Posted on 01/03/2002 6:17:26 PM PST by expose
Senate Passed 'Land Grab' Angers Property Rights Activists
By Christine Hall
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - In the waning days of 2001, the Senate passed a $600 million-a-year bill designed to conserve habitat and open space in a way that doesn't hurt farmers and local economies. Still, opponents call it a "land grab" that gives state bureaucrats and environmental groups the power to call the shots over private property.
The American Wildlife Enhancement Act of 2001 was passed by voice vote in the Senate on Dec. 20 as an add-on to an existing law, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA).
But Michael Hardiman, a lobbyist for the American Land Rights Association, dubs it the "Condemnation and Relocation Act."
"Reinvestment" is a just a euphemism, said Hardiman.
"In other words, you're going to seize property and hand out grants to your friends," he said.
CARA and the new Senate bill work by granting federal tax collars to a variety of conservation groups, with state land management agencies getting the lion's share of the money. State agencies can then condemn a property owner's land and use CARA grant money to compensate the property owner for what the agency deems is the land's "fair market value."
Landowners argue that what the government calculates as fair market value is far below the land's real market value. They also complain that their only option in challenging a government agency's decision is to take the government to court - a long, arduous and expensive process for the average landowner.
According to Hardiman, the Senate bill's success was due to the deft political maneuvering of the bill's chief sponsors, Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Bob Smith (R-N.H.). The duo was able to get a voice vote on the bill the afternoon the Senate adjourned for the year.
Also, Hardiman said Reid and Smith were successful in recruiting a key conservative -Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) - to co-sponsor the bill as a favor to Smith, whom Hardiman believes is trying to court liberal voters to win a 2002 primary challenge from fellow N.H. Republican, Rep. John Sununu. Susan Wheeler, a spokesperson for Crapo, said the lawmaker "is good friends with Sen. Smith, as he is with a number of members of Congress, [but he] would not sign onto a bill as a favor to a senator that would abrogate private property rights."
Wheeler did agree with Hardiman that Crapo stood out among the bill's otherwise liberal-to-moderate co-sponsors. "It is an interesting group," she said.
But, said Wheeler, Crapo believed the bill was "consistent with...allowing states to make [conservation] decisions. The bill does not go after private property [and] there is no federal land acquisition in the bill; it's only at the state level.
"The senator would have preferred to see more debate on this bill," Wheeler added. "But no senator stepped forward to place a hold on the bill or seek debate."
The American Land Rights Association, a Washington state group, plans to mobilize its members against the House bill, which goes even further than its counterpart passed in the Senate.
The pending House bill spends more ($3.1 billion annually versus $600 million) and sets up a trust fund for the CARA program in which the money is automatically spent, instead of requiring Congress to agree on spending every year.
Also, the House bill, which land rights groups call "full CARA," has "additional threat[s]," as Hardiman puts it. It allows state agencies to designate urban parks and recreation land as conservation areas.
Spokespeople for Senators Reid and Smith did not return calls seeking comment.
I don't think it matters which party is at the helm, IMO we are being governed by the government/military/corporate/university complex. I have read much about this and the most eye-opening warning of this corrpution is making it's way around the web. The parting speech of Dwight D. Eisenhower. In some versions, and in some history books, this warning gets deleted.
If ever there was a place for both parties, all parties, all patriots, conservatives, liberals, good-greens, libertarian.....if all of us realize are getting screwed, we might drop our party differences, and even fundamental differences, to unite on the matter of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The basic stuff that allows us to choose our very different points of view, is what is at stake, so why not concentrate on We The People for awhile and become strong and unified.
This is truly a place where you don't have to be a Republican or be a Bush Lover to participate. I made sure of that before I was comfortable here, having been a liberal democrat whose first presidential primary vote was for Bobby Kennedy in Los Angeles, I found I could take baby steps in here. I have always registered Non-Partisan, because my father did not believe in the 2-party system. It is refreshingly open in here, where people who had hoped for something better after the Clinton years, don't hesitate to show thier disappointment with Bush. It would be nice to see more sites on the links list. Maybe we could all link up in here and really make some noise, yeaH.
They are so busy protecting the endangered species, while we face bioterroism. Where's the civil defense classes. Hell, we are all learning to do CPR, why hasn't Tom Ridge had the GPrintingOfc print up some booklets with a few tips?
-------------- HAHA HERE'S SOME CARA-ME-HOMEYS
They have set up housekeeping on most of our American Campuses.
Volume 11, Issue 3, June 2001(Did they stop putting stuff on website, because of the attention Klamath brought to their GOAL and PRACTICES????????)
Editor: Thomas M. Franklin
Author: Bradden H. Rowse
American Wildlife Enhancement Act of 2001
The American Wildlife Enhancement Act of 2001 (S. 990) would provide funding for states and landowners to conserve and protect wildlife and significant land areas. The bill, introduced by Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) on 7 June, adopts Title III (Wildlife Conservation and Restoration) of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) and adds two other conservation provisions: a landowner incentives program for endangered species conservation and a non-federal land conservation grant program.
The American Wildlife Enhancement Act of 2001 includes three titles: Title I authorizes an appropriation of $350 million for state fish and wildlife conservation and related recreation and education programs. The funds will be administered through the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account, a sub-account of the Pittman-Robertson Act. Title II establishes a $75 million competitive matching grant fund that allows private landowners to apply for financial assistance for conservation of endangered or threatened species on their property. Title III authorizes a $50 million grant program that would allow states to protect areas of regional or national significance through easements or acquisition.
The primary difference between the wildlife benefits of S. 990 and Title III of CARA is that the Smith bill is subject to annual appropriations rather than the long term funding provided by CARA.
For more information:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
----------------
http://www.wildlife.org/about/index.htm
These guys have been around since 1937. Funny this website doesn't seem to have been updated since June, around the time of the Klamath Basin crisis.
About The Wildlife Society
The Wildlife Society (TWS), founded in 1937, is an international non-profit scientific and educational association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education. Our mission is to enhance the ability of wildlife professionals to conserve diversity, sustain productivity, and ensure responsible use of wildlife resources for the benefit of society. The Wildlife Society encourages professional growth through certification, peer-review Publications, Conferences, and working groups.
Society members are dedicated to sustainable management of wildlife resources and their habitats. Ecology is the primary scientific discipline of the wildlife profession, therefore, the interests of the Society embrace the interactions of all organisms with their natural environments. The Society recognizes that humans, as other organisms, have a total dependency upon the environment. It is the Society's belief also that wildlife, in its myriad forms, is basic to the maintenance of a human culture that provides quality living.
The Society's Goals
Develop and maintain professional standards for wildlife research and management.
Enhance knowledge and technical capabilities of wildlife managers.
Advance professional stewardship of wildlife resources and their habitats.
Advocate the use of sound biological information for wildlife policy decisions.
Increase public awareness and appreciation of the wildlife profession.
Our Logo
The Wildlife Society's unique emblem features Egyptian hieroglyphics and depict our broad interest. The literal translation of the hieroglyphics, from top to bottom, is: beasts (mammals), birds, fishes, and flowering plants (vegetati --------------
http://www.wildlife.org/conference/2001/index.htm
This group has a wide spread presence on our American University Campuses, as do most of the Envirals. Student conference last year.
TWS 2001 Annual Conference - Reno/Tahoe, Nevada
8th Annual Conference a Great Success
Participants at The Wildlife Society's 8th annual conference in Reno enjoyed a rewarding week of networking and continuing education. Despite the recent terrorist attacks, a whopping 1,660 registrants, 70 guests, and 36 exhibitors attended. Meeting old friends and making new ones was a highlight of the conference for many. And there were plenty of opportunities for networking whether informally over coffee or lunch, or at an organized event such as the opening reception, 20 alumni receptions, 13 working group meetings, a very-well attended student-professional mixer, and student dinner. After a busy week, the closing beach party on the shores of Lake Tahoe was a perfect ending . . . good food, the sun setting over the lake and mountains, and tropical, steel drum music punctuating the starry night.
Of course, the technical program was what brought us all together in the first place. Wildlife biologists and students enjoyed a diverse program of contributed papers and symposia on many timely topics. The plenary session on new approaches to the Endangered Species Act gave us all lots to think about as we work to improve management of endangered species. We are indebted to the many speakers in all the sessions who shared their expertise with us, and to the working groups and individuals who organized the 11 symposia, one special poster session, and three workshops.
Participants earned up to 32 contact hours of professional development credits. For those of you approved as Certified Wildlife Biologists after January 1, 2000, don't forget to keep a copy of your conference attendance record (found in the pocket program). You'll need it when it comes time to renew your certification. Others might want to consider working toward a Professional Development Certificate.
The trade show offered a close-up look at some of the latest radio telemetry, video sensing, and field equipment, provided access to a range of consultants, and offered a wealth of books, photography, and art for sale. The evening film festival was another popular event as was the hotly-contested student quiz bowl. Next year's committees already are hard at work organizing the 9th annual conference. Mark your calendar now for September 24-28, 2002, in Bismarck, North Dakata. --------- http://www.wildlife.org/professional/university.htm
They are recruiting these kids, telling them how to think, and luring them into jobs with enviro jobs in there "brotherhood of greens", government/corporate/university/military........
(start)
Universities and Colleges Offering Curricula in Wildlife Conservation
This roster includes those North American campuses that have indicated they have special curricula related to the fields of wildlife conservation and management.
The Wildlife Society believes strongly that graduates from wildlife curricula should meet certain minimum educational requirements. A recommended curriculum for a Bachelor's degree in wildlife was first adopted by the Society in 1965 and revised and strengthened in 1971 and 1977. The 1977 recommended minimum educational requirements subsequently became the initial minimum standard of education for The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. These standards are revised periodically. The current educational requirements for certification are listed on the Certification page and prospective student in wildlife are encouraged to incorporate them into their higher education plans.
Colleges and universities use a variety of approaches in educating students in wildlife conservation and management; some offer named degrees in wildlife, others have a wildlife major option, and still others have neither named degrees nor a major option in wildlife, but offer wildlife courses. To assist you in identifying campuses of pontential interest, the list is organized by state and province and each entry is followed by a code to provide you with a general idea about the institution and its wildlife program. An interpretive "key" to the coding system is provide below. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the institution directly, or by browsing that institution's web site.
Please note that each institution provided the information on its wildlife program. The Wildlife Society assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the data. The list is assembled for public service purposes only. It may not be complete, and it is not to be interpreted as any type of accreditation by The Wildlife Society.
B = Bachelor's Degree
M = Master's Degree
D = Doctorate
WP = Wildlife Professor with non-wildlife department
S = Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society at institution
1 = Institution grants a named degree in wildlife
. 2 = Institution grants a wildlife major option with degree in:
Agriculture
Animal Science
Biology
Ecology
Education
Field Biology
Forestry
Parks
Range
Zoology
Natural Resources
3 = Institution grants no degree in wildlife, but has curriculum or courses in wildlife
. 4 = Institution requires, as part of a wildlife degree or wildlife option, all courses necessary to meet the educational requirements for certification by The Wildlife Society
. 5 = Institution offers, but does not require, all courses necessary to meet the educational requirements for certification by The Wildlife Society.
The list is organized by geographic Section. Links to college & university websites will open in a new browser window. >p>
Section 1: Northeast Section Connecticut
University of Connecticut (B3, M2k, 5)S
Yale University (MD2dgk)
Delaware
University of Delaware (B1, MD3, 5)
Maine
University of Maine (B1, 4, MD1, 5)S
Massachusetts
Framingham State College (B2c, 5)
University of Massachusetts (BMD1, 5)S
New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick (BM2g, 4, MD2c, 5)
Newfoundland
New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire (B, M2k, D2k, 5)S
New Jersey
Rutgers University (B2k, MD2d, 5)S
New York
Cornell University
and ON and ON
I can not be concerned about suckerfish and spotted chili-con-froggies, when I am horrified at the way our children are being robbed of their inocense and not being taught to question or have an original or personal opinion. They are not taught to debate, they are taught to "recite" and "preach" what they've memorized. They preyed upon and lured by pictures of creatues in nature that are suffering. Well, sorry johnny, there's a lot more to wildlife than the pictures on Greeting Cards.
Are they trying to convince kids that wildlife can be fully cared for and building a wildlife preserve is a noble thing? How can it be "wildlife" if it's blocked off and tended to and cleaned up (sanitization sickness). It is natural for wildlife to suffer the elements, and then there is the FOOD CHAIN.
Thanks to the Super-Funded thousands of orgz. (NGO's), our kids and future leaders, are viewing the world through Rose Colored Virtual Reality Goggles. In order to appreciate the beautiful, one must have experience the ugly, to have perspective. Could any of these kids find the artitistic worth of Diane Arbus or Syliva Plath. Perhaps they are dark works, but insights into the realities that are valid examples of the fact that as pretty as it gets, all creatures are flawed. We humans are flawed, and it's ok not to be healthy, happy and wonderful. To deprive these young minds is a tragedy.
They get huge donations from corp's and the public, and use the money for lawyers to add to the ESA.
Oh what pretty pictures. And what a nobel idea to save the environment.
NOT. I was soon awakened to the vast amounts of land they are after, then re-read these magazines, and took a look at the contributors and the amounts of money and estates that people were leaving to them. One man in Northern Arizona left them 70 million dollars. Then they put out requests for furniture, computers, dishes, for the stewards cabins on the protected sites.
They seduce the wealthy who want to leave a legacy of good. That is so wrong.
Mexico is grabbing our land from the South and Washington is grabbing it from the East. A lose, lose situation.
Good for them!
Best, 'Pod
Best, 'Pod
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