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Show THE ZEPHYR JUNE 1991 PAGE 10 the zephyr wilderness plan earth first! was nuts) (and you thought bv iim stiles a quarter century, since the Wilderness Act was passed by Congress In 1964, citizens of this nation have waged war with each other over the need for wilderness and the size of the wilderness we need The differences of opinion are staggering, the area of disagreement as wide as the Grand Canyon. Consider the views of Earth First! and the For over Western Association of Land Users (WALU). The radical environmental group (so called) has proposed a 16,000,000 acre reserve for southern Utah which would turn our end of the state Southern Utah before the uranium boom. Into one vast roadless area WALU considers this proposal to be utterly absurd, too restrictive and an affront to the productivity ethic and the American Way. In fact they are opposed to aM wilderness designations regardless of the beauty or opportunities for solitude that the area provides. They believe that nothing legislated by politicians and administered by bureaucrats from the BLM can lead to any good at all. Pro- - and anti --wilderness advocates cast a wary eye at each other. If you talk to a pro --wilderness advocate, he'll tell you that the people who oppose wilderness are a bunch of Ignorant, selfish greedheads who want to exploit, develop, mine, ranch, timber, and eventually ruin every square Inch of wildlands left In this country. They have absolutely no they wouldn't recognize beauty If It fell on their heads. They appreciation for beauty no no of sense responsibility to the future to our grandchildren. They're have vision, slobs. standard. They are remarkable In their simplicity. Wilderness Alternatives." I am pleased to present "the Canyon Country Zephyr Alternative 1 EVERYBODY OUT This should put an end to the argument that environmentalists are trying to "lock Youll find no private playground here, up" wilderness for their own selfish purposes. from wilderness areas. That Includes banned be all propose that human beings s, miners and meditators. If you are a roustabouts and cowboys and orgo-boyhomo sapiens, you are not welcome. We keep saying that we want to preserve the last remnants of the primal Earth, the land that lay untouched before human hands fell upon It To accomplish that goal, and to show that our motives are pure, we must all make a sacrifice. Aldo Leopold once said, "To what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map? We must set out to turn these wilderness areas Into "blank spots. To steal an Idea from that Earth First! wlldman and preacher Dave Foreman, our first step should be to eliminate wilderness areas from all maps, guidebooks, brochures, handbooks, and government reports. eco-frea- ks, fire-bra- nd y , WILDERNESS hikers Bnrens AREA MIRERS MMCH(R$.L6fiCRS te- - WMHIBiret) ANIMALS talk to an anti --wilderness advocate, he will tell you that people who support wilderness are a bunch of Ignorant, selfish greedheads. All they want to do Is "lock up the wilderness for their own private playground. They say they oppose oil and gas development but all of them drive down here In gas guzzling cars and trucks. They say they care about the environment but they throw their garbage everywhere, and crap wherever they feel like crapping, and drive their bicycles where even motorbikes fear to tread. Theyre slobs. If you Both pro- - and anti-wildern- ess advocates despise the BLM. In the end, It Is the accusation of greed and selfishness that both groups fling at each other with such Is the prime motivator as viewed passion. across the trenches by both camps. And both camps hate the BLM. What are we to do? What Is the answer? How do we untangle the two sides so we can move ahead and resolve this Issue, once and for all? I have studied the wilderness debate for 15 years now, ever since I moved to Moab and discovered that Ed Abbey's views on nature were not shared by a majority of Grand County's population. It has been a decade since an angry mob of Moabites followed a bulldozer up the hill and defiantly In a punched hole a wilderness study area. And now, as we approach the 21st century, we are no closer to a resolution. But at long last, I believe I have developed a series of proposals which should stop all the fussing. They eliminate the greedy, angle. They eliminate the double self-righte- ous Self-Inter- est flag-drap- ed self-inter- est KIM ONLY Descriptions of trail routes, features and springs, warnings of hazardous terrain and poisonous snakes should be obliterated. Even topographic maps should delete all Information, even elevation lines. Remember the first Incomplete maps by early explorers? ears -They were liberally sprinkled with two words that sound like music to my large-lob-ed - "Unknown Territory. K And while It's easy for me to proclaim that all of Michael Kelsey's guidebooks should be withdrawn from bookshelves, It Is painful, but necessary, to Insist that all photographs of wilderness areas be withdrawn as well. That Includes the great works of for this Phillip Hyde, Elliot Porter, Tom Till and Steve Mulligan. (Thank God Till pre-pa- ld month's ad.) The temptation to Illegally enter these wilderness areas will be great Too great for some to withstand. Obviously, some type of enforcement will be necessary to ensure human-fre- e wilderness. But the last thing we need Is a bunch of government weenies, In polyester uniforms, packing oversized firearms, and roaming the perimeters In search of violators, so they can write a ticket (oh no!). In fact these new wilderness areas should be taken out of the Jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management U. S. Government altogether. In Its place, I propose a citizens council, composed of different segments of the population. Since weve greatly simplified the rules and regs, l.e. no humans, period, there shouldn't be much disagreement To enforce th8 one rule In effect ld like to see a Joint team of Earth Flrstlers and WALUs, sfde working by side, patrolling the boundaries and CANYONLANDS LLAMAS DAILY RATES $50 per day per person 2 person min. MULTIPLE DAY TREKS $100 per day per person 4 person min. Do you want a truly unique dining experience? Join us and our beautiful llamas for a hike and dinner in the canyons around Castle Rock. Guided Pack Trips Daily Hikes Multiple Day Treks Drop Camps Custom Adventures (801) 259-825- 2 (801) 259-573- 9 CVSR1911 Moab, Utah 84532 |
