Everywhere, billboards, television, newspapers, magazines, websites, you hear and see the many ways you can acquire property.
Opportunity to own property is the incentive that drives us to working hard, and getting a good education.
In America your right to acquire, possess and protect your property is celebrated as the American Dream.
Too often lately, protecting ones property becomes such a full time job, that little time is left for the income generating job.
Such is the case in South East Colorado.
For well over 150 years, the Indigenous of Pinon Canyon have built strong communities, raised first rate crops and cattle, guarded
antiquities, conserved the land and water, and most importantly they nurtured terrific children.
Things were going pretty well there, until 1983, when the U.S. Army came in with eminent domain and secured quite a chunk of land.
With promises from the Army never to expand or fire live rounds, the South East Coloradans hunkered down, re-adjusted, and moved forward.
Today, some twenty years later, the Army partnered with a group called The Nature Conservancy and declared want of more land.
Once again, the looming possibility of unjust displacement is placing cruel stress on the backs, hearts and minds of these fine Indigenous people. One has suffered a stroke and others are breaking under the weighty decision of paying attorney's or buying crop seed. Dealing with such scary unknowns, is presenting very real human health and rights issues.
To compound matters, South East Colorado was hit by a devastating blizzard, and the United States Department of Agriculture denied aid.
While the Colorado State Governments and the Federal Government can't circumvent nature, it is their duty to rein in any manmade action that jeopardizes the well-being of the Indigenous of Pinon Canyon.
A good start would be to:
a) Seek other locations, such as Nevada, for expansion. Nevada's infrastructure and topography are key components to Army's expressed needs for military training. And since Federal Government owns most all of Nevada, little or no private property would be interrupted.
b) If, after exhaustive searching of all possible locations in the U.S., S.E. Colorado is still targeted as the place Army wants, Army should posthaste provide: Exact number of acres they deem necessary for only...military training; projected number of years for alleged need.
c) Army promises full reclamation of any land used, returning land to original owners in its original form.
d) Army offers a reversionary clause whereas upon vacancy of said site, original owners will have first option to re-purchase their land at the same price Army originally paid.
e) Army promises not to disrupt any area considered to hold historical value, including such antiquities as petroglyphs, pictographs, Native American burial grounds, Graves of any Indigenous of Pinon Canyon.
f) Army promises to honor NEPA's Human Dimension - Custom & Culture, Equity analysis, Takings, Civil Rights, Disportionate burden, Environmental Justice, Social Well Being, and Cultural Stability.
g) Army will involve the Indigenous of Pinon Canyon and commissioners of any county that may or may not be affected, and honor their right to review and either deny or consent any further action.
h) Army will adhere to the Constitution of the State of Colorado, Article II Sec. 15, and absolutely extricate from any partnership that might put into "question whether the contemplated use be really public."
i) Also under Article II Sec. 15, Army will promise "That private property shall not be taken or damaged for public or private use, without just compensation.
What can you do? Help your elected public servants enforce justice for all.
__________________________________________________________________________
Response from Governor Ritter
Subject: RE: Justice for all
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:53:23 -0600
From: Governor.Ritter@state.co.us
To: Farm_Cowboy@msn.com
Dear Roni,
Thank you for your email. The Governor and his staff appreciate you taking the time to write in your thoughts and concerns about this important issue.
Your email was received and is on file for the Governor's review.
Thank you.
Correspondence Staff
--- Office of Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. |