BROADSIDES VOLUME 24 | NO. 2 | SUMMER 2014 Recapturing BLM Lands for All Americans Take What do you get when you put together 22 of conservation partners, and have never action! miles of illegally constructed ATV trails, a Utah relinquished our vigilance. Write to Secretary County Commissioner, a deadbeat rancher Weeks before Lyman’s incursion, Cliven Bundy Jewell and BLM Cliven Bundy’s son, and a canyon filled with staged a militia-backed rebellion against the Director Neil Kornze at fragile archeological treasures and active beaver BLM in Nevada. Bundy Ranch’s Facebook page [email protected] ponds? invited participation in the Recapture ride; insisting on equitable The wild wild west Lyman promptly posted a thank you, knowingly justice for all violators …on steroids inviting armed thugs from across the country. of BLM regulations. And so they came, along with Cliven Bundy’s Tim DeChristopher Broadsides Spring 2014 reported on San Juan son who personally signed copies of the U.S. served two years in County’s request to the Bureau of Land Constitution at an evening rally. Hoisting guns, federal prison for an Management (BLM) to hand over authority American flags, and children without helmets, at unarmed act of civil on 14.3 miles of least one rider held his disobedience, raising routes in Recapture finger on the trigger of his hand at an auction Canyon in Utah. an assault rifle as he to claim illegally offered Since then, the drove an ATV through oil and gas leases canyon has the canyon. drawn national near Arches National attention—for all “Imagine how history Monument. Certainly, the wrong reasons. might have turned there should be similar out if Rosa Parks had justice for Cliven On May 10, County been brandishing an Bundy, Phil Lyman, and Commissioner Phil automatic weapon their followers, who Lyman illegally when she boarded that conspired in advance led some fifty bus in Montgomery, to commit illegal acts, ATVs through Alabama, all those used threats of physical the canyon to years ago...” opines violence, and carried protest BLM’s 2007 Numerous ATV riders from around the country gather for the staged out destructive actions. ATV ride that took the closed route through Recapture Canyon, Utah. Utah’s own Salt Lake motorized closure. Tribune editorial Yes, this is the same on May 12. “In the route for which two people were convicted and eyes of most of the American people—and fined $35,000 in 2011 for cutting trees, moving their members of Congress—who really own IN THIS ISSUE... boulders, building stiles and bridges, and all that land, Saturday’s ride was accurately 25 years of causing an estimated $310,000 in archaeological discerned as a childish snit fit that should only Broadness .................3 damage. Broads documented impacts of the confirm BLM policy to keep such folks out of trail soon after discovering it in 2006. Since then, environmentally or historically sensitive lands.” 2014 we’ve pressed for prosecution, enlisted support Events Calendar ........4 (continued page 14) Broader Wilderness ................7 “ I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not Wilderness50 Events ...................8–9 recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.” Broads Beat ............ 10 – Theodore Roosevelt, Osawatomie, Kansas, August 31, 1910 Broadbands in Action ...................12 A M E S S A GE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHELLEY SILBERT As spring melts into summer, cyclically bound. Why bird migrations slacken, and a have I never felt this swallowtail butterfly emerges from before? its chrysalis and crawls on my shoe Since I’ve become with limp wings, I think of the Great Old Broads joys of slowing down. What better Executive Director of way to celebrate wilderness than Great Old Broads for for Wilderness to match the pace of a growing Wilderness, I can’t say PO Box 2924 seedling, to shift to ground level my pace has slowed. Durango, CO 81302 and touch moist soil, or to sit quietly But I am older now. 970-385-9577 while a towhee hops My soul and body [email protected] by, unconcerned yearn for respite and greatoldbroads.org with my presence. time to appreciate life’s daily wonders. STAFF From here, I ponder Shelley Silbert, My mind, on geologic time and In Executive Director the contrary, imagine the stages of Rose Chilcoat, Associate Director recognizes an everchanging Mother M’Lissa Roulson, a the pressing Earth. I feel rekindled, Communications Director urgency to and acknowledge a BROAD Ellen Stein, Broadband & ceaseless love and sense protect our land, Membership Coordinator of wonder that fuels my water, and air Joyce Thomsen, from a hungry, passion to fight for wild Sense Membership Maven nature. populated, ever- Amy Johnston, Office Manager industrializing Shelley Spalding, Broadband Years ago, I attended a silent “The Joys of world. Circuit Rider meditation retreat near Joshua Somehow, we Susan Kearns, Graphic Designer Tree National Monument Slowing Down and all must find a Samantha Brow, in the Mojave Desert. After way to balance Auction Coordinator days of sitting indoors, I told Taking a Breath” these two needs, BOARD OF DIRECTORS my teacher I had to escape respite and Karen Ryman, CO - Chair outside, to walk among the urgency. Diana Allison, UT - Vice Chair desert plants and feel the sun on my skin. ‘’If Cristina Harmon, CO - Treasurer that is what your spirit desires, go,’’ she said. I am just a few years older than the Wilderness Saralaine Millet, AZ ”And take your conscious breathing with Act, and know both the act and its defenders Caroline Munger, CO you.’’ need to endure for the long haul. As Broads, Lois Snedden, NV we believe the brightest future unfolds when Lee Verner, CO Off I walked in a natural state of meditation, practicality mixes with poetry, laughter ADVISORY BOARD moving with such intention that I sensed the punctuates hard work, and hope tempers Steve Allen, Joe Breddan, activities of plants and insects I had never despair. Karen Cox, Dave Foreman, noticed before. Inhaling, I felt the creosote Maggie Fox, Fred Goodsell, bushes giving me breath. Exhaling, they Great Old Broads for Wilderness travels into the Ginger Harmon, Vicky Hoover, absorbed my respiration in return. We were next twenty-five years with a small team of hard- Fran Hunt, Cecelia Hurwich, Frandee Johnson, Matt Kenna, one organism, the desert and I. ‘’This is working staff, dedicated volunteer Broadband leaders, and a national cadre of 5,200 members Linda Liscom, Chuck McAfee, MB crazy,’’ interjected my inner scientist. And McAfee, Sarah Michael, then the startling insight came—but of course and advocates. At our very core we emphasize Erin Moore, Marcey Olajos, we breathe together! The creosote bush grassroots activism. We believe that it is only Tim Peterson, Lynn Prebble, releases oxygen which I take in, while I exhale through active democracy and an engaged Marilyn Price-Reinbolt, citizenry that we will bring about a future that Cindy Shogan, Liz Thomas, carbon dioxide to feed its photosynthetic Susan Tixier process. Indeed our lungs are united, protects the enduring resource of wilderness. Great Old Broads for Wilderness is (continued page 15) a national non-profit organization that engages and ignites the activism of elders to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. Conceived “ As Broads, we believe the brightest by older women who love wilderness, Broads gives voice to the millions of future unfolds when practicality older Americans who want their public lands protected as Wilderness for mixes with poetry, laughter this and future generations. We bring voice, knowledge, commitment, and punctuates hard work, and hope humor to the movement to protect our last wild places on earth. tempers despair.” Please credit Broads for any reprinted Photo: Harvey Halpern articles. 2 greatoldbroads.org 25 Years of Broadness to our home base, monument. As partners in this effort, the serene Mt. Peale Broads did not hesitate to share their Inn and Animal thoughts and opinions by putting pen to Sanctuary, evenings paper. begin with happy hour and sharing With a focus on Utah, the Broadwalk stories of the day’s included an educational presentation adventures. After the titled, What Our Forests Could Be by evening’s delicious Mary O’Brien, Utah Forests Program meal, prepared by Director for the Grand Canyon Trust. the crew from Sheri As a scientist, educator, and tireless conservationist, Mary shares of the Great Old Broads celebrate 25 years at the Griffith Expeditions, 25th Anniversary Broadwalk in May, La Sal, Utah. Broads gather for a persistent issues and devastation special guest speaker that endures each season wrought by or educational presentation. domestic livestock grazing managed by roads trickle in from around the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of the country to congregate for Wilderness activist and author of Land Management (BLM). Collectively, this auspicious celebration, the Trespass, Amy Irvine, captivated her these agencies administer thousands of B organization’s 25th anniversary. audience with personal stories of her permits to ranchers allowing heavily Traveling from as far east as father, her new-found love, and the subsidized grazing of livestock on our Washington, D.C. and Maine, and as contrasts that she experienced during her western federal lands for months each far west as northern California and time living in a remote part of southern year. Mary’s presentation is fused with Washington state, the main dining area Utah, on the Colorado Plateau. Amy interesting facts and surprisingly, some is soon filled with animated greetings, shared of her deep love for Utah’s desert optimism. She outlines how there is a big smiles, laughter, and warm embraces landscapes and what many agree to need to shift the focus on values other as part of the arrival ritual.