tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-317623572024-03-13T22:07:09.653-06:00East Kootenay Residents Land Use CoalitionEnvironmentalists aren't conservationists. And in spite of their focus groups, which tell them they look less extreme when they call themselves that, they never will be. Conservationists believe in the wise multiple use of natural resources. The environment is, after all, too important to leave to the environmentalists.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-1168466314003494912007-07-13T14:55:00.011-06:002009-01-01T11:28:07.100-07:00Wildsight Financial SummaryWildsight is an environmental advocacy group headquartered in Kimberly BC. It is an active participant in East Kootenay land use discussions and decisions. It is a registered charity and is required to file annual <a href="http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/sec/SrchInput04Render-e?bn=134892496RR0001&name=WILDSIGHT">financial returns with the Canada Revenue Agency</a> (CRA).<br /><br />A financial summary extracted from its CRA filings is shown below. Wildsight does not disclose this financial information in its annual report on its web site.<br /><table width="95%"><br /><tbody><br /><tr><br /><td><br /></td><br /><td align="center"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">2000</span></b></td><br /><td align="center"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">2001</span></b></td><br /><td align="center"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">2002</span></b></td><br /><td align="center"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">2003</span></b></td><br /><td align="center"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">2004</span></b></td><br /><td align="center"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">2005</span></b></td><br /><td align="center"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">2006</span></b></td><br /><td align="center"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">2007</span></b></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td><b><span style="font-size:78%;">Annual expenditures</span></b></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$454,100</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$453,500</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$539,600</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$489,100</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$646,100</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$708,300</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$848,305</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$629,239</span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td><b><span style="font-size:78%;">Membership revenue</span></b></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$4,100</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$3,900</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$8,500</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$5,800</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$5,000</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$8,900</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$8,171</span></td><br /><td align="right"><span style="font-size:78%;">$11,084</span></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody><br /></table><br /><p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4665/3460/1600/82337/image001.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4665/3460/400/609600/image001.png" border="0" /></a> Clearly membership revenue is a <em>very small</em> part of the organization’s annual financial resources.</p><p> Grants from foundations, corporations, and governments make up substantially all of its financial<br />resources. However, individual donations are not disclosed in Canada even though their US foundation donors annually disclose their donations as part of their annual US filings. The scale of Wildsight’s financial resources allows it to have an influential, if not overwhelming, influence on land use decisions in the East Kootenays. Wildsight should be encouraged to publish annual financial statements on its website. Further, it should be encouraged to publish a list of donors and donations. It’s ironic that those foundations in the US disclose their donations, but that same information is not listed on Wildsight’s web page. This information should be made available to the community so that it can judge whether donors are unduly influencing Wildsight’s advocacy position.<br /></p> <p>What sort of political influence and override are US-based funding foundations buying?</p> <p>A sampling of anonymous foreign foundation grants to Wildsight</p> <ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.wilburforce.org/grantees/grantee_details.cfm?org=EAST%20373">Wilburforce</a><br />2008 - $75,000 - Flathead Wild Campaign<br />2007 - $25,000 - Southeast BC Grizzly Bear DNA Inventory<br />2007 - $50,000 - Flathead Wild Campaign<br />2006 - $120,000 - Flathead Park<br />Also - $470,000 to CPAWS and Wilderness Conservation Society for Y2Y</li><li><a href="http://www.lazarfoundation.org/recipients/index_html?b_start:int=45">Lazar Foundation</a><br />2008 - $20,000 - Protect Wilderness<br />2007 - $20,000 - Control threats from motorized use & development<br />2006 - $20,000 - Wilderness, stop development<br />2005 - $15,000 - Wilderness recreation<br />campaign 2004 - $15,000 - Wilderness recreation campaign</li><li><a href="http://www.kendall.org/grants/recent/archived/prior2004_2005.html">Kendal Foundation</a><br />2005 - $40,000 - Y2Y Campaign<br />2004 - $30,000 - Y2Y Campaign also -<br />$300,000 to Y2Y Conservation Initiative, Canmore AB</li><li><a href="http://www.woodcockfdn.org/grantees.php">Woodcock Foundation</a><br />2007 - $230,000 - Y2Y<br />2006 - $400,000 - Y2Y and "several organizations"</li><li><a href="http://www.brainerd.org/grantees/grantee_search.php?ID=00037">Brainerd Foundation</a><br />2008 - $50,000 - Protect wildlife connectivity in the Flathead<br />2007 - $25,000 - Protect connectivity in Flathead River watershed<br />2006 - $20,000 - Instill conservation as cultural ethic<br />2005 - $25,000 - Build broad-based demand for public "consultation" about CBM<br />2002 - $60,000 - Support Southern Rockies Wildlife Conservation Area<br />2000 - $26,000 - Support capacity building tools</li><li><a href="http://www.bullitt.org/grant-history">Bullitt Foundation</a><br />2007 - $35,000 - General support grant<br />2006 - $35,000 - General support grant<br />2005 - $25,000 - "Advocacy work" in the Easty Kootenay region</li><li><a href="http://www.yves-rocher-fondation.org/UK/index.html">Yves Rocher Foundation</a><br />Amounts not posted</li><li>444S Foundation Amounts not posted</li></ul> <p>Who else do these foundations fund?<br /></p> <ul><li><a href="http://www.activistcash.com/foundation.cfm?did=596">Wilburforce Foundation </a>(USA)</li><li><a href="http://www.activistcash.com/foundation.cfm/did/349">Kendall Foundation </a>(USA)</li><li><a href="http://www.activistcash.com/foundation.cfm/did/950">Woodcock Foundation </a>(USA)</li><li><a href="http://www.activistcash.com/foundation.cfm/did/390">Lazar Foundation </a>(USA)</li><li><a href="http://www.activistcash.com/foundation.cfm/did/62">Brainerd Foundation </a>(USA)</li><li><a href="http://www.activistcash.com/foundation.cfm/did/63">Bullitt Foundation </a>(USA)</li><li>Yves Rocher Foundation (France)</li><li>444S Foundation (USA)</li><li><a href="http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/225">Tides Foundation</a> ("The 800-pound gorilla of radical activist funding")</li></ul>Why would a handfull of wealthy American donors choose to anonymously donate millions in this way? Should they have special access and influence in land-use and political process than you and I as citizens and taxpayers and residents? <p>Is this what it means to "Think globally, act locally"?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-27406768321338084382007-07-04T09:27:00.000-06:002007-07-13T09:28:49.627-06:00Wildlife Act changes with the timesWildlife Act changes with the times<br /><br />By: Les Layne<br />Victoria Time Colonist<br />July 4, 2007<br /><br /><a href="http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/columnists/story.html?id=24485edc-38ef-43b8-9c8e-c01a8b2c9d9b">http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/columnists/story.html?id=24485edc-38ef-43b8-9c8e-c01a8b2c9d9b</a> <br /><br />East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett deals with the same range of issues most other politicians do, but finds there's one topic that stands out above all others.<br /><br />It's wildlife. Hardly top of mind among urban dwellers, unless you count bear and coyote encounters in Greater Vancouver, and routine deer vandalism in Victoria. (Personal disclosure: The barren moonscape that used to be my vegetable garden is very much top of my mind.)<br /><br />But in what used to be known as the heartlands, wildlife is very close to home. "There's no other thing I've encountered that attracts as much passion," Bennett said.<br /><br />He knows whereof he speaks. It was wildlife management that prompted his flaming e-mail to a constituent last year, which in turn brought about his resignation from cabinet.<br /><br />So the discussion forum set up to collect input on a proposed rewrite of B.C.'s Wildlife Act is bristling with ideas, criticisms and observations on what the government has in mind.<br /><br />The idea is to bring the act up to date. It hasn't been updated in 25 years, and the world has changed quite a bit since then. There's been a quarter-century more development and encroachment on wild lands. And people are another generation removed from nature. The number of hunting and fishing licences issued is at an all-time low.<br /><br />But the remaining outdoors people are intensely interested, to the point where the consultation period for the Wildlife Act review has been extended another few weeks, to July 15. (Try www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlifeactreview/discussion.)<br /><br />Partly it's because Environment Minister Barry Penner met with various Vancouver Island First Nations and heard a number of concerns about how they felt left out of the Wildlife Act as it stands. Although their constitutional rights to access are recognized, some traditional practices weren't taken into account. Penner said the native bands are keenly interested in recommending some changes, so the time was extended.<br /><br />The government decided to extend the consultation even longer for primary stakeholders. Various outdoors groups can submit arguments until the end of August.<br /><br />Bennett occupied his time after leaving cabinet by forming the B.C. outdoors caucus, in order to champion wildlife and related causes. He stays in touch with those outdoors groups and said they are keen to see some fundamental stands written into the act.<br /><br />Priority access for residents, for one thing. The ranking principles now, according to policy, are: Conservation, First Nations access, B.C. residents' access and non-resident access to the resource.<br /><br />But that's policy, not a statutory requirement. Enshrining preferential access for B.C. residents would ease some people's minds.<br /><br />Recognizing a right to hunt and fish is also on the agenda. Bennett once introduced a private member's bill to that effect. Installing that in the Wildlife Act is also on the wish list, given that there is more opposition to the whole concept than there once was. One contributor said it was "absolutely disgusting" that the government is trying to encourage more people to go hunting.<br /><br />There's also an odd wrinkle in the list of concerns. Most of the routine policy decisions related to wildlife are made by regional managers. Some groups have concern about a lack of uniformity across B.C., since each manager makes decisions based on personal experience.<br /><br />There is a call now for more decisions to be made by the minister, which is the first time anyone has recommended more power and decision-making be vested in Victoria.<br /><br />Apart from high-level changes in policy and law, there are also some practical changes in the works that people may notice on the ground.<br /><br />A new tax on eco-tourism that features commercial wildlife viewing is being contemplated. That sector is gaining increasing significance and the government has developed standards and guidelines to prevent conflicts from developing and to ensure the impact is minimal. But the thinking is that hunters and anglers already pay a surcharge on licences to the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund. Why shouldn't sightseers?<br /><br />There's also some new thinking on wildlife-human conflicts. The discussion paper concedes that translocation of nuisance animals has proven ineffective. Lately they've been favouring local release of such animals.<br /><br />In addition, the government has been working with farmers on pilot projects that allow for deer and elk hunts where the animals are damaging crops. That has led to a recommendation that the hunting licence system be modified to facilitate hunting on farmland to control problem wildlife.<br /><br />If the ministry can follow the current timetable, all the work under way will lead to the introduction of a new Wildlife Act next spring.<br /><br />lleyne@tc.canwest.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-82936651968136223242007-07-02T09:28:00.000-06:002007-07-13T09:29:53.550-06:00Impoverished peoples speak out against anti miningImpoverished peoples speak out against anti mining - 02nd July '07'<br />Featured News<br /><br />In another example of an NGO seeking to speak for people who do not want or condone the interference, the following is a letter supplied by Corriente Resources that was written and sent by Rubén Naichap, President of the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe (the indigenous people of Corriente's project area in Ecuadorto) to Joan Kuyek, National Co-ordinator of Mining Watch Canada:<br /><br />Re: Mining Watch's Support for Economic, Cultural and Social Genocide of the Shuar People<br /><br />As the President of the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe representing the political, social, cultural and economic interests of 55 Shuar (Indigenous) communities, it is with great disappointment, outrage and anger that I write this letter to you and your organization for supporting the cultural, social and economic genocide of the Shuar people. As you or may not be aware, the Shuar people have lived within the Amazon Rainforest since time immemorial and since contact with the European and Mestizo peoples we have lived in crushing generational poverty. Since the early days of contact up until the present day, our people have been subjected to systemic racism, intense discrimination and have endured all the evils that poverty can force upon a people. As a result of this, our weary, but very proud people have raised their voice in support of responsible mining as a tool for development and we stand together against poverty and its dire impacts to our families, culture, health and our environment. As the original people of the Ecuadorian Rainforest we want and deserve a better quality of life and we will achieve this goal through partnerships with responsible Canadian mining companies like EcuaCorriente S.A.<br /><br />Over the past year, I have followed your web-based commentaries on the mining situation in Ecuador particularly comments related to the situation of mining in the Zamora Chinchipe Province. Your postings about mining in our region are appalling, inaccurate and untruthful. I am certain that the institutions and Canadian public who support your organization would be horrified if they knew your activities supported the cultural, economic and social destruction of our people. I am also certain that they would be very interested in learning how you and your organization have distorted the facts and continue to support organizations and individuals who actively promote violence and illegal acts towards law-abiding responsible mining companies and towards Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in our province.<br /><br />I recently visited Canada and met with several Indigenous organizations and leaders and as I suspected, there were many positive relationships between the natural resource sector and First Nations communities. As a result of this visit, I was able to see first hand how Canadian Indigenous peoples and natural resource extraction companies have built positive relations which in turn have yielded tremendous benefits for communities and industry. I was also fortunate enough to see a video produced by SanGold Resources (a gold mining operation in Southern Manitoba) where responsible mining is supported by National Chief Phil Fontaine (of the Assembly of First Nations) and other prominent Manitoba First Nations leaders and how over 80% of the workforce of SanGold is Aboriginal. This video and examples I saw in Canada clearly demonstrate how industry and Indigenous communities work together for common benefit.<br /><br />As well, my Indigenous colleagues also shared with me that there are many Canadian non-government organizations that have taken advantage of the lack of capacity of First Nations people and prevented them from building mutually beneficial, respectful and sound economic partnerships with industry and that these same NGOs have offered First Nations communities nothing in return but empty promises and continued poverty. This is indeed reminiscent of our situation where international NGOs such as yours lend support or come to Ecuador and offer little relief from the agonizing poverty that our people have and continue to endure. That said, we have learned, from our own experiences with NGOs and from the experiences of Canada's First Nations people, to be mindful of the interests of the NGO community as they at times have different motives and agendas from those of our communities.<br /><br />As the leader of the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe, the actions of your organization in supporting illegal and violent activities against the Shuar will not silence our impoverished, but proud people and we will share the truth about your organization and how it is a merely a tool to keep the Shuar and other Indigenous peoples in Southern Ecuador poor, in despair and without hope. Today our people walk barefoot on immense mineral wealth (75,000 Mlb of copper, 12 Moz of gold and millions of ounces of silver) within our territories, but we cannot access it as your organization continues to actively support illegal activities of organizations and individuals who have and continue to act outside of Ecuadorian law and show little respect and regard for the rights of our people.<br /><br />On your website, you endorsed, promoted and supported a small group of individuals who marched on the EcuaCorriente camp (December 3, 2006) with the intention of burning down their exploration camp, yet you failed to report the truth and facts surrounding this unwarranted invasion of the camp and of our Ecuadorian military base. As you are keenly aware, the only access to the EcuaCorriente exploration camp is through the military base (two check points) as there is only one road leading in and one road leading out. In your article, you failed to mention that the attack was by an unruly, heavily intoxicated, well armed mob (who were paid by sources unknown) to attack our military personnel and to destroy the EcuaCorriente camp. As well, you also did not mention that the leader of this mob (Salvador Quishpe a rogue Deputy from the Province of Zamora Chinchipe) just weeks prior to the invasion was an adamant supporter of EcuaCorriente and the opportunities the company brought to our province.<br /><br />What our organization has found very questionable concerning Quishpe is why did he suddenly have a change in heart towards mining? Why did Quishpe decide to stop a project that has supported the building of new schools for our communities, has provided post-secondary educational scholarships to our children, supported the Shuar virtual marketplace, is assisting in the development of a Shuar radio station, and is assisting the Shuar in protecting our forests from continued and unabated destruction due to poverty? It is indeed very strange to see Quishpe's very sudden change of heart in support of mining, but we do suspect that Quishpe's interests in becoming anti-mining and his decision to lead this mob was not on behalf of our communities, but rather for his own self-serving interests.<br /><br />Again, I am appalled and outraged that your organization would present untrue and inaccurate information and criticize the responsible mining activities of EcuaCorriente, who prior to being suspended by the Government of Ecuador (due to the illegal and violent occupation led by Quishpe), employed over 300 local people and paid more that four times the minimum Ecuadorian wage of $130.00 per month. These jobs were vital to our workers and their families as over 98% of our people live in poverty (less than $1.00 per day). It is incredible, irresponsible and criminal for your organization to support and report on such untruthful events relating to the invasion of EcuaCorriente's properties and to continue to support individuals and organizations who are violent, self-serving and wish only to prevent development and as a result keep our people in the shackles of poverty.<br /><br />As well, I suspect that under Canadian law, if a group of individuals decided to take it upon themselves to lead an armed and violent occupation against a Canadian military base with the intention to cause physical harm to military personnel and attack the civilian population and private property that the action of the Canadian military would be swift and just in correcting this unlawful and treasonous activity. As well, your web-site articles fail to mention that several military personnel were seriously harmed and permanently injured and that Quishpe used his congressional immunity from being prosecuted by the Ecuadorian military and the Ecuadorian State. Furthermore, the Shuar people are outraged at this attack on our military that we hold in the highest regard and respect, as they fought shoulder to shoulder with our Arutam Warriors in defending our territories and country from invasion by the Peruvian military in the mid-1990s.<br /><br />I also think it's relevant that I inform you and the Canadian people of the realities of life for the Shuar and Ecuadorian people. The Shuar have an infant mortality rate of 3 per 1000, our life expectancy hovers around 50 years of age, the majority of our communities lack basic services and our rain forest (the lungs of the planet) is being destroyed because of poverty in our region. Our people and our Mestizo neighbors understand basic economics - the only way for people to make money is to cut the forest down and produce lumber so that we can feed our families. In our country, 3.5 million Ecuadorian people have been forced to live abroad and send money home to support their families; including over 200,000 Ecuadorians in Ontario alone as our nation's poverty rate hovers around 70%. The sending home of money to our families is the largest industry in Ecuador, accounting for over $2 billion per annum. The impact of separation of our family members working abroad continues to increase and cause detrimental, generational and adverse social impacts to our families and culture as we do not have work in Ecuador and now we have less than 12 years of oil reserves left to support what little social programming we have in our country.<br /><br />From my earlier comments, you are now aware, in the Amazon region alone there is tens of billions of dollars worth of gold, silver and copper and it is our intention to access these resources in a responsible manner and in partnership with EcuaCorriente and other responsible mining companies. At this time, our organization is working on the development and implementation of several Impact Benefit Agreements (IBA's) which will be closely modeled after those found in First Nations communities in Canada. These IBA's will ensure that our culture and environment is protected and that our people benefit in terms of employment and procurement from all copper and gold mining projects in our territories. In fact, EcuaCorriente has been exemplary in ensuring that Shuar people of the Zamora Chinchipe Province have been informed and included in their exploration and construction projects.<br /><br />In addition to employment, EcuaCorriente has and continues to support numerous social, cultural, environmental and infrastructure projects within our communities and the region and as a result we are in full support of the $340 million dollars they plan to invest in the Mirador copper mining project. As well, your website fails to mention that EcuaCorriente's Mirador Project will create 1,000 construction jobs, 500 direct mining jobs and an additional 3,000 in-direct well-paid jobs for our people.<br /><br />The Mirador Project is a hand-up for our people - not a handout and the jobs and opportunities created from this project will go a long way in feeding our very hungry people. We also know that the millions of dollars paid in taxes by EcuaCorriente's operations will greatly assist our local, regional and national governments in delivering desperately needed health care, social and infrastructure projects.<br /><br />In closing, your continued support and the raising of funds against the Mirador project amounts to nothing more than the continuation of poverty and the social, cultural and economic genocide of Indigenous peoples in the Zamora-Chinchipe Region. I also think it is very relevant for you to visit our communities if you plan to continue reporting on mining activities in our region. I am quite certain that if you had visited our communities (prior to issuing your reports) and heard and seen for yourself how the Mirador project has positively impacted our communities, that you would have immediately stopped your support for the illegal and violent anti-mining activities within our region. Unfortunately for our people, you continue to support these small self-serving groups who do not represent our people and the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe will ensure that the Ecuadorian Government, the Canadian people, and the Global community know the truth about how your organization supports and aids those individuals who keep our people in crushing poverty.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-90994864598457904492007-05-16T18:05:00.000-06:002007-05-16T18:06:37.123-06:00B.C.'s vital mining industry well worth celebrating<strong>Michael McPhie</strong><br />Special to the Sun<br />Tuesday, May 15, 2007<br /><br />It's Mining Week in communities throughout British Columbia. However, many of us living in Greater Vancouver probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about mining, even though it affects our lives every day, and generates enormous wealth for the province.<br /><br />Whether we are talking on our cell phone, driving our car, riding the SkyTrain, or working on our computer, all these things start with mining.<br /><br />Consider that a typical cellphone has 16 grams of copper in it. The average computer is typically made up of 40 per cent steel, 10 per cent aluminum and 10 per cent other metals, including lead, copper, gold, silver, cadmium and platinum.<br /><br />Many of these minerals that are so important to our daily lives are produced here in B.C., providing long-term, high-paying jobs and numerous economic and social benefits to communities.<br /><br />How often do we consider mining's significant contribution to our province's well-being? The industry generates more than $7 billion in economic activity in B.C. each year (with estimates of a further $7 billion in economic spin-offs), employs more than 10,000 British Columbians directly and more than 28,000 indirectly.<br /><br />Mining is also the highest-paying resource sector employer in the province, with average compensation of $94,500 per year. The success of the mining industry also provides benefits to all British Columbians by contributing approximately $785 million each year in direct taxation, fees and royalties to all levels of government. Whether you are living in Smithers, Surrey or Saanich, this revenue from mining helps to pay for social programs like health care and education.<br /><br />As we celebrate Mining Week, approximately 34 mining projects in the province are in the B.C. environmental assessment process or in permitting. This represents a potential for $7.5 billion in new investment and an additional 12,000 direct jobs.<br /><br />B.C. is no small player when it comes to mining. Our province has the largest concentration of mining and related service companies in the world, and is a leading source of investment financing and engineering expertise for the global mining industry.<br /><br />Vancouver also benefits tremendously, with more than 850 mining development and exploration company offices employing thousands of people from all walks of life.<br /><br />While some might consider mining and sustainability to be an oxymoron, it is far from it. Mining is an essential part of the pursuit for a more environmentally sustainable economy.<br /><br />For example, an electric bus can have up to 9,200 pounds of copper in it. A hybrid car has 30 pounds more copper and 20 pounds more nickel than a standard car. Increasing the aluminum content in vehicles makes them lighter and therefore more fuel-efficient. Consider that silver is a significant component in more than 90 per cent of solar panels manufactured today, and graphite is an important component of fuel cell engine technology for clean energy vehicles.<br /><br />It is clear that the public benefits of any given mine far outweigh the costs. Today's mining sector is continually working to update and improve environmental stewardship measures.<br /><br />The ecological footprint of mining is relatively small given the wealth and opportunity created. Mining in B.C. generates all of its economic activity in an area that represents less than 0.05 per cent of the province's land base. That's less than 28,000 hectares. This is an extraordinary contribution from an area about the size of one mid-size town.<br /><br />To showcase the industry's commitment to sustainability, the Mining Association of B.C. and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources initiated the Mining and Sustainability Award. This award is designed to publicly recognize the diverse companies, communities, first nations, non-governmental organizations, government agencies and individuals committed to advancing and promoting sustainable development in the B.C. mining sector.<br /><br />Importantly, mining also offers first nations an opportunity to build capacity and gain economic independence. As the largest private sector employer of aboriginal people in Canada, the mining sector is a leader in the development of meaningful relationships with first nations. Aboriginal communities have a vital role to play in shaping the ever-improving sustainability of mining in our province and being partners in the prosperity it brings.<br /><br />Mining is making a positive difference in the lives of all British Columbians.<br /><br />Michael McPhie is the president and CEO of the Mining Association of British ColumbiaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-25195178300143900992007-03-28T12:11:00.000-06:002007-03-28T12:15:36.834-06:00NDP Spews a Bunch of Mumbo Jumbo, says BennettBill Bennett, MLA, East Kootenay<br /><br />NEWS RELEASE<br /><br />For immediate release<br />March 27, 2007<br /><br />NDP Spews a Bunch of Mumbo Jumbo, says Bennett<br /><br />VICTORIA - Norm MacDonald and the NDP have once again failed to listen to their constituents and placed political partisan rhetoric ahead of Kootenay residents by opposing the development of Jumbo Glacier Resort, said East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett.<br /><br />Bennett made the following statement in the B.C. Legislature today:<br /><br />"The facts and figures prove Norm MacDonald and the NDP's claim of residents heavily objecting the proposed resort are false. The fact is, only 1.4 percent of the region's residents actually took the time to express their opposition to this project. It is unfortunate Norm needs to exaggerate the numbers for a project he and his party don't want rather than taking the time to listen to Kootenay residents.<br /><br />"I do support this legislation for three main reasons, one of which is that I believe that the legislation, including the sections that seem to offend the opposition, is in the best interests of the people of the East Kootenay. I believe that; otherwise I wouldn't support it.<br /><br />"This legislation provides to existing resort communities the capacity to go out to market their towns and to market their regions. It creates a new authority to develop a resort municipality, just as older legislation in this province allowed the provincial government of the day to create what they called, at the time, instant towns. I have two of them in my riding, - Sparwood and Elkford. They were created by instant town legislation, and that's what this section does in this proposed bill.<br /><br />"The NDP is off base, even so far as the sections that they have identified they oppose. I've not heard them mention section 16 at all. They seem to be opposing sections 14 and 15. Those two sections allow a resort region to be created. In the case of my riding, that will allow the city of Fernie to go outside the city of Fernie and include the adjacent ski resort in the resort region so that they can qualify for the hotel tax funding. Otherwise they won't qualify for it.<br /><br />"The main opposition to the Jumbo project over the past 16 years has focused on the alleged pristine status of the Jumbo Valley. When you drive up into the Jumbo Valley, you drive on a paved road to one of B.C.'s largest, fastest-growing resorts, Panorama. To me it makes more sense to put another ski resort on the same road in the same area than it does to go into another valley that might, in fact, be pristine. That seems to be good management, good land use planning.<br /><br />"Local government, as well as the environmentalists, participated in our land use planning process called CORE. That lasted for two years. The participants in that land use planning process, including local government and including the environmental associations, signed off on the Kootenay-Boundary land use plan, which specifically designates the Jumbo Valley for responsible resort development.<br /><br />"The CORE process was all about listening to local people, and local government had a seat at that table for two years. The former ombudsman and the leader of the CORE process, Stephen Owen sent a letter in 1994 to two B.C. NDP ministers, urging the province to get on with the assessment of this project. In 1996, the Regional District of East Kootenay voted 'yes' on a resolution to support the project. The resolution stated that once an environmental certificate was obtained by the proponent, the project should proceed.<br /><br />"Eleven years later, in February of 2005, the proponent had finally gained an environmental assessment certificate with 200 conditions imposed on it.<br /><br />"The people of the East Kootenay can't eat bumper stickers. The people of the East Kootenay want jobs. Let's get on with supporting our rural resort municipalities, and let's get on with the business of making good decisions for the benefit of all British Columbians."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-63906276877287381972007-02-08T18:02:00.000-07:002007-02-14T06:08:23.882-07:00Trial by Bunkum<p>Ever since we started grossly subsidizing post-secondary education and indulging of the bootless caprices of youth, university graduates in the social sciences and humanities have been churned out in preposterous numbers without any particularly desired or useful skills or talents. Otherwise cast adrift in an economy that places greater value on usefulness and productivity, a massive industry in NGOs, academia and professional advocacy groups has been generated to meet the demand for their employment, and subsidized in force by politicians who rightfully see them as their perfect constituents, demanding political action in accordance with the principles that enrich their livelihoods. The only practical aspect of their education has been the art of grant proposals, and the utter vacancy of their endeavours compels them to believe in the good works of the requisite form rationales. The media are honorary members of their fraternity, famously friendly with them as the source of quotes and context for the sensationally baneful and harping missionary news of the day. Politicians defer to the excesses of their loudest subsidized constituencies not because they believe for an instant their imprecations or care about their fastidious causes but because each one of them offers to them the chance to compete for distribution of their advertising, advocacy and research slush funds. </p><p><a href="http://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2007/02/climate-changeism-trial-by-bunkum.html">http://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2007/02/climate-changeism-trial-by-bunkum.html</a> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-50286154267376919732007-01-08T08:02:00.000-07:002007-01-13T13:45:43.301-07:00Falsehoods of Suzukiism<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://digital.nationalpost.com/epaper/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=WBM7UKAB0ZS2&preview=magnifier&linkid=f78ace0d-cef0-435c-a29f-4f669d846dd6" target="_blank"></a><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://digital.nationalpost.com/epaper/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=WBM7UKAB0ZS2&preview=article&linkid=f78ace0d-cef0-435c-a29f-4f669d846dd6" target="_blank">Harper bases crucial policy on false hoods of Suzukiism</a><br />Te r e n c e Corcoran<br /><strong>The Vancouver Sun</strong><br />08 Jan 2007<br /><br />Who would have thought that a vote for Harper’s Conservatives would turn into a vote for David Suzuki’s warped war on modern prosperity? That Prime Minister Stephen Harper is now openly flirting with Suzukiism was reinforced last week as he explained... <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://digital.nationalpost.com/epaper/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=WBM7UKAB0ZS2&preview=article&linkid=f78ace0d-cef0-435c-a29f-4f669d846dd6" target="_blank">read more...</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-1158503784868284042006-09-08T08:35:00.000-06:002007-01-24T20:43:56.459-07:00Bennett responds to Wildsight spokesman's criticisms<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The Daily Bulletin (Kimberley)</span><br />Friday, September 8, 2006<br />Byline: Matt Coxford<br /><br />East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett says personal criticisms leveled at him by a Wildsight spokesman on the Jumbo debate are a smoke screen.<br /><br />Bennett was responding to statements John Bergenske made in Tuesday's Townsman. The latter accused the MLA of undermining the regional government, and attempting an end run in getting the proposed year-round ski resort the go-ahead.<br /><br />"Bergenske's comments are a smoke screen for what his real agenda is," says Bennett, who had plenty of challenges for Wildsight's executive director.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost">"The environmental lobby doesn't want any sort of development to take place, whether it's mining development, oil and gas, tourism, real estate, golf courses, forestry -- they just don't want anything to happen.<br /><br />"They will argue that they would support a project that has gone through the appropriate process, and is shown to be environmentally responsible and so forth. I challenge anyone to point out one major economic project that the East Kootenay Environmental Society (Wildsight's previous name) and John Bergenske have ever supported."<br /><br />In Tuesday's article, Bergenske also questioned the B.C. Environmental Assessment process -- which granted an environmental certificate to Jumbo's proponents -- saying that it has never rejected a project.<br /><br />The MLA defends the process, saying it is one of the most respected and rigorous assessments of its kind in the world. He says it has attracted interest from observers and bureaucrats around the globe.<br /><br />"The Environmental Assessment office will deal with dozens and dozens of projects in the course of a year. Probably more than half of those projects don't stay in the process long enough to be turned down because they realize, going through the process, that their project won't be accepted."<br /><br />Others pull out because they can't meet the demand for information for baseline environmental studies, public consultations and other aspects of the process.<br /><br />"I challenge (Bergenske) and anybody else to give me an example of any other project in the history of this province that has been subjected to the same level of scrutiny as the Jumbo project," he says, noting Jumbo's environmental certificate had more than 200 conditions.<br />Bennett says Bergenske should look in the mirror before he speaks of issues of democracy. Wildsight, he says, is "a small, un-elected group of elite environmentalists."<br /><br />"After all the years of intimidation and anti-democratic activity that (Bergenske) has organized in the East Kootenay, and all the development and job creation that he has tried to stop, it is the pot calling the kettle black. I am duly elected. If he thinks his vision for the East Kootenay is superior to that of mine or the B.C. Liberal government, I invite him to run against me in the next election."<br /><br />In March, the Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors voted overwhelmingly against allowing Victoria to decide whether a special municipality would be set up for the proposed ski hill. Many felt that if that motion had been successful, it would have amounted to a green light for the project.<br /><br />Bennett says prior to the vote, a half dozen directors told him personally they wanted the province to take over the Jumbo matter, and intended to vote in favour of the motion.<br />"These people were being harassed in their homes late at night over the phone, harassed on the street, they were threatened," says Bennett.<br /><br />"This was an organized lobby effort by groups like Wildsight -- it wasn't just Wildsight. It's fair to lobby your elected politicians. It's not part of the democratic process to intimidate."<br />The MLA also says that Bergenske's comments that Bennett is beholden to "political masters in Victoria" are unfounded.<br /><br />"Anybody who knows me and has watched me over the past five years, since I've been the MLA, knows that I am one of the most independent thinking politicians around," he says.<br />"They know that I'm not somebody who will be told to do anything that I don't personally believe in. Frankly, my colleagues in Victoria would probably not deal with this project as readily as I would."<br /><br />Bennett worries about the precedent that would be set by not approving the Jumbo Glacier resort, after what he calls "an exhaustive 16-year process."<br /><br />"I think for us to not have the courage to proceed with the project now shows every investor in the world who's thinking of investing in British Columbia, that they can't trust our process, that we will allow our process to be subverted to the antidemocratic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagogue">demagogues</a> like John Bergenske."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-1154439495800354882006-08-01T07:34:00.000-06:002006-08-01T16:03:17.446-06:00Nature Conservancy Clamps DownFERNIE - The TransRockies will have a route change next year and some of the event's organizers are concerned it will effect the quality of the event.<br /><br />Part of the Coal Discovery Trail, along the first stage of the TransRockies between Fernie and Sparwood, is owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The conservancy has given a permit for the TransRockies to use their part of the trail this year, but say they will not give a permit next year.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />The trail was built three years ago and was part of the TransRockies for the first time last year.<br /><br />The Coal Discovery Trail made the Fernie-Sparwood stage one of the racers' favourites last year, said Dan Savage, a local TransRockies co-ordinator.<br />The land the Nature Conservancy purchased is a long, narrow, 580-hectare strip along both sides of highway near Hosmer and is often referred to as the ‘Hosmer property.’<br /><br />The property was previously owned by Tembec and was sold a year-and-a-half-ago "with the understanding that the land would remain active for community usage," said Savage.<br /><br />By not allowing the TransRockies to pass through, the conservancy is "not really co-operating with the community," said Savage.<br /><br />In fact, Savage said no marathon bike races will be able to use the Coal Discovery Trail.<br /><br />"It's severely restricting the ability of Fernie and Sparwood to host events,"<br />he said. "We could lose the TransRockies.”<br /><br />"(The Nature Conservancy is) setting back an important event for the community), he said.<br /><br />The TransRockies brings 150 hours of international television coverage to the Elk Valley.<br /><br />Cycling is the big economic growth area for Fernie, since skiing and golfing are already at or near their maximum growth potential, said Savage, citing Chris Dodson, manager of Kootenay Rockies Tourism.<br /><br />"Here are these out-of-towners saying that, for environmental reasons, for one day, 500 bikes going through is a threat," said Savage.<br /><br />Savage noted Highway 3 runs through the land as do 10 or 20 trains a day on the Canadian Pacific Railway. He questioned how much of an issue the bikes are.<br /><br />"Are they suggesting that cycling has more of an impact than the trains?" he asked.<br /><br />Savage also questioned why the TransRockies should take an alternate route when "that's what (the Coal Discovery Trail) was built for."<br /><br />"Wherever we go in this valley, there is wildlife," he said, alternate routes would also disturb wildlife.<br /><br />"Frankly I think it's some fanatic extremist environmentalists making this call. There's a place for extremism, but not when it's affecting a community," said Savage.<br /><br />"This kind of closure makes it difficult to operate in the area," said Aaron McConnell, the TransRockies event director, but Fernie won't lose the event.<br />"It certainly won't cause us to cancel the event. It may significantly affect the quality of the route," said McConnell.<br /><br />The TransRockies has started in Fernie every year and would like to continue doing so, despite not getting to use the full Coal Discovery Trail, he said.<br />The Nature Conservancy's plan calls for light recreational use, he said and the TransRockies doesn't fall in that category.<br /><br />The TransRockies hasn't looked in detail at alternative routes yet, he said.<br />The Nature Conservancy bought the land because it is in one of three prime connectivity corridors for large mountain carnivores in the Elk Valley, said Dave Hillary, the Nature Conservancy's program manager for the Canadian Rocky Mountains.<br /><br />The Nature Conservancy manages a couple properties in the Elk Valley that are strung out like beads between Elko and the Pass, mostly in riparian zones, said Bob Forbes, a wildlife biologist and the Nature Conservancy's Elk Valley project manager.<br /><br />Connectivity corridors are important to help large carnivores get across fracture zones (which are either physical or human barriers) from the south to north side of the valley, said Forbes. The Nature Conservancy's goal is to make sure the connectivity on its properties (including the Hosmer property) is maintained.<br /><br />The Hosmer property is managed in a conservation covenant with Tembec, meaning that Tembec retains the timber rights and the Nature Conservancy can restrict other uses, said Hillary. The group is currently making a draft management plan for the property, which involves reviewing existing and proposed land uses, he said.<br /><br />One of those uses, the TransRockies, "was not a long term compatible use in that area," he said.<br /><br />The constituents are important, said Hillary, but land uses need to be looked at in combination. There are already permits for gravel pits, agriculture, logging and light recreational use on the property, he said. There is a need to limit the cumulative human impact and the bikes add undue stress on top of the uses already there.<br /><br />"Without other land-use permits (the TransRockies) might be an acceptable use. But it all relates together," said Hillary, adding land-use permits are granted or denied based on-going scientific studies and inventories.<br /><br />"We don't mind the local activities that are there right now," said Forbes. The gravel pit operators are clean and cognizant, have small footprints and disturb very little, he said. Tembec's logging is similarly localized, said Forbes, and the forestry workers know how to deal with wildlife.<br /><br />"Where we have trouble is with people (such as tourists or cyclists from out of town) who are not cognizant of Grizzly bear behaviour," he said. Out of sheer naiveté, they create situations where they, or the bears, could be hurt, he said. And those kind of people might come if the property is advertised internationally as a place to bike, which is what the TransRockies does, said Forbes.<br /><br />The Nature Conservancy, during their review of land-use permits. determined the Coal Discovery Trail was not built with the intent of being part of the TransRockies route, said Hillary.<br /><br />Hillary agreed with Savage that the trains and highway are a greater impact than the bicycles, but pointed out the Nature Conservancy has no say on whether the highway and the CPR come through the property. "I don't think we really have control of trains using the tracks or cars on the highways, but we do have control over land-use permits," he said.<br /><br />August is a critical time for core habitat feeding for bears in that area, said Hillary. Even though the bikes aren't there very long, there are far too many to avoid not having an impact.<br /><br />Hillary and Forbes did not feel qualified to comment on the economic impact of a route change in the TransRockies.<br /><br />Forbes said he has no problem with the bike race, and in fact applauds it, but he doesn't want it to go through the Hosmer property. Then it becomes a "commercial activity exploiting the property," he said.<br /><br />Forbes compared the TransRockies going through the Hosmer property to guides profiting by bringing tourists through your backyard and then asking why they should stop when you tell them to. The answer to both situations is the same in Forbes' eyes - they should stop "because it is impacting on the goals of the people that bought the land."<br /><br />Hillary and Forbes reject the idea of the Nature Conservancy being outsiders or extremists.<br /><br />"In the Elk Valley, I'll stand behind the example of Mt. Broadwood...if that's extremism, I'd be surprised," he said.<br /><br />The Nature Conservancy has a good track record of getting input from, and working with, local Elk Valley residents instead of imposing plans from far away, said Hillary. He cited the permits for gravel pits and the allowance of hunting and fishing on the Hosmer property as an example.<br /><br />The Nature Conservancy has been supported by people from all over Canada, including the Elk Valley, since 1962, said Forbes. They have also been intimately associated with a number or organizations in the valley, from Wildsight to the Fernie Rod and Gun club, he added.<br /><br />Although the Nature Conservancy hadn't had a permanent presence in the Elk Valley, it took steps in that direction by hiring Forbes, said Hillary.<br />Forbes pointed out he is hardly an outsider, having lived in the valley for 10 years.<br /><br />The Nature Conservancy is trying to balance the needs of the local community with the long term ecological needs of the Elk Valley, said Hillary, which is not an easy point to reach.<br /><br />"We do have to weigh the impacts in light of our avowed vision," said Forbes, "at some point you have to say this is (enough)."<br /><br />The Nature Conservancy has co-operated as much as possible with the TransRockies, said Hillary, "we showed some really good faith issuing the permit to the TransRockies this summer and allowing them the time to reconsider their route in the future."<br /><br />The TransRockies has been treated fairly and responsibly and given a lot of notice, said Forbes. "They have to cooperate with us too," he said.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-1154019848140412912005-02-26T11:00:00.000-07:002007-01-13T16:45:09.314-07:00Senator Baucus DebacleUS Federal <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/bc/story/bc_baucus-bc20050225.html">Senator Max Baucus visited Fernie</a> on Friday February 25 to express his opposition to Cline Mining's coal exploration activity in the Flathead.<br /><br />His agenda included a poorly advertised public meeting at the Fernie Senior Centre at 1:30pm, and we learned that morning that he was also scheduled to meet with Fernie's mayor at noon. That noon meeting was suddenly cancelled when the protesters gathered at City Hall. The mayor made it clear he did not organize or condone this event. Nobody seems to want credit.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Baucus is the protectionist senator behind the <a href="http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2004/18/c5044.html">illegal US punitive tariff on BC's softwood lumber</a>, and is also the person responsible for initiating the <a href="http://www.kansascattlemen.com/archives/00000307.htm">closure of the border to Canadian cattle</a> over BSE.<br /><br />Baucus appeared to have poor advice regarding the scope of the coal exploration activity, notably that the extent of the exploration is only 90 tonnes of coal. He appeared to be under the impression that local residents do not support the project, we think he has a better understanding now. The real organizers of this meeting decided to stay away leaving Baucus to fend for himself.<br /><br />About one hundred local residents (car sales, real estate sales, mine employees, mine industry suppliers, tourism operators, hotel and lodge owners and their employees, furniture sales, plumbers, contractors, woodworkers, lawyers, golf course representatives, students, ranchers, hunters, guide outfitters, various retail business owners and many others) turned out on an hour's notice to protest and to ask Baucus some very pointed questions about his Canada-bashing track record.<br /><br />Baucus reaffirmed that he is opposed to the opening of the border to live cattle in March. He still feels that Canadian softwood should be heavily tarriffed because of our "unfair advantage", this despite repeated rulings by NAFTA and WTO against that illegal action.<br /><br />MLA Bill Bennett explained to Baucus that we admire and respect our good neighbours to the South, but also made it clear we're not impressed with his personal attitude toward Canada. Bill also expressed that we're completely within our rights to explore OUR land, and that our province has an enviable track record for environmental stewardship. Environmental impact studies would be undertaken at the appropriate phase in the mining development cycle (e.g. exploration, proposal to mine, raise capital, approval to mine, ...).<br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Canadian Coverage</strong> </span></p><ul><li>CFCN (Calgary) <a href="http://www.cunningeng.com/ekrluc/video/BaucusInFernie.wmv">video news clip</a>. (Windows Media 9)</li><li><a href="http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/en/news/2005/02/20050226.shtml">Radio Canada International</a></li><li><a href="http://www.cbmwatch.ca/items/000033.html">CBMWatch</a> (commented stories from an anti-CBM point of view)</li><li><a href="http://cccbm.org/archives/000107.html#more">Citizens Concerned about Coalbed Methane</a> (reprint of Vancouver Province)</li></ul><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>US Coverage </strong></span></p><ul><li>View the <a href="http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/02/26/news/top/news01.txt">Missoulan's unique take</a> on the event.</li><li><a href="http://www.gravel.org/">North Fork Preservation Association</a> (collection of media with a preservationist spin)</li><li>The <a href="http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2005/02/24/news/news01.txt">Daily Interlake</a> also ran advance stories.</li><li>US Based New West Politics <a href="http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/307/C37/L37">article</a></li></ul><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-1154024750113407792003-08-28T12:24:00.000-06:002007-01-13T09:45:36.582-07:00Southern Rockies Management Plan AnnouncedThe Honourable Stan Hagen, minister for Sustainable Resource Management, <a href="http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/kor/srmmp/docs/0823_srmmp_nr.htm">announced</a> the <a href="http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/kor/srmmp/srmmp.htm">Southern Rocky Mountains Management Plan</a> on August 28, 2003. We support the SRMMP because of the public process and because the plan does a pretty good job of balancing wilderness values with recreation and industry.<br /><br />The plan does not open ANY new access and in-fact now constrains ATVs to existing hard surface trails. Some areas, particularly the Flathead and Wigwam, are now completely closed year-round to motorized vehicles except for main road surfaces. But the areas still remain available for hunters and for limited industrial activity. While it's true that many people who've been using the backcountry responsibly for decades no longer have access to some places, we all need to see the big picture and understand the forces at work against our elected officials before throwing up our hands.<br /><br />Despite the open and public process, and the support by 37 of 40 involved stakeholder groups, a few groups continue to complain that the process didn't consult the stakeholders.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Stan Hagen spoke to the Fernie Chamber of Commerce on April 22nd, 2003 regarding the CPAWS proposed "Peace Park" expansion of Waterton into the Flathead valley. Bill Bennett, MLA East Kootenay, also spoke against the park and explaining that his constituents do not support it. Jim Abbott, Alliance MP and Heritage Critic shot the CPAWS marketing brochure full of holes, particularly the claims of funding and that an office would be established in Fernie.<br /><br />We must stop this park, and we must stop the unnecessary and relentless closure of our backcountry! This park would forever put an end to hunting & recreational access in that area, and would continue to grow northward over the coming decades as part of the Y2Y "conservation area". Our government needs the support of we who live here. The <a href="http://www.cunningeng.com/ekrluc/flathead/default.htm">Flathead National Park proposal</a> is a huge threat backed by multi-million dollar groups based out of the United States.<br /><br />For a sense of what we're up against, please view our <a href="http://eastkootenay.blogspot.com/2006/10/y2y-big-picture.html">Y2Y page</a>.<br /><br />For recent access maps, please see the <a href="http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/kor/rms/rms.htm">Recreation Management Strategy web site</a>.<br /><br />Elkford held meetings on October 2 and 7, 2002. The meetings were attended by 121 and 56 people respectively. Bob Forbes, Wildlife Biologist for the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection gave an excellent <a href="http://www.cunningeng.com/ekrluc/images/WLAPBiologist.doc">presentation on the wildlife values</a> in the upper Elk Valley. The four species of concern include elk, sheep, goats, and moose. Only sheep and goats are yellow listed, but populations are strong. Winter range is the primary concern for motorized recreation, we need to stay at least 300m away in winter.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-1154024458634735902001-06-12T12:19:00.000-06:002006-12-12T00:39:52.766-07:00Conservation controversy re-emergesThe Southern Rocky Mountain Conservation Area was a faux pas on the part of the former NDP govern­ment and local conservation groups that may not last, says East Kootenay MLA-elect Bill Bennett,<br /><br />"That's a very real possibility,” Bennett said.<br /><br />Bennett's statement was spurred by comments made in a meeting between Rob Neil, habitat biolo­gist with the Ministry of Sustainable Resources (for­merly the Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks) and a diverse and large group of Elk Valley stake­holders concerned with land use issues,<br /><br />During the June 6 Elk Valley Integrated Task Force meeting, Neil, who is based out of Cranbrook, said a public consultation process concerning the area would begin shortly.<br /><br />"In the next couple of weeks we'll have something to present to the public on the consultation process," Neil told stakeholders.<br /><br />But Bennett countered the comment by saying no consultation process will happen as outlined by Neil. "He's not going to have anything to take to the pub­lic," Bennett said while speaking on behalf of Minister of Sustainable Resources Stan Hagen.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br />"The official position is we are going to freeze the process as it is. Whether we move forward with the process or whether we go back on it, we have to establish what the process is going to be and what the costs are because 280,000 hectares is too important to allow this to be rushed through," Bennett said.<br /><br />Also during the meeting, which was attended by a variety of interests from the mining and forestry industries, recreational user groups and other land use stakeholders, Neil gave the impression the con­servation area was a done deal based on talks he had in Victoria prior to the meeting, Bennett said those comments were inappropriate for a public servant to be making.<br />"People have to get beyond their particular biases and prejudices, Neil told the audience while explaining the process that lead to the establishment of the conservation area. "I don't think we can squander these opportunities,"<br /><br />Neil continued. "Politics are involved - it's not here to pre­clude opportunities. I think there's an oppor­tunity to do something very positive in a posi­tive way."<br /><br />The conservation area was established April 6 by the former NDP government following a joint proposal from the East Kootenay Environmental Society and the East Kootenay Wildlife Association.<br /><br />It encompasses an area extending from the BC/Montana border north through the Flathead, Wigwam and portions of the Elk/Bull River watersheds to the southern boundary of Height of the Rockies Provincial Park. It also contains key grizzly bear habitat and serves as a link between the Northern Continental Divide ecosystem grizzly bear population in the US and neighbouring grizzly bear populations, in Canada.<br /><br />The NDP announcement was made by Erda Walsh, the sitting MLA, and immediately sparked heavy criticism and controversy from commercial and recreational interests, due to what Bennett termed "incomplete consultation,"<br /><br />"The process leading up this was not open, was not complete and we're not going to do anything until we do full scientific and socio-economic studies- The scientific study makes the determination it any extra protection is necessary," Bennett said, adding it was as if thy people spearheading the formation of the conservation area were allowed to set public policy and are still attempting to do so. "We are simply not going to make land use decisions unless we know what the cost is and if they don't like it that's too bad," Bennett said.<br /><br />"And I want to make it clear I'm not talking about the hunters and fishers. I'm talking about the environmentalists who think they can make public policy," he said.<br /><br /><strong>AT A GLANCE</strong><br /><br />Representatives of the Kootenay Wildlife Coalition had these comments/or the new government on hearing the news that the Southern Rocky Mountain Conservation Area was to be halted for further governmental investigation<br /><br />Erica Konrad of the East Kootenay Environmental Society said she would urge the government to listen to the constituents, suggesting they "get on board with the conserva­tion area" and see what it will offer.<br /><br />George Wilson of the East Kootenay Wildlife Association said they were "more concerned with other decisions being made that have nothing to do with resource extraction." The BC Lands and Assets Company, whose man­date is to administer Crown land has been bringing in commercial back country recreations "which is having a bad impact, on wild life."Southern Guides and Outfitters Association rep­resentative Dave Beranek's comments were that he "wouldn't expect: any dif­ferent. I think it will bring management to in equal playing field," adding the process is important because "for a good sound decision to be made it will take time."<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-73307683593184744862001-02-02T08:07:00.000-07:002007-01-13T08:10:59.927-07:00Environmentalism lays an eggThe Washington Times <a href="http://www.washtimes.com/" target="_blank">http://www.washtimes.com/</a><br />Jeff Goodson Published 2/2/01<br /><br />The nation's most draconian environmental regulations, most virulent environmental extremism, and most pervasive "not in my back yard" philosophy have finally come home to roost. After years of tolerating the obstruction of new power plants by California environmentalists, rolling blackouts hit the state like a cold shower and left millions without electricity. In spite of a mad rush to complete several plants already under construction, the situation promises to get worse over the mid term as new generating capacity slowly struggles to keep up with the mothballing of older plants that should have been replaced years ago.<br /><br />Democrats are freaked out by the situation, and no wonder. After decades of genuflecting before the crackpot energy ideas of druids like Ralph Nader and Governor Moonbeam, they're now dizzy from trying to spin this real-world energy crisis into a conservative deregulation problem. The liberal media, meanwhile, pontificates over whether the cause of the blackouts is financial mismanagement by the utilities, manipulation of power supplies by the wholesalers, or simple corporate greed.<br /><br />What a hoot.<br /><br />There's nothing complicated about California's energy crisis. California is out of power because it let environmentalists sit at the table with the adults and kneecap every major power project conceived in the last decade. And they've been very good at it. Department of Energy statistics show that both the number of California utilities and their total electric generating capacity actually declined from 1988-1998, and that the Golden State ranks dead last nationwide in total electric generation per capita.<br /><br />The solution to this mess is simple: Slap down the environmental obstructionists responsible for the energy crisis in the first place, and bring more power plants on line. Neutering the environmentalists shouldn't be too hard, unless the world's sixth largest economy wants to permanently relegate itself to Third World status. California brand environmentalism now looks as silly as mood rings, and as dangerous as the Ebola virus.<br /><br />Completing the power plants shouldn't be that hard either — assuming of course that private sector power companies still want to operate in California. Unfortunately, in a tofu-inspired stroke of intrepid boldness reminiscent of Michael Dukakis in helmet and tank, the best that Gov. Gray Davis has been able to muster is the appointment of a power plant "czar" to "honcho" construction.<br /><br />Aside from power supplies that resemble those in the Congo, all California has to show for decades of environmental arrogance is the export to its neighbors of the very environmental impacts that it has fought at home. That's industrial imperialism at its worst. The states that are bailing out California should charge full market value for their megawatts, and maybe slap a hefty NIMBY tax on that power to boot just to drive home the lesson that environmental extremism has consequences for the neighbors, as well as at home.<br /><br />In Washington, the Bush administration should move aggressively to end federal land lockdowns, and the practice of abusing environmental laws to stop development of the infrastructure that powers the nation. The Great Generation, like adults everywhere, clearly understood that you have to break some eggs to make mayonnaise. Unfortunately, they didn't teach their children very well. The baby boomers think "sustainable development" is using the federal licensing process to tear out the hydropower dams their parents built; designating national monuments by presidential fiat to lock down energy resources on federal lands; and abusing endangered species and wetlands regulations to obstruct energy development on private and public property alike. None of which, of course, is either "sustainable" or "development."<br /><br />More generating capacity also means searching for new energy supplies. Including on federal multiple use areas like the national forests and national wildlife refuges, where there is a long history of energy production. After all, the public lands are public; they belong to the people, not the environmentalists. Environmentalists will, as usual, try to make this sound like the rape of Yosemite. But there's no reason why energy production on wildlife refuges can't be environmentally friendly. Ask the Audubon Society — it has been happily producing oil for 50 years on refuges like the Rainey wildlife sanctuary on Vermillion Bay.<br /><br />Environmentalists aren't conservationists. And in spite of their focus groups, which tell them they look less extreme when they call themselves that, they never will be. As Teddy Roosevelt knew well, conservationists believe in the wise multiple use of natural resources. The environment is, after all, too important to leave to the environmentalists. The California energy crisis will go away when there is more power supply than there is power demand. It's time for the adults to thank the environmentalists for their opinion, and get to work generating that power. If Californians don't want to accept those adult responsibilities, they can always keep paying the piper.<br /><br />Jeff Goodson is president of JW Goodson Associates Inc., a Texas property consulting company.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-55817001637701799192001-01-13T08:29:00.000-07:002007-01-13T08:30:39.624-07:00A definition of "Political Correctness"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-1162303945370245212000-10-31T07:11:00.000-07:002008-12-09T13:46:23.400-07:00Y2Y - The Big Picture<h1>Yellowstone to Yukon - The big picture</h1><h2>The Wildlands Project: An Introduction</h2><p>Little known outside of the environmental movement, The Wildlands Project is the most ambitious, and far reaching attempt yet to reinvent the North American continent according to ecologically correct guidelines. Under this proposal, 50 percent of North America would be preserved or restored to wilderness for the preservation of biological diversity. However implausible that goal may seem, The Wildlands Project is well developed, well organized, and well financed.</p><p>Based upon the work of freelance conservation biologist, Reed Noss, the cornerstone of the project consists of creating "reserve networks" across North America to provide vast areas of wildlife habitat. The goal is to maximize biological diversity across the landscape, even at the expense of the human occupants and private property.</p><p>The Wildlands Project requires not only a re-thinking of science, politics, land use, industrialization, and civilization, it also requires re-thinking humanity’s place in nature. It requires a new philosophical and spiritual foundation for western civilization. That foundation is the ecophilosophy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ecology">deep ecology</a>. Deriving much of its ideology from Buddhism and Taoism, and the philosophy of Spinoza, deep ecology contends that science has little to tell us about living in harmony with the planet, and other non-human life forms.</p><p>The map below represents The Wildlands Project "Megalinkages" concept. The strategy is to directly influence decision-makers, put ecological concerns ahead of all others (social, economic) in the affected zones, and to pummel regional governments using the media and lawyers over a 20 to 100 yr timeframe. Nibble off a bit at a time, make a big grab whenever the political mood is right.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit85n90ZHai7wMWqjAzEkALI7Nq77xxvGD_YhI_ZTAWru-a55X93ZYqr3lXXEXegOhkFGoLW7WWIFVjL__xnSXvaVcZnHo4s2j6j6ujQ4lZouT0iyDfsSnFXGeOZcfHyjTxrQC/s1600-h/TwpMegaLinkages.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019547770919529986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit85n90ZHai7wMWqjAzEkALI7Nq77xxvGD_YhI_ZTAWru-a55X93ZYqr3lXXEXegOhkFGoLW7WWIFVjL__xnSXvaVcZnHo4s2j6j6ujQ4lZouT0iyDfsSnFXGeOZcfHyjTxrQC/s400/TwpMegaLinkages.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The next map gives a sense of how the Wildlands Project and their Y2Y spin-off have drawn a bull's-eye on the Crowsnest Pass / Flathead / Elk Valley. You can also see that the project is quite ambitious, setting aside about 1/2 of the province of British Columbia conservation areas to "connect the dots" between existing federal parks. These guys don't really seem to care that their plan is not backed by science, and that the plan would severely curtail personal freedoms and a way of life that has been practiced responsibly for decades. </p><p>As Danish professor <a href="http://www.lomborg.com/books.htm">Bjorn Lomborg </a>conveyed in the "Skeptical Environmentalist", our society is increasing in environmental awareness and things are very much improving in many measurable ways. Most enviro groups are still our social conscience, but decision-makers must be careful not to jump on emotional campaigns without first examining the facts. The sky is NOT falling. </p><p>I hope that this page will help in your personal search for the truth.</p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QDz0kr6QMcHWVNms7dYFJglDCY4_rA6hSHWhw2y_Iz_cfGOYBqSGylvcC_lh9vmOFKTdt30KbwPU_oY24tbzyZmmHme1gJJWdB9KkZoyikNHV_3TTbi-stkcUV-7ZmwHe40C/s1600-h/TwpEndangeredLinkages.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019548324970311186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QDz0kr6QMcHWVNms7dYFJglDCY4_rA6hSHWhw2y_Iz_cfGOYBqSGylvcC_lh9vmOFKTdt30KbwPU_oY24tbzyZmmHme1gJJWdB9KkZoyikNHV_3TTbi-stkcUV-7ZmwHe40C/s400/TwpEndangeredLinkages.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>The next map should be of great interest to those who live and recreate in the Crowsnest Pass, Flathead and Elk Valley. The two yellow arrows are located at the Alberta-BC border on the right, and run directly through the town of Fernie on the left. </p><p>Fernie's Mayor is a proponent of a westward <a href="http://www.peaceparkplus.net/">extension of Waterton Lakes National Park </a>into the east Flathead. Tembec's Quebec-based president also supports the park expansion (thanks to CPAWS offer of millions to stop logging). Similar ambitious are shared by a few key federal and provincial government employees who don't necessarily follow the policies of the government of the day. We can elect a sensible government, but they won't hold power forever.</p><p>The Regional District of East Kootnay, the Districts of Sparwood and Elkford and Alberta's Crowsnest Pass municipality have all spoken strongly against any new parks. The same is true of most industry and backcountry user groups.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjBy4QvDcU5Uwl-ebDh-c7Owhl09JdGVEZLuo-r8fZa1sXjbwX3S-OXLtjjqTTGRfdYXnUm-KTSI3On1VL0xrZSB6nIm4IfFuWD0n65G0sfYeFMHarw6SnpYXiaXrlJYGE0-c/s1600-h/TwpCnp.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019548324970311202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjBy4QvDcU5Uwl-ebDh-c7Owhl09JdGVEZLuo-r8fZa1sXjbwX3S-OXLtjjqTTGRfdYXnUm-KTSI3On1VL0xrZSB6nIm4IfFuWD0n65G0sfYeFMHarw6SnpYXiaXrlJYGE0-c/s400/TwpCnp.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The picture below was in a calendar my son brought home from school, produced by the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. The caption reads "Hunting and habitat loss killing majestic bears". </p><p>An inset goes on to say </p><blockquote>"Designated as vulnerable in 1991, grizzlies are sensitive to human interference<br />and prefer large unfragmented tracts of wilderness. In BC, the province with the<br />largest grizzly population in Canada, hunting is a primary threat. In 2001, the<br />new provincial Liberal government reinstated the grizzly-bear hunt despite<br />overwhelming public opposition to the trophy hunting of this reclusive animal.<br />Indefensible from a biological standpoint, the hunt makes no economic sense, as<br />grizzly viewing generated over twice the revenue of hunting. As one of the<br />slowest reproducing land mammals in North America, it appears unlikely that the<br />grizzly bear will be able to survive both habitat loss and trophy hunting."</blockquote><p>According to BC Ministry of Forests bear expert Dr. Bruce McLellan, the reproductive rate of the 178 grizzly bears in the Flathead and Wigwam is 8%, much higher than the rest of the province. The human-caused mortality even before the politically motivated NDP closure back in 2001 was 3.36%. With an average natural lifespan (including hunting) of more than 20 years, its pretty easy to see how the new government came to the conclusion that the NDP were not operating based on scientific fact when they closed the hunt without research or public consultation.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UGeDMdTwnvDeX2Z5TkURqcV5bZHrd3sMiM57vIY4M32w19ic3Gi3d_XSas56rxasOF6TRbK0SYk8dRE9q7mHgzLS-NMDY0a4aHPAYIz4OudJxVHFTKPhAFQjgvJFOWFwsT4e/s1600-h/CdnGrizzlyHabitat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019548324970311218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UGeDMdTwnvDeX2Z5TkURqcV5bZHrd3sMiM57vIY4M32w19ic3Gi3d_XSas56rxasOF6TRbK0SYk8dRE9q7mHgzLS-NMDY0a4aHPAYIz4OudJxVHFTKPhAFQjgvJFOWFwsT4e/s400/CdnGrizzlyHabitat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Bottom line, the bears population in this region is healthier than in any place in the province of BC. New restrictions imposed by the Southern Rocky Mountains Management plan will not likely have measurable effect on population, yet extreme preservationists continue to push for a new federal park.</p><p>Here's how Y2Y fits into The Wildlands Project. For the sake of bears, the goal is to fill in all the spaces between the green.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllZ7k1PlCU4mfzemnMyH1b4d0cX3MH7WZEc8-AF_qfKfL-kkmdkbWD1sr92onea80s4sY3u7BuLrWZYNck37kp0SD56aARgtQ7Ax5BykzWmH3hyAdeXVlaceJzPdeDM25IoRk/s1600-h/Y2YGrandPlan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019548329265278530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllZ7k1PlCU4mfzemnMyH1b4d0cX3MH7WZEc8-AF_qfKfL-kkmdkbWD1sr92onea80s4sY3u7BuLrWZYNck37kp0SD56aARgtQ7Ax5BykzWmH3hyAdeXVlaceJzPdeDM25IoRk/s400/Y2YGrandPlan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is one of the maps that motivate the preservationists. They see this "little strip of land" as the only thread connecting the Yukon to the Yellowstone. The map comes from the Wildlife Conservation Society's <a href="http://www.wcs.org/media/file/WeaverBookComplete1.pdf">Transboundary Flathead</a> marketing document.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddYgTvQgodYsj_-bJ9C-raBxWP1uGrJQb4b4dVgZvOGRmU_8paGHMqX9qRyY7b6Pi3aSIiyPJXgBU3rRSFQlq16vegtDm1jvK4kE08-xjfccLqPyUzk7p9j_nt-eUE-3kDDi1/s1600-h/RelativeAbundanceOfGrizzly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019548355035082322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddYgTvQgodYsj_-bJ9C-raBxWP1uGrJQb4b4dVgZvOGRmU_8paGHMqX9qRyY7b6Pi3aSIiyPJXgBU3rRSFQlq16vegtDm1jvK4kE08-xjfccLqPyUzk7p9j_nt-eUE-3kDDi1/s400/RelativeAbundanceOfGrizzly.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is just an ordinary road map of SW Alberta. What's significant is that in the 2 years since its printing they've added the Don Getty Wildlands Park South of Kananaskis, chipping away at the top of the C5 (Crowsnest Forest). The proposed Flathead expansion to Waterton Park, known as "Peace Park Plus" sort of sticks out in the SE corner of BC. This map does NOT show the Elk Lakes and Height of the Rockies parks in BC that connect the dots on the BC side. The map also gives no appreciation of the 7 access management areas (AMAs) that "protect" the Upper Elk Valley from public access. Most of this region is already closed to public access by motor vehicle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6SZyfyaawMCtPlLMjbaF5BbN98MQeI4SlPR__2r2AkrloRY4OyCFcC-f1njnjvW7omHq7cfv2dRodz6IU-XK8cTNklQyKFUpfCyC4qwtoES6LNZo5htOciyyAZARHFAk2CIc/s1600-h/SouthwestABMap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019551589145456226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6SZyfyaawMCtPlLMjbaF5BbN98MQeI4SlPR__2r2AkrloRY4OyCFcC-f1njnjvW7omHq7cfv2dRodz6IU-XK8cTNklQyKFUpfCyC4qwtoES6LNZo5htOciyyAZARHFAk2CIc/s400/SouthwestABMap.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A regional view of how the Y2Y guys see SW Alberta and SE BC. This map shows the recently added Don Getty Wildlands Park (2002), Bob Creek Wildlands Park (2001), Height of the Rockies provincial Park (1995), Elk Lakes provincial Park (1979), Whiteswan Lake provincial park, Top of the World provincial park, and Akamina-Kishenena provincial park. The East Kootenays boast well over 16% in "protected" areas compared to the provincial average of 12%. 12% is also the guidline given by the united nations for protected areas, how much is enough? The spaces between the green are connected by a series of access management areas (AMAs) that are closed to motorized recreation.</p><p>We should be protecting our natural resources FOR the public, not FROM the public.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4XSq5_ABJ_NnQH1vvEmKLtM1J1Af0BgkqlKiYG-eECv_LISBO4vGKyGY6s5RhmV4EFbA8lWSohAtYPXDS_gDPKnqJHzar_6M3uG6P9J-97k87ZUmh0B8LwQoyqyO5043YOx7/s1600-h/CanivoireConservationArea.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019551593440423538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4XSq5_ABJ_NnQH1vvEmKLtM1J1Af0BgkqlKiYG-eECv_LISBO4vGKyGY6s5RhmV4EFbA8lWSohAtYPXDS_gDPKnqJHzar_6M3uG6P9J-97k87ZUmh0B8LwQoyqyO5043YOx7/s400/CanivoireConservationArea.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The "Wildlife Conservation Society" features noted biologist John Weaver (the guy whose incompetent lab results triggered the Oregon lynx scandal in the U.S.). This map is interesting because it significantly expands both Glacier National Park in the US (to the West), and has a much larger area of interest than the proposed Waterton - Flathead "Peace Park" into SE BC.</p><p>BC Ministry of Forests bear expert Dr. Bruce McLellan was recently observed working with WCS contractors in the Alexander Creek area. The team was looking to prove that bears do not cross Hwy 3. The WCS is affiliated with, and funded by the Bronx Zoo.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzCJnILOXilRNvidVyYx7EoSIFe2wUVzsXqJ9XKRDOpkWBA-t734-Aaec1Xs4ANlfLPOpLh56ENwvXjmlJV4xd4vmPC40H3cBQWEiRqJ8cztwTzwtAM0oGG4pmw7ouiIG-E0a/s1600-h/TransboundaryFlathyead(WCS).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019551593440423554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzCJnILOXilRNvidVyYx7EoSIFe2wUVzsXqJ9XKRDOpkWBA-t734-Aaec1Xs4ANlfLPOpLh56ENwvXjmlJV4xd4vmPC40H3cBQWEiRqJ8cztwTzwtAM0oGG4pmw7ouiIG-E0a/s400/TransboundaryFlathyead(WCS).jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This map shows what the Castle-Crown Wilderness Society, CPAWS, Sierra Club, and the US-based Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) would like to see eventually turned into a <a href="http://www.castlewilderness.ca/campaign.html">new park they call Andy Russell </a>(I'tai sah kop). Lawyers from the NRDC <a href="http://www.castlewilderness.ca/newscmrlegal.html">sued the municipality of Pincher Creek</a> for their ski hill expansion in this area.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ERXsmn4BLAmWr2S87opDd4DgseBHshky0vgPpaBOaoN-Is6VFwuvTDOl6Rv7TRK687DL20QaMxStpVO2Y4rioIMNJP7iW28MNI7h2c2dATiF4qLn1OL1XBM2CocrAI9YEfoy/s1600-h/CastleWilderness.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019551593440423570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ERXsmn4BLAmWr2S87opDd4DgseBHshky0vgPpaBOaoN-Is6VFwuvTDOl6Rv7TRK687DL20QaMxStpVO2Y4rioIMNJP7iW28MNI7h2c2dATiF4qLn1OL1XBM2CocrAI9YEfoy/s400/CastleWilderness.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This map was produced by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) based on their 100,000 acre conservation convenants and outright purchase of Tembec lands South of Hwy 3, from the AB/BC border through Fernie to Elko. </p><p>NCC's intent is to prevent subdivision and development of any area deemed to be in a large carnivore (grizzly bear) corridor. The "science" that is behind this come from three "independent scientific studies" including the works of Dr. John Weaver (Oregon's "Lynxgate") and other projects funded by the Wildlife Conservation Society (funded by the Bronx Zoo).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-3ws2Iejm-RZwsDrIpuORm6Qua_P7Id_3WPIeNA53SjkfEwWvwGghYrbNqdgPd2Vi0uO7Awu6-mc7niTQvqSQfYzXU2J3Q8ld1xFB5PWYoehSoMWTnKonDWgV-OoK3zeWbkp/s1600-h/Map.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019551597735390882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-3ws2Iejm-RZwsDrIpuORm6Qua_P7Id_3WPIeNA53SjkfEwWvwGghYrbNqdgPd2Vi0uO7Awu6-mc7niTQvqSQfYzXU2J3Q8ld1xFB5PWYoehSoMWTnKonDWgV-OoK3zeWbkp/s400/Map.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This interesting map was given to us by a Montana State Senator, and may be a sign of things to come in this area. The numbers in the counties indicate the percentage of private land against which the Nature Conservancy has set caveats preventing industrial activities and most kinds of agriculture. Yellow counties are the ones where the conservancy is most active.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4X9RklXW5Bu8NMHdtcf5NUyUPt-7qbA9CkE2H50OEFcsjsYeNHnjG_AEimy11yI3md3VnpvhcWCg5ZvVs35ZuuRwmNSiVMO3QMKsjl0TZd46gGN9nS9I9sU6FKSWbRWK6sMy1/s1600-h/NatureConservancy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019553332902178482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4X9RklXW5Bu8NMHdtcf5NUyUPt-7qbA9CkE2H50OEFcsjsYeNHnjG_AEimy11yI3md3VnpvhcWCg5ZvVs35ZuuRwmNSiVMO3QMKsjl0TZd46gGN9nS9I9sU6FKSWbRWK6sMy1/s400/NatureConservancy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The next map depicts the wildlife management area proposed by the East Kootenay Environmental Society (now Wildsight) in 2001, and passed into law by a sneaky NDP Order in Council in their last days in control of BC. The Order in Council called the plan the Southern Rocky Mountains Conservation Area and was created without any public input. The Liberals rescinded this plan as promised in the early fall of 2001, creating in it's place a comprehensive public stakeholder process known as the Southern Rocky Mountains Management Plan. The map also depicts lands in this part of BC owned by the Nature Conservancy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_MKesV0K16bABl-Qm3Mj-5yVC8hUYUMTIJrb30pUWGQ1u1hnP9ncllnrLkqI1ds8OYT4qH2dnrQR5Fo69Ho_0mJZrhZLB2Fh-jLS3R6fjB5rXWOvlloMOjr_83g0UpeArq5L/s1600-h/SRMManagementArea.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019553337197145794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_MKesV0K16bABl-Qm3Mj-5yVC8hUYUMTIJrb30pUWGQ1u1hnP9ncllnrLkqI1ds8OYT4qH2dnrQR5Fo69Ho_0mJZrhZLB2Fh-jLS3R6fjB5rXWOvlloMOjr_83g0UpeArq5L/s400/SRMManagementArea.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This map depicts the CPAWS / EKES proposed <a href="http://www.peaceparkplus.net/">Peace Park Plus</a> expansion to Waterton National Park.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJH-iy-InIfOafw9u554fhXHLymfaIYBoACaenZZiz-Z815mYdPA6E2-zu-HoZg24pkgLUVgl8EgyVAVx93cucmxAYqdJlUMQpEPrF3_PF8D4NYyoWlUtTCBjGn3Z05zOUXFK/s1600-h/FlatheadPark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019553337197145810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJH-iy-InIfOafw9u554fhXHLymfaIYBoACaenZZiz-Z815mYdPA6E2-zu-HoZg24pkgLUVgl8EgyVAVx93cucmxAYqdJlUMQpEPrF3_PF8D4NYyoWlUtTCBjGn3Z05zOUXFK/s400/FlatheadPark.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><h2>The Southern Rocky Mountains Management Plan (August 2003)</h2><p>The map below represents the area affected by the recently announced Southern Rocky Mountains Management Plan (SRMMP). This plan closes about 25% of summer trails to motorized use, particularly in the contentious east Flathead and Wigwam drainages. The plan represents the general agreement of the public stakeholders' meetings and is fundamentally a good plan, with a pretty good chance of success on the ground. The Liberal government, particularly East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett and then BC Sustainable Resource Management Minister Stan Hagen, deserve much credit for standing up to the foreign funded lobby groups and bringing balance to the plan.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC9H9BcPQAP-xhkBNmTdTUzrI8Bq42SVC5sXUPUBI1pdZYjTUm0WFl9B0a44gAAkZ_H-ZsNAFqn8rxj35mQDNCBzsjnkfSZBcGr_MWFCEux8F-bOyWzs0s3HpaE-7M6eBz44z/s1600-h/SrmmpArea.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019553337197145826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC9H9BcPQAP-xhkBNmTdTUzrI8Bq42SVC5sXUPUBI1pdZYjTUm0WFl9B0a44gAAkZ_H-ZsNAFqn8rxj35mQDNCBzsjnkfSZBcGr_MWFCEux8F-bOyWzs0s3HpaE-7M6eBz44z/s400/SrmmpArea.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The Southern Rocky Mountains Management Plan - Snowfree (summer). Pink areas and grey areas are closed to vehicles except main roads, red roads are specifically closed. EKES spokesperson John Bergenske got up at a public meeting in Cranbrook in July and said "I defy anyone here to name a single road closed by this plan". I refer to exhibit A below. Note that 80% of mountain passes between AB and BC are now closed in summer, for the bears.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYb2zvz8S_OQVVVs-2VWpY5pxqInmoKQobVdNw0ucxPeGZYSpPfucRMduAF4X5vjldYLg7WOZ8GTitsS-cYHL_nOwP5DSpZ7ayLx9CGd3b0h2fCdAZNYhxIgbKkvMs929aKtdL/s1600-h/SrmmpSummer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019553341492113138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYb2zvz8S_OQVVVs-2VWpY5pxqInmoKQobVdNw0ucxPeGZYSpPfucRMduAF4X5vjldYLg7WOZ8GTitsS-cYHL_nOwP5DSpZ7ayLx9CGd3b0h2fCdAZNYhxIgbKkvMs929aKtdL/s400/SrmmpSummer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The Southern Rocky Mountains Management Plan - Snowbound (winter). Pink areas are closed except roads, often for "moose winter range". Some of the pink areas near Elkford and Fernie were voluntarily given by the snowmobile clubs to local cross-country ski clubs, and simply formalize a gentleman's agreement that has been in place for decades.<br /><br />The thing that really sticks in my throat is that WLAP biologists have explained that the primary pressure on moose in the area is neonatal predation by bears. Are these the same bears all of this is meant to protect? I suppose we're at least protecting their food source.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFbX_onwCZPYaxv_M5saeBwqTqJpTGSsTFRLTC1M0baxDAaIittiS7e7CEX_g9oZqqDBuaZIJoRp4Ss2qI9ttwCv9zcYRwi8QV7mWkzhTeBQ1SpjMKPunkHDKyxJOLGHBlILo/s1600-h/SrmmpWinter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019553603485118210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFbX_onwCZPYaxv_M5saeBwqTqJpTGSsTFRLTC1M0baxDAaIittiS7e7CEX_g9oZqqDBuaZIJoRp4Ss2qI9ttwCv9zcYRwi8QV7mWkzhTeBQ1SpjMKPunkHDKyxJOLGHBlILo/s400/SrmmpWinter.jpg" border="0" /></a>Note that most of the area is still available for hunting, on foot or on horseback. This area is now well protected, but many people can no longer access areas that they have been using responsibly for decades. Not a week goes by that I don't get an earful from angry retirees who've hunted and fished and picked berries here for most of their lives.<br /><br /><p>Despite all of the new closures, many of which we reluctantly accept as responsible stewards and solution seekers, EKES and CPAWS are <a href="http://www.peaceparkplus.net/updates.htm">still claiming </a>that the Liberal government did not adequately protect the area. </p><p>Will this grassroots demonstration of responsible land management be enough to prevent a new federal park? Will tiny groups of 3 and 5 preservationists continue to have a voice equal to local backcountry clubs with 200 and 300 members? Are all government employees without bias, or even a little interested in what we pesky voters want?</p><p>We need to prepare ourselves for a 50 year battle, and keep in touch with and support our elected representatives. If all of this has you wondering how you can help, then please join your local rod & gun club, snowmobile club, ATV club, or ski club. For all our sakes, don't wait for "someone" to do something about all of this. As I so often hear, "the world is run by those who show up". And those few heroes are getting really tired and disheartened.</p><br /><h2>Further reading:</h2><p>For up-to-date documents and maps of BC's Southern Rocky Mountains Management Plan, visit <a href="http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/kor/srmmp/plan.htm">this page</a>. </p><p>See <a href="http://www.wildlandsproject.org/roomtoroam/">www.wildlandsproject.org/roomtoroam/</a> for their side of TWP. For a revealing dissertation, please see <a href="http://www.wildlandsprojectrevealed.org">www.wildlandsprojectrevealed.org</a> </p><p>See <a href="http://www.y2y.net/">www.y2y.net/</a> to get a sense of how the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative markets itself.</p><p>See <a href="http://www.wcs.org">www.wcs.org</a> to get a sense of who the New-York based Wildlife Conservation Society is. Download <a href="WeaverBookComplete1.pdf">"Transboundary Flathead"</a> for a sample of their work.</p><p><span class="tiny" style="color:#0000ff;"><u><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/projects/environment/index02.html">ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT GOES ASTRAY</a> </u></span><span class="tiny">"Environment, Inc." <i>-Sacramento Bee </i>gives a sense of how powerful preservationist big-business is getting. These are $US.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9i7dS3DYY2ZIeItv4EII6qLeTYmz7rR4ohZK0fk5xinTKGAO3tZYtnUvmJF_GPCTfFw6yXcdk7OS20nylCZ41UhIXYYoGIOZVZvLA9gR0M2eurNmqgPTsMFGdtTIDARF67ds/s1600-h/giving.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019553603485118226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9i7dS3DYY2ZIeItv4EII6qLeTYmz7rR4ohZK0fk5xinTKGAO3tZYtnUvmJF_GPCTfFw6yXcdk7OS20nylCZ41UhIXYYoGIOZVZvLA9gR0M2eurNmqgPTsMFGdtTIDARF67ds/s400/giving.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_M1-yWU3_Q6mcfrEtydbdTTvVDdgVIUGanJogkhoAfPYPacLIj5MWuNo7Ue1Y2L5nVCSAYf0Hbri6yMtMIKBXYbc3HxhjoDTbTO1tAiaTqjv3grgbV0nC6VqTdFTuioBUGHp/s1600-h/1Greening.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019553607780085538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_M1-yWU3_Q6mcfrEtydbdTTvVDdgVIUGanJogkhoAfPYPacLIj5MWuNo7Ue1Y2L5nVCSAYf0Hbri6yMtMIKBXYbc3HxhjoDTbTO1tAiaTqjv3grgbV0nC6VqTdFTuioBUGHp/s400/1Greening.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></p><h2>Tax Returns of a few Environmental Lobby groups with "Charitable Organization" Status</h2><p>Both Canada and the US allow charitable organizations to spend up to 20% of donations on lobby. The loophole is that environmental groups can classify their lobby efforts as "public education", "preservation of species", or general "wildlife protection". Note that the Nature Conservancy does not pay property tax on lands that it owns.</p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.guidestar.org/index.jsp" target="_blank">www.guidestar.org/index.jsp</a> is a US-based database of non-profit organizations. Search for "Yellowstone toYukon" to obtain their <a href="Y2Y_Form990.pdf" target="_blank">2001 form 990 return</a>. Also search for Wildlands Project, Wildlife Conservation Society, and many more. Note, you will need to sign up to access tax returns. (PDFs of hand-written documents). I've not received any spam from this organization.</p><p><a href="http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/charities/menu-e.html">Canada Customs and Revenue Agency</a> maintains a database of tax returns. Search for "Canadian Parks and Wilderness", "East Kootenay Environmental Society", "Alberta Wilderness Society". No registration required. T3010 returns forms are available for 2000, 2001 and 2002.</p><p>The money trail for EKES/Wildsight leads to a number of <a href="http://eastkootenay.blogspot.com/2007/01/wildsight-financial-summary.html">anonymous US funding agencies</a>. Wildsight takes in about $9,000 / yr in membership, but could afford 3 compensated employees in 2002, even more today. CPAWS gets a good deal of their funding from our federal taxes and some across the border through the Y2Y initiative. Ted Turner gives to the Wildlands Project, and many movie stars are actively supporting other anti groups who feel they know what's best for us. </p><p>We're a little outgunned, but our coalition is dedicated getting seriously in their way ;-`)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31762357.post-31775883257062412421999-04-09T20:38:00.000-06:002007-01-24T20:41:06.132-07:00Y2Y - The Beginnings<a target="_top" name="off">Protecting wildlands pays off</a><br />by Richard MostynNews senior reporter<br />Contrary to popular belief, preserving wilderness in the Rockies makes economic sense, says Ray Rasker.<br /><br />In fact, it makes more sense than logging it, mining it or farming it.<br /><br />Now, there are folks who will sneer at Rasker's assertion. They'll dismiss it as the pipe dreams of another environmental ideologue.<br /><br />They'll call it bunk.<br /><br />However, there's one small problem with that. Rasker is a resource economist. He holds a doctorate, and he's done a lot of research.<br /><br />He's part of the Arizona-based Sonoron Institute, a conservation group that will work to help communities protect wild spaces.<br /><br />But it will only help out if invited. And only if the centre can demonstrate broad community support at the table, he told about 100 people during a slide show at the High Country Inn on Thursday night.<br /><br />His institute has been pretty successful.<br />And now it is working on the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, popularly known as Y2Y.<br /><br />That project was dreamed up by lawyer Harvey Locke and a knot of 20 other conservationists in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, in 1997.<br /><br />The goal is to create a chain of green space - not parks, but a dedicated wildlife corridor - between the northern Yukon and Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park.<br /><br />Development can occur in these places, but it can't obstruct animal or bird migration routes south. Or that's the suggestion.<br /><br />The hope is that wild critters from the Yukon will use this path to replenish the diminished wildlife populations in the south, improving their lives and ours.<br /><br />Opponents of Y2Y have accused environmentalists of wanting to protect animals and plants at the expense of jobs.<br /><br />Not so, says Rasker.<br /><br />And if Locke is Y2Y's chief architect, Rasker is the carpenter who's going to nail the thing down.<br />His hammer is money.<br /><br />The argument, stripped to its bare bones, goes like this: If you have an airport and a beautiful location, and can protect it, small business will be lured there and your economy will prosper.<br />Traditional economic models portray the economy as a three-legged chair held up by mining, logging or agriculture, said Rasker.<br /><br />Lose one of those legs and the only alternative to prop up the stool is tourism, or so goes the theory, he said.<br /><br />Except, it doesn't hold.<br /><br />The economic models Rasker has drafted in the region around Yellowstone National Park, which sports about 130,000 people, shatters those theories.<br /><br />Almost all growth has nothing to do with mining, logging, agriculture or tourism, he said.<br />In his report, The New Challenge: People, Commerce and the Environment in the Yellowstone to Yukon Region, he made a startling discovery: In the US portion of the Y2Y region, 46 per cent of the industrial growth has come from non-labor income sources.<br /><br />That is, sit-on-your-duff money earned from retirement income or investments. In 1995 in that region, such non-labor income amounted to $13.8 billion (US).<br /><br />By comparison, agriculture amounted to only $691 million and mining, oil and gas and the forest industry combined only totalled $1.1 billion.<br /><br />In Alberta, he added, the fastest growing sector is services.<br /><br />Between 1986 and 1991, more than 65,000 new jobs were created. Wholesale and retail trade grew by 11,940 jobs and construction added 6,900.<br /><br />Primary industry in Alberta - logging, agriculture, oil and gas - grew by only half a per cent over the same period, adding just 320 jobs.<br /><br />A similar trend was seen in B.C.<br /><br />These economies are clearly driven by something other than resource industries alone, concluded Rasker.<br /><br />In short, people are moving to the Rockies as a lifestyle choice. Life there is beautiful, slower and safer.<br /><br />The supporting studies back that up.<br /><br />In questioning people and business leaders why they are living in these smaller centres, the majority cited the scenic beauty, that it was a good place to raise a family, the small-town atmosphere, the wildlife and the low crime rates.<br /><br />The last three reasons were proximity to universities, the cost of business and the tax rates.<br />They ranked, but far below the other values, said Rasker.<br /><br />"Wilderness areas are growing six times faster than other places. It's a proven economic development strategy. Protect the quality and business will come."<br /><br />You won't know what business you'll get. It may be a consultant, a small computer firm or a toothpick maker, but they'll come.<br /><br />However, you need an airport with regularly scheduled flights and a nice environment.<br />These people will live and do business in your town, but they still have to be connected to the outside world, he said.<br /><br />"Take the airport away, and the model collapses. Put it back, and it works."<br />But the idea is gaining support.<br /><br />He cited a number of US examples where towns opposed larger development projects in their regions because they threatened wilderness.<br /><br />And business is starting to get the picture. Opposition was mounted by the chambers of commerce, not environmentalists, he said.<br /><br />In fact, in some regions conservative people in three-piece suits are starting to discuss biodiversity.<br /><br />"We now consider grizzlies and swans economic assets."<br /><br />However, it's a good news, bad news scenario.<br /><br />People are moving out of the cities to these smaller regions for the improved quality of life.<br />However, as that happens, the smaller towns get crowded and start to experience the same problems as the larger cities, he admitted.<br /><br />"There are no easy answers."<br /><br />But he had some suggestions.<br /><br />First, tap into the growth and use it to expand the wilderness that is drawing people to the town.<br />Traditionally, the tax base is focused on industry. When an industry collapses, the tax base goes with it.<br /><br />Even though smaller business may move in, most towns don't recoup the lost industrial tax revenue.<br /><br />The answer may be a sales tax, or some other tax measure to help raise money from the population at large, he suggested.<br /><br />That money can then be funneled into protecting the environment.<br /><br />Second, you have to prevent urban sprawl. And to do that you have to make towns livable.<br />Good schools to encourage people to live in town, parks, bike paths, ski and hiking trails into the bush will all help keep people in town.<br /><br />For example, in Bozeman, Montana, there's Three-mile Trail, which begins on Main Street and then rises into the mountains. People can grab a coffee and then go for a hike in the bush.<br />Rasker saw a grizzly there, an almost legendary experience in the Lower 48. He mentioned it at least three times.<br /><br />Government shouldn't try to attract business or micromanage the economy, he said.<br />Instead, it should work to build good schools, a telecommunications infrastructure and an attractive setting, while keeping taxes moderate.<br /><br />"Business will be creative, and more often than not, it will be by people in the community."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0