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NMD to Put Water on Refuge |
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Thursday, 09 July 2009 12:13 |
As temperatures are expected to reach 110-degrees in southern Arizona this weekend, a group of humanitarian volunteers left this morning to place jugs of water on migrant trails that cross the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.
As temperatures are expected to reach 110-degrees in southern Arizona this weekend, a group of humanitarian volunteers left this morning to place jugs of water on migrant trails that cross the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.
No More Deaths stopped putting water on the refuge after a littering citation was given to volunteer Walt Staton last December.
In hopes of reaching an agreement with the wildlife refuge, a letter signed by 70 organizations was sent to refuge manager Mike Hawkes on June 16 asking for a meeting by July 1. Hawkes replied on July 6 suggesting to instead have a “virtual meeting by email.”
No More Deaths called a public conference yeseterday to announce its intention begin putting water on the refuge. Rev. Gene Lefebvre, a retired Presbyterian minister, quoted from the congressional act that governs the Fish and Wildlife Service which Mr. Hawkes works for.
The act etablishes “a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man…”
“We would be delighted to help (Mr. Hawkes) carry out this purpose,” Lefebvre said.
Continuing to address Mr. Hawkes, Lefebvre said, “The time has come for us as people of faith and conscience. Tomorrow, we will place water on the wildlife refuge as we have done in the past. We are doing this not as an act of defiance to you, or your agency. But because sometimes bureaucracy and its rules get in the way, distort truth and cause deaths. We invite you to be responsible for human life, as well as wildlife. Come join us tomorrow.”
Rev. Robin Hoover, founder of Tucson-based humanitarian group Humane Borders, called upon all federal land managers to “become humanitarians themselves, by adopting policies that are proven to save lives.”
“It is a crime according to human rights law, and a sin according to sacred texts, to deny water to humans,” Hoover said.
Volunteers gathered this morning in Arivaca to drive out to the refuge and place caches of water jugs at four points where trails cross West Arivaca Road.
No More Deaths plans to put Buenos Aires back on its weekly water routes to check how many bottles are used and clean up any discarded jugs and other trash.
Walt Staton, who will be sentenced in August for his littering conviction, emceed the event, concluding with “tomorrow, the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge has a choice: Litter or Life? We stand for life, and we hope tomorrow the wildlife refuge will also stand for life.” |
