#penokee

Penokee Impact Statement, an art exhibition

Penokee Impact Statement

  “An Environmental Impact Statement is a tool for decision making, describing the positive and negative environments effects of a proposed action.  Projects like the proposed Penokee open pit mine however, are driven by deeply held human values and emotional connections not included in an EIS.  In this exhibit, five visual artists will share their interpretation of an…

Susan Bence at WUWM 89.7 FM is getting to the bottom of the Wisconsin mining issue. Today she explored the arguments in favor of the mine. Tomorrow she will look at those who are opposed to the mine. It is some really top-notch journalism: 

http://wuwm.com/post/voices-support-proposed-penokee-mine

To see our documentary on the issue, take a look at our website to find a screening near you! 

Here’s a big thanks to everyone who came to our showing last Saturday. Over 100 people showed up to view the new doc and participate in a discussion afterwards. We give a very special thanks to Camp Bar for hosting us and Brad, Colin, and Devon for all their incredible work on this important documentary!

  P.S. For those who won documentary trivia, we promise your beers are forthcoming :)

http://www.change.org/petitions/wisconsin-senate-and-assembly-natural-resources-committees-say-no-to-mining-the-penokees

Above is a link to a petition that would be presented to ask for the stop of AB 426 in WI which would allow for the proposed Gogebic Taconite Mine in Ashland County, WI within the Bad River Water Basin on Lake Superior. Local citizens and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe are outraged at this attempt of Wisconsin's Governor Walker to force an international mining company with a history of pollution into the area without the consultation of locals. Open pit mining has historically lead to higher amounts of mercury and sulfuric acid in the water, which would disturb the delicate balance of Lake Superior. The proposed mine would ruin the wild rice beds which Bad River members harvest wild rice. This is a violation of Bad River's and all the Lake Superior Ojibwe's treaties and would endanger a vital tradition.

While the mine may have some economic benefits (the mine is proposed to be active for 35 years), they are short-lived and would leave us with degraded water sources. This is the trademark of mining as we have already seen in neighboring areas. In reality, the one with the most to gain from this mine is Governor Scott Walker, up for a recall election in November who is attempting to make good on his promise to create 250,00 jobs for Wisconsin. Unfortunately, his attempt to do so ignores his constituents and violates treaties between the Lake Superior Chippewa and the State of Wisconsin is 1837. The Gogebic Taconite mine is proposed to create between 600-2,000 jobs, a small fraction of his 250,000. Please sign and demand that citizen's voices be heard over Walker's election campaign promise greed. 

Below are links to more information on the bill itself, treaty law, and negotiations.

P.S. This legislation and mine particularly hit home for me, as I am a member of the nearby Red Cliff Band and my (half) sister is a member of the Bad River Band. Her father harvests wild rice from these exact endangered waters. She and I and the literally everyone in my family eat that wild rice every year. It disturbs me to think that someday soon not only will I and my family not be able to enjoy traditional manoomin from our home, but mine and my sister's children will not. This is water that we live on and has been part of our livelihoods for hundreds of generations and we hope for many many more. PLEASE PLEASE PASS ON.

http://conservationvoters.org/images/pdf/201112legcouncilmemo.pdf

  http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/01/25/wisconsin-endangers-a-sacred-tradition-73365

  http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/01/24/73401-73401

  http://www.weau.com/news/headlines/Wis_senator_rejects_mining_compromise_140942143.html 

  http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/ui_local_default.pdf

  http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/mining-legislation-all-but-dead-mb4cs1t-140952083.html 

  http://projects.propublica.org/recovery/item/20120201/22710 

  http://64.38.12.138/News/2012/004500.asp 

  http://intercontinentalcry.org/bad-river-chippewa-against-proposed-mining-legislation-in-wisconsin/

  http://www.wisbar.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=24013