Lake Superior Day July 18: Waffle Breakfast In Big Bay

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There are many ‘cool’ ways of celebrating Lake Superior Day – Sunday, July 18th and we’re making it easy for you to decide.

Take a break from “Hiawatha” to have breakfast in Big Bay!

Enjoy a delicious Waffle Breakfast ( eggs, sausage and fruit, too) and served with fresh roasted Dead River Coffee. Serving from 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Powell Township School – so yummy and a fundraiser for Freshwater Future, YMCA Youth Kayaking and Save the Wild U.P.

If you’re too full to hike, join the Group “Paddle Independence” at 1:00 p.m. (connected to Lake Superior and safer). If you need a boat, reserve one for a reduced rate from the Outfitters by calling Bill at 345-9399.

Highly recommended: Blueberry picking on the Yellow Dog Plains – they’re ripening every day, then later, a dip in the Big Lake or the Yellow Dog River  to cool off!

How sweet it is!

Tickets for the breakfast on sale at the SWUP office or Big Bay Outfitters for $8.00, Kids for $5.00, and under 5 years old are free.  Call for information 228-4444, or if you are interested in volunteering to help with this event.

2010 0624 POSTER Waffle Fundraiser

Al Gedicks: Chevron should pay for its disaster, too

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by Al Gedicks

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/guest/article_49fb9946-7fed-11df-b8c6-001cc4c002e0.html

While most Americans are familiar with the Exxon Valdez spill, few have heard of Chevron/Texaco’s far more serious oil disaster in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. Chevron, which bought Texaco in 2001, dumped 18 billion gallons of toxic wastewater (known as “produced water”) into the Amazon from 1964 to 1992. According to the Amazon Defense Coalition, that amounted to “about 4 million gallons on a daily basis, or a total of 30 times more crude than was spilled in the Exxon Valdez disaster.”

The area affected by Chevron/Texaco’s contamination is roughly the size of Rhode Island. The toxic wastewater discharged into local streams and waterways contained a variety of toxic metals and cancer-causing petroleum hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium. By dumping the wastewater – instead of the common practice in the U.S. of reinjecting it into the ground – the company saved an estimated $3 per barrel, or about $4.5 billion.

In addition, Chevron abandoned roughly 1,000 open-air unlined waste pits filled with dangerous toxins. Activists describe the devastation as an “Amazon Chernobyl.”

Many Americans breathed a sigh of relief when President Barack Obama pressured BP to set up a $20 billion escrow fund to compensate victims of the Gulf oil disaster. The victims of Chevron’s contamination were not so fortunate. Thirty-thousand indigenous peoples and settlers from Ecuador’s Amazon basin are suing Chevron for contaminating some 1,700 square miles of Amazon rainforest in what the plaintiffs say is the largest contaminated site on Earth. The case, originally filed in 1993, is now being heard in the oil town of Lago Agrio, Ecuador. The suit charges that Chevron/Texaco engaged in “negligent, reckless, deliberate and outrageous acts.” The plaintiffs allege these actions led to the systematic and irreversible destruction of their homelands and provoked a health epidemic. Levels of petroleum byproducts have been found in water used for drinking, washing and bathing that are far in excess of recognized European safety limits. Residents of oil-impacted communities have suffered increased rates of cancer, birth defects, miscarriages, skin disease and nerve damage as documented in recent scientific studies.

The company has argued it already spent $40 million on cleanup and that the Ecuadorian government had already released the company from any liabilities associated with its operations. However, as the trial proceeded it became clear that Chevron’s cleanup consisted of covering some of the waste pits with dirt while the toxins seeped into the groundwater. If Chevron loses this case, as appears likely, the company will face a $27 billion liability for oil damages, cleanup costs and compensation for cancer deaths.

When the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York sent the case back to Ecuador in 2002, it also ruled that any financial penalty imposed against Chevron would be enforceable by U.S. courts. To avoid paying the $27 billion, Chevron has filed a claim under the United States-Ecuador bilateral investment treaty asking an arbitrator to order Ecuador to prevent judgment from being enforced against Chevron pending the outcome of the arbitration. Steven Donziger, a U.S. adviser to the plaintiffs, says Chevron is trying to evade responsibility for its toxic legacy by taking its case to a court where the plaintiffs aren’t represented. The arbitration claim does not affect the Ecuadorian court proceeding.

A victory for the plaintiffs in Ecuador will reinforce and extend the precedent already established in the BP disaster – namely, that Big Oil cannot escape liability for environmental negligence, no matter where the damage occurs.

Gedicks is a sociology professor at the UW-La Crosse and author of “Resource Rebels: Native Challenges to Mining and Oil Corporations.” Posted in Guest on Friday, June 25, 2010 4:45 am Chevron, Amazon Rainforest

Is Michigan’s BP Disaster Brewing in the UP?

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By Phil Power | Published: June 27, 2010

From   http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/

Today, TV screens, newspapers and the Internet are  consumed worldwide with the horrendous British Petroleum oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico, now believed to be the greatest man-made environmental disaster in our history, if not that of the planet.

But something eerily similar is going on, far from the cameras, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near the tiny village of Big Bay.

There, a company with a history as one of America’s greatest polluters is now planning to mine for copper and nickel right under one of Michigan’s most uniquely famous trout steams.

The design for this mine has been attacked by independent mining engineers, who see it as all too likely to cave in. If that happens it will kill the trout, and release a pulse of dissolved copper and nickel into a stream flowing into Lake Superior. It takes only tiny amounts of these heavy metals to wipe out fish and plants.

Michigan needs jobs, true. But under the best of scenarios, the mine would employ maybe 200 workers – many from out of state – for less than 10 years. That would  bring big-time industrial development to one of Michigan’s most pristine wilderness spots and threaten long-term tourism, fishing and hiking resources, perhaps forever. Worse, the mine would also defile Eagle Rock, a site sacred to Native Americans. Members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and local residents are camping there, watching in frustration as crews clear-cut the timber from the surrounding area.

What’s going on here, anyway?

Welcome to the so-called Eagle Prospect mine, a project of Kennecott Eagle Minerals Corp., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, Ltd., a vast London-based mining company. The Rio Tinto board of directors announced last week it would invest $469 million in the mine. That may sound like a large sum, but it’s a pittance compared with the $5-$10 billion worth of ore they believe is there.

The mine will be dug directly under the headwaters of the Salmon Trout River, one of Michigan’s best trout streams. Perhaps more importantly, it’s also one of the world’s last remaining spawning sites for the Coaster Brook Trout, a variant of the native speckled trout that behaves like a steelhead and comes near it in size.

Recent research suggests there are less than 400 of these iconic fish left in the river. Kennecott plans to blast through the Eagle Rock into the ore body which is located in sulfide rock, which when exposed to oxygen and water produces “acid mine drainage,” including sulfuric acid and dissolved heavy metals.

Every such “sulfide mine” ever opened has produced long-term acid mine drainage – some dating back to Roman times.

What if the mine does, in fact, cave in?

Alas, Kennecott has no known disaster plan for managing the resulting environmental damage. The trout will all die, of course — and that may not be the worst of it. Sound like Michigan’s version of the BP disaster in the making?

How could this have come about?

Approval of the mine was recommended by the Michigan Office of Geological Survey, which used to be a division of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and is now part of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Survey is our equivalent of the now-infamous U.S. Minerals Management Service that oversaw BP’s operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The head of the Survey Office’s mining team called the Kennecott project “my baby” and identified the company as “my customer.” During the review process, he admitted  suppressing an expert memorandum that spoke to the risk of a mine collapse. Another member of the state’s mining team formed a business partnership with Kennecott employees to offer mining services to the private sector; the partnership was dissolved after it became public. And Governor Jennifer Granholm’s UP representative who helped her formulate her position in support of the mine has left government service to work — you guessed it — for Kennecott.

There have been efforts to stop it, including several lawsuits, one of which came before a state administrative judge who was caught sending a note to a top official at the DEQ asking how he should deal with the resulting appeal.

Permits for the project have been issued by the DEQ and confirmed by the DNR, supposedly in accordance with a newly passed law governing metallic mineral underground mining.

That statute required Kennecott to submit environmental baseline studies on both the actual mine site and also the “affected area,” the nearby land and water that ran the risk of being environmentally compromised if something went wrong.

Kennecott’s permit applications ignored that provision, among others. (Full disclosure: I was a member of the work group that wrote the statute, and I am a member of the Huron Mountain Club, a UP group that is suing to try to halt the mine.)

Kennecott has not yet received a federal permit from the Environmental Protection Agency to inject treated water from the mine into area ground water. Yet the company is proceeding full speed ahead, as if no permit was needed.

And no evidence has been produced that Kennecott has a disaster plan in place to cope with the environmental trouble that many experts see as likely, if not certain.

In the BP/Gulf of Mexico oil spill scandal, it has become clear the agency with regulatory oversight of the offshore drilling industry – U. S. Minerals Management Service – had been “captured” by the very industry it was supposed to oversee.

And we now have seen the result. The Kennecott Eagle Prospect mine is exactly the same kind of disaster just waiting to happen … for similar reasons.

This is a true outrage. But so far nobody seems to be noticing.

Mine opponents have tried to talk with DNR director Rebecca Humphries, but she hasn’t been responding. Concerned readers who might want to make their opinions known can email her at humphriesr@michigan.gov.

***

Editor’s Note: Former newspaper publisher and University of Michigan Regent Phil Power is a longtime observer of Michigan politics and economics and a former chairman of the Michigan chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He is also the founder and president of The Center for Michigan, a bipartisan centrist think-and-do tank which is sponsoring Michigan’s Defining Moment, a public engagement outreach campaign for citizens. The opinions expressed here are Power’s own and do not represent the official views of The Center. He welcomes your comments at ppower@thecenterformichigan.net.

One Comment

  1. ken schwartz

Posted June 29, 2010 at 8:32 pm | Permalink

Phil,

I read this article with great interest since I have been blowing this horn around Washtenaw County for over a year and now I’m starting to get a few listeners. Jeff Irwin, Washtenaw County Commissioner and State Rep candidate for the 53th wants to start the process of making much of Marquette and Baraga counties a national park. The Huron Mountain National Park. This new national park in Michigan will complement Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Isle Royale is Michigan’s only national park and it’s a 55 mile boat trip to get there. There’s limited opportunities for seniors or the disabled to enjoy Isle Royale as it is maintained as an undeveloped park. The preservation of the Huron Mountain area will be accessible, and if successfully developed will be enjoyed by all Americans forever.

The positive economic impact of a national park will last generations and Marquette and Baraga will see greatly improved economies. In 1957 the Huron Mountains were selected as the best site along the Great Lakes Shoreline to preserve and some of the most beautiful land east of the Mississippi.

The nickel sulfide mining project in this area will denude and pollute this great part of wild Michigan and will not provide the People of Michigan the economic growth promised and will lose the great cultural and recreational asset of a national park. A few years ago Conde Nast magazine rated the upper peninsula as one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world and last year Liane Hansen of NPR raved about the beauty and food of the U.P. as she toured this vast and unspoiled land.

Phil, I hope you can join Jeff Irwin and myself and push to preserve the Huron Mountains forever. This development will attract thousands each year from Chicago and Minneapolis to spend their money in Michigan admiring this unique world asset. One accident at the Eagle mine could destroy much of Lake Superior just as one accident has despoiled much of the Gulf of Mexico. I hope you continued success to push awareness below the bridge of this potentially devastating mining venture.

Editorial from Rep. Stupak: Gulf spill holds lessons for protecting Michigan waters, Great Lakes from drilling, sulfide mining

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June 26, 2010

By U. S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee)

WASHINGTON, D. C. — It is difficult to think of northern Michigan without also thinking about the Great Lakes. These waters are vital to our economy and are relied upon by 45 million people for drinking water, fishing, recreation, agriculture, industry and shipping.

That is why, in 2005, I fought to pass a federal ban on oil and gas drilling in and under our Great Lakes. As we are witnessing right now in the Gulf of Mexico, oil spills know no boundaries. Without a federal policy, all of the Great Lakes states could have different laws on drilling in our shared waters, putting us all at risk. As the tragedy in the Gulf unfolds, the importance of this ban on drilling in the Great Lakes takes on a greater significance.

In my investigations as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, we have uncovered thousands of pages of documents showing BP was willing to cut corners on safety in order to save time and money — this despite the fact that BP’s own engineers described the well as a “nightmare well.”

This mismanagement has continued in BP’s response to contain the leak and clean up the spilled oil. The latest report estimates 35,000 to 65,000 barrels of oil are leaking into the Gulf daily — up to 12 times more than BP’s original estimate of 5,000 barrels a day. Even BP admits the earliest the spill will be stopped is August when drilling of relief wells is completed. In the meantime oil continues to flow, contaminating marshlands and beaches and killing the fish and seafood that much of the Gulf’s economy depends on.

While drilling for oil and gas is banned in the Great Lakes, other actions still threaten our waters. Mining has been done safely to the benefit of the Upper Peninsula economy for generations, but the sulfide mine proposed in Marquette County by the Kennecott Minerals Company raises concerns that have yet to be adequately addressed.

Both BP and Kennecott’s parent company, London-based Rio Tinto, have earned reputations for their willingness to cut corners on safety and environmental safeguards to improve their bottom lines.

BP reached an agreement with the President to set up an independent escrow fund to ensure the residents of the Gulf receive the claims they deserve in a timely manner. I remain concerned that Kennecott’s $17 million assurance bond does not provide nearly enough funding to address potential contamination that may continue years after Kennecott leaves the U.P. Like BP, Kennecott — not the taxpayers — should be responsible for the cost of cleaning up any pollution they create.

Unfortunately Michigan’s mining laws fall short of holding Kennecott accountable. State permits were approved without requiring an Environmental Impact Statement and without independent baseline hydrological and geological studies. Because there is no evidence of the environment’s condition before Kennecott starts mining, there is no way to prove what damage they cause.

We should heed the lessons we have learned from the Gulf spill. Weak state regulations in place for sulfide mining are worthless without proper enforcement. Given Michigan’s continuing budget problems, it seems unlikely the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment will have adequate resources to ensure Kennecott is complying with safety and environmental standards. Kennecott should be responsible for providing the state with the funding needed for these inspectors.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will announce by the end of the month whether federal permits are necessary for the mine to move forward. Kennecott deserves a timely answer from the EPA just as the people of Michigan deserve stronger safeguards and greater financial assurances from Kennecott.

Oil companies have been engaged in deepwater drilling for 30 years, yet they have been completely unprepared to handle a worst-case scenario. Sulfide mining has never been done — much less done safely — in our region. I have little confidence that the proper precautions and contingency plans are in place to prevent contamination of our streams, rivers and the Great Lakes. The financial protections put in place for taxpayers are symbolic at best. As we have seen in the Gulf spill, if we wait until a problem occurs to find a solution it is already too late.

In contrast, Jason Allen, a contender for Bat Stupak’s congressional seat,  calls for reduced regulation of mining and forestry in Michigan.

By Eartha Jane Melzer 6/22/10

While many are calling for increased federal oversight of mines in the wake of the Massey mine disaster, and of industrial processes generally as BP’s oil rig continues to leak into the Gulf, Jason Allen — a major Republican contender for the congressional seat long held by Bart Stupak — is saying that he would use his seat to roll back federal environmental regulation.

Campaigning at a luncheon hosted by the Antrim County Republican Women in Elk Rapids on Monday Allen blamed both state and federal environmental regulation for Michigan’s high jobless rate.

He said that he would fight the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as state regulators to ensure that the nickel sulfide mine planned by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company gets built on the Yellow Dog Plains west of Marquette.

This spring Kennecott declared that it did not need a federal water permit for the project and began construction of the mine without approval from the EPA.

The mine has Upper Peninsula groups including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community are suing state agencies over the approval of permits for the project, arguing that it will harm the watershed with acid mine run off and damage cultural resources.

“Places like Baraga are running at 23-24 percent unemployment,” Allen said, “and we have to get those people back to work in the mines.”

“We will continue to fight the EPA and continue to fight what is going on with the [Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment] to get that mine licensed because that provides good solid jobs to get our people back to work and that is how we feed America.”

Allen also said that as a U.S. congressman he would fight to expand timber harvest on federal land.

“They are only harvesting about 18 or 15 percent of the entire available forest on federal lands,” he said. “We also will try to use federal lands for anything we can do as far as mining, timber harvesting, reducing regulation.”

Allen also vowed to reduce air quality regulation and support the development of new power plants.

“We are going to do everything in our power to get things like the Rogers city power plant built and stop the massive amount of regulation laid out by this current president and his current administration and we will continue to fight for those types of projects.” (It should be noted that no new environmental regulations have been passed since President Obama took office)

The Michigan Public Service Commission and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment recently rejected plans by Wolverine Power Cooperative to build a petroleum coke and coal fired power plant in Rogers City. The regulators said that the plant is not needed and that building it would increase the cost of electricity.

Allen is competing against five other Republicans for the party’s nomination in the August 3 primary.

The other candidates are: Dr. Dan Benishek of Crystal Falls, Linda Goldthorpe of Curtis, Don Hooper of Iron River, Tom Stillings of Torch Lake, and Patrick Donlon of St. Ignace.

Allen is seen as the front runner, and if he managed to beat Democrat State Rep. Gary McDowell and take the seat in the general election, there could be some significant changes in the way the first district is represented.

While Allen says he will fight EPA and state regulators to allow the Kennecott mine, Stupak has warned that the state did not thoroughly review the mine before issuing permits and that the state might not have sufficient resources to provide oversight for the mine.

“I am not opposed to mining. I remain very supportive of mining in the U.P. However, these permits represent the first time the state is allowing sulfide mining. State officials must take their time and make sure sulfide mining is safe. It is critical that comprehensive independent studies be completed before additional permits are issued. Once permitted, I am fearful as many as six additional sulfide mines will be allowed to operate on the shores of the Great Lakes, jeopardizing the world’s largest body of fresh water.”

“The Kennecott Company has yet to prove the sulfide mine will not degrade the community, watershed, air quality or ecology of the area,“ Stupak said. “I will continue to urge EPA and DNR to thoroughly review this proposed sulfide mine.”

Allen’s discussion of environmental issues contrasts with the approach taken by Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder, who also spoke at the Antrim County Republican event.

A former trustee of the Nature Conservancy, Synder has said that as governor he will increase the resources available to state environmental regulators.

Synder said that Michigan must preserve its environment so that people will want to live here.

“I tell people I am a good green Republican. We need to work on getting people to look at environmental issues in a different context than they traditionally have,“ he said. “Too often people say there are environmental things and then there are economic things. I disagree with anyone who takes that position. In my view they are absolutely intertwined.”

“Quality of place” is essential to retaining and attracting young people, he said, “and a key part of quality of place is a thriving sustainable environment.”

“We as a party need to get our act together .”

BP Regulatory Issues:  http://www.adn.com/2010/06/26/1342800/bp-helped-state-investigate-itself.html

Update: “Protecting the Water” Camp on the Yellow Dog Plains

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June 25, 2010

Charlotte reluctantly packed up her campsite Thursday night and returned to her home in Baraga for the long weekend. She and her family camped in the rain, sun and bugs this past week on state land adjacent to the Kennecott fence line.  Machinery and lights could be seen and heard on a regular basis and vehicles traveled the camp’s access road all hours of the day.

After her arrest for trespassing on May 27, Charlotte planned on re-setting camp on the Yellow Dog Plains to be near Eagle Rock- a sacred site to the Anishinaabe people. Her goal was to bring closure to her month long experience that began on April 23, when she first spent the night in her car at the base of Eagle Rock.   “I feel better now. This has been more  of a spiritual time for me. No stress. Quiet. I don’t want to leave, but there are things I need to do,”  said Loonsfoot.

Please pray for Charlotte and her family, Chris Chosa, Cynthia and others who have spent countless hours on the plains tending the garden, moving firewood, visiting and supplying the camp, and monitoring Kennecott’s activities. We will “Stand for the Land” as long as we are able!

Equipment and supplies for the camp remain in storage until further notice. Please contact the SWUP office, 228-4444 or Big Bay Outfitters, 345-9399 if you need to access personal belongings.

6-19-10
From Charlotte Loonsfoot and her family, daughter Shauna, sons Virgil, Robert and Christian and friend Jerry Buch. The campsite is just outside the Kennecott fence on the northeast corner and the sacred fire was lit Sunday night.

DIRECTIONS: From Marquette, just past the green 12-mile marker there is an intersection with a large yellow trucking sign planted at the entrance.Turn right on this road and drive back about 1/3 mile and watch for sign/ribbons at an intersection and take that road left. Then watch for camp sign.
From Baraga, take a left on the first road past the main mine entry, then same as above.

The camp is on state land just outside of K’not fence, not leased. Camping permits have been obtained.

Please copy and distribute the following invitation:
Boozhoo,

I am going out to set up a new camp by Eagle Rock, (not on Kennecott’s property) tomorrow.(Sunday)  I received a sign the other day telling me to get this camp set up right away.  We will post where the new camp will be at with a map as soon as we can. I want to go out there and get it set up first before hand and if its a surprise to them the better.  I learned a lot from the first camp and it was a lesson learned but we have to move forward and do it better the next time…thats how we learn in a good way.
Guidelines for “Protecting The Water” camp….
1. NO Drinking, Drugs, or Violence.
2. Treat people and live by the seven teachings…Love, Respect, Honor, Humility, Courage, Wisdom, and Trust.
3. NO Arguing, Bickering, or Negativity.
4. Don’t get to Hungry, Angry,  Lonely, or Tired.
5. Recycle, Reuse, Reduce.
6. Focus on our Purpose.
7. These guidlines are for keeping the peace between everyone that is involved, if you dont feel you can follow these guidelines please do not enter the sacred grounds as we are trying to have a peaceful camp.
I am formally inviting everyone to come out to the new camp, all colors and races that feel strongly about our cause “Protecting The Water”.
Miiqwich,                                                                                                           Charlotte

June 26: “Hands Across the Sand” Event on Presque Isle

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Say YES to clean energy! Hit the Beach this Saturday and join hands with your neighbors and the nation.

Where: Presque Isle Park across from the Pavillion

When: Gather at 11:00 a.m. at the Pavillion.  The “line of hands” will be joined on the beach below at 11:50 a.m. for 15 minutes.

For more information:

http://handsacrossthesand.org/organize.php?state=Michigan

Road Forum Scheduled for June 30

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Marquette County Road Funding Forum

Are you concerned about:

  • a potential ‘Woodland Road’ through serene northern Marquette County
  • safety issues along US 41 West
  • the lack of a safe N/S truck route through Marquette

Wednesday, June 30th at 3:00 pm at the Negaunee Township Hall located at 42 M-35, Negaunee, MI 49866.

Representatives of local units of government will be on hand along with Mr. Randy Van Portfliet, Superior Region Engineer/Michigan Department of Transportation, and Mr. Jim Iwanicki, Engineer-Manager, Marquette County Road Commission, to provide information about the current status of their budgets and how funding changes might affect residents and businesses in Marquette County.

Topics that will be covered include:

• maintaining the current road system

• planning for future road transportation development

• state/county/and local government budget constraints

Sponsored by the Lake Superior Community Partnership

If you plan to attend, please RSVP via email to lscp@marquette.org or call 226-9658.

You are welcome to share this invitation with other interested parties.

Pryor Found Guilty – Letter From Her

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Hello to all – today I was found GUILTY for Misdemeanor Trespass. Our case revolved around the requirement for Kennecott to have the final decision on all permits as the foundation for the reason why I felt I did not trespass on state and public property. The Prosecutor introduced a motion that did not allow for ANY discussion of permit issues, leases unfilled etc. and got the judge to agree that only the basics of trespass were to be discussed. We lost that motion.

So despite the fact that the EPA has indicated that they have not given the final decision on the UIC permit – we were not able to use that in court. Despite the fact that others were able to move freely in and out of the property without being arrested – Kennecott indicated that all those people were their guests and they were free to pick and chose who they wanted on the property. Despite the fact there were no signs posted indicating either No Trespass or Work in Progress or any other public notification that public was no longer allowed on the site – Kennecott was able to tell me to leave because they had the lease agreement with the State of Michigan The case ultimately came down to three things that Judge Kangas directed the jury to think about:

Was she on Kennecott (controlled) Land?
Was she asked to Leave?
Did she refuse to Leave?

If you answer yes to these things, she is to be found guilty. Well, that was a no-brainer! Guilty as charged by all six jurors.

I am so grateful to all the folks who came to the court to share a long day with me. I am grateful to all who have supported me personally and to the many, many who BELIEVE in justice and want it done – here and in many places around the world where people go up against the strong arm of Corporate and Government pacts.

Glad to at least be able to go home to my place on the hill – where trees surround and embrace me and my husband and dog both say – I love you anyway!

Sentencing in a few weeks. Never fear though – justice will come – maybe in a way we least expect.

Ever hopeful (What! Are you wacked???),

Cynthia

Civil disobedience, ‘Yooper’ style has lengthy history

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By John Saari

June 13, 2010

Civil disobedience is commonly associated with historical struggles for basic human rights, a citizen recourse in situations where government has gone badly off course.

After Cynthia Pryor’s arrest near Eagle Rock, it is not surprising that some have linked her name with Rosa Parks, a notable civil rights era personality. Both openly refused to give up a seat, one on a segregated public bus, the other on a stump on contested public land.

But there is a home-grown tradition of civil disobedience in the Upper Peninsula that is perhaps more fitting as a comparison than the epic struggles over basic human rights. That is the tradition of standing up for one’s rights on the land, often in hidden resistance to authority.

Residents resent being told by the state, or any other outsider, what they can or cannot do, if their actions seem reasonable in their own eyes. Poaching game during hard times is a U.P. tradition tolerated in public opinion when tied to family and personal subsistence. My Uncle Vernon (Ironwood-Hurley) helped support his family during the Depression years by catching brook trout. Nothing went to waste, but he observed no creel limits. The illegal shooting of wolves today is another sign of a backwoods ethic that short-circuits the law.

Some hunters have taken the law into their own hands, convinced that wolves are killing “their” deer, or are a danger to children, pets or domestic animals. A conspiracy of silence seals lips, and this silence in itself is a type of resistance to state authority.

The 1980s and 1990s saw a strong push for landowner’s rights, sometimes called the property rights movement. Signs appeared in the backwoods of the western U.P.: “DNR KEEP OUT.” Some people resented, and resisted, DNR/DEQ restrictions on land use and resource management.

Richard Delene (Baraga) was perhaps the most notorious case. He was prosecuted and eventually banned from Michigan for contempt of court after controversial dredging and ditching on his Baraga Plains land. Many felt he did not get a fair hearing.

Customary road access on private lands has become a big current issue, as metal gates sprout up everywhere. New second home owners, often city folk from downstate or out-of-state, bring their urban values and fears with them. It’s the fence-me-in fence-you-out mentality. Vandalism of gates, signs, and property is not uncommon.

When Kennecott/ Rio Tinto began putting up fences on public land with “No Trespassing” signs, a shock of finality hit many mine opponents. Cynthia Pryor’s arrest for stubbornly sitting on a stump was a catalyst for a deeper emotional reaction: This is wrong. Tracts of public land should not be locked away for decades for private profit.

The recent Native American encampment on Eagle Rock lies within this Yooper tradition of civil disobedience over land rights. Treaties with the U.S. government in the nineteenth century secured them the right to hunt, gather and fish in the ceded territories.

Some of them have chosen to stand by their rights on these lands, in the face of controversial efforts by the state of Michigan and an international corporation to diminish those rights.

While Kennecott/Rio Tinto seemed prepared to negotiate some limited Native access to Eagle Rock as a religious site, the company’s bottom line was to secure its own access, by armed state police if necessary, to Eagle Rock as the mine portal.

Despite the fences, the signs and the bulldozed encampment, Eagle Rock will continue to be a place of resistance, symbolic or otherwise, to this mine. From a legal perspective, the protestors may seem to be in the wrong, however peaceful their stance. But in their guts many U.P. residents will understand where Cynthia Pryor and Charlotte Loonsfoot are coming from in this unequal face-off with corporate and state power.

They are standing by their land, whether it is public land or ceded territory, come what may.

Note:  Jon Saari is president of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition and a member of Save the Wild U.P.