Ironically, Fort Lewis College passed a resolution in 2015 to support the Bears Ears National Monument in an effort to “protect” this important area; yet students in 2016 obviously have not bought into the concept of protection. This incident, further illustrates the fact that moral behavior and care of the mother earth cannot be legislated or designated, no matter how many millions of dollars the CLF dumps into the Bears Ears Monument Campaign. Land can best be cared for and protected by those who actually use it, live by it, and love it.
It also illustrates that just because vandalism happens in Utah, does not mean it is caused by Utah citizens. We decry the name calling and exaggeration CLF has used in their quest to illegally seize yet more land for their personal style of protection. Their style includes “cattle free by 23”, “lock up all natural resources,” “overrun the land with tourists”, “promote fun-hoggery”, and “locals be damned.”
The National Park Service deferred maintenance has been backlogged for years.
2014 reported a staggering backlog of $11,493,168,812 nationwide. This includes $278,094,606 for Utah parks alone. Can the federal government really take care of a monument this size when can’t manage the monuments it already has? Or is this land just being used as collateral so that a foreign country can utilize our resources when they bail us out of our 20 Trillion dollar debt?
The inter-tribal coalition, in making this proposal, disregards 18 land use planning efforts by San Juan County, Utah State, The BLM, National Forest and the Navajo Nation. The tribes are being used as puppets by the CLF who has made promises they cannot keep. Conservation, and preservation begin at home. Look at your own back yard, your property, and how you use your resources, then choose leaders who live what they preach. (Sent to Cortez Journal)
