Vol. 13 No. 5
Editor - Jan Weaver
415 Tucker Hall, MU 65211
by Jan Weaver
Every year for the last 18 years, the Goldman Environmental Prize has been awarded to a person or organization on each of the five continents and the island nations for their efforts to protect environmental quality. In these cases, as in many others, the conflict is not between people and nature, it is between people who depend on clean, healthy ecosystems for their livelihood and people who have no qualms about destroying those ecosystems for their short term economic gain.The following descriptions come from the Goldman Prize website: www.goldmanprize.org.
Africa: Hammerskjoeld Simwinga - Zambia. Heading up the North Luangwa Wildlife Conservation and Community Development Programme (NLWCCDP), Simwinga protects the biodiversity of the North Luangwa National Park while simultaneously improving village life in the region through micro-lending, education, rural health programs and women's empowerment. By linking biodiversity and sustainability, Simwinga increased income 100-fold, reduced poaching for ivory and bushmeat, returned wildlife, including hippos, Cape buffalos and black rhinos, to the area, and serves the needs of 35,000 people.
Asia: Tsetsegee Munkhbayar - Mongolia. Most of Mongolia's populations live in rurual poverty, only able to work part time as semi-nomadic herdsman, dependent on rivers to provide drinking water for themselves and their herds. However, over 30 tributaries of the Onggi River have dried up due to unregulated mining that uses high pressure water systems to extract minerals. Munkhbayar started his quest to help the Onggi by attending local council meetings as a representative for herdsman and eventually got elected. Representation and education raised awareness of the issue, so that the Mongolian Parliment passed a law in 2006 regulating mining and shutting down the worst offenders.
Europe: Willie Corduff - Ireland. When the Irish government illegally granted Shell Oil the right to run a pipeline across the property of over two dozen farmers, Corduff and his neighbors began a grassroots campaign to challenge the pipeline. In June 2005, after refusing Shell access to their property, Willie Corduff and four other men were jailed and only released after spending 94 days in jail. Protests ensued throughout western Ireland and since their release, the campaign to stop the pipeline and refinery has continued, with hundreds of people joining in the protests at the Shell refinery site, forming blockades. In August 2006, Shell agreed to reroute the pipeline - the new route is still unpublished.
Island Nations: Orri Vigfusson - Iceland. In the early 1990s Vigfússon started an innovative, multinational initiative to buy out the fishing rights of commercial salmon fishers whose over-fishing was causing the decline of North Atlantic Salmon. He represents a new breed of environmental leader who utilizes business skills and negotiating to effectively protect precious natural resources. Through his work, Vigfússon has succeeded in preventing the seemingly inevitable decimation of wild North Atlantic salmon populations. His North Atlantic Salmon Fund has raised $35 million, reduced open sea fishing by 75% and saved over five million Salmon.
North America: Sophia Rabliauskas - Manitoba (boreal region). In 2004, Rabliauskas along with several other community members led Poplar River First Nation in the development of a comprehensive land protection and management plan for their territory, 2 million acres of undisturbed forest land &emdash;a precedent-setting accomplishment among First Nations in the boreal forests of Canada. Rabliauskas's and Poplar River's current efforts are focused on securing permanent protection of their land from the Manitoba government. With that victory, they will seek a UNESCO World Heritage listing for a larger region of First Nations boreal forest.
South/Central America: Julio Cusurichi Palacios - Peru. Cusurichi, a Shipibo indigenous leader of the Peruvian Amazon, led the effort that in 2002 resulted in the creation of a territorial reserve for the isolated tribes inhabiting 7,688-square-kilometers, in one of the most untouched areas of the Amazon. He has been instrumental in bringing international attention to the existence of the indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation and stopping intrusion into their now legally recognized territory. Currently serving as an advisor with Federation of Natives of the Madre de Dios River and its Tributaries (FENAMAD), Cusurichi has faced violent threats on his life and false public attacks on his character from the illegal logging and mining entities opposed to his work.
The University of Missouri has its own environmental heroes, recognized each year with the Raven Award.
BEN DATEMA - The MU Environmental Affairs Committee began publishing an annual Environmental Impacts report three years ago. In 2006, Ben took on the responsibility of writing the report with the committee co-chair, Peter Ashbrook, the head of Environmental Health and Safety. Ben organized students to interview campus facilities departments and gather and update information on their operations. He compiled and edited the written reports for publication this past summer (http://committees.missouri.edu/document. php?docid=69). This year, Ben, along with other Sustain Mizzou students, began working with the Missouri Student's Association on sustainability issues. Thanks in part to his lobbying efforts, this past month the MSA Senate passed a resolution calling on the campus to develop a sustainability plan.
LAUREN RYAN - Beginning last September, Lauren started meeting with a local collaborative of utilities, a senior organization (AARP) and the local community action affiliate (CMCA). By the middle of November she had marshaled together, with the help of the members of the collaborative, enough materials to create 100 weatherization kits, and a list of nearly 40 volunteer students from the Four Winds Learning Community to install them. Over the course of three weekends she and her student teams visited a total of 45 homes and installed water heater blankets, window caulking, door insulation stripping, outlet insulation covers, and other materials. Lauren personally met with additional community members at the Family Resources Center to distribute the remaining kits and to talk about energy efficiency with them.
BioRegional Quiz - What are some of the "natural hazards" of summer in mid-Missouri?
WILDFLOWER WALKS: Wednesdays in May through May 23 5:30 pm Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Devil's Icebox Lot.
BIKE WALK AND WHEEL WEEK: Saturday May 12 through Saturday May 19. 12th - Kick Off 1:30 Flat Branch Park - Float Boats, t-shirts, Trail Ride & Walk; 9 am -6 pm MU Vet School, City Cycling Workshop, $10 must register. 13th - Cycle Recycle 1-3 pm Health Dept; 14th - Skate Party 6:30-8:30 Empire Roller Rink; 15th -Spring Health and Fitness Expo 5:30 -7:30 ARC; 17th - Scavenger Hunt 6:00 - 8:00 Grill One-5, 15 S. 6th (teams $10 fee); Bike Maint. &Commut. Tips 6:30 - 8:30, Walts; PedNet Project Open House 4:00- 7:00 Daniel Boone Bldg; 18th - Bike Walk Wheel Day 7:00-9:00 AM free breakfast around town for commuters "under their own steam"; 19th - Poker Ride 9:00 AM Walt's; Show-Me Yards Field Day 10:00 AM - 2 :00 PM; Organized Walk 12:00-4:00 Stephens Lake; Final Rally 2:00-4:00 Stephens Lake (food, music by Ironweed, prize drawings) http://www.pednet.org/
WEED & THIN PLANTS: Saturday May 12 10 am Forum Nature Area parking log. Bring gloves, tools, and pots for transplants.
TRIP TO "MAYAN RUINS": Sunday May 6, Silver Fork Creek in Boone Co to see the Bluebells. Depart from MDC parking lot [College Ave & Stadium] at 10 am. Stop for lunch at Heuer's Country Store. http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/
BABES IN THE WOODS: Saturday May 12, 10 am Runge Conservation Center Jefferson City. Kids 0-2 with caregivers, a sensory walk along the Naturescape Trail. Reservations required by May 12, 573-526-5544. Space limited.
LITTLE ACORNS: Saturday May 12, 2 pm Runge Conservation Center Jefferson City. Kids 3-6 with caregivers Learn about Momma Possums and their babies. Reservations required by May 12, 573-526-5544. Space limited.
WILD HAVEN BIOBLITZ: Saturday May 12 to Sunday May 13. Looking for people to help especially with insects, mammals, birds, amphibians and fungi, but all naturalists are welcome. http://columbia-audubon.missouri.org/
CONSERVATION KIDS CLUB: Tuesday May 15 6:30 - 8:00 pm Runge Conservation Center Jefferson City. Kids 6-13. Healthy Streams Program live aquatic inverts, clean up Wears creek and a Muddy FloatWear old clothes and shoes. No reservations required.
INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL: Saturday May 19 Rock Quarry Rd & Hinkson - Hinkson Valley Nature Sanctuary. Dress for outdoor work,& weather, bring gloves, loppers, pruners and saws if you have them. http://greenbelt.missouri.org/news.html
BEGINNING MAP AND COMPASS: Tuesday May 22 6:00-7:30 pm Runge Conservation Center Jefferson City. All ages. Learn to navigate with a topo map and a compass, be prepared to go outside. Reservations required by May 22, 573-526-5544.
GRAHAM STATE PARK & HERMANN TRIP: Saturday May 25 http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/events.htm
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/sustainableliving.php
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or http://foodcircles.missouri.edu/sources.htm
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
CITIZENS WATERSHED COMMITTEE: (573) 526-8916, Third Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Daniel Boone Bldg
COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GREENBELT LAND TRUST OF MID-MISSOURI: 442-4789, greenbelt.land.trust @gmail.com or http://greenbelt.missouri.org
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off or buy gently used doors, windows, hardware, tools, cabinets, appliances, unopened paint, fixtures - Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Saturday 8:00 to 1:00 pm, 1906 Monroe St. Columbia
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916, http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/index.htm 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Found., 1107 University Ave
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.
Answer to BioRegional Quiz - Ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, stinging nettle and poison ivy. For these hazards, the best advice is learn to recognize and avoid them, if you can't, wear long sleeves and pants tucked into socks and boots, use DEET on skin (apply to hands to apply to face) and Permethrin on clothes. When you come in, put your clothes immediately into the washer (hot soapy water - 30 minutes) and yourself into the shower (tepid soapy water for poison ivy and a personal inspection for ticks- look everywhere). Info on these at http://www.mdc.mo.gov/ - use the search engine
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.
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