"While Americans are distracted by the war in Iraq, President George W. Bush's administration has been opening prime American western wilderness areas to development.
Under orders from President Bush, the Interior Department will limit Bureau of Land Management lands eligible for wilderness protection to 23 million acres nationwide, according to an April 12, 2003 report by Associated Press. Environmental groups say this opens millions of unspoiled acres vulnerable to commerical development.
Defined by the 1964 Wilderness Act, wilderness areas are those "untrammeled by man" and are protected from oil and gas development, off-road use, and various types of construction.
In April, the Interior Department informed Congress that it intends to halt all reviews of its western land holdings for new wilderness protection and to withdraw that protected status from about three million acres in Utah. Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton, a Bush appointee, did said her department remains committed to wilderness protection.
"The Department stands firmly committed to the idea that we can and should manage our public lands to provide for multiple use, including protection of those areas that have wilderness characteristics," she said in a letter sent to members of Congress.
Under previous administrations, the Interior Department had managed the land to preserve its wilderness characteristics. Now this land will be used according to land-use plans prepared by the bureau, plans that can include mining and recreation.
The policy changes come as part of a settlement filed in federal court in Salt Lake City. The State of Utah had sued the Interior Department in 1996 (during the Clinton Administration) over a reinventory of three million acres. Most of the lawsuit was dismissed, and it sat dormant for years. Then Utal amended its complaint in March 2003.
Secretary Norton's announcement means that the department will disregard the results of the Clinton Administration's 1996 reinventory. That inventory identified 5.9 million acres of Utah land that qualified for wilderness protection, 3 million acres more than was found in the original inventory taken during the Reagan administration.
"It looks like Interior agrees with me and my Western colleagues that the B.L.M. (Bureau Land Management) does not have the authority to designate new wilderness study areas," said Senator Orrin G. Hatch, a Utah Republican. "Secretary Norton's actions will bring resolution to the illegal activities of the past administration."
Suspending the wilderness reviews will limit the amount of land held by the bureau eligible for wilderness protection at 22.8 million acres. Congress could order additional areas protected, but with Congress and the White House controlled by Republicans. successful Congressional action is unlikely.
Environmental groups said the suspension of wilderness reviews will leave millions of undeveloped acres vulnerable to oil and gas development and off-road vehicle use. Sizable parts of the additional three million protected acres are red rock canyons and rock formations in southeastern Utah.
"What they're saying is these wilderness-quality lands throughout the West will continue to be degraded and continue to lose their eligibility for wilderness," said Jim Angell of Earth Justice. "It's just appalling."
Actually this is very relevant. It is about the attitude of the Bush administration. If you understand the how he deals with things like enviromental issues and the loosening of regulations on the free market then you can maybe get a better grasp on the Iraq situation. Morality doesn't enter into such things. We are talking fixing things so the cold hard cash falls into the pockets of his buddies.
Am I right to think it was Enron that donated the largest amount of cash to help Bush into power? Go find out what he did for them in return and then come back and let me know how moral this Bush administration is.
You say that this government went into Iraq to help well...
I've just watched a documentary called "Dying for Drugs".
How about this as an example of your corageous moral knights in shining armour in Washington. EVERY country in the world recently signed an agreement that would allow cheap generic drugs to be sold to the poorer countries around the world. Well when I say all, all but one - the USA. And guess who vetoed the agreement - Rummie!
So rather than a $1 a pill, the Korean leukemia sufferers I've just watched better cough up $30 a tablet or $55,000 dollars for one years supply or die. DEAD. Thankssss Mr Rumsfeld - how many millions did that drug company give you????!
So tell me again that the US went into Iraq to stop Iraqis being killed and torture.
Originally posted by DaveDom You say that this government went into Iraq to help well...
I've just watched a documentary called "Dying for Drugs".
How about this as an example of your corageous moral knights in shining armour in Washington. EVERY country in the world recently signed an agreement that would allow cheap generic drugs to be sold to the poorer countries around the world. Well when I say all, all but one - the USA. And guess who vetoed the agreement - Rummie!
So rather than a $1 a pill, the Korean leukemia sufferers I've just watched better cough up $30 a tablet or $55,000 dollars for one years supply or die. DEAD. Thankssss Mr Rumsfeld - how many millions did that drug company give you????!
So tell me again that the US went into Iraq to stop Iraqis being killed and torture.
Your point is good...Read post 36-38 on your other thread 'What do you expect"....Of course Charles attacked me..He doesnt know that the employer binds you to a anti compete or what you develope while in there employment belongs to them. You just cannot run and start your own thing. Thats the USA for you.
is every single one of your threads just you posting something you found?
it was funny at first...but...
please stop.
i dont even think you know what you're posting.
I have review Your posts photek. All Of them are in the Iraq topics. Hmm, Then I saw your only 20, A capricorn...Dec 31 Means the only thing that matters is money to you. Yes Is all about money, right? You don't feel love either. Its impossible, you just go throught the motions. Your a fighter, you will argue with anyone, you will at all costs pretend you are someone. Your life is in constant 'War" with everything around you.
I did not invite you to attack me. You however, felt a need too. No, photek, If you had really looked at all my post I would be even clear to some like you that only 1% is something I found. I express an opinion or something I know Is fact. I was a scientist when you was in a diaper. So dont take cheap shots at some that just may know more than you. Your only 20 photek, you could learn alot from many of us. Knowledge is power.
Photek...The post was about meds for the dying people. Reducing the cost and Rumms was against it.. Back in Russia...Know anyone who died from lack of medication because they could not afford it?.. If you have In put from Russia i would like to Hear it.
I have review Your posts photek. All Of them are in the Iraq topics. Hmm, Then I saw your only 20, A capricorn...Dec 31 Means the only thing that matters is money to you. Yes Is all about money, right? You don't feel love either. Its impossible, you just go throught the motions. Your a fighter, you will argue with anyone, you will at all costs pretend you are someone. Your life is in constant 'War" with everything around you.
I did not invite you to attack me. You however, felt a need too. No, photek, If you had really looked at all my post I would be even clear to some like you that only 1% is something I found. I express an opinion or something I know Is fact. I was a scientist when you was in a diaper. So dont take cheap shots at some that just may know more than you. Your only 20 photek, you could learn alot from many of us. Knowledge is power.
ah, so your age automatically determines the significance of your opinions.
i see.
you're right. i should shut up because iam 20.
sorry...uh..sir, but i've gone through more in my first 20 years than you probably will in your entire life.
'war' is my constant life.
no, war was fighting lymphoma at the age of 6. war was leaving my family in siberia and moving to england, and never seing them since. war was watching people in siberia die from, in the larger sense, worthlessness. nobody in siberia was oppressed, but they may as well have been. there was no hope for anything, and there still isn't.
so iam 'warring' because i want to see the iraqi people have a chance to make a nation that could possibly stand as a great example to the rest of the middle east?
i'am 'warring' because so many people here who have NEVER had to worry about a **** thing in their lives feel they're valid when they talk about how much 'worse' the iraqis are now?
haha, yea right. nice try. but using your age to assert your point as being more correct is something a 15 year old does to a 10 year old.
oh yea and hahaha, everything in my life is money, because i was born on december 31st, and spent the first 10 years of my life with a tumor in my neck and living in poverty.
Yes Photek age is a major factor in life. I Referenced nothing pertaining your past. I am speaking of the here and now. Each year you gain a little more wisdom. Remember you drew 'First Blood". So you was a very sick boy..Ok then you should have something to share pertaining to medication. It must have been extremely difficult for you being poor. This is what Doms post was about. You could provide first hand knowledge to US who are unaware of whats It like In Russia. You See Photek, There is always something we can share with each other. Its no about attacking someone over their opinion. When I was in pharmaceuticals in 1980, the mainstream concept is not about saving lives, It more about long term profits. Curing a disease is short term profits, Bandaid is long term profit. Example, why do Dr's prescribe Anoxicillion in stead of Biaxan? Simple, Chances are you will end up come back for another office visit taking Anoxicillion. Biaxan kills more strains than Anoxicillion. Its the heavy hitter.
I still believe these forums are to create exchange of knowledge and not about attacking each other.
so iam 'warring' because i want to see the iraqi people have a chance to make a nation that could possibly stand as a great example to the rest of the middle east?
Interesting post...But it would be better somewhere else. Perhaps in "Politics and Goverment"
