Episode Summary:

Chris Clarke unravels the intertwined issues of border politics and desert protection. This episode highlights the human cost of migration through some of the harshest terrains on earth, the Sonoran Desert, while advocating for more humane approaches to immigration and border policies. With a deep dive into recent statistics and personal stories, Clarke paints a moving picture of the realities faced by migrants at the US-Mexico border. The episode also emphasizes the significance of community support in environmental advocacy, underscoring the ongoing efforts to bring the podcast's message to broader audiences, such as the upcoming event at the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta in El Paso, Texas.

Key Takeaways:

The Sonoran Desert continues to serve as a perilous pathway for migrants, with numerous deaths highlighting the risks involved in such journeys. Initiatives like the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta are crucial for raising awareness about desert ecosystems and border politics. Community support is vital for the advocacy and dissemination of knowledge concerning environmental and social issues affecting the desert. The podcast episode is a call to consider humane border policies and recognize the humanity of those who make the treacherous crossing. Chris Clarke emphasizes the need for American society to embrace migrant neighbors, asserting that they bring resilience and the potential for community enrichment.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The border is itself an atrocity, a meaningless abstract flag waved to stoke hate by people who had never been within a thousand miles of the border place." – Chris Clarke
2. "Let people escaping tyranny come here as they will, and let us rid this place of tyranny as well as part of our usual obligation as hosts." – Chris Clarke
3. "These are the kinds of people I want as neighbors. They have shown they can persevere." – Chris Clarke
4. "Let Antares gaze down once more on a landscape of joy and peace." – Chris Clarke
5. "We regard graveyards as sacred land. Sites of slaughter and battle are hallowed ground. This Sonoran Desert has been sanctified by too many sacrifices." – Chris Clarke

Resources:

Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition: Hosts of the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta event. https://chihuahuandesert.org/

90 Miles from Needles Website: https://90milesfromneedles.com

Humane Borders Migrant Death Map: Statistics mentioning over 4,000 migrant deaths, used to highlight the narrative on border-related fatalities. https://www.humaneborders.org/migrant-death-mapping

The Border Chronicle: Melissa Del Bosque and Todd Miller provide top-notch reporting on the human rights issues involved with the border-industrial complex. https://www.theborderchronicle.com/

Explore the full episode for a deeper understanding of the impacts of border politics on desert ecosystems and human lives. Stay connected with "90 Miles from Needles" for more stories and advocacy on these crucial issues.

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary:

In this riveting episode, host Chris Clarke covers the urgent issue threatening millions of acres of public land in the United States. Buried in what Chris calls the "Bloated Billionaire Bailout," a budget rider proposed by Senator Mike Lee targets up to 3 million acres of public lands for sale. These lands, managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, span 11 western states. Chris urges listeners to take action by calling their senators to stop this dangerous rider that undermines public access to these vital natural resources.

Throughout the episode, a comprehensive discussion highlights the broader impacts of this potential land sale. Chris articulates how the rider threatens essential services, cultural survival, and the ecological balance of these desert lands. The discussion touches on contrasting visions for the use of public lands, with Mike Lee's push for privatization and development versus the preservation and conservation ethos championed by many environmentalists. Chris also outlines the economic dimensions of this conflict, emphasizing the potential loss of public use areas that provide significant recreational and environmental benefits to local communities.

Key Takeaways:

Legislative Threat:
A budget rider by Mike Lee threatens to privatize millions of acres of public lands in western US states, including critical desert ecosystems.

Conservation vs. Development:
The episode explores the tension between conserving public lands for ecological, cultural, and recreational purposes versus commercial development and privatization.

Call to Action: Chris Clarke urges listeners to contact their senators to oppose the rider and protect these invaluable public lands.

Impactful Example:
Tucson's Sabino Canyon serves as a hypothetical example of the possible negative outcomes from land privatization, jeopardizing local public access.

Political Dynamics:
There is bipartisan opposition to the rider, with some Republican senators indicating they cannot support a bill that includes this provision. Public pressure has led to some revisions of the original rider, but significant threats remain.

Notable Quotes:

1. "We're talking about a public lands fire sale, and commercial interests are first in line."
2. "Mike Lee doesn't consider non-consumptive use as a real use of public lands. If it doesn't turn a profit, it doesn't count in his worldview."
3. "This would not be affordable housing... it's far more likely that housing built in Sabino Canyon would be extremely expensive."
4. "Our common heritage is threatened, and we've got to stop this rider from moving forward."

Resources:
Senate Switchboard: 202-224-3121
https://www.senate.gov

Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta information: https://chihuahuandesert.org/fiesta-information/

Map of eligible lands and data from the Wilderness Society: https://www.wilderness.org/articles/media-resources/250-million-acres-public-lands-eligible-sale-senr-bill

Fundraising link for El Paso trip: https://90milesfromneedles.com/elpaso

Jonathan Thompson's Substack The Land Desk: https://www.landdesk.org/

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.