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Friday, April 8th, 2016

Congressman Wants to Sell Wildlife Refuge to Private Developers

Author:     Alexandra Jacobo
Source:     Nation of Change
Publication Date:     April 6, 2016
 Link: Congressman Wants to Sell Wildlife Refuge to Private Developers
Stephan:   Everyday I scour about 80 publications, and several databases looking for reports on trends -- although they are not usually recognized as such by the writers of the reports I find. Some days are more depressing than others, but SR deals in facts not dreams or fantasies. I am always on the lookout for positive trends, and am saddened by their paucity. What I do see with increasing frequency is the corruption, moral and financial, as well as the overweening greed or elected officials at both the state and federal levels. And I am sorry to have to say this, but it is overwhelmingly Republican. Here is an example of exactly what I mean. Rob Bishop is a Republican of course, as well as the Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources; it is his committee that oversees the pristine lands that make up our common heritage. His uninterest in preserving them, and his corruption is so obvious it hardly needs to be mentioned.  And I am sure the people of Utah who seem to vote on "values" not good judgment will re-elect him.
Republican Representative Rob Bishop of Utah's First District

Republican Representative Rob Bishop of Utah’s First District

Representative Rob Bishop of Utah has authored a new bill to help with Puerto Rico’s debt crisis. The problem is that it includes a provision that would allow the sale and private development of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge.

Under the bill, 3,100 acres of the refuge to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico who could then sell it off to private interests. This means it could be developed on, threatening the animals that live there, including 12 endangered animals and plants as well as 190 species of migratory and resident birds.

Vieques National Wildlife Refuge was original an area where the U.S. navy conducted live munitions bombings. The bombings were halted in 2001 due to residents’ opposition and was then turned into a refuge. It is currently the fourth most popular refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge system.

It is unclear why Bishop is pushing for the refuge to be part of the debt relief bill. Not only did Puerto Rico not ask for the land to be put up for development, […]

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