Really? A buck thirty-five again? Is that all?

Goddamn this grazing fee thing pisses us off! Once again the BLM and the Forest Service are going to sell out our public lands at a debt to taxpayers by charging the ranchers $1.35 per month per cow/calf pair or 5 sheep.

$1.35

What can you get for $1.35 these days? 800+ pounds of native vegetation, the privilege to degrade streams, destroy soils, displace native wildlife, slaughter predators, and thwart legislation, that's what.

It's a downright bargain for the 18,000 Americans and corporations lucky enough to have inherited or bought a public lands grazing permit.

It's theft from the rest of us who care more about ecosystem integrity and watershed health.

Grrr....

SOTU SNAFU

"I'm directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power three million homes." - Barack Obama, January 24, 2012.

Translation: Fuck you, desert tortoise, golden eagle, bats... we're gonna give it all away.

In which we publicly thank the Arizona Game and Fish Commission

Dear Arizona Game and Fish Commissioners,

Thank you for coming to your senses and backing off the ridiculous policy of opposing all new releases of Mexican gray wolves until the recovery plan is complete. When you approved that in December, you looked like idiots. Now, however, you look more like rational human beings. Congratulations. We know it can't be easy to unanimously do something that's actually good for the environment and wildlife, what, with the composition of the Commission and all. (Nice hat!)

But, thanks. Replacing wolves lost to natural or illegal causes is the only way to de-incentivize the bad behavior of the wolf killers. We personally think it should be a 3-to-1 replacement rate to de-incentivize it even more, and we'd like you to consider 'evolving' your position even further.

We're so glad that the new year brought an about-face on this issue.

Sincerely,

The Landscapes

Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day

Obama bans uranium mining around Grand Canyon

The Obama administration banned new uranium mining claims around the Grand Canyon for the next 20 years, a move hailed by conservationists on Monday as key to the president's environmental legacy...

Yes. It is true. President Obama banned uranium mining in the Grand Canyon. But let's not forget that his legacy includes expanded offshore drilling, the BP oil spill, imprisoning a young activist seeking to disrupt improper mining projects, massive industrial solar development in western deserts, and probably, the Keystone XL pipeline. (We'd love to be wrong about this last one. UPDATED 1/18/12: Looks like we are wrong! Yay Obama!)

So when you are sending your little "thank you note" to Cowboy Ken, you might consider amending the text to read, "The Grand Canyon is one our nation's most beautiful and priceless treasures and deserves to be protected for future generations to enjoy. Ditto for the rest of America's public lands. Ahem."