It's all peachy keen to hear that everyone is against the big mine that is about to come through here. I'm all against it. If I think about it for a little while, I can tell you that environmental concerns, local hiring practices, and crafty advertisements are at the bottom of my list of reasons to not like a Pebble Mine. At the top is the fact that big powerhouses can and do simply impose their will to get what they want. Might not happen overnight, but over time- it does happen. Just a matter of time.
If I think about it just a little bit more- I can tell you that I can see through most people that claim they don't want a Pebble Mine. Why? Because these people that claim to be against this mine will most likely be the first in line to apply for jobs that will pay more than they can earn around here. Survival, greed, many other reasons. Peoples brains will shift gears from "I hate Pebble Mine" to "Well, I gotta pay the bills somehow." There will be stiff competition to latch on to one of these soon to be very desirable jobs. If you get one of these jobs, you are "up there."
Hopefully, these soon to be turncoats will do everything they can to stop this mine from happening. Which brings up another question. What can you do? Vote? Go to a rally? What next? I didn't go to the Pebble Mine Rally or whatever it was called because I had visions of it being nothing more than a room full of people whining and complaining. Isn't that what rallies are? To whine and complain? I don't know- I've never been to one. Seems like concocting a plan of some sort, rather than whining and complaining would make more sense. Like I said- I don't go to rallies, so I don't know all of what happens at them. Maybe someone can clue me in. Anyone that went to this Pebble Mine Rally- please tell me what happened.
The rally was a place to share, reflect, and plan for the future. It was a day to affirm the importance of the preservation and revitalization of Yupik culture. It was a day to show support for each other and affrim commitment to this uphill challenge. Rallies are a very important community building tool, used by Martin Luther King, Anti-War Activists and as well as other movements that required grassroots efforts by ordinary people for the truth to be heard and for the right thing to be done.
ReplyDeleteIt was gay. I'm serious-not just because Vernor was there- but because it was predictable and ineffective, news coverage was disingenuous. It was filled with the same old, same old. It's time for a new gimmick, the lax rally approach and the general disinterest of the public overall tells you something.
ReplyDeleteWell, it sounds like at least three people went. I don't think I'll be going to any Pebble Mine rallies anytime soon after hearing a couple different views on them. Sounds a little boring. I do have to wonder what kind of planning for the future went on, though.
ReplyDeleteWell, Anon/Dgr, since you are the same person, I'll speak to you as one person. If you were there or you knew anything about this event, you would know that it was hosted by 13,14,15, and 16 year old kids, one of whom was moved to tears when talking about her culture and what is at stake with this proposed mine. They spoke from the heart and no nothing about newspaper coverage or gimmicks. I think your comments are a poor reflection on you, not anyone else.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't there- that's why I was asking what happened in the first place. I tend to avoid using words that I can't even pronounce. I'll disable anonymous comments just as soon as I can figure out how, just for you.
ReplyDeleteIf you're reading this, please turn the page to: "Practice what you preach." There's more on this there.
ReplyDeleteGood grief!! "Can't we all just get along???"
ReplyDelete