http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/malheur-takeover-keeping-the-west-wild-is-in-our-dna/
[1]
_The Seattle Times_ -- January 25, 2016
MALHEUR TAKEOVER: KEEPING THE WEST WILD IS IN OUR DNA
_THE MILITANT OCCUPATION AT THE MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN
OREGON HAS HAD A COUNTER-EFFECT: IT HAS OUTRAGED AND MOBILIZED THE VAST
MAJORITY OF WESTERNERS WHO CHERISH AND CELEBRATE AMERICA’S PUBLIC
LANDS._
_ _
By Seattle Times editorial board [2]
RATHER than rekindle the 1970s-era Sagebrush Rebellion [3], the
militant occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon
has galvanized the silent majority of Westerners who cherish and
celebrate America's national public lands.
It is the one upside of a costly impasse: A handful of scofflaws
awakened the masses -- just not in the way they had intended.
Colorado College's recent Conservation in the West Poll [4] underlined
the range and depth of support for preserving America's wild places.
About 58 percent of Westerners oppose yielding control of national
public lands to state government, and an identical percentage believe
companies that drill and mine on public lands need to pay higher royalty
fees.
"Charges of government overreach from the ideological fringes are
making headlines, but in reality most Westerners in this poll favor
greater protection and sensible use of the open lands and national
treasures that define the region," said Eric Perramond, faculty director
of the college's State of the Rockies Project.
On Tuesday, "public lands for all" rallies were held in Seattle,
Portland, Spokane, Boise, Eugene and Malheur. A mix of more than 100
turned out in Seattle, including hunters and anglers, birders,
conservationists and retirees. The audience reflected the variety of
volunteers who, over the decades, have labored to protect threatened
wilderness areas and special places, such as Alpine Lakes Wilderness and
North Cascades National Park.
This is the actual grass roots. Northwesterners hold public landscapes
sacred, a natural legacy not to be despoiled or sold off.
Oregon Democratic Gov. Kate Brown recently asked the FBI and President
Obama [5] for an immediate resolution to the occupation, which already
has cost Oregonians $500,000. No one wants bloodshed or more attention
given to the occupiers. In the meantime, the vast majority who love our
public lands are piping up.
Westerners come together when our values and heritage are in the
crosshairs. That's the faith-renewing irony of the Malheur standoff.
Mitch Friedman, Executive Director
Conservation Northwest
mitch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(360)319-9266 (m)
(360)671-9950 x 113 (w)
www.conservationnw.org
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[1]
http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/malheur-takeover-keeping-the-west-wild-is-in-our-dna/
[2]
http://www.seattletimes.com/author/cap-seattle-times-editorial-board/
[3] http://www.hcn.org/articles/sagebrush-rebellion
[4]
https://www.coloradocollege.edu/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewest/
[5]
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/01/kate_brown_presses_top_federal.html#incart_big-photo
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