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Show PAGE 14 THE ZEPHYRMARCH 1990 and asked what merely wanted a copy of the environmental assessment (EA) It of letters and a number and took weeks public Involvement there had been. extent of public EA. the Regarding phone calls to get that one abbreviated to their give up copies of refusing Involvement there was further stonewalling. By of Information Freedom request. the documents, I had no recourse but to file a If they were paid $50. mailed would be the wrote back copies saying They A few sheets were received. And after Inspecting them I wondered, really, what was so Important In those documents that prevented them from readily passing them on. It wasn't a matter of national security. They obviously didn't want to Involve the public. This attitude Is widespread. Under our democratic system this Information belongs to us as citizens. A secretive government must not be allowed. All Information, not of national security or private Interest rights should be readily available to the public. We call for public But at this point we have another serious problem. of material and Information Involvement and expression. Yet due to the mountains available one feels burled and overwhelmed by It all. Can the common person master the high toch and Information revolutions that we now find ourselves In? The other day I went to the Salt Lake Public Library to search for Information contained In a book. As I was trained to do so, I went to check the Card Index this Index File. But the file cabinets were missing. In their place was a notice I to use the computers, but information was now In the computers. was Instructed I do? I didn't know how to Wander So what do them. aimlessly about the operate stacks trying to find the book blindly? Walt In line and ask the librarian for I around the bend by Ken Sleight I close this column. It was a new and exciting new a Like rapid. running learning experience. On my running for the Legislature, Stiles decided there may be some awkwardness for the Zn.hvr for my continued writing while a candidate. I also didn't want to appear to be using this column for campaigning purposes. (Now I It Is with some regret that can snip at things In the letters-to-the-edl- tor section.) want to direct this final column to a subject matter of much the right to access to government Information. The peoples' right And In leaving, I Importance to know. It really helps if one Is knowledgeable of the system and knows the organizations and their procedures. I think it was about a year or so ago that Mary Plumb, Information officer extraordinaire of the Moab District, Bureau of Land Management, wrote some very Informative articles on Just how the Bureau of Land Management planning procedures operated and how the public could become Involved. It was a great help. Armed with this type of Information one can more readily know what to ask for and who to ask. But this Isnt the way It Is everywhere. I once asked an official of the United States Air Force for certain Information on the environmental Impacts that would result In establishing military training flights In Utah (on a flight pattern that would bring their fighters and bombers over Mount Peale and then descend to a level of 400 feet In passing over Montezuma Creek and the Navajo Indian Reservation.) It was to be totally disruptive of the environment. assistance? The lesson Is clear Indeed. By this very system It ultimately divides the public The educated and the Into the knowledgeable and the unknowledgeable. have-nots. The and the uneducated. haves It has been said that knowledge Is power. Obviously those that have the Information will have the power and Influence those that don't (excepting physical strength and prowess). Informational wise, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The answer Is to learn the computer. Students that are trained In high tech, computers, and Information retrieval are sure to excel. Those students In those schools (many of our rural schools) that do not offer the latest In the technical training (as In many urban schools) will surely suffer. We urgently need an educational and training system In southeastern Utah that allows all of us the opportunity to learn modern research techniques and Informational gathering so that we're not left behind and used. state-of-the- -art Daily Horseback Rides At The Ranch PACK CREEK RANCH For Information or Reservations Phone (801) 259-550- restaurant opens 5 Friday, March 16 PACKRIVER TRIPS Apr Apr Apr Apr 3-- 6 9-1- 2 15-1- 9 30-Ma- May May May May 7-1- y 0 15-1- 8 21-2- 4 25-2- 8 June Jul Sep Sept Sept Sept 18-2- 1 16-1- 8 Oct 4-- 7 9-1- 3 17-2- 0 24-2- 7 12-1- 5 Lower Grand GulchSan Juan River trip Grand Gulch School, Grand Gulch Trip 3CFI Grand Gulch Trip Anderson Ranch, Salt Creek Trip Glen and Escalante Canyon (Lake Powell) Grand Gulch Univ of Utah, Grand Gulch Trip Univ of Utah, Elk Ridge Art Workshop (Jniv of Utah, LaSal & South Mountain Workshop Utah Museum of Natural History, Dark Canyon School, Grand Gulch Trip Utah Museum of Natural History, Grand Gulch CFI Grand Gulch Trip Pack Creek Ranch Writers Workshop CONVERSATION AT PACK CREEK RANCH Apr 28 Nov CFI Chip Rawlins 22-2- 5 Poetry Reading Thanksgiving Poetry Readings WRITERS CONFERENCES Oct Oct 7-1- 5 18-2- 1 Wilkins Pack Creek Ranch Writers Workshop CFI Desert Writers Workshop at PCR OTHER WORKSHOPS Apr Pr Pete 5-- 8 22-2- 6 Aitchison Photo Workshop at PCR Pack Creek Ranch First Aid Course honest ozzies & Co. 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