BLM Public Workshop-Advisory Board Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder that this is coming up this Monday, June 14th through Tuesday, June 15th. Please attend if you can. The schedule is printed below.

Related post: https://nickolesphotography.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/blm-public-workshop-in-denver/

BLM WILD HORSE AND BURRO ADVISORY BOARD MEETING and PUBLIC WORKSHOP – scheduled for June 14 & 15, 2010 in Denver, Colorado.

Please attend if you can, this is an important opportunity to speak out for the horses and burros. Please encourage the press to attend as well-this board has done little to represent the public for years but many people will be attending for the horses and burros and it is time to ask the Board to consider the public’s opinions and solutions.

If you are not able to attend please submit a written statement to the board. Comments may also be e-mailed to: Ramona_DeLorme@blm.gov. Those submitting comments electronically should include the identifier “WH&B Advisory Board Meeting Comments” in the subject of their message and their name and address in the body of the message.

The event will take place at the Magnolia Hotel in Denver, Colorado.

Schedule:

I. Advisory Board Public Workshop Monday, June 14, 2010 (8 a.m.–4 p.m.)
8 a.m.—Open Workshop & Introduce Board Members
8:15 a.m.—Meeting Format and Guidelines
8:30 a.m.—Introduction of Secretary’s Initiative
Break—(8:50 a.m.–9 a.m.)
9 a.m.—Treasured Herds
Break—(9:50 a.m.–10:10 a.m.)
10:10 a.m.—Preserves
Break—(9:50 a.m.–11:15 a.m.)
11:15 a.m.—Sustainable Herds
Lunch—(12:05 p.m.–1:30 p.m.)
1:30 p.m.—Adoptions
Break—(2:20 p.m.–2:45 p.m.)
2:45 p.m.—Animal Welfare
3:35 p.m.—Process-Related Feedback
4 p.m.—Adjourn

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 (8 a.m.–5 p.m.)
*sign up by noon to speak at 3pm, expect to have only 2 min to speak.
8 a.m.—Call to Order & Introductions
8:15 a.m.—Old Business, Approval of December 7, 2009, Response to Recommendations
9 a.m.—Program Updates: Gathers, Adoptions, Budget, Facility and Pipeline Reports
Break—(9:45 a.m.–10 a.m.)
10 a.m.—Program Updates (continued)
Lunch—(11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.)
1 p.m.—New Business
Break—(2:45 p.m.–3 p.m.)
3 p.m.—Public Comments
4 p.m.—Board Recommendations
4:45 p.m.—Recap/Summary/Next Meeting/Date/Site
5 p.m.—Adjourn

For the sake of our wild ones...

BLM Public Workshop In Denver

BLM PRESS RELEASE:

The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Will Conduct Public Workshop and Meeting in June in Denver.

The Bureau of Land Management announced today that the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a public workshop and hold a regular meeting in June at a two-day event in Denver. The workshop on Monday, June 14, will provide the public with a unique opportunity to express their views, comments, and suggestions regarding Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s wild horse initiative, which he and BLM Director Bob Abbey announced last October. The Board will hold a regular meeting on wild horse management issues on Tuesday, June 15.

The public workshop and the Board meeting will take place in Denver, Colorado, at the Magnolia Hotel, 818 17th Street, Denver, Colorado, 80202. The hours of the Monday workshop are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time; the Tuesday Board meeting is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. The hotel’s phone number for reservations is 303-607-9000. The business agendas for the public workshop and Board meeting can be found on page 26990 of the Thursday, May 13 Federal Register (http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-11351.pdf).

On Monday, June 14, the public will be able to provide feedback and input concerning Secretary Salazar’s initiative, the details of which can be accessed at the BLM’s Website (www.blm.gov); the specific Web address is http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro/national/initiative.html.

On Tuesday, June 15, the public may address the Advisory Board at an appropriate point in the agenda, which is expected to be about 3 p.m., local time. Individuals who want to make a statement should register with the BLM by noon on the day of the meeting at the meeting site. Depending on the number of speakers, the Board may limit the length of presentations, set at three minutes for previous meetings. Speakers, who should address the specific wild horse and burro-related topics listed on the agenda, must submit a written statement of their comments, which may be sent electronically to the BLM by accessing the following Web address: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro/wh_b_contact_us/enhanced_feedback_form.html. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO-260, Attention: Ramona DeLorme, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, 89502-7147. Written comments pertaining to the Advisory Board meeting should be submitted no later than close of business June 7, 2010.

For additional information about the meeting, please contact Ramona DeLorme, Wild Horse and Burro Administrative Assistant, at 775-861-6583. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may reach Ms. DeLorme at any time by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board provides input and advice to the BLM as it carries out its responsibilities under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. This law mandates the protection, management, and control of these free-roaming animals in a manner that ensures healthy herds at levels consistent with the land’s capacity to support them. The BLM manages about 37,000 wild horses and burros that roam BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states; the agency also feeds and cares for more than 35,000 horses and burros that are maintained in short-term corrals and long-term Midwestern pastures.

The Advisory Board meets at least twice a year and the BLM Director may call additional meetings when necessary. Members serve without salary, but are reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses according to government travel regulations.

Please, if you can attend this meeting, do so. It’s important that we have as many people show up for this workshop as possible.

Pryor Mountain wild horses of Montana

DC’s March For Mustangs Highlights

So many of us wished we could have attended this rally in DC. For those that couldn’t, here are some highlights from the event. My thanks to all of you that were there on behalf of our wild horses!

(Click on the individual links below)

Some of the best coverage of what is actually happening to our wild horses was in this segment by CNN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell. A must watch: http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2010/03/25/jvm.horse.round.up.cnn

DC Rally (from The Cloud Foundation): http://thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/dc-rally/

Getty Images

Wild Horses Kick the BLM in the “Burro” in DC by Steven Long as it appeared on R.T. Fitch’s blog: http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/wild-horses-kick-the-blm-in-the-burro-in-dc/

Singer/songwriter Clay Canfield performs during the March for Mustangs rally in Lafayette Square, across from the White House, in Washington, Thursday, March 25, 2010. (The actual link to the photo: http://1click.indiatimes.com/photo/0fHD80FftNe1w?q=White%20House

Clay singing his awesome song, Wild Horses

Purchase/download the song, “Wild Horses” – part of the sale proceeds goes towards helping the wild horse preservation efforts: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/canfield3

Horses, People and a Meeting of Minds (by R.T. Fitch):
http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/horses-people-and-a-meeting-of-minds/

Wild Horse Documentary Wows Crowd in DC (by R.T. Fitch): http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/wild-horse-documentary-wows-crowd-in-dc/

March for Mustangs… the Call to Stop the Roundups Goes Global (from The Cloud Foundation): http://thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/march-for-mustangs-the-call-to-stop-the-roundups-goes-global/

Video from R.T. Fitch:

By John Holland (President of Equine Welfare Alliance – as posted on Horseback Magazine)

WASHINGTON, (EWA) – The demonstration was great, but you really got the feeling of being in a dictatorship! Much of this might be because of the recent anti-health care bill demonstrations and threats, but I have not felt this atmosphere since the 60s.

A guy came around us, climbed the stairs and stood at the top with the armed guards and used a zoom lens to take photos of all of us individually. Funny thing was that one of the guards thought he was with us and tried to throw him off the steps because we were not allowed to touch a single step. Another of the other guards stopped the first guard. It just shows what a stupid bunch we are dealing with. I just couldn’t help thinking about the Keystone Cops.

I especially loved it when they called out the mounted patrol on us. Many of us immediately migrated toward them. One of the horses was a huge gray that did not have a body shape we could identify. I asked his mount what breed it was and he ignored me. Only their leader would talk and he was an asshole. I was so tempted to say “I have been around horses all my life and never seen one before who had two assholes” but discretion got the better of me.

I told him that if they were looking to intimidate us, they picked the wrong crowd! I said I face three times that many horses every morning for their feed. He said “We are not here to intimidate you.” So I figured that meant hey must be have been there to do something more physical.

I used to marvel that I was able to roam the halls of Congress as freely as I was, but that is changing. It is darker and more brooding every time I go. Reuters and AP were both there, so we should see more!

From Janet Carabello (Colorado Advocate):

It was wonderful to be a part of this protest/rally! We mingled and made new friends while we exhibited our cause with signs and chants. The march to the DOI took us past the White House, the Old Exec. Office Bldg., and along 17th Street, so we captured the attention of many tourists and vehicles. The reception at the DOI was cold and stonewalling, but we really dialed up the vocal protesting and caused the security guards to be on high alert. We finally got the petition handed out to a staffer who came out to collect it. Then the mounted police showed up and of course we all loved the horses!!! I saw some smiles on the cops faces. My personal highlight was getting to talk to Hope Ryden and sharing the cab ride to the Capitol to meet with Sen. Bennett’s staff. I think our cause was heard, but we have to keep up the fight and do more followup. And more protests!!! We missed you Pam!

Hope Ryden, author of - America's Last Wild Horses

From Linda Hanick (Colorado Advocate):

Thanks for posting this Pam! It was an exhilarating time in DC. I do feel that we were a voice in DC–on the street, in the Senators’ and Representatives’ offices, in the rally and protest, in the hotel and restaurant, and even at Kinkos. I had my poster printed there and the young man who helped me was awestruck by your photo and couldn’t believe that there were still wild horses. We talked about the horses for quite a while, and when I was ready to pay, he just smiled and said “You have a great day!” That made my day! I was at the very end of the march from the White House to the BLM offices, and it was an impressive sight seeing scores of people for blocks in front of me marching down Pennsylvania Avenue–all with banners and signs. I stopped to pass out flyers to people on sidewalks and as made my way to the BLM building.

Linda with Sandy Elmore

The photo below is courtesy of Simone Netherlands:

Simone Netherlands, John Holland, R.T Fitch and Rob Pliskin. Simone said that President Obama has seen this banner three times now. Twice in Las Vegas and now in D.C.

Video, “We Sing For The Horse Nation” by Sandy Elmore (Montana Advocate)

Stay current with Wild Horse News: http://nickolesphotography.com/HTML/wildhorseinformation.htm

Disappointment Valley…A Modern Day Western

From Filmmaker James Kleinert:

America’s wild horses are in jeopardy! Disappointment Valley exposes mismanagement and corruption within the Bureau of Land Management.

Here’s how you can help:

1) Call President Obama (202-456-1111) and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar (202-208-3100). Demand a Congressional investigation into the Bureau of Land Management. Ask for independent studies on statistics of the wild horses and do NOT rely on the BLM statistics. They are flawed and misrepresent the truth.

To contact your congressman, visit: www.house.gov

2) The R.O.A.M. Act is currently sitting in the Senate Committee of Energy & Natural Resources as S. 1579.

Please contact the Senators on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee and ask that they support the R.O.A.M Act (S. 1579).

www.senate.gov

3) Share this video and information with friends and family. Most people don’t know wild horses still roam the west, let alone that they are being rounded up and slaughtered. The public has fought to support these horses in the past. We can do it again! The more people who become aware of the issue, the better chance they have for survival.

www.theamericanwildhorse.com

New Cloud Documentary Premieres This Weekend

Wild stallion Cloud of the Pryor Mountains

From The Cloud Foundation:

“Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions” premieres Sunday evening, October 25th, 2009 on PBS Stations nationwide. This program is the next chapter in the exciting life of the charismatic stallion, Cloud, and the wild horses of the spectacular Arrowhead Mountains Of Montana.

Watch a trailer of the program at the link below:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1226379302/feature/96

Plan to watch this with your children, your grandchildren, nieces and nephews and anyone not aware of the plight of these magnificent animals. Start a dialogue about how to save the remaining wild horses. Have the kids write letters (many hand-written letters) and get these letters sent to the appropriate agencies/representatives (addresses provided below). Have the children talk to their friends, their schools, whoever will listen about the plight of our living legends. Now is the time to involve the next generation of wild horse advocates before there are no horses left to fight for.

Every little girl or young cowboy that has dreamed of having a horse of their own, (but for various reasons can’t have one at home) actually owns many horses – all of the wild horses belong to them. Their horses to cherish, admire and protect. The BLM wild horses belong to each and every one of us. If more people knew what was happening to their horses, I’m sure much more would be done to save them.

Contact your Senators and ask them to support S.1579, the Senate Version of the Restore Our American Mustangs Act (ROAM).

Contact Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar
exsec@ios.doi.gov or 202-208-7351
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240

Contact President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

BLM
Director: Mike Pool (Acting)
E-mail: Mike_Pool@blm.gov
Deputy Director (Operations): Mike Nedd (Acting)
E-mail: Mike_Nedd@blm.gov
Chief of Staff: Janet Lin
E-mail: janet_lin@blm.gov

BLM Washington Office
1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5665
Washington DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3801
Fax: 202-208-5242

When writing, please be sure to mention that it’s not just the BLM managed wild horses that you care about – all of our wild horses need and deserve protection including the horses living on US Fish and Wildlife Service lands and National Parks Service lands.

And from The Cloud Foundation:

Phone calls to make:

Ask for the release of the older horses and reform of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program – fax your comments as well:

White House Switchboard – 202-456-1414 (fax: 202-456-2461) Ask for Senior Advisors: Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod. Ask for Michelle Obama too, her office is recieving a tremendous number of calls and they need to continue.

Call your Senators – switchboard 202-224-3121 and ask that they support S1579, The Restore our American Mustang (ROAM) Act.

Call the Senate Committee of Natural Resources – 202-224-4971 (fax 202-224-6163) Email here. ask that they push the ROAM Act through immediately– it must go up for a vote soon in the Senate.

RELATED STORIES:

https://nickolesphotography.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/shaman-of-the-pryor-mountains/

https://nickolesphotography.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/clouds-image-pryor-mtns-mt/