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Show THEZEPHYRMARCH 1990 PAGE 26 from the sierra club what makes wilderness advocates tick? by Lawson LeGate ths midst of tho strident rhetoric of the wilderness debate I sometimes find myself reflecting on the motives of those who oppose wilderness. At a recent conference which focussed on the wilderness Issue, Michael Cohen, a teacher at In Southern Utah State College and author of a history of the Sierra Club, admonished the audience that people In southern Utah who don't like wilderness "are not your enemies.1' The real culprits, he went on to say, are the big business Interests who exploit southern Utah and Its people for short term profit. I've travelled extensively throughout the state, and I've talked to people In the small towns and rural areas, and I know that Mr. Cohen Is right As a woman In Escalante said to me recently, "Ive got nothing against you people as Individuals-- .! Just don't like what you stand for." Just as I contemplate from time to time why wilderness opponents believe as they do, I sometimes wonder If they ever stop to ask what makes wilderness advocates tick. Some of the answer may be obvious, some more obscure. That wilderness advocates are motivated by a love of the lands beauty Is something they share with most people who oppose wilderness. The difference probably lies In deciding what measures are necessary to protect that beauty. Wilderness supporters regard the Wilderness Act of 1964 as establishing a great and cherished American tradition. They view It as the strongest legal tool available for protecting a rapidly diminishing resource. think I'm close to the mark when I conclude that rural Utahns who oppose wilderness sometimes wonder what all the fuss Is about After all, there's a lot of land out there, Isn't there? Wilderness advocates, however, tend to view the situation with wider eyes. They look across the country and they see a landscape that has been urbanized and Industrialized. They see the spreading megalopolises of the East and West Coasts, the almost complete elimination of the once vast hardwood forests of the Midwest, the straight-jacketi- ng of the nations great river systems, and they quietly promise themselves and their children, "No more." I Proponents of wilderness protection, therefore, don't look at the ten percent of proposed for BLM wilderness so much as a chunk of the state, but more as a remnant of a shrinking national heritage. They know that Congresslonally Utah designated wilderness today accounts for less than four percent of the nation's land base, and that a majority of that wilderness Is In the state of Alaska. Thats why wilderness supporters bristle at the charge that they are uncompromising. The feast was long over before we got to the table; we're Just fighting over table scraps now. In addition, many wilderness advocates beNeve that wilderness Is a hallmark of the unique character of the American people. Our culture Is different from that of our European ancestors In large part because It was forged out of the experiences of our pioneer forbearers and their contact with the wild continent of North America. For many, love of wilderness Is merely another version of love of country. We have something unique and precious here, say the supporters of wilderness, so let's do all In our power to take care of IL "Doing all In our power Inevitably led to the recognition that there Is strength In numbers, and thus to the formation and growth of groups such as the Sierra Club. There Is really no mystery about IL It started with one person witnessing the destruction of some wild and beautiful river canyon or mountain meadow. It might have been the place where they took their child on their first hunting or Ashing trip. ed There set In a sense of powerlessness against the and powerful corporation or bureaucracy that wrought the destruction. well-fund- Later, however, Individuals began to encounter other citizens who felt tho same Soon, many people working together found they were able, sometimes, to next canyon or mountain destruction. For the Sierra Club, such the stop nation-wi- de a to of led have about 500,000. (In Utah, the experiences membership Clubs membership approaches 2,500 and continues to grow rapidly.) way. Though Individual conservationists will likely emphasize different concerns, It's safe to say that they share a sense of urgency and Irretrievable loss, and an iron resolve to stem the tide. I hope these are characteristics that the opponents of wilderness can respect and try to understand, even If they may not agree with our goals. That kind of respect we owe each other. Author Appearance by: Stephen Trimble and others... drawings for FREE BOOKS including an autographed hardcover of The Monkey Wrench Gang CELEBRATE John Wesley Powells Birthday Saturday, March 24th at the Grand Opening of Moabs and many other prizes Pother Forthcoming Events: the Earth First! Greenfire Tour March 16th featuring speaker: Roger Featherstone and musician Dakota Sid Clifford in store appearance March 10th Wanda Snow Petersen author of FERRON CREEK a colorful history of the Emery County community 83 North Main St. Moab, (It 84532 259-515- 4 Starting March 24th, we will be open seven days a week, 10 AM to 9 PM until then our winter hours are Mon Sat, noon to 7 PM |