TV Series Features Desert Landscapes

This American Land and the Pew Charitable Trust featured desert activists Tom Budlong of the Sierra Club, and Laurel Williams of the California Wilderness Coalition, among others, who explain why the desert is special to them, the local communities, and visitors from far and wide.

Pew made this available on YouTube.  Check it out!

Comments

  1. Chaparral EarthSeptember 25, 2012 at 2:06 PM

    Very well done

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  2. mrs.oroblancoSeptember 26, 2012 at 10:20 PM

    In one breath, you say small miners were there for years, in another breath, you say you want to preserve it and STOP mining, and then, in the very next, you say it hasn't changed in millions of years. How hypocritical can you get? If there was mining, there were humans as part of the landscape, so it is NOT a wilderness, and has not been "untouched" by humans. And, if it hasn't changed in a million years, then the miners didn't change it at all, did it. How about getting your friggin' hands off my mining claims and the "public" land? All you guys are worried about is "preserving" the money from tourism, and having control over land that MY tax dollars support. And, frankly, I think its about time that Conservation Clubs, like Sierra, quit having ANY control over wildernesses etc. It is not their job - but the government, the BLM and the Forest Service, STOP doing their jobs, and give it over to private organizations to do with as they please. Just like the Sierra Club drew the maps for S:21 - the control of our public lands are NOT supposed to be given over to anyone. These organizations, public and private, do not own any land - not the Forest Service, nor Natures Conservancy, nor the Sierra Club, nor the BLM - it belongs to ALL - and, frankly, I'm sick and tired of it only being "PUBLIC" for certain activities and certain people. Vice-Presidents can hunt where I cannot even walk, car races can occur where I cannot drive - and, if I'm a small miner - which I am - I LOSE my right to use public land? BS. The 1872 mining is NOT outdated. And, nobody has any problem with reclamation or clean up - but, its all about money, because when The California Desert Protection act was signed by Clinton, in October of 1994 - everyone pretty much got thrown out except for some huge mining companies and a coupe of big, big businesses. Who are we "preserving" it for, if, in the end, it is just a showpiece in a window that you can go see if you have enough money?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shaun G.September 27, 2012 at 4:31 PM

    Mrs. Oroblanco, thanks for speaking up. I am sharing this video because it expresses a common passion for the beauty of the desert and, yes, the need to treat it with respect. You have as much right to our shared public lands as I do, and every other American. But it will be a repeat "tragedy of the commons" if we let any person or corporation do what it pleases with the land. Once it is destroyed, you cannot bring it back. But land conservation and proper stewardship means more people can enjoy nature's beauty throughout future generations, rather than rushing to consume and destroy limited resources in as short a time period as possible.

    ReplyDelete

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