By Janet Wilcox (published in the San Juan Record 5/11/2017
Since entering a Bear Ears Cave 11 months ago, most of my days begin and end with questions, answers, responses, and dozens of messages all related to San Juan County’s opposition to Bears Ears Monument. Without technology, the Bears Ears issue would have been dead in the water and surrounded by sharks months ago. Even though the Internet has leveled the playing field, well-paid sharks are still circling, and It’s not only in “monumental” waters (like Pacific Remote Islands Monument), but inland rural America is surrounded by sharks as well. It is noticeably evident that environmental paranoia has sunk to a new low. In their desperation to persuade and create a “maddening crowd”, extremists have manufactured fake “news” and FB groups designed to lead the uninformed down a path of manipulation and hysteria – the kind that causes shouting matches at public hearings! A word to the wise, “Beware of quotes taken out of context.”
Those who take the time to discover “from whence cometh the
money” triggering environmental propaganda, will see that green loan sharks are
feeding America’s fears and indebtedness, and payback for them appears directly
related to land collateral.
By using http://www.guidestar.org citizens can investigate income
tax records of all non-profit organizations who are financing this feeding
frenzy. From this site, I learn that the Sierra Club’s total income for 2015
was $5,350,618! Dumbfounded, I compare that to the $10,000 San Juan County’s
“No Monument” grass roots group made last year at Freedom Fest Concert,
and ponder the implications. Thanks to great support and generous local donors
that night, they were able to cover all their expenses, AND they do NOT pay CEOs,
secretaries, or lobbyists.
The Sierra Club paid over $2.355 million in salaries
alone, in their “non-profit” business. Unfortunately, their business is
putting rural American out of business! Part of their 2015 expenses
included $536,221, plus another $19,606 in grants for “New Program Native
American services and Logistical support for the Intertribal effort to
secure Bears Ears National Monument.“ Money talks for sure, unfortunately it
reports falsehoods.
Though not as
big of a business, Southern Utah Wilderness
Alliance’s operational expenses for 2015 totaled $2,454,021. Lobbying costs were $53,661; then they spent another
$51,288 in advertising! This information
comes from tax return #990 forms, from organizations “exempt from Income Tax.”
Now
visualize those megabucks multiplying exponentially via hundreds of other “non-profit-tax
exempt” foundations across the nation. Frankly, I find it ironic that these
NGO’s accuse Utah’s “elected” officials of being persuaded by big bucks from
private businesses! Yes, it is an issue of
the pot calling the kettle black.
The Grand Canyon Trust can certainly recognize big business
when they see it, as they have many venture capitalists on their board of directors,
who have much to gain by locking up public lands. They not only use the power
of money to establish policies that suppress US citizens, but they strive to control
lives and land in multiple states.
You
can learn who their directors are and other fascinating information at
Guidestar.org. Remember, there are hundreds of board members of the same ilk
nationwide, specifically chosen because of their MONEY, to serve on multiple
environmental NGOs throughout the US and the world. So, don’t buy the lie
(nor the products) when they claim they are free from the taint of money!
One Grand Canyon Trust director of special
interest is David Bonderman. He also
sits on the board of the Wilderness
Society and the World Wildlife Fund
and is a “major financier” of the Southern
Utah Wilderness Alliance and other green groups. He is also one of the most
successful venture capitalists in America. Bonderman is a founding partner of
TPG Capital and its Asian affiliate, Newbridge Capital. TPG is a leading global
private investment firm with $51.5 billion of capital under management. Within its vast portfolio, TPG has invested heavily in
the energy sector. In October 2010, TPG Capital formed a new venture, Petro
Harvester Oil & Gas, LLC, to invest in oil and gas producing properties in
North America. TPG expects the company will “acquire” substantial exploration
and production (“E&P”) assets over the next several years.
Despite the disparity in this David and Goliath battle, San Juan
County remains optimistic, especially now that a coalition of “united” States
has formed with other states who have been impacted negatively by Antiquities
Act overreach. Bears Ears is no longer just one insignificant rural area being
targeted, but we are now joined by other states in a common cause. Synergisticly we have increased in power,
and ability to reclaim State’s Rights. Knowing the President has asked
for a review of the Antiquated Antiquities Act, shows others are listening. In
the past 40 years Presidents have been influenced by global powers, and as a
result the Antiquities Act has turned into a piranha feeding on the lives and
livelihood of rural Americans. It is time that Congress acts to curtail its
abuse. It’s time for a 12-step recovery program for the Antiquities Act.
This map (which hopefully will enlarge) will show all the federal agencies which control nearly 70% of Utah's lands. In San Juan County we are reduced to only 8% of private land.
