Native American Longest Walk 2 faces arrests in California - other local environmental new

Call for Action – The Longest Walk, Environmental Issues, Updates

In Order of Urgency and date relevance

Walkers and runners on The Longest Walk 2 in California are facing problems with Cal Trans on at least one of their routes and need your immediate help. There is a phone number and contact person to call in the text below. You can also contact Cal Trans through their website. Simply do an internet search for Cal Trans and a contact by email link will appear on their site. Shingle Springs is in EL DORADO COUNTY.

California attempting to stop Longest Walk Northern Route
By Brenda Norrell,
Posted on Fri Feb 15th, 2008 at 03:13:38 PM EST
Longest Walk runners risk arrests today to continue
SHINGLE SPRINGS, Calif. – The Longest Walk 2 Northern Route is combating an attempt by the California Department of Transportation to stop the sacred walk.
Jimbo Simmons, coordinator for the Longest Walk 2 northern route, said the California Department of Transportation is attempting to halt the walk now leaving Shingle Springs and heading east.
"We're going to walk today, even if we are going to be arrested," Simmons said on the live northern route broadcast on http://www.earthcycles.net/ from Shingle Springs Miwok Nation. "They can't stop us."
"We have permission. Grandfather Creator has given us the permission," Simmons said. "We're going to do it. If we have to walk over the mountain, we are going to do it."
Simmons asked people to call Julio Elver, chief officer on permits, 530-741-4403, and demand that permission be given for the sacred walk to continue through California to Nevada.
"Every step is a prayer," Simmons said. The walkers are now being joined by long distance runners. "In time of need, we call our runners."
Simmons said the sacred walk is underway because of the issue of survival for Mother Earth, to halt the destruction of the Earth, and for the continuance of the sacred way of life of Indigenous Peoples.
"This is a continuation of this 500 year struggle. The Longest Walk is one way of making those views known," Simmons said.
When the first walk departed Alcatraz in 1978, Congress was attempting to abrogate treaties. While some progress was made, the struggle continues as is obvious today in the attempts by California to halt the sacred walk.
Today, Friday, Feb. 15, young Miwok runners, including a group of fifth graders assisting with the sacred ceremonies, will run toward the snowline at the summit.

"We are in prayer. All of this land is our temple," Simmons said as runners gathered at noon.

Please call the Department of Transportation and demand that the Longest Walk be given permission to proceed without arrest.
Brenda Norrell, on the northern route
brendanorrell [at] gmail.com

Wetland in Newbury Park, California has uncertain future

A beautiful, and rare, wetland in Newbury Park faces an uncertain future as the developer/owner meets with city officials to discuss the fate of this beautiful property.

Clint, a MySpace member and local resident, is spearheading an effort to preserve the property. He has created a page for the property and is currently in the process of developing a strategy to engage the public in lobbying for the protection of this land, as opposed to its development.

That page is at http://www.myspace.com/sandbarwillow and this is a good time to get in on the issue and lend your support.


Simi Valley General Plan Update – Lobby for Preservation of Wildlife Corridors

The City of Simi Valley is currently updating its General Plan which is a blueprint for the future. There are three critical wildlife corridors within the City limits. The one under the most imminent threat of development is known as Hummingbird Creek.

One piece of property adjacent to the creek contains an oak meadow. It is slated for development. It is privately owned and Redbird is working to put together a coalition to see that property preserved and placed in the hands of the Department of Parks and Recreation or the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Hummingbird Creek forms the beginning of the wash system in Simi Valley. Although degraded by nearby development over the last two decades, it is still the only year-round source of water for wildlife in the entire mountain range north of the 118 freeway. It provides one of just three remaining places where animals can cross under the freeway. The privately owned property is a lovely oak meadow that provides grazing habitat and recreation opportunity. Once developed, all of that will be encroached upon dramatically and the value of this watershed destroyed.

http://www.generalplan.simivalley.org will bring you directly to their site. The comment period for the plan review is still open, but comments need to be made soon. I will be posting pictures today and over the next week of the Hummingbird Creek area. They will be in my profile page albums at http://www.myspace.com/redbirdsvision There are also archived articles available via internet on the wildlife corridor issue that appeared last year in the Simi Valley Acorn.
Please help with these urgent issues affecting native people and wild places.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Corina Roberts
http://www.RedbirdsVision.org

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