The border wall: the truth about what we're keeping out

Someone please enlighten me if I'm missing something, but I'm really not getting how the proposed Border Wall is supposed to keep illegal immigrants out. Read some of the completely off-topic comments about the wall on the Sierra Club's blog.
How many times have we seen news clips showing illegals simply climbing over such obstacles before? Now show me a news clip of an endangered ocelot climbing over the wall, and I'll think about giving you my blessing to build it. The plain truth is, the wall isn't going to keep them out. In fact, its quite likely that the added obstacle will only create MORE environmental damage as they try to find other ways around/under/over. Historically, walls have been a grand gesture with often enough little actual effect. But that's just talking about humans.
I hate to break it to all of you, but humans aren't really my issue. In fact, I don't even really LIKE us.
Unlike a lot of people who are reading the Sierra Club blog, I'm not focusing my concern on my job (and I happen to work in an industry fairly well inundated with illegals) , or our country's economy (that's a whole other issue!) but on what the Sierra Club is SUPPOSED to be about: The land and the animals. Conservation. As they say "Explore, enjoy, and PROTECT the planet."
It is true that illegal aliens crossing the desert often leave trash behind. Big problem, right? So lets build a big stupid ugly wall around our entire country to keep them out, that'll solve it! Not. If you Arizonans are so concerned about this trash HERE is an idea for you: Why don't you and your local Sierra Club Chapter organize a clean up day? Now I'm not saying that solves the problem, but it certainly does help, instead of sitting there at your computer bitching about garbage and the economy. When is the last time you picked up an empty soda can you found on the side of the road, honestly?

Conservation Report Card

Ever wonder exactly how yours and other government representatives voted on a certain subject? Check out Defenders of Wildlife's Wildlife Conservation Report Card and see!
I'm in a split district and don't know my nine digit zipcode offhand (you might need it to view your specific representatives) so I've just browsed through the full senate reviews. It seems like we've got their ear now days when it comes to renewable energy and energy conservation, but we're not getting through on the topics of wildlife and land conservation. Every amendment to the farm bill seems to have been turned down. Sometimes (most of the time?) I wish I'd been born years ago when many of our representatives and even presidents were farmers, ranchers, and other such men and women who loved America's unique wildlife and wide open spaces. Sure, a lot of them still come from families with a TRADITION of farming and working and appreciating the land, but how many of them actually DO it?

Aerial Gunning Update: Please help stop it!

I wish I had the time to keep up with my goal of four or more LG articles a month, but with spring coming and the days getting longer my own days get longer as well! Never the less, here is the latest on Alaskan Governor Palin's anti-democratic attempts to continue the aerial slaughter of wolves and bears in Alaska.
As I've mentioned before, twice in the past when it has come to a vote Alaskan voters have voted AGAINST aerial gunning, and twice they have had their decision overturned. What is the point of living in a democracy if our votes mean nothing? And horror of horrors, Governor Palin is being considered for VICE PRESIDENCY? That's it. I'm moving to Canada. Mr. McCain, you should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking a bout it! Governor Sarah Palin is a politician of the worst sort, running smear campaigns against defenseless wildlife, and secretly trying to push bills through legislature that would strip Alaskan voters of their right to weigh in on key wildlife issues such as aerial gunning! Even if you care nothing for wolves it would be wrong to allow this sort of fascist manipulation to continue.
As always you can donate to Defenders of Wildlife to help them continue to run ads exposing Governor Palin's attempts to neuter Alaskan voters, or you can simply personalize and sign this handy petition.

Don't let them build a railyard in our state park, Arizona!

From SaveThePeak.org:

"Picacho Peak State Park and the surrounding areas are in danger. On November 29, 2006, the Pinal County supervisors unanimously voted to revise the general plan, allowing industrial use at the base of Picacho Peak. They gave Union Pacific a green light, encouraging them to purchase just less than 1500 acres of land at the base of the peak to build a mega railroad hump/switching yard. This yard will cover an area that is over six miles long and three miles deep, along the I-10 corridor.

A group of concerned citizens and experts voiced dozens of reasons to stop the rezoning, ranging from the adverse affect to the natural environment to a moderate chemical spill that would shut down I-10 for a minimum of 12 hours. The Pinal County supervisors did not waiver, dismissing the environment and public safety in favor of the slanted report, submitted by Union Pacific, showing economic growth.

This report was not site specific; the rail yard does not have to be built at the base of Picacho Peak for Pinal County to benefit from any potential economic growth. The Picacho Peak site was chosen because of the decrease cost to Union Pacific. In 2006, Union Pacific set an all-time quarterly record, growing 15 percent to $4.0 billion in operating revenue. They can afford to build at another location.

This yard will adversely affect the natural environment and future economic development of Picacho Peak State park area. We need your help to fight this “David and Goliath” battle -- with your support we can convince Union Pacific and the State of Arizona to choose an alternative site that does not destroy our coveted natural resource for generations to come. Click here to send a letter and to post your thoughts.

The decision now lies with State Land and the Governor. Please help preserve the peak for our future generations. Get involved now."

Picacho Peak is truly a land mark in Arizona. I call it 'Draco's Mountain' because for some reason to me I can just imagine a big ol' dragon perching up on that craggy peak. Passing it is a highlight of my trip every time I drive up from Tucson to Phoenix. Don't let the Union Pacific and the government desecrate our State Park! Go to SaveThePeak.org and voice your thoughts now!

They want to put a 6x3 MILE railyard here?! (damn blogger pictures aren't working AGAIN. Visit the Gallery!)

Saving Ethiopia's Wolves

While doing some research on Black-Backed Jackal's today, I rediscovered something I had long ago forgotten...the often mislabeled "Simian Jackal" is actually a wolf. I'd known them as Abyssinian Wolves.
What's more, the Ethiopian Wolf is a highly endangered creature, with likely less than 600 mature adults still inhabiting their home ranges in Afro-Alpine regions of Ethiopia. Threats include habitat loss and fragmentation due to increasing agricultural use of wolf habitat, human conflict, and domestic dogs, through the spreading of diseases which threaten wild wolves and also - Ethiopian Wolves being somewhat smaller and less aggressive than our North American wolves - through cross-breeding with wild or feral dogs.
The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme even has its own blog!
Check it out to help support their efforts to save what is probably the rarest canid species on the planet.

GreenPeace protection against Japanese Whalers

Hooray for a wish come true. Since I first heard the news about the Japanese intending to kill humpback whales for 'scientific research' the Greenpeace organization has been on my mind.
Now Japan has backed off of the humpbacks...but still intend to kill other whales including Fin whales and Minke whales..you can read more about it on the Greenpeace website.
I sometimes think people find Greenpeace to be too 'in your face' about their protection of environment and endangered species, but sometimes it is the only approach that works. On game reserves and in national parks in Africa individual teams of Park Rangers are often given exclusive guardianship over a specific animal, be it an endangered rhinoceros or elephant, or perhaps a pride of lions in order to protect them, with force if necessary from the danger of poaching. And Japan's plans to continue to kill protected whale species IS poaching. There is no scientific OR commercial basis for Japan's continued whale hunts. The market for whale meat is virtually non-existent at this point. Already whaling in Iceland has given up the ghost, due to the unmarketability of whale meat.
So what can you do to help? Aside from making donations to conservation organizations like Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, and Defenders of Wildlife, I encourage you to write to the tourism bureau of nations like Japan who refuse to concede to environmental science and let them know that you would never consider spending your hard earned money on a vacation to their nation until all unnecessary 'scientific' whaling ceases, and you would discourage anyone else from visiting as well.

Protect Cloud's Herd: Tell the BLM how you feel about wild horse removal

The end of the year brings many opportunities for you to help wild horses and burros. Write to the BLM about their plans concerning the Pryor Mountain wild horse herd, made famous by filmmaker Ginger Kathrens and the beautiful stallion Cloud.
Last year 7000 wild horses were removed from public lands, with plans to remove 4000 more in the next year. If I'm doing the math right (which might be doubtful) that's nearly half the wild horse population still roaming public lands. It is my belief that wild horses should A) remain wild and B) any necessary roundups should be put off until not only holding but TRAINING and REHOMING facilities can be built to cope with the influx of untrained and often unmanagable wild horses into a world already full of unwanted animals. There are more wild horses in holding facilities across the country than there are roaming the wild.
Another animal which has been let down by laws put into place to protect them is the wild burro of Big Bend State Park, Texas. Park employees have been shooting the animals, a practice apparently sanctioned by the Sierra Club (Sierra Club, por que?) in order to make room for the introduction of Big-Horn Sheep, a species which would increase big game hunting revenues.
If you would like to make your thoughts on any of these subjects heard, go to the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign website and click the links to email officials.