Subject: FW: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #173

      <>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><>                    
        SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
                 http://www.sw-center.org
        #173                               2-18-98
      <>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><>

o NATURE CONSERVANCY PROPOSES WEAKING ESA, INCREASING STATE
  SUBSIDIES TO LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY

o CNN POLL: 58% FAVOR EXPANSION OF WILDERNESS AREAS

o ENVIROS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS SUPPORT STRIKING MINE WORKERS

o BILL TO CONTROL SPRAWL KILLED BY DEVELOPER/REALTY LOBBY

     *****     *****     *****     *****

NATURE CONSERVANCY PROPOSES WEAKING ESA, INCREASING STATE
SUBSIDIES TO LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY
In a 1-27-99 news release/report/poll, the Arizona Chapter of the
Nature Conservancy, in partnership with the livestock industry,
called for "reforming" implementation of the Endangered Species
Act and massively increasing state subsidies to the ranching
industry. Among the proposed subsidies: paying ranchers for the
grass eaten by wildlife on their federal grazing allotments and
paying ranchers for "maintaining" public lands. These proposal
were deemed necessary by the Conservancy because environmental
laws are allegedly forcing ranchers to sell their lands to
developers.

In a sharply worded rebuttal, however, the Southwest Center and
17 environmental groups from Arizona and New Mexico reminded the
Conservancy that grazing is the number threat to endangered
species in the Southwest. We challenged the Conservancy provide
a single example of environmental restrictions leading to
subdivisions. The rebuttal is available at:
http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/activist/tnc.html

In a 2-4-98 editorial, the Arizona Daily Star approved of
coalitions between ranchers and environmentalists, but warned:

 "Some environmentalists are right to question some of the
 assumptions of the group, including rhetoric that styles
 environmental lawsuits a leading cause of ranch breakup. That is
 simply not so. Suits against federal agencies have at times been
 burdensome, and clearly outrage ranch folks. But the main reason
 rural landscapes are falling apart remains the state's explosive
 run-up of private land real estate values. To say otherwise blurs
 the issue and will lead to controversy.

 By the same token, advocating changes in the way the government
 administers the Endangered Species Act seems problematic too."
     ________________________________

CNN POLL: 57% FAVOR EXPANSION OF WILDERNESS AREAS
Fifty seven percent of voters checking on CNN's web site,
favor designating more federally protected wilderness areas.
Votes are still being tallied though the poll has been moved
to a back page. To vote, click on address below, scroll down
a few inches, and click on the wilderness yes button.

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/science/9902/09/utah.wilderness.enn/
     _______________________________

ENVIROS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS SUPPORT STRIKING MINE WORKERS
Environmental and religious groups in southern Arizona and Sonora
Mexico signed the following pledge of solidarity with Mexican mine
workers striking against ASARCO and the Grupo Mexico over anti-
worker, anti-environmental practices at the Cananea mine on the
headwaters of the San Pedro River. By firing workers assigned to
ensure that mining waste does not contaminate the San Pedro, the
Rio Yaqui, and the wells of Cananea, Grupo Mexico is creating
a situation similar to the 1970's when a massive waste spill
killed virtually all vertebrate aquatic life along 70 miles of
the San Pedro River.

  We stand today united in support of the striking miners in
Cananea, Mexico, who struggle for the basics of a dignified human
existence:  a fair wage, safe working conditions, health care, a
clean environment, and political freedom.
  We celebrate the power of organized labor to achieve these basic
dignities.
  We acknowledge that increasing corporate control of government
and public institutions often leaves labor and community groups as
the last defense against exploitation of workers, communities, and
their resources.
  We are alarmed that powerful corporations in the new global
economy ignore borders, laws, and human rights in pursuit of profit,
as the masters of capital turn neighbor against neighbor in a global
"race to the bottom."
  We believe that we must organize to transcend political, geographic,
and cultural barriers in order to challenge corporate power and
protect our communities, no matter what city, country, or continent
they inhabit.
  We therefore declare an alliance between the forces of labor,
environment, community, and religious, in support of the striking
miners in Cananea struggling to protect their community.
  We stand today in front of ASARCO headquarters in order to take
responsibility for corporations that are a part of our community.  We
call attention to ASARCO's destructive operations around the world--
such as the criminal environmental contamination in southern Peru--and
their relationship with Grupo Mexico.
  We demand justice for the strikers and environmental protection for
Cananea and the surrounding countryside.  We demand responsibility from
the corporations that would exploit them, including ASARCO and Grupo
Mexico. 
  We demand that Grupo Mexico negotiate a fair settlement of the strike
and invest in environmental protection and remediation in Cananea, and
that ASARCO and other transnational corporations that do business with
Grupo Mexico support these demands.
  We demand that the new global economy be shaped to put the needs of
people before profit, and sustainable development before exploitation
and environmental destruction.

SW Center for Biological Diversity   Arizona Earth First!
AFL-CIO Community Services of S.AZ         Labor Party, AZ chapter
Salt of the Earth Labor College      Sierra Club, Rincon chapter
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas                Tucsonans for a Clean Environment
Southern AA Central Labor Council          Derechos Humanos
Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros,
Metalurgicos y Similares de la Rupublica Mexicana      
Religious Task Force on Central America
Students, Actors, and Writers for Social Justice
     _______________________________

BILL TO CONTROL SPRAWL KILLED BY DEVELOPER/REALTY LOBBY
House Speaker Jeff Groscost (R-Mesa) is preventing an anti-sprawl
bill introduced by Carolyn Allen (R-Scottsdale) from being heard
in Arizona's house of representatives. The bill would stop wildcat
subdivisions by only allowing land to be subdivided three times
in ten years. A similar bill by and Ann Day (R-Tucson) is making
its way through the Senate, but even if it passes, must go before
Groscost in the House where it will meet certain death.

Heavily backed and lobbied by developers and realtors, Groscost
has made a career out of blocking growth control measures.



_____________________________________________________________________________

Kierán Suckling                               ksuckling@sw-center.org
Executive Director                            520.623.5252 phone
Southwest Center for Biological Diversity     520.623.9797 fax
http://www.sw-center.org                      pob 710, tucson, az 85702-710