tagged w/ Upper Peninsula
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A "Suck You" Halloween Message from the Vampires at Rio Tinto/Kennecott Minerals: Suck the Anishinaabe and the Environment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8DZPyUFiB8
Happy Halloween from your friends at Rio Tinto - Kennecott.
We’re celebrating the holiday by blowing up a frickin rock
The Eagle is sacred you say – we think not.
When money’s at play – the Anishinaabe can rot
To the Indians we say – just go away - suck the tribe
To the elected we say - money’s at play – offer the bribe
Mass murder and what not – that’s how we roll.
The fun of raping Eagle Rock – right in the hole.
We’ve told our kids it’s no fun to camp
It’s more fun as a blood sucking vamp
To us the Upper Peninsula is a place to trash.
At Rio Tinto Kennecott – we’re monsters that mash.
Suck you………
This is ArchAngel: The Environmental Hitman
Evil is as Evil Does
This is ArchAngel: The Environmental Hitman does not encourage or promote violence against the evildoers – but we will expose them….A "Suck You" Halloween Message from the Vampires at Rio Tinto/Kennecott... more
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Read PR puff piece written by Michigan's largest newspaper supporting an acid mine with few benefits - and run by a company (Rio Tinto) charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, bribery and other crimes:
http://detnews.com/article/20110907/OPINION01/109070324/Editorial--Return-mining-to-the-U.P.#ixzz1XKFJvBbT
I was shocked to see that the Detroit News would favor a mining project that will have few benefits and allow one of the world's worst polluters to leave a mess behind in seven years (life of mine) while destroying sacred Eagle Rock.
Rio Tinto has also been charged with war crimes, human rights violations, bribery and other crimes across the globe.
Your editorial wrongly claimed the company is respecting a very old Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) sacred site for Native American tribal rituals, religious ceremonies.
In fact, Rio Tinto/Kennecott Minerals will be dynamiting through sacred Eagle Rock to make the entrance of the mine (They already bulldozed the area directly around Eagle Rock).
To the Ojibwa, it is the same as dynamiting through a large church/cathedral in any Michigan city.
It's an undisputed fact that the Rio Tinto/Kennecott has one of the most dismal environmental records in the world - and find it less costly to leave a mess and possibly face litigation - than simply clean up their toxic waste.
Ex-Governor Granholm and Governor Snyder have refused to answer questions about their (or close family) financial ties to the project including campaign donations, favorable land deals, luxury trips, wining and dining, stocks and bonds, any and all gratuities from the companies or their representatives like lobbyists, others, etc.
As a reporter for Indian Country Today, I submitted those questions to all the candidates for governor - and ex-Gov. Granholm - all refused to comment (It would be easy to say they had no financial connections but instead refused to comment - talk about red flags).
The mining company also uses dirty tricks - like redesigning a water system to be above ground (in the severe U.P. winters) to avoid the federal clean water act regulations.
Plus two Ojibwa campers charged with trespassing were not allowed to present a defense - literally told they could not present the defense they planned. Ironically, the judge's name is extremely close to "Kangaroo" as in Kangaroo Court.
Your editorial sounds like it was written by a Kennecott PR person.
I understand why the small U.P. newspapers (who get mine advertising) have not done investigative stories - but am disillusioned now that the Detroit News would write this puff editorial.
Shame on the Detroit News for selling out.
Even with tough times at the major newspapers, I never though the Detroit News would not investigate before printing Rio Tinto/Kennecott claims.
The above is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to scandalous info about this project - a few headlines:
• State allows DEQ/DNR financially going into bed with the mining company by allowing its employees to set up a non-profit using state addresses, state labor and state materials.
• DEQ/DNR hides a state-paid expert safety report critical of the project - stating major concerns over whether a vital trout stream would collapse into the mine. That would send a huge amount of sulfuric acid downstream into Lake Superior.
• During a reshuffle of the DNR/DEQ agencies - an interim boss approves mine permit despite serious objections from a state administrative law judge and others.
• Only half of the 150 employees will be locally hired.
• Company admits they will make billions in profits because of the size of the world record nickel deposit - but the state itself and local government tills will only get a small fraction of that cash.
That's why many have accused the company of making side deals with U.P. elected officials and others with decision powers - exactly like when Rio Tinto got caught and charged with bribing China officials and other countries.Read PR puff piece written by Michigan's largest newspaper supporting an acid... more
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Punish Democrats who no longer support your core values: Evil mining corporation buys off northern Michigan Democrats
Democrats in sheep's clothing don't deserve your support!
Vote for Green Party even if they have little or no hope of winning.
We are used to evil Republicans.
Now evil Democrats show their greed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that will soon be overrun by sulfide mines.
http://earthkeeperinitiative.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/evildemocratssupportsulfidemining/Punish Democrats who no longer support your core values: Evil mining corporation buys... more
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(Big Bay, Michigan) – Residents of the Yellow Dog Watershed, whose tranquil life in nature has already been degraded by preliminary mining activities in the area, are inviting everyone to join Native Americans and leaders of various faiths for a day of prayer and fasting, this Sunday near Eagle Rock to honor Lake Superior.
The Lake Superior Day (Sun., July 18) event near Big Bay in north Marquette County is named "Under the Shadow of Eagle Rock: A Day of Prayer and Fasting."
Residents of the Yellow Dog Watershed hope the public will join in prayers for the protection of the environment where Kennecott Eagle Minerals is building a nickel and copper mine.
The event will run from sunrise to sunset with rituals, prayers, meditations and ceremonies every two hours on the hour.
Lake Superior Bi-National Forum and Lake Superior Day
http://www.superiorforum.org/
http://www.lakesuperior.com/lsdmain.html
Lake Superior Day 2010 events:
http://www.lakesuperior.com/lsdcalendar.html
Northland College and lake Superior Day
http://www.northland.edu/lake-superior-day.htm(Big Bay, Michigan) – Residents of the Yellow Dog Watershed, whose tranquil life... more
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Story/photo about Drew Nelson song about sacred Eagle Rock came out in this week's Indian Country Today newspaper
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/greatlakes/96146394.html
Video with Drew Nelson song entitled "Eagle Rock (Song for the People)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ces63iissE
Contact singer/songwriter Drew Nelson who wrote Eagle Rock (Song for the People)
http://www.drewnelson.net
http://www.drewnelson.net/boozhoo/shows/
http://www.drewnelson.net/boozhoo/2010/05/20/please-read-2/
Book Drew Nelson:
1-616-706-2539
drew@drewnelson.net
Two Hearted Music L.L.C.
1251 Penn Ave N.E.
Grand Rapids MI 49505
http://www.myspace.com/drewnelsonmusic
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drew-Nelson-singersongwriter/45080254917
http://www.reverbnation.com/drewnelson
http://www.concertsinyourhome.com/artist/drewnelson.html
Eagle Rock (Song for the People)
By Drew Nelson
Sun breaks over the Yellow Dog
call the thunder down
feel the wind rush against my face
sound of the children
breaks the stillness of the morning
red tail rises not a mile from this place
all through the night
they kept the fire burning
all through the night they sang
call the directions, put tobacco down
prayers and smoke on the wind
Chorus:
Here at Eagle Rock we will take our stand
Here at Eagle Rock we will pray
for the healing of our people
and the healing of our land
there’s a fire burning in our hearts
Ishkoday (Anishinaabe for sacred fire)
Ishkoday
Ishkoday
For a thousand years
this place has been sacred
it will be for a thousand more
all those who lover her
cry all my relations
see the old ones sing
see the young ones grow
Chorus repeats:
There is a law higher than any government
places more important than a mine
a love that is greater than any corporation
ask the Eagle, ask the Bear, Ask the Pines.
Three brave American Indian women from Baraga, MI started the encampment at sacred Eagle Rock at sunset on April 23, 2010.
They are KBIC members Charlotte Loonsfoot, 37, and Chalsea Smith, 20, and Georgenia Earring of the Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux tribe in South Dakota.
The camp was triggered by mine officials ordering the trespassing arrest three days earlier (April 20) of non-native environmentalist Cynthia Pryor of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
Over the next month campers would build lean-tos, start several campfires including the sacred Grandfather Fire, pitch dozens of tents, pray, plant the Eagle Rock Memorial Garden, host the KBIC Tribal Council meeting (May 10), hear from many healers and elders including popular Native American singer “Bobby Bullet” St. Germaine (Lac Du Flambeau Tribe) and Lee Sprague (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians), and create a kitchen to store tons of food and other supplies donated by supporters.
A massive police raid began about 9 a.m. on May 27 as dozens of heavily armed state and local law enforcement officers swopped down on the camp at the order of officials with Kennecott Eagle Minerals.
Two members of Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve arrived moments before the raid to warn four campers that police were on their way.
Arrested Keweenaw Bay Indian Community members Chris Chosa, 28, and Charlotte Loonsfoot, 37, both of Baraga, Mich.
The other two campers present for the raid were Kalvin Hartwig (Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa), and Catherine Parker of Marquette – were ordered by police and mice security to leave with their vehicles.
Stand for the Land blog
http://www.standfortheland.com
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org
Save the Wild UP
http://www.savethewildup.org
Cedar Tree Institute
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
Drew Nelson photo:
http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac141/NavajoLutheranMission/Kennecott%20Minerals%20orders%20Ojibwa%20camp%20crushed/SingerDrewNelsonEagleRocksongwri-1.jpgStory/photo about Drew Nelson song about sacred Eagle Rock came out in this... more
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Ojibwa Treaty Rights trampled once again - by state of Michigan Kennecott Minerals
Stand for the Land Rally at Michigan Capitol: They sang, they cried, they proclaimed Mother Nature First! as Native Americans, non-Natives protested the raid on sacred Eagle Rock and continued the fight against Kennecott Eagle Minerals nickel and copper mine on the Yellow Dog Plains near Lake Superior
http://turtleislandproject.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/standforthelandrallymichigancapitolOjibwa Treaty Rights trampled once again - by state of Michigan Kennecott Minerals... more
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Eagle Rock Video Drew Nelson's Song:
Over 100 attended June 3 rally at the Michigan State Capitol protesting arrest of Ojibwa defenders at sacred Eagle Rock, sulfide mining in northern Michigan on the Yellow Dog Plains near Lake Superior in violation of Ojibwa Treaty Rights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ces63iissEEagle Rock Video Drew Nelson's Song:
Over 100 attended June 3 rally at the... more
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Indian Country Today newspaper story just before large police raid on sacred Eagle Rock:
KBIC Tribal Council meets with campers at sacred Eagle Rock and vows to continue fight against an international mining company that is building a nickel and copper mine on land that Ojibwa have rights to hunt, fish, gather under federal treaty but are denied their treaty rights to the state-owned public land now leased to Kennecott Minerals.
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/94594944.htmlIndian Country Today newspaper story just before large police raid on sacred Eagle... more
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American Indians and non-natives are encouraged to visit the northern Michigan campsite that is blocking a sulfide mine - as in sulfuric acid - from being built under Sacred Eagle Rock.
Levi Tadgerson, an Anishinaabe man who loves and respects the environment, narrates this video that invites everyone to join the encampment at the base of Eagle Rock - the sooner the better because a confrontation between mine owners, the police and those protecting Sacred Eagle Rock could happen at any moment.
Tadgerson is a 22-year-old Northern Michigan University senior and member of Bay Mills Indian Community.
In the video, you will see the many amazing things happening to protect Sacred Eagle Rock including an appearance by popular American Indian singer/songwriter Elder Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI - an elder of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe in Wisconsin.
He sings and leads a thank you drum under the shadow of Sacred Eagle Rock.
This video was shot on 4/29/2010.
Background:
Eagle Rock has been a sacred place to hold ceremonies since the Ojibwa tribe was created and was seeded to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) under treaties with the American government.
The multi-tribe encampment, that could be raided by mine guards and police at any moment, is blocking the Eagle Mine Project by international mining giant Kennecott Minerals and its parent company Rio Tinto.
KBIC member Glen Bressette Jr., 38, of Harvey, Michigan brought a rare legally-permitted Eagle has been received to award feathers to those who honor their tribes by protecting sacred Eagle Rock and other honorable actions.
Dozens of people from numerous tribes have spent days at the camp - and many others have brought supplies to the remote site on dirt roads about an hour from any city.
The state of Michigan has claimed ownership to the land - but the lease with Kennecott only takes effect when the mine has secured all permits.
Opponents say the mine must still get a federal EPA groundwater permit - but under a technicality the mine owners say they do not need the permit and recently put up “No Trespassing” signs.
The American Indians rushed to the sight after Kennecott ordered the arrest of longtime mine opponent Cynthia Pryor of Big Bay, MI on April 20, 2010.
Pryor was out for her usual walk on the Yellow Dog Plains when she spotted a bulldozer - and refused to leave saying the mine still had an EPA permit pending.
Pryor is a member of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.
Among the Ojibwa tribes from Michigan and Wisconsin on sight are KBIC, Lac Du Flambeau, and Bay Mills Indian Community.
As of April 30th, the mine guards has not confronted the campers - but the day before ordered no still or video cameras are allowed. That has campers worried about why what they do not want videotaped or documented - thus nerves are high.
When a reporter arrived a short time later - the campers allowed him on the sight and this story was videotaped.
For more information call:
1-906-401-0109
The video was produced by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI, which has founded numerous youth, faith and Native American related environment projects.
Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI - a member of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe in Wisconsin.
He is a well-know longtime native singer:
http://www.bobbybullet.com
Petition to support Cynthia Pryor
www.savethewildup.org/jailed/petition
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve:
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org/blog
Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP):
http://www.savethewildup.org
SWUP Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20079015072
SWUP Causes on Facebook
http://www.causes.com/causes/46130?recruiter_id=60587135
Stand for the Land blog:
http://standfortheland.com
Stand for the Land flickr photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49633257@N03
Stories by Gabriel Caplett and others on the “Headwaters: Citizen Journalism For the Great Lakes” website.
http://headwaters.net
Headwaters stories include opposition to the Kennecott Eagle Mine project and alleged international crimes and bad acts by Kennecott Mining and its parent company Rio Tinto:
“Taking a Stand”: Sacred Site Celebrated Despite Citizen Arrest
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/taking-a-stand-sacred-site-celebrated-despite-citizen-arrest
Pryor Ordered to Leave Jail:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/pryor-ordered-to-leave-jail
Cynthia Prior Pleads Not Guilty:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/cynthia-pryor-pleads-not-guilty
Cynthia Pryor arrested at mine property:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/citizen-arrested-for-%E2%80%9Ctrespassing%E2%80%9D-on-public-land/
Eagle Mine Concerns Raised at Rio Tinto Meeting:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/audio-rio-tintos-annual-general-meeting
Upper Peninsula Mine Threatens Sacred Tribal Rights:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/upper-peninsula-mine-threatens-sacred-tribal-rights
Rio Tinto Stomps on Indigenous Rights in Upper Peninsula of Michigan:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/rio-tinto-stomps-out-indigenous-rights-in-upper-michigan
Kennecott Minerals parent company Rio Tinto accused of crimes ranging from bribery to espionage to violating mining act:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/uk-serious-fraud-office-to-investigate-rio-tinto
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-employees-charged-with-industrial-espionage-and-bribery
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-pleads-guilty-to-breach-of-mining-management-act-again-2
USA Today and Washington Post stories from Associated Press by writer John Flesher article about Chauncey Moran, vice chairman of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and a volunteer stream monitor
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-09-08-276323347_x.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/08/AR2007090800356.html
More stories and info about Chauncey Moran:
http://www.waterkeeper.org/ht/d/OrganizationDetails/id/707
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AP05J20091126
Mining Journal stories:
Native American activists protest at Eagle Rock 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543341.html
Mining Journal Editorial: Cooler heads must prevail in mine protests 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543354.html
Pryor pleads not guilty to trespassing: Mining opponent arrested at Kennecott operation 4/21/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543227.html
Mine foe Pryor remains jailed 4/22/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543253.html
Rally Held at Eagle Rock
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543014.html?nav=5006
Mining Journal Video of Rally:
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543018.html?nav=5056
DEQ mine decision questioned 1/16/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/539169.html
Yellow Dog Plains on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Plains
Yellow Dog Plains Pix via Wikipedia By Maynard Leon and Kirill Zikanov (Wiki username Kirillz)
Trouble on the Yellow Dog Plains:
http://savethewildup.org/files/swup/265.pdf
GRANHOLM, DEQ DECISION CONDEMNED BY U.P.
http://www.ausableanglers.org/files/members/RIVERWATCH48.pdf
Protect the Earth: Part 2, Walk to Eagle Rock By Michele Bourdieu
http://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/protect-earth-part-2-walk-to-eagle-rock.html
State of Michigan Info on Eagle Mine Project:
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3311_4111_18442-130551--,00.html
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.orgAmerican Indians and non-natives are encouraged to visit the northern Michigan... more
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When officials with the Eagle Mine Project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula arrested Cynthia Pryor for trespassing in April 20, 2010, they didn't count on the public outrage over the jailing of this 58 year old grandmother and longtime environmentalist.
In this video, Pryor explains what happened before and after her arrest.
Cynthia Pryor of Big Bay, Michigan belongs to several environment groups including serving as the the Sulfide Mining Campaign Director for the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve. Her attorney, Kevin Koch of Negaunee, MI, says Pryor wants a jury trial on the misdemeanor charge.
Pryor is scheduled for a pretrial court hearing at 1 p.m. on May 6. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and or a $250 fine.
The video was produced by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI, which has founded numerous youth, faith and Native American related environment projects.
Petition to support Cynthia Pryor
www.savethewildup.org/jailed/petition
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve:
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org/blog
Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP):
http://www.savethewildup.org
SWUP Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20079015072
SWUP Causes on Facebook
http://www.causes.com/causes/46130?recruiter_id=60587135
Stand for the Land blog:
http://standfortheland.com
Stand for the Land flickr photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49633257@N03
Stories by Gabriel Caplett and others on the “Headwaters: Citizen Journalism For the Great Lakes” website.
http://headwaters.net
Headwaters stories include opposition to the Kennecott Eagle Mine project and alleged international crimes and bad acts by Kennecott Mining and its parent company Rio Tinto:
“Taking a Stand”: Sacred Site Celebrated Despite Citizen Arrest
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/taking-a-stand-sacred-site-celebrated-despite-citizen-arrest
Pryor Ordered to Leave Jail:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/pryor-ordered-to-leave-jail
Cynthia Prior Pleads Not Guilty:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/cynthia-pryor-pleads-not-guilty
Cynthia Pryor arrested at mine property:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/citizen-arrested-for-%E2%80%9Ctrespassing%E2%80%9D-on-public-land/
Eagle Mine Concerns Raised at Rio Tinto Meeting:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/audio-rio-tintos-annual-general-meeting
Upper Peninsula Mine Threatens Sacred Tribal Rights:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/upper-peninsula-mine-threatens-sacred-tribal-rights
Rio Tinto Stomps on Indigenous Rights in Upper Peninsula of Michigan:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/rio-tinto-stomps-out-indigenous-rights-in-upper-michigan
Kennecott Minerals parent company Rio Tinto accused of crimes ranging from bribery to espionage to violating mining act:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/uk-serious-fraud-office-to-investigate-rio-tinto
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-employees-charged-with-industrial-espionage-and-bribery
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-pleads-guilty-to-breach-of-mining-management-act-again-2
USA Today and Washington Post stories from Associated Press by writer John Flesher article about Chauncey Moran, vice chairman of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and a volunteer stream monitor
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-09-08-276323347_x.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/08/AR2007090800356.html
More stories and info about Chauncey Moran:
http://www.waterkeeper.org/ht/d/OrganizationDetails/id/707
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AP05J20091126
Mining Journal stories:
Native American activists protest at Eagle Rock 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543341.html
Mining Journal Editorial: Cooler heads must prevail in mine protests 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543354.html
Pryor pleads not guilty to trespassing: Mining opponent arrested at Kennecott operation 4/21/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543227.html
Mine foe Pryor remains jailed 4/22/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543253.html
Rally Held at Eagle Rock
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543014.html?nav=5006
Mining Journal Video of Rally:
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543018.html?nav=5056
DEQ mine decision questioned 1/16/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/539169.html
Yellow Dog Plains on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Plains
Yellow Dog Plains Pix via Wikipedia By Maynard Leon and Kirill Zikanov (Wiki username Kirillz)
Trouble on the Yellow Dog Plains:
http://savethewildup.org/files/swup/265.pdf
GRANHOLM, DEQ DECISION CONDEMNED BY U.P.
http://www.ausableanglers.org/files/members/RIVERWATCH48.pdf
Protect the Earth: Part 2, Walk to Eagle Rock By Michele Bourdieu
http://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/protect-earth-part-2-walk-to-eagle-rock.html
State of Michigan Info on Eagle Mine Project:
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3311_4111_18442-130551--,00.html
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.orgWhen officials with the Eagle Mine Project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula arrested... more
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(Marquette, MI) - Dozens of youngsters from across Michigan created recycled holiday cards and homemade tea bags for gifts this weekend during the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper's Eco-Christmas Workshop at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.
The Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team hosted the workshop from 1-4 p.m. across from the children's library attracting several mothers from the Lower Peninsula and a teacher from Paradise in the eastern Upper Peninsula who plans to bring the idea into her classroom.
While finding ways to entertain and educate her children while her husband checked out job offers in Marquette, Tara Strong of downstate Grand Blanc brought her young daughter and baby son to the Upper Peninsula Children's Museum and then the Peter White children's library.
“My husband is here interviewing for a residency position for after med school,” said Strong. “We just found out about the project from the librarian.”
“I love it. I love the recycling idea. We're also on a very limited budget and so I really like the idea of recycling and hand making things. I think it's great.”
Strong said she and her daughter “are having great fun.”
“I've been making crafts,” said four-year-old Anja Strong. “I made a tea bag and I have a honey bear stick”
Joined by her brother and a friend, 18-year-old NMU EK Student Team member Ellen Lindblom said the end of the semester meant lots of scrap paper lying around the university.
“School just ended and people have lost of papers left over” that was cut into tiny pieces by NMU EK team members, said Lindblom, an NMU freshman “You put it in the blender with a little bit of water and you blend it until it looks a little bit chunky like this.”
“You put it in a screen flatten it out - pat the water out,” said Lindblom, while using a towel and iron to dry and flatten the multicolored wet paper as 21 year-old NMU EK Student Team Director Ben Scheelk of downstate Charlevoix used a small hair dryer to speed up the process.
“We took a towel and pressed the water out to speed up the drying process a little bit,” she said. “Then flattened it out a little harder with an iron. I think it looks nice.”
His hand atop the lid on a blender that whirred with red, blue, purple and white bits of paper, Mike Robinson, a 21-year-old NMU senior geography major, from downstate Grosse Pointe, said the project is a “good holiday craft.”
“We are taking some scrap paper from various places and construction paper and making it into some pulp in a blender with some water,” said Robinson, a member of the NMU EK Student team.
Pressing the bits of soggy paper into a screen with borders, 16-year-old Negaunee High School junior Phil Lindblom said “this is what they call extreme pulp.”
“I am taking this wet paper and putting it on these screens and pushing water out of it,” said Lindbloom, whose sister is a member of the NMU EarthKeepers. “I am making new paper which is pretty exciting.”
Escanaba native Carole Beck, who teaches in third through fifth grade at the White Fish Township Community School in Paradise, said she'll take the NMU EarthKeeper's idea into her classrooms and maybe make Valentines Day cards.
“We're trying to figure out how we could create the screen there that would be the only thing that we would need extra,” Beck said. “We should be able to do that.”
The students put out bowls with spearmint, raspberry leaves, juniper berries and rose hips that the youngsters used to “make a green tea - a detoxifying beautiful beverage,” said 21-year-old NMU EK Student Team Event Coordinator Amanda Emerson of Cary, Ill. “We also have honey sticks to go along with the tea.”
The herbs were donated by Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore and the Marquette Food Co-op.
“You just wrap those up herbs in an eco-friendly coffee filter and tie it with a string in a nice little bow and there you go,” said Emerson, an NMU Senior Majoring in International Studies (emphasis on Latin America) and Earth Science (emphasis on rocks and minerals). “There's your gift - a homemade card and homemade tea bags.”
Protecting the earth and teaching the young to respect the planet are major goals of the EarthKeepers, said 21-year-old NMU EarthKeeper Leandra Dziesinski of Alpena, MI.
“It's very important to care care of your things and the earth is absolutely our thing - it's where we're at - so we have to take care of it we only have one earth, said Dziesinski, an NMU senior graduating in May with a bachelor's degree in marketing. I think if we have a happy, safe and a clean place to live that just makes our population that much more happy.”
In September, the NMU EarthKeepers cleaned up hundreds of pounds of litter at the Upper Dead River Falls, a popular student hangout, Scheelk said.
The NMU EK Student Team is the youth wing of the Upper Peninsula EarthKeepers, an interfaith environment group involving over 150 churches and temples across northern Michigan.
The EarthKeeper Initiative is co-sponsored by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and 10 faith communities: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) and Zen Buddhist.
For more information on the Michigan EarthKeepers email or call the following contacts:
Ben Scheelk, Director of NMU EK Student Team
bscheelk@nmu.edu
231-675-0121
Rev. Jon Magnuson, Co-Founder of EarthKeeper Initiative
magnusonx2@charter.net
906-228-5494
Greg Peterson, news reporter and volunteer media advisor for the EarthKeepers and other projects
earthkeeper@charter.net
906-401-0109
U.P. EarthKeeper Team:
http://www.upearthkeepers.org
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
Nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership in Marquette, MI
http://www.superiorwatersheds.org(Marquette, MI) - Dozens of youngsters from across Michigan created recycled holiday... more
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(Marquette, Michigan) - A student environment group from Northern Michigan University honored “Make A Difference Day” by picking up hundreds of pounds of litter and garbage at a favorite youth party spot around the Upper Dead River Falls in Marquette, Michigan.
The rubbish collected by the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team on Saturday (October 24, 2009) included rusty box springs, a smashed vehicle windshield and a plethora of beer bottles and cans. Some of the beverage containers were very old because they had the old pull-top design.
The Upper Dead River Falls is a rugged area with sandy hills, steep trails, rocky cliffs, a lengthy series of waterfalls and the obvious remnants of many campfires.
“I just found a used diaper, a lot of glass, broken bottles, cans and cigarette wrappers,” said Ben Scheelk, 21, of Charlevoix, MI, director of the NMU EK Student Team.
“What really disappoints me is all the big things we are finding like bed springs and other rusty old metal things,” Scheelk said.
While looking at the rushing water, NMU EK Student Team Event Coordinator Amanda Emerson said "water is an important entity of the world and even though we have so much of it around here we have to cherish it that much more."
"We been out here so many times there is no one out here ever picking it up their trash,” said Emerson, 21, of Cary, Ill. (NW Chicago).
NMU Senior Chelsey Cebulsky said she was proud to participate in “Make A Difference Day” and “picking up this trash is a good thing to do for the environment.”
“I have been out here many times for the party scene but I was always the one carrying around a plastic bag telling everyone to put their cans in it - sadly not very many people listened,” said Chelsey Cebulsky, 22, a physical geography major from of Adrian, MI. "Get a trash bag and get rid of trash yourself."
NMU junior Ben Youren used gloves to carefully separated hundreds of pieces of shattered glass from the muddy soil on a hillside along the river.
“It looks like it is part of a windshield,” said Youren, 26, an English major. “I am trying to dig the glass out of here.”
The NMU environment group is the student wing of the interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Team that holds annual Earth Day environment projects across northern Michigan including planting over 12,000 trees this past spring.
Prior to the collection, the group sat in a circle at the NMU University Center and got a lesson in the importance of clean water from the co-founder of the Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Initiative.
“Almost 80 percent of the world is water and our bodies are 80 percent water, said Rev. Jon Magnuson, co-founder of the EarthKeeper Initiative and campus pastor for NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry. “There is a delicate balance when it comes to pH or the amount of acid in water and if that balance gets thrown off we can die.”
Magnuson said people who grow up in northern Michigan sometimes “take it for granted because we have so much water.”
“If you go to other places in the world you will see people who have to travel miles to get fresh water,” Magnuson said. “Their whole life is centered around accessing good water.”
The students clean up project may of had a preventative effect.
While the students were cleaning up the area, a pickup truck pulled up with a load of tires in the back. After talking briefly to the students, the two men in the truck pulled away.
“It looks like we prevented them from dumping a whole load of tires along side of the river,” Scheelk said.
Background on EarthKeeper Initiative:
The EarthKeepers are an interfaith environment group involving over 150 northern Michigan churches/temples.
The EarthKeepers are co-sponsored by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and 10 faith communities: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Quakers, Zen Buddhist.(Marquette, Michigan) - A student environment group from Northern Michigan University... more
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Author Joy Ibsen of Trout Creek, MI will sign her latest book "Unafraid" and host a presentation at 7 p.m. (CT) on Monday, August 24, 2009 in the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa.
A former resident of nearby Kimballton, IA, Ibsen will be singing and playing piano during a songfest that will include works from her first book "Songs of Denmark."
Co-authored by her late father, Rev. Harald Ibsen, "Unafraid" includes portions of sermons he delivered at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton, IA, followed by a fiction story about how his words impacted local parishioners.
The event is sponsored by the Danish Brotherhood Lodge 341 and the Danish Immigrant Museum.
It include songfest of Danish-American songs using a recently refurnished piano donated by the famous late Danish comedian Victor Borge.
Joy Ibsen is past president of the Danish Immigrant Museum board of directors.
Call Clayton Nielsen at 1-712-764-4343 or Annette Andersen at 1-712-773-2025.
Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, IA
http://www.danishmuseum.orgAuthor Joy Ibsen of Trout Creek, MI will sign her latest book "Unafraid" and... more
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12th Anniversary Retreat
Spirit of Place
Encounters of Spirituality and the Environment
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, Michigan
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/kayaktrips.html
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Wisdom in Wilderness: The Poetic Vision of Mary Oliver, a Spirit of Place kayaking trip retreat
Kayaking 40 miles along the shores of Lake Superior coastline
August 3-7, 2009
Cost: $850 (Limited to 10 persons)
Interfaith kayaking trip along 40 miles of Lake Superior shoreline, while reading journals of 16th Century Jesuit Missionaries to the Ojibwa tribe; discussions of spirituality and nature; hearty meals including smoked fish and homemade bread; Lodging in an Historic Inn and rustic lakeside cabins.
Facilitators: Rev. John Magnuson & Rev. Lee Goodwin
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God and the Bomb
Science, Faith and the Future of Nuclear Technology
Nov. 12-15, 2009
Pecos Benedictine Monastery, New Mexico
(20 miles north of Santa Fe and 60 miles from Los Alamos)
Historical perspectives on the development of the Atomic Bomb
Small group dialogues on the faith and science with psycho-social insights on the challenge of nuclear technology
Prayers and reflection with members of the Benedictine Community
Ethical considerations for the promise and threat of nuclear energy
Afternoons in Santa Fe and at the Los Alamos National Laboratory with daily hikes in the Sangre de Christo Mountains.
Presenters:
Larry Rasmussen, PhD., Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary
Robert Kraus, PhD., Deputy Director of Research and Development, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Facilitator:
Rev. Jon Magnuson, Director, nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute,
Cost: $850
Limited to 12 persons
Registration Deadline: September 1, 2009
Requires a $250 deposit12th Anniversary Retreat
Spirit of Place
Encounters of Spirituality and the... more
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This is the sixth of seven EarthKeeper columns being printed in northern Michigan newspapers about the planting of 12,000 trees across the Upper Peninsula.
The column was written by Catholic EarthKeeper member Kyra Fillmore, who fills numerous vital roles in all EarthKeeper Projects.
During the first two week of May 2009, over 12,000 trees were planted across the U.P. thanks to thousands of northern Michigan residents from over 100 churches and temples.
Officially called the EarthKeeper "communications coordinator for faith communities," Kyra Fillmore organized the distribution of the 12,000 trees to the 100 churches and temples. This was not an easy task.
With three young children vying for her attention, Kyra stayed calm as her phone rang off the hook each day for weeks. Kyra's children helped plant some of the trees and she made sure they were always first.
Her husband, Tim, was supportive and kept his cool even though their home must not have had a quiet moment for several weeks. Krya will tell you her faith gave her the strength to take care of a family and a huge project.
The project ran smoothly because of Kyra's ability to juggle 12,004 things at one time.
Thank you Kyra!This is the sixth of seven EarthKeeper columns being printed in northern Michigan... more
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This is the fifth of seven EarthKeeper columns being printed in northern Michigan newspapers about the planting of 12,000 trees across the Upper Peninsula.
This link is to the Mining Journal, the daily paper in Marquette, MI.
The trees were planted during the first two weeks of May 2009
The author is Rev. Jon Magnuson, EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder, campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and the executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI.
The EarthKeeper columns and news stories appeared in numerous U.P. newspapers including the Marquette Mining Journal, the Escanaba Daily Press, the Iron Mountain Daily News, the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette, the St. Ignace News, the Marquette Monthly and the Ironwood Daily Globe.This is the fifth of seven EarthKeeper columns being printed in northern Michigan... more
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Marquette, Michigan – During the first two weeks of May 2009, over 12,000 trees have been planted the interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Team across a 400 miles area of northern Michigan and in Minocqua, Wisconsin thanks to volunteers at over 100 churches and temples.
The trees were planted near homes, camps, churchyards, schools, parks and many other places by thousands of volunteers from ten faith traditions.
Children of all ages helped make the project a success and underscored why its important to protect the environment - it's their future at stake.
The EarthKeepers handed out over 12,000 red pine and white spruce seedlings at over 100 churches and temples across northern Michigan.
This video details some of the planting, distribution and preparation for the 209 EarthKeeper Tree Project that started on Earth Day 2009 with the planting of a three-foot white spruce at Presque Isle Park along Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan. Bishops and other EarthKeeper faith leaders blessed the tree as it was planted on a wooded hillside one day after a snowstorm.
In previous projects, the EarthKeeper Initiative has removed nearly 400 tons of hazardous waste from the environment - most of which was recycled - and involves the congregations of over 150 churches/temples from ten faith traditions in 50 communities, American Indian tribes, college students and other youth.
The EarthKeepers were founded in 1994 by Rev. Jon Magnuson, executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette and Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed Partnership.
In 2004, the bishops and other faith leaders signed the original EarthKeeper Covenant - pledging to actively protect the environment and reach out to Native Americans. The religious communities include Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddhist and the Quakers.
The group teams with Native American tribes including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). Another major partner is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that sent representatives to the collections
From 2005-2007, the group of adults and youth held an annual EarthKeeper Clean Sweep each Earth Day during which over 20,000 northern Michigan residents turned in household hazardous waste at 20 free collections sites across a 400-mile area involving all corners of the pristine Upper Peninsula.
With a message of encouragement from their faith leaders, enthusiastic congregations turned out during three-hour collections:
In 2005, over 45 tons of pesticides, herbicides, lead-based paint, batteries and many other hazardous substances from northern Michigan homes was turned in by residents during the first clean sweep. Partners included landfills and local governments.
In 2006, over 320 tons of electronic waste was collected including computers, keyboards, hard drives, other computer related components, televisions and cell phones. Nine semi-trucks transported the vast majority of the electronics to a recycler in the Lower Peninsula.
In 2007, over one ton of pharmaceuticals was turned in including more than $500,000 in dangerous narcotics. Pharmacists and law enforcement agencies were among the clean sweep partners and staffed each of the collection sites as required by federal law. The drugs were properly disposed in high-tech EPA-approved incinerators.
In 2006, the faith leaders and the head of the KBIC tribe gathered for a news conference with college students to announce the creation of the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student team. It was the first time these bishops and other faith leaders had been in the same room and many met for the first time.
http://www.upearthkeepers.org
http://www.superiorwatersheds.org
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.orgMarquette, Michigan – During the first two weeks of May 2009, over 12,000 trees... more
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