And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 09:01:14 -0800 (PST) >From: Chris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Buffalo Nations Activists Sit in Two Tripods to Block (fwd) >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >from their website: >"Buffalo Nations, a non-profit grassroots coalition of Native American and >non-Native environmentalists formed under the leadership of Michael Mease, >videographer and founder of Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers, and Lakota >activist Rosalie Little Thunder, with Seventh Generation Fund." > > >/* Written 3:01 PM Jan 25, 1999 by [EMAIL PROTECTED] in en.alerts >*/ >/* ---------- "Buffalo Nations Activists Sit in Two Tripods" ---------- */ > >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 1999 >Media Contacts: Sarah K. Chalmers, Sue Nackoney >Buffalo Nations >P.O. Box 957 West Yellowstone, Mt. 59758 >Phone (406)646-0070 Fax (406)646-0071 >E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Buffalo Nations Activists Sit in Two Tripods to Block >Use of National Forest Land for Capturing and Killing Yellowstone Buffalo > >WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT- Today Buffalo Nations volunteers Kelly Needs and >Jesse Haag took positions in two tripods on the Forest Service road 610, >blockading access to the site of a newly permitted bison capture facility >site on Horse Butte. Horse Butte is a peninsula on the Gallatin National >Forest west of Yellowstone, and provides critical winter habitat for >Yellowstone buffalo. The blockade began in the early morning hours on a >narrow tree-lined section of the road. The DOL have repeatedly stated >their >intentions to construct and operate the new buffalo trap by the end of >this >week, and Needs and Haag felt it was important to them to take non-violent >direct action to prevent the further slaughter of Yellowstone buffalo. >There have not been any agency officials or law enforcement present as of >mid-afternoon. > > On December 11, the Gallatin National Forest gave final approval >to >permit the Montana Department of Livestock to build and operate the new >capture facility until January 31, 1998. Construction of the trap has >still >not begun. The DOL still awaits permission from the Gallatin National >Forest to operate the facility during bald eagle courtship/nesting season >which starts February 1, and to operate the facility continuously over the >next 10 years. > > "The majority of residents on Horse Butte and other parts of West >Yellowstone are opposed to this capture facility. The approval given to >the DOL by the U.S. Forest Service was precipitated by a hasty >Environmental Assessment, resulting in a permit that carries with it a >categorical exclusion to all appeals. Where has the Forest Service been >the last two weeks when they are supposed to be out here monitoring the >bald eagle's nests in compliance with their own guidelines? I haven't >seen >them out here once since November," says Mike Mease, campaign coordinator >and co-founder of Buffalo Nations. > > The chosen site violates Forest Service guidelines for protection >of bald eagle nesting habitat and conflicts with current Eagle Management >Plans. In order to approve the operation of the facility over the long >term, the Gallatin National Forest would have to amend their Forest Plan >in >order to exempt the forest from meeting bald eagle management guidelines. >Current guidelines do not allow permanent development within one-quarter >mile of a nest site. The nesting period for bald eagles begins February >first. > > The state of Montana has requested up to $500,000 per year from >the >U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the operation of the bison trap. > > > The facility will capture and test buffalo who migrate to the >peninsula. The agencies claim that the operation of the capture facility >will help with the "urgent need" to reduce bison mortality. However, in >the >winter of 1996-1997, the use of these facilities sent hundreds of buffalo >to slaughter. All pregnant females, regardless of whether they test >positive for brucellosis, will be shipped to slaughter. All other buffalo >testing positive, even bulls who cannot transmit the disease will be >shipped to slaughter. > > Needs, an 18 year old student at Boise State University in Idaho, >said she, "Feel(s) so deeply moved by the plight of the buffalo and so >impressed by the urgency of the cause that I am determined to see this >killing end. It's not acceptable and I want people to be aware of what is >going on out here. I am willing to offer my voice as the voice of the >buffalo and my body as a protest to their continued slaughter". > > > There are no cows on Horse Butte until June. All of these cows >winter in Idaho, and are currently vaccinated against brucellosis. The >summer grazing on Horse Butte amounts to 172 cow/calf pairs being present >from June 15th through October. This grazing allotment brings in less >than >$800 to the U.S. Treasury. > > "This is a war that defies all logic, and the buffalo are the >victims," stated Sue Nackoney, Buffalo Nations spokesperson. "The agencies >in charge of bison management are making a mockery of public opinion by >insisting upon using tax dollars for killing more of Yellowstone's >buffalo, >all in the name of 172 cattle who are not even here in the winter." > > Of the 65,000 public comments submitted on the Draft Environmental >Impact Statement for long-term bison management, the majority do not >support government policies of trapping migrating buffalo. The decision >to build the capture facility will commit resources to a 10 year plan, >although management agencies have not yet decided upon an action >alternative from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for long term >bison management. Only the government's preferred action alternative >includes plans for building a capture facility on Horse Butte. > > "Buffalo Nations will be here as long as it takes to remove the >DOL >as overseers of wildlife and until the buffalo are given the freedom they >deserve," stated Mike Mease of Buffalo Nations. > > >Video and photographs and interviews available upon request. > > -30- > > > > >Buffalo Nations >PO Box 957 >West Yellowstone, MT 59758 >406-646-0070 phone >406-646-0071 fax >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >for current info: http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo >******************************************************************** >Why does Montana Governor Marc Racicot have a mailbox full of rocks??? >check the story at: >http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo/field989/news1259.html > &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
