see our website for more information.
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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! 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. Wildlife Creations is now offering a feature product.
Checkout the website for this month's offering! For more information, you can email us at
wldlifecreation@wildmail.com.
In this healing time...
Thank you for helping to make the world
a better place in which to live,
Diana and Susan
Wildlife Creations
http://www.geocities.com/wldlifecreation
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From Sherry Cook <backhomagain@yahoo.com>
*UPDATE*
Hello friends!
Just wanted you all to know that my Mary Kay Website is cancelled. I did not get enough business to renew it...it just wasn't worth the money. The two orders I received enabled me to pay half of a sponsorship for a student to attend the Windstar Symposium, for which I was pleased. I just wish it could have been more.
I will still donate a portion of my MK proceeds to Windstar, so please contact me directly through my e-mail from now on (backhomagain@yahoo.com).
Peace and joy,
Sherry :)
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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Follow the link for the latest issue of Defenders magazine –
http://www.defenders.org/defendersmag/issues/summer05/summer05.html
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HOUSE GUTS ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
Rep. Pombo's Bill Carves Loopholes in Act for Developers, Undermines National Commitment to Conserving Animals for Future Generations
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congress dealt a deadly blow to the protections provided by the Endangered Species Act by passing Congressman Pombo's bill weakening this important conservation law. Many of the Act's most important protections for plants and animals facing extinction were eliminated by the House's action and new loopholes were created to allow developers to dodge the law.
"The Pombo bill is the dream of every irresponsible developer out there," said Defenders of Wildlife President Rodger Schlickeisen."Not only does this bill gut the Endangered Species Act, but it creates a government give away program to greedy developers and provides new loop holes to make it easier to use deadly pesticides that will impact not only wildlife but our children, by polluting our lands and waters, " said Schlickeisen.
"Mr. Pombo's bill undermines our national commitment to the recovery of threatened and endangered plants and animals," said Rodger Schlickeisen.
In a fatal weakening of the Endangered Species Act, this bill:
* replaces the current mandatory critical habitat system with a system of purported recovery plans that are discretionary and fail to protect habitat essential for recovery;
* allows federal agencies to avoid consultation, resulting in agencies with little to no experience in wildlife issues deciding if projects will harm wildlife;
* exempts all pesticide decisions from ESA compliance, taking away the ability under the ESA to stop pesticide use even when necessary to prevent extinction;
* requires the federal government to use taxpayer dollars to pay developers for complying with the law, setting no limits on these payments.
"Our children will pay the ultimate price for Mr. Pombo's reckless disregard for the conservation of our nation's wildlife," said Schlickeisen.
"Normally, one would look to the Senate to right the wrongs of this bill," said Schlickeisen, "but it is questionable as to whether this bill can be salvaged at all."
For more information and detailed analysis of the Pombo bill and the Endangered Species Act, see www.saveesa.org.
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NATION’S MOST ENDANGERED WILDLIFE REFUGES OF 2005 ANNOUNCED BY DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE
Large-scale threats overwhelming refuges
WASHINGTON -- According to a Defenders of Wildlife report released today, one of the nation’s most significant resources for protecting and conserving wildlife and wildlife places -- the national wildlife refuge system – is battling a daunting array of threats from inside and outside its own borders.
The report Refuges at Risk: America’s Ten Most Endangered National Wildlife Refuges 2005 highlights how complex issues such as border policy, western water management, energy development, air pollution, suburban development and other threats are eroding the largest system of protected lands in the world dedicated to wildlife conservation. Release of the report precedes National Wildlife Refuge Week (October 9-15).
“If we don’t turn back some of these immediate threats to our wildlife refuge system, America’s most amazing wildlife spectacles will simply not be there for our grandchildren,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. “Whether it’s caribou in the Arctic Refuge, rare songbirds in Mingo Refuge, or jaguars in the Buenos Aires Refuge, where can we protect wildlife, if not in our national wildlife refuges?”
According to Defenders’ report, the large-scale threats facing the system are overwhelming the poorly staffed refuges. U.S. border and immigration policy is shifting illegal border crossing into sensitive desert habitats within Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Arizona. A massive water diversion in California could completely alter the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR. Oil and gas wells in the McFaddin NWR have killed vegetation and polluted marshland habitat, while the Bush administration and many in Congress push plans to permit drilling in the Arctic NWR. At the Moapa NWR, a proposal to drill for water for Las Vegas may suck dry the refuge’s springs, which are vital for endangered species. Noise and habitat exclusion from a proposed jet landing field next to the Pocosin Lakes NWR threatens tens of thousands of swans, geese and ducks and the Navy pilots whose safety will be compromised by this ill-conceived plan to mix large waterfowl and fighter jets.
“Each of these ten refuges, and the 535 other refuges in the country, is in a funding crisis,” said Schlickeisen. “Moapa Valley NWR has only a quarter of one staff person’s time to restore and protect its fragile desert springs for an endangered species. Nearly 200 other refuges do not even have staff.
“Next week is National Wildlife Refuge Week, a time to celebrate and experience the beauty and wonders of these remarkable lands. We can and must fix the problems facing our wildlife refuges,” added Schlickeisen. “We cannot sit by and watch the only public lands devoted to wildlife protection whither away. There’s simply too much at stake – not only for us but for future generations.
“Our report clearly shows that the National Wildlife Refuge System faces increasingly complex threats,” said Schlickeisen. “If we can’t protect wildlife and habitat on our wildlife refuges, where can we protect them?”
While Defenders’ Refuges at Risk project focuses each year on threats to our national wildlife refuges that are either human-caused or at least controllable by humans, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita show that these special places are also vulnerable to natural catastrophes. In addition to the human tragedy and horrific damage the hurricanes did to people in the region, it also did tremendous damage to refuges in Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Mississippi. Initial estimates by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicate that Katrina caused more than $90 million in damages to these refuges, including damage to Breton National Wildlife Refuge, an island refuge off the coast of Louisiana, roughly half of which was simply washed away. The Service is still assessing wildlife impacts from these storms. Defenders will urge legislators to address the needs of refuges slammed by Katrina and Rita, while also dealing with the threats that are the focus of Refuges at Risk.
The National Wildlife Refuge System contains 545 refuges and covers nearly 100 million acres in all 50 states and 5 territories, providing some of this nation’s most spectacular landscapes and supporting an amazing variety of wildlife – from migratory birds to bighorn sheep, elk and caribou – as well as many endangered and threatened species. Close to 40 million visitors visit refuges every year seeking outdoor experiences.
Defenders of Wildlife works with federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, private organizations, and landowners to protect America’s national wildlife refuges. The goal of the Refuges at Risk report is to highlight the threats facing the wildlife refuge system in order to build public support for saving wildlife by safeguarding and nourishing the places where they live.
2005 Ten Most Endangered Wildlife Refuges (in alphabetical order)
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, AK: Drilling proponents have resorted to legislative tricks in attempts to open the Arctic refuge to drilling despite overwhelming public opposition, threatening polar bears, caribou, and millions of birds.
Browns Park NWR, CO: Incompatible livestock grazing has wiped out habitat for elk, deer, and thousands of migratory birds on this refuge that protects wetlands along the Green River.
Buenos Aires NWR, AZ: Border policies have funneled growing numbers of migrants and enforcement personnel into the fragile and harsh Arizona desert leaving hundreds of miles of illegal foot trails and roads. The last home to the endangered masked bob-white quail, the refuge cannot withstand escalating border traffic.
Florida Panther NWR, FL: Expanding development and roads near the refuge are destroying habitat and killing Florida panthers, one of the world’s most endangered species.
McFaddin NWR, TX: Already marred by scores of wells, the refuge is bracing for increasing oil and gas development as energy prices make old oil fields like McFaddin once again attractive. The refuge protects Texas’ largest freshwater marsh and is an important migratory bird wintering and resting area.
Mingo NWR, MO: Pollution from a proposed power plant upwind of the refuge will poison this vast, pristine bottomland hardwood forest.
Moapa NWR, NV: Proposed groundwater pumping to feed Las Vegas’s exponential growth is a death sentence for Nevada’s desert springs and the endangered species that depend on them.
Oyster Bay NWR, NY: Stormwater runoff and sewage discharge from motor boats is deteriorating this important estuary, near the home of the father of the refuge system, Teddy Roosevelt.
Pocosin Lakes NWR, NC: The Navy is pushing to build an auxiliary landing field in the home of 100,000 swans, geese, and ducks threatening both wildlife and military pilots.
Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR, CA: A massive water transfer will destroy habitat vital to most of the birds in the Pacific Flyway if a restoration plan isn’t developed before the transfer takes place.
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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 490,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.
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POETRY
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None this month
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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 November 19, 2005. 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 contents of this newsletter are 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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