Meet Director Kristi Mills
I was born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan, my family spending ample hours enjoying Michigan’s natural environment. On my first visit to the UP in 1977 for an NMU orientation session, stopping at a roadside park to eat my bologna sandwich, I watched the dance of a thousand Admiral butterflies over a field of wildflowers, and I knew this place was going to change my life. Thirty years, two children, and 63 acres later I find myself constantly in awe of this beautiful place. My commitment to protecting Michigan’s resources is long standing and the recent threat of metallic sulfide mining brings me serious concern. I’m looking forward to working as Director of Save the Wild UP with the many great people who are supportive of our mission.
Good to have you leading!
Please contact my friend
Environment Georgia Advocate Jennette Gayer <JGayer@environmentgeorgia.org
She should be able to put you in contact with some key people both around the country and in Washington. If she doesn’t remember me by name tell her I worked for US Congressman John Lewis (5th District GA). It has been a while since I was home but I would hate for these mining projects to go through and ruin it before I come back. Being all the way in South Africa doesn’t help out much, but anything I can do to help I will. Good luck fighting the good fight. I thing non-violent resistance is probably going to be one of the best methods of stopping these companies. People are excited about this issue and should be given other alternatives than sitting in meetings. The guys with the money generally win those ones. However, the people usually win when we take it to the streets, or woods in this situation. Have a march on the days the mining companies try to work. Companies hate loosing money and if people are in their way they cannot work, you get lots of press there and if someone gets hurt they have another law suite on their hands. Don’t be shy from letting people express their feelings. Plenty of people there will not mine getting a trespassing ticket for stoping the mining companies and MQT is not going to start throwing people in jail for this and if they do good, its good press for our struggle.
Good luck.
Chris
Dear Kristi Mills,
Thanks for taking on the Directorship of SWUP at this crucial time of rallying all persons and organizations who recognize the need to protect the natural resources of the U.P.
Given the several other mining corporations beyond RioTinto/Kennecott who are also “waiting in the wings” and also intending to make their considerable profits at the expense of our valuable forestlands, clean watersheds and air quality, this struggle will continue into the future.
I urge others to help in this important effort and also provide support to all environmental organizations who are still assisting with this current and continuing problem.