Friday, December 18, 2009

Action Alert: Petition to Stop the Swap at Wolf Creek

From the paper-wrenching ninjas at Colorado Wild:

Stop the swap- oppose the legislative land exchange.

CLICK HERE to sign a petition to oppose the Legislative Land Trade!
 

Wolf Creek Pass needs your help to remain the beautiful area that you and millions of others know and love. Out-of-state developers continue to pursue plans for a "Village" at Wolf Creek, a city of 8,000-10,000 people at the top of the Pass. This intense development plan in an otherwise undeveloped area entirely surrounded by National Forest would dramatically impact the entire region. Impacts of the proposed development threaten local businesses in nearby Archuleta and Rio Grande Counties, unspoiled backcountry recreation opportunities along the Continental Divide, water supply and water quality for downstream communities, rare and ecologically valuable fen wetlands, and one of the most critical wildlife corridors in the Southern Rocky Mountains.

Developer Red McCombs has spent more than 20 years attempting to circumvent legitimate public review of his proposed "Village." McCombs remains unwilling to trust his project to any traditional process of public analysis, disclosure, and decision-making, and has therefore hired a new team of lobbyists to attempt to circumvent this review process through a legislative land exchange to gain not only access, but also additional developable property.

While the idea that the FS would trade McCombs undevelopable wetlands for developable land with highway access is unthinkable, Friends of Wolf Creek is far more concerned about the process McCombs is pursuing to try to receive approval for the exchange. Rather than go though the traditional Forest Service land exchange review process - in which the public would have a chance to weigh in and the Forest Service EIS would disclose the impacts (pro and con) of the exchange before making a decision - McCombs and his new band of lobbyists is asking Congressman John Salazar to perform this land exchange legislatively
. 

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Jeff Luers is FREE!



(Wed, 12/16/09)

Dear Friends,

This morning in Portland, Oregon, Jeff walked out of prison a free man. We have a press release of information available here.

But there’s really not much else to say because we are too busy celebrating! Join us in the celebration! You helped make this possible, you helped Jeff make it through the most difficult time in his life. And now, he can start a new life and finally see the sunrise and sunset, hold hands, and hike in the forest, among everything else we take for granted.

Thank you so very much for your support. We will be sending out more info about Jeff, but we wanted to share this with you asap.

Thanks again, endlessly,

Friends of Jeff Free Luers
 
PRESS RELEASE:

Civil Liberties Defense Center
Lauren Regan, Attorney & Executive Director
259 East 5th Avenue, Suite 300-A
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 687-9180 Tel
(541) 686-2137 Fax
Email: lregan@cldc.org

Media Advisory—for immediate release December 16, 2009

Eco-prisoner Jeff “Free” Luers released from prison

PORTLAND – Dec 16, 2009 – Jeff “Free” Luers, political prisoner and environmental activist, was released from the Columbia River Correctional Institution this morning after serving nine and half years. Luers was originally sentenced in 2001 to twenty two years and eight months for the politically motivated arson of three SUV’s at a car dealership in Eugene, OR. This sentence was deemed grossly disproportionate to the damage sustained by the car dealership and was condemned by legal professionals, human rights groups and activists worldwide. At an appeal hearing in 2007 it was ruled that Luers’ original sentence was illegal, and was consequently reduced to ten years.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Denver anarchist held without bail in Copenhagen: Call for Solidarity!

freetherock

From our comrades at Denver Anarchist Black Cross:

Today we learned that an anarchist comrade and dear friend of ours has been arrested on two charges at the ongoing Cop15 actions in Copenhagen, Denmark and will be held without possibility of bail for at least three weeks. Solidarity in the form of letters of support (free to send), as well as legal donations, is urgently needed.

Noah "Rockslide" of Denver, Colorado moved to Copenhagen several months ago and has been active in the organizing of resistance to the Cop 15 Summit. He has been arrested and charged with two counts (one is the Danish equivalent of a felony, the other a misdemeanor): Violence Towards Police and Disturbing the Public Peace. He is being held on remand at a jail outside Copenhagen awaiting a preliminary hearing on Jan 4th 2009, when he will be able make a petition for his release. It is possible that this preliminary hearing could be his trial, though this is unexpected because they normally take longer to prepare and the courts will be on holiday because of Christmas.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Fight Development at Wolf Creek!

It's been a while...

WilderPress, as a print publication, as a project on hold. With an editorial collective totaling two, we embarked upon a project we were perhaps not prepared for in experience, time, and resources. For this, we apologize, and we hereby vow to take the project back up when we are able. We thank everyone for their contributions and assistance. If you are interested in helping this project get back off the ground, please contact us.

We post today to alert you of new developments in the struggle to protect Wolf Creek from development.

The Durango chapter of High Country Earth First! (Colorado) is calling upon ecodefenders to contact officials and rally at the December 8th and 10th meetings in Pagosa Springs to oppose the Village at Wolf Creek and the legislative land exchange.

More information: http://colorado.indymedia.org/node/2334

12/8 Rally at Archuleta County Court House: Oppose Legislative Land Exchange at Wolf Creek!
12/10 Rally at Pagosa Springs Town Hall: Oppose Legislative Land Exchange at Wolf Creek!

earthfirstdurango@riseup.net