Just the Facts ... and Then Some

JUST THE FACTS ... & THEN SOME

by Caren Cowan, Publisher New Mexico Stockman

Still Time to Stop the Slaughter

Comments are due on January 9, 2023 on the proposal for the US Forest Service and USDA Wildlife Service to use aerial snipers to gun down feral livestock in the Gila Wilderness.

See the New Mexico Stockman Facebook page or email caren@aaalivestock for draft comments

Comments should include: 1. Name, address, phone number, and organization represented, if any; 2. Title of the project “Gila Wilderness Livestock Removal” on which the comment is being submitted; and

3. Specific facts and supporting information for the responsible official to consider.

Commenter names, addresses, and email addresses will become part of the public record.

Written comments may be delivered in person or by mail to:

Gila National Forest, Attn: Planning Program 3005 E. Camino del Bosque Silver City NM 88061. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Comments may also be submitted by email to: comments-southwesterngila@usda.gov. For additional information, contact the Forest Service at (575)388-8201.

This situation has more to do with politics than it does livestock.

Then there is keeping warm and cooking

For most Americans natural gas is a clean and affordable fuel they use to cook, heat their water, and provide warmth in the winter. Millions of Americans appreciate its benefits, even if they don’t think about them very often, according to Paul Guessing, the Rio Grande Foundation.

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich wants to eliminate it. He wrote in the New York Times that “working to electrify our vehicles, homes and businesses is a critical part of achieving economy-wide net-zero emissions.”

Of course the electricity for this zero emissions must come from wind and solar. With nationwide blackouts this winter, it is clear that this option is not ready for prime time.

And, no one is talking about the cost of green energy. Utility prices are already sky high. The shame is it is the poor that suffer the worst consequences of this rush to renewable. ▫