The cacti are finally waking up from the frigid 75 degree days.
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Russ McSpadden
@PeccaryNotPig
Desert rambler, writer, activist in the Arizona/Mexico borderlands He/Him/Él/Y’all Typos & opinions are mine alone
EnvironmentalChukson / Tucson, AZJoined July 2016
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Yesterday, San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler appeared before the U.N.'s Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and urged them to call on the U.S. to protect sacred Indigenous sites including Chi’chil Bildagoteel, also known as Oak Flat, from impending destruction.
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Turning on these lights in this naturally dark location could have devastating effects on wildlife, including insects, jaguars, and migratory birds. Of course, Biden's DHS still utilizes the power to waive laws for border infrastructure that Trump used.
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I recently counted 94 across the San Bernardino Nat. Wildlife Refuge, which is home to several endangered species and has incredible pollinator and bird diversity present. The International Dark Sky Alliance estimates these lights would output at least 50,000 lumens if turned on.
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The San Bernardino Valley of Arizona & Sonora, Mex holds the world record for bee diversity. Its also bisected by a border wall & hundreds of stadium lights. They're not currently operational but Biden's DHS has said it will continue funding lighting infrastructure.
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Federal authorities quietly killed an endangered Mexican gray wolf known as "Rusty" last week. He marks the 22nd Mexican gray shot by the feds since reintroduction began in '98.
Rusty's (alleged) crime: feeding on an already decaying livestock corpse.
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Remember those shipping containers used to close the gap on the Trump wall citing invasion at the US-Mexico border?
Well, we made a documentary on it, which will be screened on Apr 28, 11.30 am at (room 252).
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The extremely fragile northern jaguar population spans both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Check out these modern borderlands jaguar detections.
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Visiting that mountain water in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Got to love the Madrean Sky Islands.
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Today the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition announced a new proposal to protect Tribal access & clean water. We thank the Tribes for their leadership & join them in urging to designate a Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.
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Hey Can you let us know how and why you were drilling at a location outside your mineral claims boundary. 32.74021° N, 110.56406° W
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We take life for granted far too often. Some would trade away places like this, Oak Flat, to mining giants from oceans away for wealth. We're hearing that Oak Flat's transfer to Rio Tinto subsidiary Resolution Copper is imminent. We can't give up. Oak Flat is life at its best.
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We know that the Biden administration, USDA, Forest Service and others are weighing the fate of Oak Flat right now.
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#OakFlat is sacred. But a foreign mining company backed by the Chinese government wants to destroy it for good.
Today, sent a letter to the Biden administration urging them to listen to Indigenous voices, protect our water & #SaveOakFlat from destruction. 👇👇👇
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Right now, a foreign-owned mining company is poised to destroy the sacred Oak Flat area in Arizona's Tonto National Forest for good.
must listen to Indigenous voices, stop this land transfer, and #SaveOakFlat now.
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.'s executive director sent a letter to today urging him to protect Oak Flat, a sacred site to the Apache & other Native Nations in AZ. Oak Flat is at risk of being traded away & destroyed by Rio Tinto subsidiary Resolution Copper.
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Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is poised to destroy Oak Flat with the blessing of the U.S. gov. Oak Flat is a sacred site to the Apache & other Tribal Nations. Rio Tinto has a record of attacks on Indigenous cultures & other human rights abuses. @POTUS @SecVilsack
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Breaking: San Carlos Apache Tribe chairman condemns any plan by the Biden Administration to advance the proposed Resolution Copper Mine as a human rights violation.
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Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is poised to destroy Oak Flat with the blessing of the U.S. gov. Oak Flat is a sacred site to the Apache & other Tribal Nations. Rio Tinto has a record of attacks on Indigenous cultures & other human rights abuses.
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Oak Flat -- known as Chi' chil Bildagoteel in the Apache language -- is a Traditional Cultural Property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is a site of profound archeological, cultural, environmental, and religious significance.
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In 2020 the same mining giant blew up the Juukan Gorge, a 46,000-year-old sacred Aboriginal site in Australia to expand its iron ore mine. They did so despite years of opposition by the Indigenous custodians there. Now they are coming for Oak Flat.
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Right now, Biden Amin officials are trying to decide the fate of sacred Oak Flat. A foreign-owned mining giant is poised to destroy this area in Arizona's Tonto National Forest.
should act now.
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If you’re in Tucson come out and say hello, enjoy a drink and learn about borderlands jaguars and the role of regenerative agriculture in jaguar conservation. I’ll be there.
267 South Avenida del Convento #12, Tucson, AZ 85745
📸: Northern Jaguar Project
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The spunky Sonoran chub exists in only two canyon streams in the U.S., right on the border with Mex. The species could blink out in an instant. Learn how is pushing for 4 miles more of designated critical habitat for the charming chubs: biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-r
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If you’re in Tucson come out and say hello, enjoy a drink and learn about borderlands jaguars and the role of regenerative agriculture in jaguar conservation. I’ll be there.
267 South Avenida del Convento #12, Tucson, AZ 85745
📸: Northern Jaguar Project
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Tucson is projected to have a low of 36 F this Wednesday and a high 94 F next Monday. Spring in the Sonoran Desert 🤔
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When you run, run like the javelina.
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Can't stomach reading about the indictment?
Take a break and read an uplifting story about a participatory budgeting initiative taking place in Tucson.
I spoke w/ an incredibly smart/savvy 17 y/o who's into city budgeting.
My latest for
azluminaria.org/2023/03/30/how
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“There are alternative sources of copper,” I told Wilkes, “but there’s no alternative to Oak Flat.” Young Apache women described their coming-of-age ceremonies there. Wilkes was served acorn stew from the Emory oaks Oak Flat is named after.
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I had the great honor of speaking at Oak Flat today alongside Apache Stronghold, the San Carlos Apache and others. USDA undersecretary Wilkes who came to visit from D.C. was, in effect, the sole audience member. Will Wilkes help protect Oak Flat? Only time will tell.
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The fight to protect Atlanta's South River from #CopCity and other threats means confronting U.S. racism — past and present.
Learn about the Weelaunee Forest and repression against those pushing for its permanent protection in this article and film. 👇
medium.com/center-for-bio
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Thank you for standing up to defend Oak Flat, Indigenous rights and the environment.
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Back in 2018 showed true grit, ingenuity and courage and devised a plan to unbucket a javelina that got its snoot stuck. Follow the thread to watch the saga unfold with a liberating conclusion.
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Part 1 of a four-part #javelina saga: The Problem
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A photo shoot with the sassy, slightly modest and endangered Sonoran chub. Learn about efforts to expand this desert fish’s critical habitat in a canyon stream at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona 👉🏽 biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-r
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