HITS&MISSES BY KATHARINE BIELE @kathybiele
MISS: Study Buddies
If you had $10 million, how would you waste it? How about on a government study? That’s where “they” say all good ideas go to die. Enter Utah Sen. Mitt Romney with his really bang-up idea of what to do about the shrinking Great Salt Lake. First, let’s just acknowledge that this shrinking is a bad thing. The surface of the lake recently fell to the lowest level since records began in 1847, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. And things are just going to get worse. It’s not just bad for the birds, it’s potentially life-threatening for people. There are organizations with real plans. Ducks Unlimited is working to offset water usage by improving efficiency, the Deseret News reported. “That project piped open ditches, delivering more water to wetlands and to the Great Salt Lake.” And there’s so much more. But then there’s Romney, who along with Reps. Chris Stewart and Burgess Owens want to spend $10 million for a study. They might want to read up on climate change first.
Grow your own.
8 | JULY 21, 2022
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MISS: Fossils Fueled
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CITIZEN REV LT IN A WEEK, YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
Public Records Primer
Ever wonder how you get a public record— you know, the ones that are, by definition, “public?” You can’t leave it up to the media anymore to do the work for you. While governments really do want to keep every little thing to themselves, you as a citizen should know your rights and hold your elected officials to account. While the Legislature is working to make it harder, there are still many who understand the importance of transparency. It shouldn’t take a Ph.D. to put in a request, although it may take a little money. The GR AMA 101 In-Person Workshop will explain the ins and outs of the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). Besides going over the general provisions and requirements, the class will also provide instruction on classifying records and the document appeals process. If you can’t make it in person, there are online videos that might help. Taylorsville State Office Building, 4315 S. 2700 West, Thursday, July 28, 9 a.m., free. https://bit.ly/3zbgM7m Video: https://bit.ly/3zaJsgo
Oh, and speaking of climate change, what about the elephant in the room— burning fossil fuels? Utah is madly trying to preserve them, to breathe life back into the Darth Vader of the industrial world. In the latest intervention, a Utah judge thinks it’s a good idea to spend state money for the Uinta Basin Railway to haul oil back and forth. “Increasing transportation options to the Uinta Basin, particularly by rail, will result in numerous benefits to the communities, public governments and private sector actors within the Basin,” The Salt Lake Tribune quoted the judge saying. You know, of course, those benefits are economic in the short term— not environmental or health-related. Say goodbye to acres of wildlife habitat and say hello to more carbon pollution and possible oil spills along waterways. What could possibly go wrong? And just because oil is better than water, the Trib reports that developers passed off a shady deal to give water rights to a stalled oil shale project.
Native American Summit
HIT: Good, Better, Best
Latino Conservation Week
There’s a saying: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good. But the conservative political trope has long been that electric vehicles are bad, and consumers—especially liberals—are stupid for buying them. Why? Because of where the electricity for their batteries comes from. While it’s true that coal in Utah does fire up electricity, that’s not the whole story. “Bits and pieces of their power come from solar, wind, hydro and nuclear. Gas-powered cars, however, rely entirely on gas. A double whammy of turning crude oil into petroleum and then puffing emissions out the tailpipe,” writes Motor Biscuit. So, rejoice in the news that Salt Lake City has the second highest growth in hybrids/EVs since 2014 and Utah the third highest in the nation, according to the Deseret News. Let’s not make this political. Let’s make it breathable.
You may not realize that “Utah is home to approximately 59,000 American Indian/ Alaska Natives, and we have tribal members representing more than 20 nations who call Utah home.” That’s not nothing. The 2022 Governor’s Native American Summit brings together state and tribal leaders, community stakeholders and Utah’s Native American community to learn and celebrate. “Our conference theme, Elevating Ourselves: Restoring Balance by Connecting With Our Cultures, was inspired by the growing desire among Native people to learn more about their cultures and how cultural knowledge can help us overcome life’s challenges.” Breakout sessions that focus on education, health/mental health, cultural preservation, economic development, and civic engagement. University of Utah, A. Ray Olpin Student Union Building, 200 S. Central Campus Drive, Thursday, July 28, 9 a.m. Free/register at https://bit.ly/3Aj3o1U
Tracy Aviary is among many organizations celebrating Latino Conservation Week, bringing a connection to the outdoors and natural resource conservation. Among the many events, the aviary and Jordan River are sponsoring a Paddle the River canoe trip to learn about environmental conservation and visit the Jordan River Nature Center. Another event—Food in Culture—is “an interactive presentation of sustainable ancestral farming practices applicable in the modern world. Through art and food, we will talk about the milpa as a symbol of identity and share cultural memories in a group.” You may also participate in a trail cleanup and bike ride, or just gaze at the stars. Jordan River Nature Center,1125 W. 3300 South, South Salt Lake, Saturday, July 23, 9:30 a.m., free. For this and all events: https://bit.ly/3ci902p
