January 2018 Green Fire Times

News & Views

from the

Sustainable Southwest

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY

COMMUNITY LEARNING AND EDUCATION TOP 10 ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES HEALTH ACTION NEW MEXICO DEMOCRACY IS A VERB January 2018

Northern New Mexico’s Largest Distribution Newspaper

Vol. 10 No. 1

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Green Fire Times • January 2018

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Vol. 10, No. 1 • January 2018 Issue No. 105 PUBLISHER

Southwest Learning Centers, Inc. A non-profit educational organization (est.1972)

News & Views

from the

Sustainable Southwest

Winner of the Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Outstanding Educational Project

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Seth Roffman

GENERAL MANAGER

Jeff Norris DESIGN

Green Fire Production Department COPY EDITOR Stephen Klinger WEBMASTER

Karen Shepherd CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Miguel Angel Acosta, Samia Assed, Colin Baillio, Mi’raj Bukhari-Frayer, Makai Lewis, Michael Jensen, Mary Ann Maestas, Douglas Meiklejohn, Elena Ortiz, Kendra Pinto, María Perez, Seth Roffman, Kim Smith, Bianca Sopoci-Belknap, Aaron Tenorio CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Coco Mariajose Alcazar, Seth Roffman, Rebecca Sobel, Bianca Sopoci-Belknap

ADVERTISING SALES 505.989.8898 Greenfireadvertising@gmail.com

CONTENTS OP-ED: Community Resilience in the Face of Adversity — Earth Care . . .. . .. . .. . .. 7 I Am, We Are One — Aaron Tenorio . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 9 OP-ED: Native Rights — Elena Ortiz. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 11 OP-ED: Protect the Sacred — Kendra Pinto. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .13 OP-ED: Indigenous People Deserve a Just Transition! — Kim Smith and Makai Lewis . . 16 OP-ED: Health Action New Mexico — Colin Baillio . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 19 OP-ED: Democracy Is a Verb — María Pérez . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .21 OP-ED: Community Learning and Education, for Change — Miguel Angel Acosta . . ..23 OP-ED: A New Hope — Samia Assed . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 25 New Mexico Dreamers in Action . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 26

CO-FOUNDING PUBLISHER a n d ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Skip Whitson / Barbara E. Brown

The Santa Fe Refugee Collaborative — Mi’raj Bukhari-Frayer. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 27

DISTRIBUTION

OP-ED: The New Mexico Environmental Law Center’s Top 10 Environmental Stories to Watch in 2018 — Douglas Meiklejohn . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 28

Linda Ballard, Barbara Brown, Co-op Dist. Services, Frankie Garcia, Nick Garcia, Scot Jones, PMI, Daniel Rapatz, Tony Rapatz, Gay Rathman, Wuilmer Rivera, Denise Tessier, Skip Whitson, John Woodie

CIRCULATION: 30,000 copies Printed locally with 100% soy ink on 100% recycled, chlorine-free paper

Newsbites . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 15, 37 What’s Going On. . .. . .. . .. . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 38

GREEN FIRE TIMES

c/o Southwest Learning Centers, Inc. P.O. Box 8627 Santa Fe, NM 87504-8627 505.989.8898, swlc@nets.com © 2018 Green Earth Publishing, LLC Green Fire Times provides useful information for community members, business people, students and visitors—anyone interested in discovering the wealth of opportunities and resources in the Southwest. In support of a more sustainable planet, topics covered range from green businesses, jobs, products, services, entrepreneurship, investing, design, building and energy­—to native perspectives on history, arts and culture, ecotourism, education, sustainable agriculture, regional cuisine, water issues and the healing arts.

Green Fire Times is widely distributed throughout north-central New Mexico as well as to a growing number of New Mexico cities, towns, pueblos and villages. Feedback, announcements, event listings, advertising and article submissions to be considered for publication are welcome.

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ON THE COVER

Earth Care Youth Ally Veronica Toledo (Navajo) addresses a crowd at a rally against the proposed Sandoval County Oil and Gas Ordinance. Toledo is a 10th-grader at the Santa Fe Indian School. © WildEarth Guardians

Green Fire Times • January 2018

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OP-ED: EARTH CARE

I

n January 2017 Earth Care partnered with Green Fire Times to curate an issue themed around “Community Resilience in the Face of Adversity.”

One year later, we’ve asked voices from impacted communities throughout New Mexico to take stock and offer their reflections and rallying cries in anticipation of another year in the trenches. As we are reminded time and time again, the threats our communities face are not new—they are simply the unfiltered expression of the oppression, exploitation, greed and corporatism rooted in this country’s history.

We must face the reality that not all of the wounds of the past have healed. In fact, some are infected—and the infection has gone viral. We can no longer ignore

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© Bianca Sopoci-Belknap

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE in the FACE of ADVERSITY

toxic masculinity and violence, sexual predation, the disregard for black lives, the devastating consequences of fossil fuel extraction, the theft and exploitation of Native lands, white supremacy, and the impoverishment of our communities to the benefit of the few.

With increasing levels of engagement and interdependence, we have the opportunity to build a new foundation. What is required is a willingness to reckon with injustice—to let the wounds bleed clean—to take an honest look at the difference between our values and our realities and to do the hard work in our hearts, our institutions and our communities to bring those into alignment. Many of the articles included in this edition challenge us to do just that.

Our collective immune system is responding.

O ur collective immune s y s t e m i s re s p o n d i n g, sending out alarms and rallying its defenses. From #MeToo to solidarity rallies in airports to unprecedented numbers of regular people running for office, America is experiencing a “civic renewal” of unprecedented proportions, and it is being reflected here in New Mexico.

We are lucky at Earth Care to be guided by the voices and vision of our young people, who are quick to point out any contradictions between our walk and our talk. Their leadership and the leadership of

Earth Care youth leaders Janet Gomez and Lavender Rodríguez at the 2017 Women’s March in Santa Fe

all whose voices have been marginalized must not only be acknowledged but also invested in. In 2018 let’s not limit our sights to municipal, state and midterm elections in New Mexico. Let’s invest in the organizing infrastructure and power building in our communities that will carry us through the next few years and position us to go beyond the pendulum swing of Republican to Democrat into a future of justice and true democracy. ■ Earth Care’s mission is to educate and empower young people and their allies to create healthy, just and sustainable communities. Learn about our monthly calls to action at earthcarenm.org

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I AM, WE ARE ONE

Today I went for a walk And witnessed pure beauty I heard the most beautiful sounds The swaying trees To the singing birds And the buzzing bees The empowering stream Composed into one symphony And as I listen to the biology Of this ecology I realize everything is whole Nothing a man nor machine Can recompose

I am one with the earth I feel whole And at this moment I feel the vitality.

I feel the pulse of a heartbeat.

The same heartbeat my ancestors had.

I feel my blood flow like earth’s river and streams.

The sun’s radiant light shining through the trees giving me warmth and solace.

It’s such a relief to be free Not only physically but mentally and spiritually Unbroken, uncaged I am a native american A dying breed

And as I take a rest from my hike I catch myself in a deep thought My mind is full of ideas I know that when I write My fingers start to bleed Because this pen is my life It’s my shield and my blade And I fight, but I also protect I love but I also respect What I have is a sharp mind And a deep intellect What I ask all of you is To disconnect to reconnect What do you expect to gain from a piece of machine?!

Only a distraction from yourself your surrounding and other human beings I also think what’s wrong with these people?

Can’t they see what they’re doing to the planet?

If they keep at it She’s going to die soon What next?

The sun? The moon?

We have to keep her healthy We have work with her We’re residents of this planet We don’t own her It’s the other way around We need to work with nature not against it When we first arrived on earth We were scared of nature Then we started to evolve Then we wanted the world to revolve around us And I can’t emphasize this enough but we need to love the world and take care of her Or else we won’t have a home

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I believe a better future A future without dirty energy No burning fossil fuels to make electricity No more corporate greed A life is more precious than a buck A piece of paper that has no real value Other than materialism My mind caged in a prison But yet many trees life’s are ended And that where I draw the line Homes taken from our wildlife So many species gone extinct Humankind got rid of wild lands in order to get more profit.

They poison our food with pesticides and fertilizers and genetically modified it.

And that’s not all...we are overpopulating the Earth and made an industrial world Which means that there will no longer be room for wild animals and there would be no more forests Just big ‘ol factories with a cloud of pollution Makes your emotions Out of proportions Like an acidic ocean When you think about it

Equality is what we want No sexism Or racism But in order to achieve this We need unity, solidarity We need to destroy the walls that are dividing us We all have a common ground Which is a dying planet That we need to revive So we could thrive And go on about our happy lives But were so self-centered Dismembered So I say no! I, we will not surrender I as a youth I want to voice my concerns I do it through music and poems I believe in my fellow youth We are the future I am the future I am We are one...

— Aaron Tenorio

Aaron Tenorio, aka MC Slader, is a poet and activist from Santo Domingo Pueblo. When he’s not in classes at the Santa Fe Indian School, he’s performing at shows and for the community.

Green Fire Times • January 2018

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OP-ED: ELENA ORTIZ

NATIVE RIGHTS An opportunity for cultural reckoning and healing E

For the past three years, Indigenous activists and our allies have gathered to remind the City of Santa Fe of its hypocrisy. This year, Los Caballeros De Vargas and the City attempted to thwart our right to gather peacefully. Using the racially charged event at Charlottesville as justification, supposedly fearing large-scale violent protest, they started the Entrada two hours earlier than scheduled. As we hurriedly gathered, they herded us to a corner of the Plaza, a “Free Speech Zone,” at the request of the ”permit holder.” When we resisted this violation of our First Amendment rights, they arrested seven of our allies.

The police then violently arrested Red Nation organizer Jennifer Marley of San Ildefonso Pueblo for attempting to access another part of the Plaza. She was charged with a felony—battery on a peace officer—which was not what the lapel cameras of the officers recorded.

All of the trumped-up charges against those arrested were eventually dismissed.

The City of Santa Fe, Los Caballeros de Vargas and the Fiesta Council attempted to silence us on that September day. We were not silent and will never be silent again. As the current administration in Washington, D.C. emboldens racists and supports the continued destruction of Turtle Island, we must rise in defense of our relatives.

Yes, monuments to racist white men are coming down, but the systems that they created are still firmly in place. The settler colonial state created by these men, acting on a ”divine mandate” from their death-and-destruction deity, is in direct opposition to our land-based cultures.

The Doctrine of Discovery is still the law of

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this land. The real work to be done across Turtle Island must be to fight that edict and the systems it perpetrates.

Dozens of Native and non-Native allies gathered to protest and call for an end to the Santa Fe Fiesta’s Entrada reenactment.

Our sacred places are under attack. From Standing Rock to Chaco Canyon, Indigenous youth and women-led resistance movements echo the cries of our ancestors, who fought and died for liberation and the protection of all of the living beings who inhabit our Mother Earth. We don’t erect monuments to our ancestors because they are not dead.They live on in the rocks, the trees and the land itself. Our sacred places are not filled with marble statues, but living rivers and canyons.

The Water and Land Protectors are our true leaders on Turtle Island. They carry the mandate from our ancestors to stand in defense of our relatives. Our youth are rising up in reservation border towns, protecting the unsheltered and vulnerable. They are rising in defense of our LGBTQI relatives, who regularly experience horrific violence. They stand with immigrants, Black Lives Matter and other organizations fighting for

liberation. They have weaponized their voices and their educations to serve their communities. They are the warriors carrying on the legacies of their ancestors.

These movements are not new to Indigenous communities. Nor is the racist

Police forced protesters into a “Free Speech Zone” and arrested a handful of peaceful protesters.

violence that has recently made news across Turtle Island. Violent acts, from those that occurred in Charlottesville to the church shooting in Texas, and from CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Green Fire Times • January 2018

11

© Rebecca Sobel (2)

very year in September, the City of Santa Fe celebrates a lie—the ”peaceful reconquest ” of the region by Spanish Conquistadors. The keynote event of this celebration takes place on the Plaza, a public space in the center of town. The Entrada is conquest theater, pure and simple, which features a non-existent Eurocentric ideal of Spanish identity seemingly devoid of 300 years of cultural exchange, intermarriage and immigration. Unbeknownst to many of its supporters, the Entrada was the creation of mostly Eastern-educated white men as an attempt to promote tourism.

Native Rights continued from page

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From the Pueblo Revolt in 1680, the Long Walk, to the Battle at Greasy Grass, the massacre at Wounded Knee, the American Indian Movement and the Trail of Broken Treaties, and so on, our people have suffered genocide, rape, enslavement and loss of sacred lands. We have fought those who see our lands as only useful for extraction and as byways for pipelines. We have seen cancer ravage our people from the byproducts of these industries. And

we have lamented the loss of our relatives, human and other.

As Indigenous communities, we do not look to the past for guidance and support; we carry the past with us. As the waters flow down from the mountains and nourish the land, so our hearts and voices carry the songs and prayers of our ancestors. Our lives are rooted in the land where our ancestors emerged.

The fight for Indigenous liberation is a fight for the survival of Mother Earth.

We are the warriors of the here and the now—fighting with our words, our voices and our hearts.

As we move into the new year, engagement remains critical. Battle lines have been drawn between those who choose the destructive settler colonial state and those who choose life. Water is life. The land is life. All who protect life are the warriors of the here and the now. Stay strong. The world needs us all. ■ Elena Ortiz, an enrolled member of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, grew up in Santa Fe.

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OP-ED: KENDRA PINTO

PROTECT the SACRED

M

y name is Kendra Pinto, and I’m from Counselor Chapter, Navajo Nation. I live near Chaco Canyon, in the San Juan Basin.

Today, greater Chaco Canyon, which includes Chaco National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans 30,000 square miles. It remains a sacred source of our cultural heritage.

I was born in Shiprock and raised in Twin Pines. I have always known New Mexico as my home. Love for the land must be felt.

I carry moments rooted so deeply in my experience of the land, there are no words.

Growing up, there were no boundaries. We were free to roam valleys and mountains as long as we did not cause harm. Spending time outdoors is the closest healing medicine I can use freely and at will. I have always been aware my home was isolated, but that never kept me from fully enjoying my surroundings. During hikes there is no time-clock to worry about. It is just nature and me. The scenery is vast and breathtaking. From particular peaks I can spot Colorado, Utah and Arizona, all in one quick sweep. The placement of my family in the Chaco region is no mistake.

Living on and with the land is something we have not just discovered.

The area where I live is now commonly known as the “Checkerboard Area” because land is fragmented among federal, state, private, allotment and tribal trust lands. It gets mighty confusing. No distinct border separates BLM public land and allotment lands. But you probably wouldn’t know this if you’re not from the area. Maps do not show the people who have lived there for generations. Maps falsely project the idea that a fence surrounds the different sections. Because of this checkerboard, the fossil fuel industry peppers the landscape and is allowed to place wells for drilling less than 350 feet from homes.

The laws of the Navajo Nation and the United States of America should offer protections for my people and our lands, not take them away. But there are no protections. Because I am not an allottee or a private landowner, my voice is not considered important. Papers that are about to be signed will allow outside, billiondollar companies to place a pipe under my house without my say-so.

Air monitoring I have done has been

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Young activists speaking out against fossil fuel development in their community

alarming. Elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide have been detected at a well site located across the highway from Lybrook Elementary School. Yet pumping continues as if nothing is wrong. Natural gas wells are commonly contaminated by hydrogen sulfide. High levels, such as found near that school, may pose some risk to human health. Fossil fuel extraction in my community is not only causing physical damage to the land and our bodies; it is also causing the people great mental strain.

Elders tell me that plants used for medicinal properties by our people no longer will grow in this area. Others are being torn away to make way for barrels and a vast network of pipes. These plants were inhabitants of this place—they grew wildly and cannot simply be replaced by going to a convenience store.

My grandmother was born less than half a mile away from where she currently resides. She is now 93 years old. I listen to her stories and try to imagine what life was like. Her stories are of this place, in a valley CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Community members have repeatedly raised concerns about the health impacts of fracking—including Daniel Tso (above), who leads tours that show the impacts.

Green Fire Times • January 2018

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Protect the Sacred continued from page 13 In July 2016 there was a massive explosion in Nageezi, a nearby community. The WPX well-site fire forced the evacuation of 55 residents. Thirty-six storage units holding oil and fracking fluid caught fire. As the fire grew and burned that

SANDOVAL OIL and GAS ORDINANCE REJECTED

More than 300 diverse citizens attended the Sandoval County Commission meeting last month that ended after several hours of public comment with a 4-1 vote against an oil and gas ordinance that would have opened 267,000 acres of unincorporated land to mineral leasing and fracking. The proposal will likely be sent back to the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission to be rewritten.

Pueblo governors, organizations such as Pueblo Action Alliance, Pueblo Youth Solidarity and Red Nation, as well as ranchers and other longtime residents testified against the ordinance. Many were concerned about aquifer contamination, air pollution, noise and other environmental and health impacts, and that the ordinance would limit public input on future industry development.

Some wondered why the commissioners were forcing a vote even before a $62,000 New Mexico Tech study they had authorized is completed in mid-2018.

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night, residents were parked along Highway 550 watching because they did not have a place to go. There was no public evacuation or emergency plan.

Some of the young children who lived near the explosion still have moments of stress when they hear loud banging.

How does this not count as a negative impact of fracking? How is it that locals risking their lives by simply being near a pipeline or well site do not receive more consideration?

Our relatives are buried within these lands.

Unmarked graves scattered throughout the region are unimportant to outside industries that are only there for one purpose. The Indigenous people of this land, our land, are still treated with little or no respect and portrayed as stereotypical “savage” Indians when we talk of fair and just treatment of Mother Earth—the Earth that provides for us.

The Indigenous people of this land, our land, are still treated with little or no respect.

The dominant culture has lost sight of who we are. They believe the human species is immortal and that there will be no repercussions for our actions.They believe we live in a world of unlimited resources and that extraction is the best possible way to improve life. That’s not sustainability; it is delusional.

I, along with my Indigenous brothers and sisters and allies, must push for changes.

© WildEarth Guardians

so hidden that homes were not marked on the BLM state map until 2015.

Indigenous youth organized an 80-mile run to raise awareness about the impacts of fracking and to call for a moratorium.

Veronica Toledo (Navajo) addresses a rally against the proposed Sandoval County Oil and Gas Ordinance. Toledo is a 10th-grader at the Santa Fe Indian School and a leader in Earth Care’s Youth Allies.

In March 2018 the BLM will hold an online lease sale auction for approximately 4,400 acres. We must protect our sacred lands, water and air resources. American and Navajo law must provide support, not undermine it. Accordingly, we must all push Congress and the BLM to strengthen federal protections such as the BLM’s fracking and methane rules. If these cannot move forward now at the federal level—we must demand protections at the state level.

Kendra Pinto (Diné), an educator and stor yteller, lives on the Navajo Nation’s Eastern Agency. She has testified before the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. in suppor t of halting fracking infrastructure in the “checkerboard” area.

Join us in protecting our home. The Chaco Coalition is working to secure a moratorium on fracking. Learn more and get involved at www.protectgreaterchaco.org and www. frackoffchaco.org ■

Green Fire Times • January 2018

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OP-ED: KIM SMITH and MAKAI LEWIS

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DESERVE a JUST TRANSITION!

A

s the fall equinox came to a close, so did Units 2 and 3 at the San Juan Generating Station in northwestern New Mexico.

The SJGS ranked among the top five polluters in the United States. For those of us who have lived in this region and lobbied for this outcome for years, it was a victory. We have had enough of Indigenous peoples and lands being sacrificed to ensure that lights stay on in the Southwest. Energy injustice is a problem that far too many people in our community and elsewhere overlook.

On the reservation, Diné people have often been sold the idea that energy projects will bring millions of dollars and create jobs.

We have been blinded by the colonial idea of “success.” We are encouraged to support coal-fired power plants, the mining of our land and water. In turn we have money in our pockets and pollution in our lungs. Like many other tribal groups, the Diné Nation is working through generations of trauma from colonization and cultural erosion.

The Diné Nation and people are not protected within the states of the Union.

Diné land, resources, and lives are enmeshed within the colonial agendas of federal and state powers. Diné Bikéyah is treated as a colony for the economic benefit of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. The sovereignty of the United States is in direct opposition to Diné sovereignty; the subjugation of Navajo land and lives supports the greater Southwest’s economic prosperity.

Our air, water and land (rich in coal, oil, gas and uranium) are all being sacrificed.

Health and environmental impacts that cause the cancer, respiratory illnesses, birth defects, reproductive and autoimmune illnesses are not considered in this bargain.

For centuries our people lived on and cared for the land, and in turn Mother Earth sustained us. Now we face a high unemployment rate as we live on our rural ancestral lands and are encouraged to strive for a lifestyle of endless consumption— standards set from colonial-based economics and currency. The corporations that drive this standard are protected by

16

Solar installation going up at the Crownpoint Chapter House, New Mexico

tribal, state and federal police forces.

Our aunties and uncles are dying of cancer from contaminated water. We are experiencing reproductive diseases and birth defects due to pollution from fracking used in oil and gas drilling. Respiratory illnesses due to coal-fired power plants are at an all-time high.

As if that weren’t enough, we have seen our sacred sites desecrated for recreational development. Indigenous people are among the first to have to contend with the destructive impacts of climate change. And our ancestral food systems are being contaminated by crosspollination of genetically engineered (GE) plants from GE seeds.

No one deser ves to live this way!

Indigenous people deser ve a just transition! Younger generations have

Green Fire Times • January 2018

Oil drilling rig in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico

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vowed to create change that is based on indigenous knowledge—living off the land, not continuing to exploit the land.

We are faced with a warming planet. We must change our capitalism-driven consumption.

Indigenous people should no longer carry the Southwest on our backs. New and undeveloped fossil fuel reserves need to stay in the ground! We must challenge ourselves to change. We need new ideas and solutions with holistic and universal values. We need to be driven by what’s good for all and not what’s just good for some, always keeping in mind the generations yet to come. We must all do our part, consume less and reevaluate our energy privilege. We must stop depending on oil-intensive products. Climate change sees no borders. We are seeing the biggest storms, and they will only get worse.

Energy injustice is a problem that far too many people overlook.

In this just transition, we wish to create a space for positive envisioning by communities which have been backed into a corner. We wish to create Indigenous-led spaces that will help our communities re-imagine what is possible and what is needed. We intend to create a forum for civil dialogue and to encourage the political will of communities to make positive changes, influence the larger environment, economy and public policy.

Thousands of protectors have been instrumental in this fight. We must remember that if you do not fight, you do not even have a chance to win. So, we ask that you stand with indigenous people and demand a just transition. We ask that you help us win another round for Mother Earth. We know that that it will take all people to join together in this work. ■

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Makai Lewis and Kim Smith (l-r) are the lead organizers for New Energy Economy’s Just Transition 100% Renewables Campaign (newenergyeconomy.org). Smith (Diné) has dedicated her life to fighting for indigenous human rights, water and land at local, national and international levels. Makai is a Diné tribal member from the community of Pinedale, N.M.

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"I support the New Mexico Environmental Law Center because it exercises the courage, credibility and professionalism needed to keep our state the very special place it is for all of us."

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OP-ED: COLIN BAILLIO

HEALTH ACTION NEW MEXICO

I

Thirty minutes before the rally, people started to trickle in. They came with homemade signs: “Keep NM Covered,” “Protect Our Care,” “Keep Your Hands Off My Health Care.” Enthusiasm began to build as strangers started to share stories.

“My sister wouldn’t be alive without Medicaid.” “Obamacare saved our son.” “I’m here because I care about my patients.” And when the moment arrived, hundreds of people gathered around a small speaker chanting, “Health care is a human right!”

© Health Action New Mexico (3)

t takes a lot to get people outside on a cold, rainy day in New Mexico; we tend to prefer sunshine and a nice summer breeze. But on one of the coldest days of the year, Health Action New Mexico sent out an alert: “Rain or shine, we’re hitting the streets. Are you still in?” Our staff waited anxiously at sites across the state, hoping people would turn out to defend health care in the first major public demonstrations opposing efforts to curtail healthcare policy in Washington, D.C.

Health Action New Mexico and community advocates from Anthony and other areas of southern New Mexico attended Youth Day during the 2017 Legislative Session.

That was one of the first showings of the Resistance, a sign of what was to come. The fight to save health care coverage for millions of people in the United States continues, and it is being waged at every level.

Congress continues to try to rip away health care from millions and dismantle Medicaid as we know it.

President Trump has signed a tax bill that will cause 13 million people to become uninsured, Sen. Lindsey Graham is signaling that Congress will again take up the disastrous Graham-Cassidy proposal in 2018, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) hangs in the federal budget balance, and Republican leadership has begun to discuss cutting Medicare and Medicaid to offset the $1.5 trillion deficit caused by the new tax bill.

In New Mexico, the governor is attempting to shift costs to lowincome families by adding premiums and deductibles to Medicaid, ending retroactive coverage that protects lowincome families from catastrophic CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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Health Action New Mexico representatives met with national and local enrollment partners.

Activists in Santa Fe protested on National Day of Action on Health Care

Green Fire Times • January 2018

19

Health Action New Mexico continued from page

19

© Health Action New Mexico (2)

costs, and reducing essential benefits.

In Albuquerque, over 300 people gathered outside of UNM Hospital on National Day of Action on Health Care.

Despite historic efforts to roll back progress on health care, the opposition has been incredibly effective. With rallies, town halls, phone banks, sharing stories, citizen research and activism, and social media advocacy— our communities have used every tool available to make their voices heard. There’s no way to deny the enormous role the Resistance has played in averting disaster to the health care system. The Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land; Medicare and Medicaid have more public support than ever before, and the Martínez administration scaled back its Medicaid overhaul considerably after facing a public backlash.

Defending health care coverage

Signs used on National Day of Action on Health Care in 2017

We encourage all people in New Mexico to submit comments once the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) begin their public comment

period (likely in early January). We need to continue to defend the health care that New Mexico’s families need to stay healthy. But we should also start thinking about what we can get done at the state level during the next few years as new opportunities present themselves. Health Action New Mexico and our partners have begun exploring options to allow all New Mexicans to buy into the Medicaid program, which offers better benefits at a lower cost. Health Security for New Mexicans has built even more support for a state-based universal coverage system. State legislators have begun to set their sights on prescription drug pricing reforms. The energy of the Resistance can make these ideas become a reality, improving people’s lives all across the state.

We need to stay focused, keep our chins up and fight for our values to make sure that everyone in the Land of Enchantment receives the care they deserve to facilitate a high quality of life. ■ Colin Baillio is the director of policy and communications at Health Action New Mexico.

505.322.2152, www.healthactionnm.org

aGuA fRiA nUrSerY 1409 Agua Fria • Santa Fe (505) 983-4831

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Green Fire Times • January 2018

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OP-ED: MARÍA PÉRÉZ

DEMOCRACY IS a VERB

D

emocracy is a form of government where everybody is treated equally and has equal rights. It relies on each person having a voice and equal access to the vote. As citizens of the United States, we have been told that we are the greatest country on Earth because we are a great democracy. However, it is clear to anybody who is paying attention that our democracy is crumbling before our eyes. We do not live in a society where everybody is treated equally or has equal rights.

On a national level, we see that a handful of lobbyists have a much stronger voice than thousands of constituents. Our democratic institutions are being administered by individuals who have spent decades trying to dismantle those institutions. We see the limitations of an unpopular two-party system that leaves people feeling divided, apathetic and disenfranchised. There are laws and practices that make it harder for certain people to vote. There are also laws and practices that ensure that some votes count more than others. The result is low voter turnout. Only 60 percent of eligible voters voted in the 2016 presidential election. Martin Luther King III said, “If we are to be a great democracy, we must all take an active role in our democracy.” His father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said, “Voting is the foundation stone for political action. If people don’t vote, or if our votes don’t count, we lose our democracy.”

Democracy is not something we have; it is something we do.

We must fight to save our democracy. Every single one of us. It doesn’t matter if you lean progressive or conservative. Democracy is not something we have; it is something we do. Democracy is an action. It goes away if we don’t constantly work on it and defend it. Courageous champions of democracy are fighting this fierce fight every day at the local and national levels. There are many good government policies that, if adopted, would strengthen our democracy.

We must all advocate for their adoption and implementation.

Ranked Choice Voting One of these policies is ranked choice voting (RCV). It is a simple, yet powerful change we can make at the local level to give voters

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a stronger voice. Voters are given the freedom to rank candidates—first, second, third and so on—instead of just picking one. All first choices are counted, and if a candidate has a majority, then that person wins. However, if nobody has a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and the voters’ ballots are instantly counted for their next choice. This process continues until a candidate receives a majority and is declared the winner.

RCV is a democracy-building tool because it allows voters to truly vote their conscience. Under this system people don’t have to make impossible calculations and vote for a candidate they don’t really like, because if they vote for their favorite candidate it is likely that the candidate they like the least will not be elected.

Voters can truly express their preference without worrying about splitting the vote, and in the end, the winning candidate will have the support of a majority of voters.

Cities that use RCV, such as Oakland, Minneapolis, St. Paul, San Francisco and others, have seen an increase in voter turnout. These cities have also seen a more diverse slate of candidates. A study examining the effects of RCV in the Bay

Area found that of the 53 offices elected by RCV, 60 percent are held by people of color and 60 percent are women. Under RCV, Minneapolis just elected the first openly transgender woman of color to serve in public office in the U.S. All change begins at the local level. RCV is in place in about a dozen U.S. cities now, and there are dozens more where champions of democracy are advocating for it. The voters of Santa Fe passed RCV in 2008 with 65 percent of the vote, and it is by law the voting system that the city is supposed to be using. Santa Fe’s city government, however, is fighting implementation, despite a court order. Our champions of democracy are fighting to ensure that our city follows its own laws.

2018 will be a critical election year in races

María Péréz speaking at a rally for Ranked Choice Voting in front of Santa Fe City Hall, Nov. 2017

at all levels of government. It will also be a year of challenges and intensifying threats to democracy from an increasingly corporatecontrolled state. In this context it is imperative that we not only raise our voices in the streets but also cast our votes at the ballot box— translating our visions for a better future and commitment to action—into tangible political power that can transform institutional realities.

See you at the polls! ■ María Pérez is the director of the nonpartisan organization FairVote New Mexico (www.fair vote.org/ maria_perez)

LEARN ABOUT RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN SANTA FE Jan. 11, 12–1, 2–4 and 5–7 p.m. at Chainbreaker, 1515 5th St. Jan. 12, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., 1–3 and 4–6 p.m. at La Farge Library, 1730 Llano St. Jan. 13, 10 a.m. –12, 1–3 and 4–6 pm at EarthCare, Corner, Jaguar and Country Club Limited to 20 participants per session. First come, first served. Free.

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21

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Green Fire Times • January 2018

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OP-ED: MIGUEL ANGEL ACOSTA

M

“

anifest Destiny is one of the fundamental principles on which this country is based.” So sayeth the acting New Mexico secretary of Public Education. He also said that Manifest Destiny justifies more charter schools, possibly envisioning an invasion or conquest that overwhelms existing public schools. His remarks do point out something aside from ignorance, racism and insensitivity. They point to the confused nature of the education debate.

Schools do not educate children, communities do.

S chools do not educ ate children; communities do. Schools are but one institution, one factor in creating or denying opportunities for children’s life chances. Every culture has recognized the relational nature of learning and the communal basis for education. Most modern cultures still operate from that perspective, as opposed to Manifest Destiny, with the most prominent exception being the U.S. Here, we have been told that schools alone are the educators. That it is critical that schools do what we are asking of them. That if they fail us they must be replaced. That the market is a more objective arbiter in

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© Coco Mariajose Alcazar

COMMUNITY LEARNING and EDUCATION, for CHANGE

determining educational choice, and that our freedom and democracy are at stake.

These are all false statements, of course, but have been internalized by most and constantly regurgitated by media. In fact, even many “progressives” speak of school reform as if it were a real thing, and offer up simplistic, disconnected, decontextualized solutions for “fixing schools.” If we dig deeper we will see the finely crafted strategy to undermine public education across this country and others, and set the stage for privatization of schooling, again.

In 1983, A Nation At Risk was published, starting the Reagan administration’s war on public education, and flipping the narrative on education and schools. Schools and public education were simultaneously declared a failure and a risk to democracy (measured as corporate profits and competitiveness) as well as critical to the survival of said democracy (same corporate profits). Public Education was commodified and put up on the shelf for comparison. It was made solely responsible for the lack of corporate competitiveness, the reduced military and political dominance of the U.S. and the weakened scientific and technical leadership of our universities.

While the rhetoric of accountability that followed indicated a determination to invest, measure and support the re-

The first graduating class of Earth Care’s Poder Familiar program. Graduates completed a 10-week parent leadership training series called Abriendo Puertas, led by the Partnership for Community Action. Many went on to complete the Train the Trainers program and are now teaching the series to parents on Santa Fe’s south side.

creation of the best system in the world, the reality has been much different.

Spending at the local, state and federal levels has actually gone down when you consider unfunded mandates, below-theline resource accumulation by education departments, and the reductions that have coincided with the recessions created by neoliberalism. Furthermore, there has been a constant barrage against the teaching profession, undermining current teachers and future teacher corps as well as fomenting deep divisions between what in other countries is a natural and important partnership: parents and teachers.

The other part of this strategy is to talk about schools and education as separate from all else, from the context of children’s lives. It is also a precursor for all else.

Another contradiction that very few question. The economy is in a shambles not because of greed, but because of bad schools. Companies big and small can not hire locally because of bad schools, not because their tax breaks directly affect school budgets. Poverty is the result of bad schools, not policy decisions. There is a pattern.

There are three primary areas of focus that are suggested for real transformation. The

first is a continued insistence that teachers and school leaders be well prepared. Many people would be surprised to know that teachers who go through traditional teacher education programs to get certified are more prepared now than they have ever been. There are more teachers with master’s degrees, more teachers with national certifications, more teachers pursuing continuing and further education. The question, of course, is the focus of their training and the quality of the programs themselves. In New Mexico and nationally, we need all of our teachers to be certified bilingual and special educators and to reflect the actual students and communities being served. We must also focus on how best to develop school leaders. Current models and processes are not working.

The second area of focus is community capacity building. Along with neoliberal divestment in health, education and social welfare over the last 40 years, our political economy has also undermined people’s capacity for civic engagement. All people.

Racist and unjust socio-political and economic structures continue to privilege upper-income individuals and elites so their reduced civic engagement skills are CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Green Fire Times • January 2018

23

Community Learning continued from page 23

What is necessary is a serious investment in developing capacity for civic engagement.

Too much of what passes for community engagement in the development of policies, practices and legislation from the schoolhouse to the Roundhouse is not meaningful engagement at all, but rather one-way information sharing in the shape of meetings, forums and surveys. Foundations and local government must invest heavily in leadership development for civic action.

Community-based organizations and schools can partner to build leadership capacity in youth, parents, families, workers and neighborhoods. Equity audits of public institutions, such as the city and the public schools, and all entities receiving public

funds should include an analysis of their engagement policies and practices at all levels, including boards and commissions to check for accessibility, including language and representation. We have an immediate opportunity with Ranked Choice Voting, but other opportunities must be developed immediately both to build capacity and provide opportunities for practice.

The economy is in a shambles not because of greed, but because of bad schools.

The third area of focus is where the first two converge, at the school-community level. A noted education researcher, Michael Fullan, notes that “successful school outcomes” are most influenced by the quality of leadership at the school and in the community. If one or the other is lacking, success will be an unlikely outcome. It is important that we understand the full meaning of his and others’ contributions to this idea. He is not speaking of a Super PTA, or some other process that brings the focus of community leaders to the school. He is describing a school community that has as its focus integrated community development where education is everyone’s responsibility and learning is not limited to the school building, where students currently spend maybe 17 percent of their lives. In this scenario city leaders and school personnel work in partnership with communities to ensure integrated development in areas such as community economic development, affordable housing, health promotion and food security, public transportation and other public investments, leisure and

© Seth Roffman (2)

not as apparent, although the election of the current president is a dead giveaway.

For middle- and low-income communities, however, especially communities of color, the loss of capacity is tragic. In places like Santa Fe it is catastrophic, as our middle class has been pushed out through gentrification and an economy based on tourism and importing workers for the so called “creative economy,” which continues to command excessive influence on local economic and social development policies.

The result is that young and not-so-young people and families are not as ready to engage in civic discourse and action that could be creating better outcomes for everyone. Even worker’s unions and community-based organizations are having a difficult time, traditionally entities that built the capacity of their members. Foundations and nonprofit service providers have filled the leadership void and are now speaking on behalf of client community needs as well as engaging in policy development, both problematic for a vital democracy.

Earth Care Youth Allies end-of-year celebration dinner

recreation, job creation and adult education and all the other areas of a quality life. This partnership places working families and children at the center—guarding against gentrification and sprawl, which otherwise is reinforced by the closing of schools in the urban core, and the building of new ones at the periphery at the behest of developers.

Public resources are invested in multigenerational programs that are evidencebased like Bilingual Early Childhood Education and Abriendo Puertas—creating social capital and activating people’s natural sense of well-being.

Too often when education researchers look at schools that are successful despite many risk factors in their students and families, they focus their gaze almost exclusively on the school in their search for explanations.

They end up giving almost all the credit to school-based or school-related factors and then are shocked when other schools fail to duplicate the success. The fact is that in most cases these communities, many of them small or rural or in urban

neighborhoods, have a level of civic engagement, social capital and community leadership that helps support integrated community development on which a strong school can build successful learning. That is where our gaze needs to be. ■ Miguel A ngel Acosta is the codirector of Earth Care, where he directs the Poder Familiar p r o g r a m and mentors emerging leaders.

He has more than 40 years of experience advocating for educational opportunities and community development for underserved populations.

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OP-ED: SAMIA ASSED

A NEW HOPE

A

s 2017 came to an end, so came the realization that even in the most trying of times, in resilience and rejoicing is the finding of the moral soul of America.

As a Muslim American, I continue to witness the demonization of Muslims, an endless war in the Middle East, sexism, ongoing attacks on immigrants as well as refugees, the Muslim Ban (versions 1-4), the revocation of DACA, and an attack on our fundamental rights to healthcare, education and civil liberties. To top it all off, we’ve also witnessed a tax bill that will result in the biggest transfer of wealth from poorest to richest. The continuation and acceptance of this is no less than utterly immoral.

Americans must step up to fight for the soul of this country.

The current direction of political leadership as well as the current political climate is more than enough to send Americans into a state of helplessness. Grassroots activists and organizers have organized, marched, protested and rallied against the administration’s agenda. Executive orders have hit us so hard, one after the other, in what has seemed to be an attempt to burn us out. So we must find inspiration as well as a way to sustain our work and the momentum of social justice movements.

On Aug. 15, 2017, at the Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis joined other faith and community leaders in a press conference and march condemning the Charlottesville attacks and also launched their Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival Mass Meeting.

I joined them alongside other New Mexican speakers—Arturo Uribe, Beata Tsosie-Peña, Todd Wyndham, Tina Córdova, and Monique Salhoub—in

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© Seth Roffman

My reflection of the first year under the Trump administration is of a massive swirling hurricane entrenched with tweets and executive orders that have mapped out a deeper divide in our country. Many Americans find themselves gasping for air in a toxin-filled sea of hate, racism, poverty, misogyny, white supremacy, Islamophobia, xenophobia, transphobia and gun violence.

Immigrant rights rally at the New Mexico state capitol, 2017

giving testimony to the injustices we’ve faced. Rev. Barber’s clear knowledge of history was breathtaking. The energy in the packed hall had this Muslim woman dancing and rejoicing in church. I knew that this would be the moral movement of our time. What excited me most was how the narrative of morality was at the center of this campaign. For as long as I can remember, the political and conservative “right” have co-opted the moral compass narrative. The Poor People’s Campaign has re-centered that back into our movement.

This campaign has connected millions from every faith, gender and ethnicity.

Our fight is rooted from a place of faith, spirituality and a keen sense of justice. Our humanity is what bonds us.

According to a study by the Institute For Policy Studies, there has been a 60 percent increase in Americans living under the poverty line since 1968, totaling nearly 41 million people, while the income of the top 1 percent of the nation has nearly doubled. The Poor People’s Campaign has four points of focus: systemic racism, poverty, environmental devastation and militarism. These points allow us to understand the connections that can be

Faith and community leaders at the Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, Aug. 15, 2017

made from multiple forms of oppression.

This campaign, for me, illustrates three solutions: a vision for our country that is morally just and inclusive; the interlinking of our struggles and the building of solidarity; the breaking of the cycle of apathy and disassociation.

Americans must step up to fight for the soul of this country. We need to move towards a vision that guarantees dignity, justice, equality and a real sense of selfdetermination for all people, no matter our color, religion, socio-economic status

or sexual orientation. I am privileged to serve amongst others who are dedicated to this community as members of the New Mexico Poor People’s Core Committee. I invite you to join this campaign and the movement for moral revival. ■ Samia Assed is a Palestinian-MuslimAmerican, entrepreneur, human rights activist and mother. She is currently president of the board of Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice. 505.999.8265, assedsamia@gmail. com, abqpeaceandjustice.org/

Green Fire Times • January 2018

25

NEW MEXICO DREAMERS in ACTION

N

ew Mexico Dreamers in Action is an immigrant-student-led organization that advocates for immigrant students and families in the state. S ince 2011, NMDIA has encouraged immigrant students to take advantage of opportunities such as higher education access and immigrant rights.

NMDIA is mainly composed of children of immigrants and young immigrants who are undocumented or have been undocumented—individuals who have been directly affected by a broken immigration system. They have joined to fight for themselves, their families and communities.

Soon after the 2016 election, NMDIA met with Santa Fe Public School officials to request a safe space for immigrant students to gather, relax and have fun playing soccer, while learning about the new political landscape and how to protect their rights.

In 2017, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) was revoked, and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) was not implemented. A Texas judge had issued a temporary injunction in

2015, preventing the program from going into effect while a lawsuit proceeded. The U.S. Supreme Court came to a 4-4 split decision in June 2016, effectively leaving the block in place.

In New Mexico there are approximately 7,000 undocumented immigrants who were covered by DACA. In December 2017, about 300 young immigrants in the state joined the fight for the Dream Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship without additional border security, without a wall, and without more attacks on immigrant youths and their families.

NMDIA is the Santa Fe chapter of the New Mexico Dream Team, which is an affiliate of United We Dream.

At a national level, United We Dream has pushed for policies such as DACA and DAPA. The group has also fought against what it considers a racist, anti-immigrant law, SB4. To address obstacles faced by immigrant youth, it is now fighting for the Dream Act. Its goal is “justice for all immigrants.” For more information, visit the Facebook Page: New Mexico Dreamers In Action NMDIA or http://nmdia.org/ ■

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THE SANTA FE REFUGEE COLLABORATIVE Mi’raj Bukhari-Frayer

The Santa Fe Refugee Collaborative hosted an event in which students wrote letters of welcome and support to refugee children in Albuquerque.

N

ew Mexico has been receiving refugees and asylum seekers since 2002. We have individuals and families from Afghanistan, Congo, Central African Republic, Iraq, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Cuba, Honduras, Colombia and Vietnam.

The Santa Fe Refugee Collaborative is a grassroots effort in Santa Fe and Albuquerque to build bridges, not walls.

We are working with immigrant refugees and local communities, businesses, nonprofits and interfaith groups to create opportunities and to dismantle myths and misinformation around immigration.

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SFRC works to support refugee families by helping folks find language, employment, household and educational resources, and making sure that families feel welcome.

Our one-year anniversary in October 2017 was marked by a community potluck hosted by St. Bede’s Episcopal Church.

The event helped expand awareness of the refugee climate that has been magnified by geopolitical issues and how we can become more engaged and proactive on a community level.

We are currentl y rall y ing suppor t for asylum seekers and the Cibola detention center issue through the New Mexico Coalition of Immigrant Justice and Santa Fe Dreamers. We are seeking financial support for those organizations. During the cold season we are requesting donations such as

warm clothing and sanitary hygiene products to address homelessness.

Volunteers are needed to work with The Lighthouse of New Mexico in Albuquerque and the Adelante and Esperanza shelters in Santa Fe. People have come forward to provide English as a Second Language (ESL), job opportunities and art therapy, to partner with interfaith circles and put on benefits and presentations through the Santa Fe Council of International Relations.

People and diverse groups taking action motivated by empathy have been some of the most gratifying aspects of SFRC’s

work. They are helping build a strong community network and are actively demonstrating good virtue through a collaborative approach. Our efforts are completely volunteer-based. One hundred percent of fundraising is provided directly to those in need.

Please check out SFRC’s Facebook page for additional information and contact Tarrie Burnett, director of Lutheran Family Services, and Cecil Lapita, director of Catholic Charities, for their expertise in refugee resettlement. ■ Mi'raj Bukhari-Frayer is the founder of the Santa Fe Refugee Collaborative.

Green Fire Times • January 2018

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OP-ED: D. MEIKLEJOHN

THE NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER’S TOP 10 ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES to WATCH IN 2018

More of the Same with Glimmers of Hope

L

ast year at this time, our Top 10 list was pointing toward the likely Cabinet secretaries in the new Trump administration and the possible actions they would take. The Top 10 list this year reflects last year’s concerns, as the expected nominees took the expected actions and we are already seeing the impacts. On the other hand, the realization of how destructive four years of the Trump administration could be has spurred organizing from the neighborhood level up to the national level around social, economic and environmental issues.

report on projected impacts. It concluded that low-income and minority communities, primarily native peoples and other rural land-based communities, would suffer the most.

Unfortunately, we have lost ground in the decade since that report because the Martínez administration systematically undercut efforts to address climate change.

likelihood of huge future financial burdens on taxpayers and long delays in cleanup, placing the environment and public health at substantial risk.

© EPA & TetraTech

Navajos protest lack of cleanup at Church Rock Superfund site.

The fox is guarding the henhouse now.

Snowpack is projected to decline sharply by mid-century.

1 Climate Change The Trump administration started the process of removing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement even as the Defense Department continues to list climate change as a major “threat multiplier” in its projections of national security threats. Toward the end of 2017, new analyses of improved climate models indicated that the most likely impacts will come sooner and more strongly than previously predicted, absent effective action. In the vacuum of federal leadership, states and cities have increased their commitment. California’s governor and delegation essentially replaced the Trump administration at the last Paris meeting in speaking for future U.S. commitments to addressing climate change.

Here in New Mexico, we are already experiencing what “the new normal” in climate will mean, and 2018 will likely provide even more evidence. 2017 was by far the warmest year on record in the state. Rain and snow are clearly becoming more erratic and unpredictable. We still often get “normal” annual amounts of rain or snow, but the rain more frequently comes in intense storms, and the snow more often melts or sublimates before the traditional spring runoff. The result is water flow that comes at the wrong time for both natural and human communities.

Ten years ago, the Office of the State Engineer produced a

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Green Fire Times • January 2018

2 Deregulation The Trump administration has had a year of aggressively rolling back climate-related regulations, pressing for rapidly expanded oil and gas drilling and defunding agencies that oversee protection of public lands, air, water and public health. In October, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secretary Pruitt announced the repeal of the Obama Clean Power Plan, and in December, Ryan Zinke, secretary of the Interior, announced that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would delay implementation of the Methane Rule—requiring oil and gas companies to limit methane escape from drilling operations—for one year; it is also seeking complete repeal of the Rule through Congress. The administration tried to delay some provisions for two years through an EPA Clean Air Act procedure that the courts ruled against. Both California and New Mexico, along with several environmental organizations, have fought together to maintain the Methane Rule. The state is under a huge methane cloud in the Four Corners region, and the loss of revenue from leaking and flared methane is substantial.

The EPA also announced in December that it would not require financial assurance (FA) for hardrock mining under provisions of the federal law known as CERCLA (Superfund). FA helps ensure that potentially responsible parties bear the financial burden of completing Superfund cleanups, not the public. EPA has three additional industry sectors for which it needs to decide on financial assurance—chemical, petroleum and coal products—and electric power generation, transmission and distribution.

The mining decision makes it likely that EPA will not require FA from these industries either, opening up the

3 EPA Budget The EPA—like several other Cabinet departments—is headed by someone who is on record as wanting to significantly reduce the size and scope of the agency he leads. The Trump administration’s budget for EPA would do that. Even though the possible cuts to funding in the new EPA budget appear to be around 2 percent, funding for specific programs are likely to be cut by 20 percent, 30 percent, or more. This means that Superfund cleanup at the Chevron molybdenum mine in Questa, abandoned uranium mills and mines in McKinley and Cíbola counties, and nitrate and chemical plumes in Albuquerque’s North and South valleys will receive fewer resources and delayed cleanup. Critical air- and water-quality monitoring grants from EPA to New Mexico will be severely impacted, meaning less data to support community efforts to fight new and ongoing toxic pollution in neighborhoods.

Bears Ears in Utah, the Grand Canyon in Arizona and monuments in New Mexico could see uranium mining.

4 National Monuments In December, President Trump and Interior Secretary Zinke announced drastic reductions to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by a total of almost 2

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million acres.This would be the largest rollback of public lands protections ever. In addition to providing extensive protection of critical wildlife corridors, protection of water basin catchment areas, and unique outdoor recreation opportunities, these two monuments protect sacred, traditional lands for many native peoples. As a result, the Native American Rights Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, the Hopi, Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute, arguing that the president has no authority under the Antiquities Act to make such large reductions.

Zinke also recommended changes to the proclamations that created Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and Río Grande del Norte national monuments. For Río Grande del Norte, the recommended changes included the same issues that were contained in the original proclamation.

However, for Organ Peaks, Zinke claimed that there were border security issues and that information he received from the public indicated that “many” grazing permitees had lost access to portions of their lands and were abandoning their permits. However, investigations

by New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and questioning by Sen. Martin Heinrich revealed that neither the BLM nor the New Mexico State Land Office had any information that any permitees had been impacted by the designation.

We will have to see what intentions the administration has in reducing these monuments.

The Río Grande running out in Mesilla, NM

5 Río Grande Compact The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments this month in a 2013 suit filed by Texas against New Mexico for failure to deliver sufficient water under terms of the Río Grande Compact. The Compact, adopted by Congress and signed into law in 1939, apportions waters of the Río Grande in part by establishing annual water delivery obligations of Colorado to New Mexico and New Mexico to the area south of Elephant Butte Reservoir. The problem stems from the long-term decline in Río Grande flows and the extremely low reservoir level in Elephant Butte.

New Mexico farmers below the reservoir have been pumping large amounts of groundwater to supplement low river irrigation supplies. As a result—according to Texas—the lowered aquifer has depleted water from the river that should have flowed to Texas irrigators along the river. If Texas prevails, New Mexico could face fines of as much as $1 billion and have to find a large groundwater source above Elephant Butte that could supply Texas with both current required deliveries and pay back past shortages. The potential impact of a loss at the Supreme Court on

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New Mexico’s finances and water supplies could be devastating; even a negotiated settlement could have long-term negative impacts.

Students learning about pollution and water resources

E. coli bacteria from an irrigation ditch

6 Water Quality Regulations In 2017, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) proposed several major changes to the state’s water quality rules. A highly contentious proposal was NMED’s request to add a new definition of “discharge permit amendment” to cover so-called “minor” changes to permit requirements that could be dealt with administratively and without public notification or participation. This would “codify” a process NMED admitted it has been using for 24 years. Represented by the New Mexico Environmental Law Center (the Law Center), Amigos Bravos and the Gila Resources Information Project (AB/GRIP) challenged both the proposal and the historical practice, and NMED suddenly withdrew this part of its petition just days before the hearing. However, NMED said it intends to continue using the practice, while AB/GRIP’s analysis of amended permits acquired through Inspection of Public Records Act requests shows that many of the amendments should have been handled as permit modifications with a full public process. Another contentious issue is NMED’s proposal to allow variances to a discharge permit “for the life of the facility,” allowing pollution of groundwater in perpetuity.

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) continues to evade meaningful public participation and cleanup of its legacy Cold War waste. The deadline for its 2005 Consent Decree mandating complete analysis and remediation of all toxic-waste disposal sites came and went in 2015.

These large dumps hold tons of toxic waste, which has been leaking into groundwater for decades. A plume of pollutants including hexavalent chromium, radioactive tritium, volatile organic compounds such as benzene, and trichloroethene (TCE) is moving toward the Río Grande, downstream communities, and the Buckman Direct Diversion, from which the City of Santa Fe obtains much of its water. Instead of the comprehensive reclamation strategy called for in the Consent Decree, NMED and the Department of Energy are allowing LANL to leave the radioactive, hazardous and toxic waste in the ground permanently. In December 2017, the State Auditor wrote a letter to the NMED asking why it failed to collect more than $40 million in fines at a time when the state was suffering a budget crisis.

Removing the current 5-year time limit on water quality variances is illegal under the New Mexico Water Quality Act, removes critical public and regulatory oversight, and gives industry no incentive to improve its discharge practices. We will see what the Water Quality Control Commission decides, but we need to resist every effort to relax protections for New Mexico’s fragile surface and ground waters.

7 Federal Facilities The Law Center continues to represent clients who have spent years attempting to force cleanup at New Mexico’s federal facilities. A study released by an engineering firm hired by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) sharply criticized the Air Force’s progress report on containing and mitigating the jet fuel plume at Kirtland Air Force Base. At a meeting of the ABCWUA Board, NMED representatives said they agreed with the contractor’s analysis. If that analysis is correct, then the plume has still not been adequately characterized, it is still migrating, and additional monitoring and analysis are needed almost two decades after the Air Force acknowledged that it knew about the leak.

Ray and Carol Pittman at an Augustín Plains Ranch hearing

8 Water Grabs New Mexico is an arid state whose water supply is becoming increasingly uncertain and fragile under climate change.

This has prompted several efforts to lock up water that is public under the state constitution for private development at the expense of New Mexico’s communities and absent a comprehensive understanding of New Mexico’s water sources and their limits. Augustín Plains Ranch, located in Catron County and owned by an Italian billionaire, CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Green Fire Times • January 2018

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wants a permit from the State Engineer to mine up to 54,000 acre-feet annually for sale to unknown municipal and commercial interests via a 140-plus-mile pipeline from Datil to Socorro and then north to Albuquerque. The Law Center represents more than 80 individuals, several homeowners’ associations, and the Gila Conservation Coalition in opposition. At a hearing on Dec. 13, the state’s Water Rights Division came out in opposition to the petition. However, the State Engineer has not yet made a final decision.

protest, try to get agencies to do the right thing, try to get legislatures to approve better laws and rules, but in many cases they have to go to court. This, of course, is where the Law Center comes in. But success in the courts depends upon knowledgeable and fair-minded judges without an ideological axe to grind. Most cases in New Mexico are resolved within the state court system, but larger environmental law issues can impact how decisions are made in federal court. In 2017, President Trump and the Republican Congress established a blistering pace of appointments to all levels of the federal court system. The appointees appear to have been chosen largely for their ideological conservatism and their youth, guaranteeing that their lifetime appointments would keep them in the court system for many decades.

Santolina development site. The Sandia Mountains are in the far distance.

9 Sprawl Development On the West Mesa of Bernalillo County, the Santolina master plan community could be an end user of Augustín Plains Ranch water, but the ABCWUA has repeatedly said that it is not interested. However, the ABCWUA and the developer, Western Albuquerque Land Holdings, which is largely owned by Barclay’s Bank, have failed repeatedly to produce a required Development Agreement detailing the provision of water and wastewater services to the projected 90,000 residents and associated businesses, schools and parks at Santolina. Despite that failure, the Bernalillo County Commission has approved both the Level A and Level B plans allowing the development to move forward.

Residents discussing community-based stormwater management in the South Valley

The Bright Side There really is a bright side to all this. Governor Martínez’s time in office ends this year, opening the possibility for a much more environmentally friendly governor who can appoint a secretary of the Environment Department who actually believes that the agency should protect the environment rather than help corporations avoid environmental responsibility. The new governor can also appoint secretaries to other agencies who might be more inclined to consider environmental and public health concerns in their agencies’ decision-making. And the new governor can appoint a more open-minded Water Quality Control Commission.

At the federal level, it takes a long time to repeal a federal rule. So far, the courts have denied efforts to delay the Methane Rule and might rule against executive action to diminish national monuments. And, there is an election in 2018 that could bring a more environmentally friendly Congress; budgets could change, legislation could override bad court decisions and executive actions, and more balanced judges could get appointed to the federal court system. Elections matter.

Much more conservative judges could roll back environmental rules for years.

10 Packing the Courts When corporations and agencies fail to follow laws and rules meant to protect the environment and the public’s health, impacted communities and individuals can

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Across the country and here in New Mexico, the Trump administration’s environmentally destructive policies and actions have galvanized individuals, community groups and non-profits to organize, collaborate and resist. Keep informed, be present, be loud, and support your local environmental organizations. ■

THE NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

In 2017, the NMELC celebrated 30 years of fighting for the well-being of New Mexico communities and the state’s air, land and water.

The Law Center is a non-profit law firm that provides free and low-cost legal representation throughout the state. Its clients advocate for environmental protection, public health and community quality-of-life. The Law Center does not accept government funding. It is supported through donations from individuals, local companies and foundations. Major cases on the Law Center’s docket include: • Opposing significant changes to the state’s water quality regulations that would allow “lifetime” variances for pollution permits and permit “amendments” that would bypass public notice and hearing processes • Working with Diné (Navajo), Pueblo and Anglo communities to prevent new uranium mining that would have adverse health and environmental impacts, and advocating for cleanup of Cold War-era mining contamination • Meaningful cleanup of Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Law Center and its clients are advocating for the cleanup of Cold War-era contamination, including a plume of carcinogenic chromium that is moving toward the Río Grande and drinking water supplies (including Santa Fe’s).

• Advocating for cleanup of the Kirtland jet fuel spill. A recent analysis of the Air Force’s status assessment found significant problems, including data gaps that don’t support Air Force claims that the plume is shrinking and that contaminants are being removed in significant amounts. The plume is moving toward Albuquerque’s most productive drinking water wells.

• Polluting industries in the San Jose neighborhood (South Valley of Albuquerque).

An oil company’s bulk fuel facility is located across the street from homes and children. The Law Center is helping the community address alleged cumulative health issues. The area has a cluster of cancer and asthma.

• Opposing efforts to approve the 90,000-reseident Santolina development near western Albuquerque • Fighting the Augustín Plains Ranch water grab, which, if approved, could lead to widescale privatization of water in New Mexico. www.nmelc.org

Douglas Meiklejohn is founder and executive director of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. He has spent more than 40 years as an attorney working for the public interest, with a focus on representing New Mexicans whose communities are impacted by environmental injustice.

Green Fire Times • January 2018

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NEWSBITEs NEW MEXICO’S LARGEST WIND FARM

According to an agreement signed last month by Xcel Energy, the New Mexico Attorney General, the Coalition for Clean, Affordable Energy, and the environmental group Western Resource Advocates, a new wind farm in eastern New Mexico will spend at least $57 million locally. Thirty percent of construction costs for the 522- megawatt Sagamore Wind Project in Roosevelt County, which is projected to come online in 2020, will go to New Mexico-based subcontractors, vendors and labor.

Sagamore is part of a massive, $1.6-billion regional wind project that includes a 478-MW facility in West Texas and purchase of 230-MW from a facility owned

by NextEra Energy. Together, the wind farms will be able to power about 440,000 average homes per year.

Southwestern Public Service Company, an Excel subsidiary, says the Sagamore project will save consumers in New Mexico and West Texas about $2.8 billion over 30 years by providing cheaper electricity, without emissions or having to use groundwater. Customers will be credited with 100 percent of the federal production tax credits for wind generation.

The Sagamore project is awaiting approval by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. Xcel officials said that changes to production tax credits being discussed in Washington, D.C. could possibly derail the project.

CAPROCK SOLAR PROJECT

An Earth Day opening will be held on April 19, from 5–6:30 p.m. at the Center for Progress & Justice, 1420 Cerrillos Road. Students will exhibit their artwork and present their ideas to peers, teachers, families, community members and city representatives. Prizes include a new $500 bicycle, $300 worth of gift certificates for art and music supplies, and interviews for paid student internships with the Climate Change Leadership Institute (CCLI) or a Green Chamber member business, as well as an opportunity to present and possibly implement ideas with the City of Santa Fe and local NGOs. Host organizations/businesses include Santa Fe Community College, Sustainable Santa Fe Commission, Santa Fe Green Chamber, CCLI, Earth Care, Artisan, The Candyman and The Broken Spoke. For more information, email ccli@ takeresponsibility.us

CERROS DEL NORTE CONSERVATION ACT PASSES UNITED STATES SENATE

In late December the U.S. Senate passed the Cerros del Norte Conservation Act. A diverse coalition of business owners, sportsmen, tribal leaders, local and federal elected officials, grazing permittees and others had advocated for the act’s passage.

The legislation would provide extra protection for special areas contained within Río Grande del Norte National Monument by designating two new wilderness areas northwest of Taos, New Mexico—Cerro del Yuta and Río San Antonio. The areas comprise 21,540 acres of the 242,500-acre national monument.

The proposed wilderness areas serve as one of the world’s great avian migratory routes. They are also home to pronghorn and elk. The legislation would safeguard recreation opportunities already enjoyed within the national monument, such as hiking, hunting and fishing.

A 25-MW solar farm near Tucumcari, consisting of more than 103,000 panels, is up and running. The Caprock Solar Project is North Carolina-based Duke Energy Renewables, first solar farm in New Mexico. Under a 25-year agreement, Caprock is providing power to Western Farmers Electric Cooperative for about 5,000 homes across Quay County.

Grazing would continue in already-existing areas and water rights would not be impacted. Erminio Martínez, a grazing permittee, said, “My family has been ranching in northern New Mexico for over 400 years. The national monument designation has not impacted our operations, and neither will preserving Cerro del Yuta and Río San Antonio. Wilderness will help protect the time-honored tradition we value so deeply.”

KIT CARSON ELECTRIC TO ADD SOLAR ARRAY IN TAOS

Wilderness designation within the national monument is also expected to boost local businesses. One year after President Obama designated the Río Grande del Norte National Monument, there was a 40 percent increase in visitors and a 21 percent increase in the Town of Taos Lodgers’ Tax revenue. A recent EcoNorthwest study found that “quiet recreation” on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands generated $173 million dollars and supported 1,712 jobs across the state. According to Headwaters Economics, the local economies of communities surrounding Río Grande del Norte National Monument have grown, with per capita income increasing as much as 27 percent from 2001 to 2015.

Starting in February, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative and Guzman Energy Partners will build its largest solar array in Taos County. The 4-MW array will power about 1,500 area homes. Taos town officials signed a lease for land at the Taos Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, along with a 30-year solar power purchase agreement.

The town approved a 1-MW solar array earlier in 2017 that will cost about $2 million.

The new $5 million project will be paid for by Kit Carson and Guzman. The project is part of the cooperative’s goal of providing customers in Taos, Colfax and Río Arriba counties with 100 percent “daytime solar generation” by 2022. The treatment plant array will serve most of the town of Taos and surrounding neighborhoods. Kit Carson/Guzman also have arrays under construction at Angel Fire and Eagle Nest.

PICURÍS PUEBLO SOLAR FARM

Picurís Pueblo officials flipped the switch on a state-of-the-art 1-MW solar array on Dec. 18. The array will provide most all of the tribe’s 110 homes plus generate additional power, which Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, under a 25-year power purchase agreement, will buy. The tribe’s 3,700 solar panels are capable of powering about 600 homes.

That’s about one-third of all homes in the surrounding Peñasco Valley.

The project was funded by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

It is the first DOE-funded solar project on Native American land in New Mexico.

Employees of Picurís Pueblo will maintain the system. Picurís also has a solarpowered energy-neutral firehouse, which was built in 2015.

THE ART OF CLIMATE JUSTICE

Santa Fe community college and high school level students are invited to submit unique artistic ideas that both help prevent global warming and improve the community. The goal of this contest is to cultivate youth-driven solutions to climate change that foster economic and social justice at the grassroots level. Over the first quarter of 2018, participating students (with a coordinating teacher) are asked to create their own artwork (drawing, sculpture, ceramic, painting, poster or digital poster, mural, tapestry or mosaic). A good-quality photo of the artwork must be submitted by April 1.

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TAOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FUND WATER TRANSFER PROTEST

Late last month, Taos County Board of Commissioners voted to allocate $150,000 in support of a legal appeal to the transfer of water rights from a farm in Costilla, N.M., to Santa Fe. The transfer, approved by the New Mexico State Engineer, is an important factor in the Aamodt Water Rights settlement involving four pueblos and the planned Pojoaque Valley Regional Water System.

The commission contends that transferring so many water rights out of the county could set a dangerous precedent for northern New Mexico’s groundwater to be legally sold to governments or corporations downstream.

NM ATTORNEY GENERAL JOINS METHANE LAWSUIT

The Attorney General of New Mexico, Hector Balderas, has joined a lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s delay in implementing the Methane Rule. The Rule, which was to be enacted this year, is now scheduled to go into effect in January 2019.

The complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Northern California says, “The BLM has prioritized a negligible increase in oil and gas operators’ profits over the public interest in preventing the waste of a public resource that belongs to the American people. In doing so, [the agency dismisses] out of hand the harmful impacts of the thousands of tons of toxic air pollutants and hundreds of thousands of tons of greenhouse gasses emitted as a result of operators’ inefficient, outdated and wasteful practices.”

New Mexico is the second-largest producer of natural gas. Methane makes up about 95 percent of the natural gas in pipelines and is about 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

Green Fire Times • January 2018

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WHAT'S GOING ON! Events / Announcements ALBUQUERQUE Jan. 6 NATURE IN WINTER Río Grande Nature Center, 2901 Candelaria NW 8:30 am: Guided bird walk, 10 am: “Hawk Talk” slideshow/talk, 1 pm: Bat slideshow/talk, 2 pm: Guided bird and plant nature walk.

Jan. 7, 10 am–5 pm FREE ENTRY – NM MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 1801 Mountain Rd. NW On the first Sunday of every month, admission is free to NM residents with I.D. 505.841.2800 Jan. 7, 1 pm DRILLING MORA COUNTY The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central NE New documentary film about the first county in the U.S. to ban fracking. $15. www.generosity.com/educationfundraising/drilling-mora-county Jan. 9, 2–4 and 6–8 pm PUEBLO BOOK CLUB IPCC, 2401 12th St. NW Discussion about An Indigenous Peoples History of the U.S. by Roxanne DunbarOrtiz. Free. 505.843.7270, indianpueblo.org Jan. 13–April 15, ABQ Museum THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER: PLACE, IMAGINATION AND POSSIBILITY Jan. 27-April 14, 516 Arts Contemporary artists and designers’ and Chicano artists from the 1970s and ‘80s address border issues. 1/27, 6-8 pm: reception. Accompanied by a series of public programs with partners around ABQ, including forums, screenings, performances and talks. Albuquerquemuseum.org, 516arts.org Jan. 18–19 URBAN TREE CARE CONFERENCE Crowne Plaza ABQ, 1901 University Blvd. NE Professional aboriculture speakers and exhibitors. $75–$190. Presented by Think Trees NM. 505.243.1386, thinktreesnm@ gmail.com, www.thinktreesnm.org Jan. 20, 8:30 am–4:30 pm PROGRESSIVE SUMMIT ABQ Convention Center Statewide gathering of activists, organizations and elected leaders. Workshops. Presented

by ProgressNowNM, Center for Civic Policy, America Votes, With Working Families NM, El Centro de Igualidad, Equality NM and more. https://resist012018.com Jan. 20. 10 am–2 pm IN REVERENCE OF SACRED MOTHERSHIP Las Puertas, 1512 1st St. NW Multimedia collaborative. Art demo, film screening, spoken word, kids’ zone, panelists, theater and dance. $10 donation/ kids under 10 free. Tickets: Holdmyticket. com. Presented by Two Worlds.

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Feb. 16–17, 2018 NM ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE Marriott Pyramid www.nmofc.org, https://tinyurl. com2018NMOFC Feb. 21, 8:30 am–4:30 pm HEALTHY BEVERAGE SUMMIT Hotel ABQ Old Town Summit brings together community members, organizations and agencies committed to reducing the consumption of sugary-sweetened beverages amongst Native American children. Hosted by the Notah Begay III Foundation, whose mission is to reduce childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. $30. dakotah@nb3f.org Feb. 22–23 LAND AND WATER SUMMIT ABQ Airport Sheraton, 2910 Yale Blvd. SE Presented by the Xeriscape Council of NM. 505.468.1021, jenn@landandwatersummit.org Feb. 24, 8 am–4 pm NM WELLNESS SYMPOSIUM DoubleTree by Hilton, 201 Marquette Ave. A gathering of experienced integrative medicine and alternative care practitioners in fields such as Oriental medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, massage, Kinesiology, nutrition and physical therapy. Crossdisciplinary panels will share diagnostic and treatment protocols. $20–$35.

505.433.7138, NMWellnessSymposium.com Through July 2018 LONG AGO… IPCC, 2401 12th St. NW We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story.

Historical overview and contemporary artworks. Weekly weekend Native dances.

Open daily. Indianpueblo.org First Sundays NM MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 1801 Mountain Road Museum admission is free to NM residents on the first Sunday of every month.

505.841.2800 Saturdays, 1 pm WEEKLY DOCENT-LED TOURS National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th St. SW Tours of different exhibits and themes in the Art Museum. $2-$3, free with museum admission. 505.246.2261, nhccnm.org

Professional partners provide expertise and services. Public partners support the initiative as it overlaps with their own missions. Info: albuquerque@2030districts.org

SANTA FE Jan. 6–13, 6 pm IAIA WINTER READERS GATHERING IAIA Library and Tech Center, 83 Avan Po Rd. Free nightly readings by noted authors, faculty and MFA students at the Institute of American Indian Arts. 505.424.2365, jdavis@iaia.edu, www.iaia.edu Jan. 8, 6 pm ATHABASCAN MIGRATION AND JICARILLA APACHE HISTORY SF Women’s Club, 1616 Old Pecos Tr. SW Seminars presentation by Dr. Sunday Eiselt. $15. 505.466.2775, southwestseminar@aol. com, SouthwestSeminars.org Jan. 9–Feb. 20, 5:30 pm DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT Community conversations. 1/9: Health. SFCF, 501 Halona St; 1/23: Education. Higher Ed. Center, 1950 Siringo Rd; 2/6: Art. Wise Fool NM, 1131 Siler Rd. B; 2/20: Investment.

Jean Cocteau Theater, 418 Montezuma Ave. Presented by Chainbreaker, SFCC, NM Health Equity Partnership, Earth Care. 505.989.3858, www.chainbreaker.org Jan. 13, 12–1:30 pm LA ACADEMIA DE LA NUEVA RAZA NM History Museum, SF Plaza Gallery talk with Enrique Lamadrid, Professor Emeritus of Spanish at UNM will speak about the NM-based group that aimed to rejuvenate Hispanic culture within a context of homeland. Free with museum admission. Media.newmexicoculture.org/ event3274/la-academia-de-la-nueva-raza Jan. 15, 10 am–3:30 pm MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY YOUTH SUMMIT Earth Care, Zona del Sol, 6600 Valentine Way Help create a plan to address your family & community needs. Meet community leaders in climate justice, education, immigrant rights, Native rights and anti-racism.

505.983.6896, Earthcarenm.org

2nd Saturdays, 10 am–12 pm WINTER FARMERS’ MARKET 6718 Río Grande Blvd. NW, Los Ranchos, NM Through April. AStokes@losranchosnm.gov, www.losranchosgrowersmarket.com

Jan. 18, 11 am–1 pm ONE THOUSAND KIDS MARCH NM State Capitol, 300 Don Gaspar Ave. Invest in Kids Now coalition will gather to advocate high-quality early childhood education programs. www.facebook.com/ events/132195914127639/

ABQ 2030 DISTRICT A voluntary collaboration of commercial property tenants, building managers, property owners and developers; real estate, energy, and building sector professionals, lenders, utility companies; and public stakeholders such as government agencies, nonprofits, community groups and grassroots organizers. Property partners share anonymous utility data and best practices.

Jan. 19–20 FIREROCK: PASS THE SPARK Adobe Rose Theatre, 1213 B Parkway Dr. Live performances of a mythical, familyfriendly musical in support of clean water, air and energy: 1/19, 7:30 pm; 1/20, 3 pm, 7:30 pm; Community engagements: 1/6, 2–5 and 1/20, 4:30 pm (renewable energy/climate justice discussion following matinee) www.firerockmusical.

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com, tickets: 505.629.8688, www. brownpapertickets.com Jan. 22–Feb. 23, 2018 NM ENVIRONMENTAL JOB TRAINING SFCC, 6401 Richards Ave. Intensive training program funded by an EPA grant, which covers training costs for unemployed, underemployed, low-income applicants or veterans who are accepted into the program. Graduates receive federal and state certifications in areas such as hazardous waste and emergency response, CPR and first aid, forklift operator and OSHA construction standards. Info: 505.428.1866, janet.kerley@sfcc.edu.

Applications: www.sfcc.edu/programs/ environmental-job-training Jan. 22, 6:30 pm HORSE SHELTER BENEFIT Restaurant Martin, 526 Galisteo Five-course meal by Chef Martin Rios. $150.

505.471.6179, www.thehorseshelter.org Jan. 23 NM FOOD AND FARMS DAY NM Legislature Local Food and Farm to School Awards honoring innovative initiatives around our local food economy. NM Food & Agriculture Policy Council. 505.660.8403, pam@ farmtotablenm.org Jan. 25, 9–11 am SF FOOD POLICY COUNCIL Kitchen Angels Conference Room 1222 Siler Rd. Public meeting. The council is devoted to creating and maintaining a regional food system that provides safe and nutritious food at reasonable prices. 505.660.8403, pam@farmtotablenm.org Jan. 25, 9 am–12 pm ACEQUIA DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE The Roundhouse, State Capitol Acequias from around NM will stand together in support of protecting water.

505.955.9644, www.lasacequias.org Jan. 27, 12–2:30 pm SOUPER BOWL XXIV SF Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy Sample unlimited soups from dozens of local chefs in this fundraiser for the Food Depot. Advance tickets: $30. $35 at the door. $10: ages 6–12; 5 & under free. Ticketssantafe.org, 505.471.1633, thefooddepot.org Feb. 9, 16 Openings SUZAN HARJO FAMILY COLLECTION IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts 108 Cathedral Pl. Pieces created by major contemporary Native artists. 2/16: Without Boundaries– Visual Conversations. An exploration of issues ranging from decolonization to climate change with works that encourage social action. 505.983.1777, iaia.edu/ museum Feb. 10, 2–4 pm RECONNECT CAFÉ Genoveva Chavez Center Community dialogue with mayoral and city council candidates on government policy, business and local economy, energy efficiency, climate change, food and water, biodiversity, cultural diversity and social change. Presented by Reconnect-Today

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(www.reconnect-today.org) and Local Futures (www.localfutures.org).

of Pueblo artists and Pueblo history.

Poehcenter.org

Through Feb. 11 VOICES OF COUNTERCULTURE IN THE SOUTHWEST NM History Museum, SF Plaza Exhibit spans the 1960s and 70s exploring the influx of young people to NM and the collision of cultures. Archival footage, oral histories, photography, ephemera and artifacts. Curated by Jack Loeffler and Meredith Davidson. http:// nmhistorymuseum.org/calendar.php?

Tues.–Sat. EL MUSEO CULTURAL DE SANTA FE 555 Cam. de la Familia Rotating exhibits, community programs and performances designed to preserve Hispanic culture. Elmuseocultural.org

Feb. 15 Application Deadline TRUTH & RECONCILIATION From Sept. 2018 through Aug. 2019, the SF Art Institute will bring together 70 artists, creative practitioners, content experts and innovative thinkers from all over the world to explore how uncovering and acknowledging the truth can be used as a means of reconciliation. https://sfai.org/ truthreconciliation/ Feb. 17, 7 pm NUESTRA MÚSICA The Lensic 505.988.1234, Lensic.org Through Feb. 28 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM Lobbies of SF Hotels NM artists in 16 hotels bring art—from painters to jewelry makers to potters— directly to SF visitors. For a list of hotels and the artists’ schedules, visit Santafe.org/ artistsinresidence March 15, 7:30 pm THE NEW GOLDEN AGE OF LATIN MUSIC The Lensic GlobalFest on the Road. Las Cafeteras from Los Angeles; 2017 Latin Grammy winner, the all-female Flor de Toloache; and NM’s own, Nosotros. $22-$46. 505.988.1234, http://tickets.ticketssantafe.org/single/ EventDetail.aspx?p=4467 Sundays, 11 am JOURNEY SANTA FE CONVERSATIONS Collected Works Books, 202 Galisteo St. 1/7: Sen. Peter Wirth on the upcoming legislative session; 1/14: Fred Nathan, president, Think NM, on new initiative to improve NM schools; 1/21: Melynn Schuyler, exec. dir., YouthWorks, which assists disadvantaged youth through education and employment training; 1/28: Richard Bailey, Ph.D., president of Northern NM College; 2/4: Simon Romero, NM-based NY Times correspondent. Hosts: Alan Webber, Bill Dupuy and James Burbank.

Free. www.journeysantafe.com

Tues., Sat., 8 am-1 pm SF FARMERS’ MARKET 1607 Paseo de Peralta (& Guadalupe) Northern NM farmers & ranchers offer fresh tomatoes, greens, root veggies, cheese, teas, herbs, spices, honey, baked goods, body-care products and much more. santafefarmersmarket.com Weds.–Sun. SANTA FE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 1050 Old Pecos Tr. Interactive exhibits and activities.

505.989.8359, Santafechildrensmuseum.org Fridays, 2 pm INDIAN ARTS RESEARCH CENTER DOCENT-LED TOURS School for Advanced Research, 660 García St. Collection of nearly 12,000 pieces of Native American art. $15/free to members.

505.954.7272, www.sarweb.org Sat., 8 am–4 pm RANDALL DAVEY AUDUBON CENTER 1800 Upper Canyon Rd. Striking landscapes and wildlife. Bird walks, hikes, tours of the Randall Davey home.

505.983.4609, http://nm.audubon.org/ landingcenter-chapters/visiting-randalldavey-audubon-center-sanctuary Sat., 8 am–3pm; Sun. 9 am–4 pm WINTER MARKET El Museo Cultural, 555 Cam. de la Familia Art, antiques, folk & tribal art, books, jewelry, beads, glass, rugs and more.

505.250.8969 Daily SANTA FE BOTANICAL GARDEN 715 Cam. Lejo, Museum Hill Living museum on 14 acres. Ojos y Manos, Orchard Gardens, The Courtyard Gardens and the Arroyo Trails.

Santafebotanicalgarden.org Registration Open FOUNDATIONS OF HERBALISM 250-hour intensive, bioregional program using local plants to heal. Milagro School of Herbal Medicine. 505.820.6321, info@ milagroherbs.com

TAOS

Sundays, 10 am–4 pm RAILYARD ARTISAN MARKET Adjacent to the Farmers’ Market, 1607 Paseo de Peralta (& Guadalupe) Art & gift galléría by local artists and crafters.

505.983.4098, https://santafefarmersmarket. com/railyard-artisan-market/

Jan. 4, 10–11 am COLLABORATIVE FOREST RESTORATION GRANTS Carson National Forest Supervisor’s Office 208 Cruz Alta Rd. Workshop for individuals and organizations interested in submitting project grant proposals. 575.758.6344, rehurtado@fs.fed.us

Mon.–Sat. POEH CULTURAL CENTER & MUSEUM 78 Cities of Gold Rd., Pueblo of Pojoaque In T’owa Vi Sae’we: The People’s Pottery.

Tewa Pottery from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Nah Poeh Meng: 1,600-sq.-ft. core installation highlighting the works

Jan. 25, 7–9 pm DRILLING MORA COUNTY The Harwood, 238 Ledoux St. New documentary film about the first county in the U.S. to ban fracking. $15 donation. https://www.facebook.com/ events/1755999994452444/?ti=icl

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Through Jan. 31, Fri–Sun, 10 am–4 pm NICOLAI FECHIN AND THE TAOS SOCIETY OF ARTISTS Taos Art Museum at Fechin House 226 Paseo del Pueblo Norte 575.758.2690, www.taosartmuseum.org Through Feb. 18, 2008 CORN: SACRED GIVER OF LIFE Millicent Rogers Museum 1504 Millicent Rogers Rd. Images of corn in Native American textiles, pottery, paintings, baskets and jewelry.

575.758.2462, www.millicentrogers.org Third Tues. Monthly, 5:30 and 7:30 pm TAOS ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORK KTAOS, 9 State Rd. 150 Networking, presentations, discussion and professional services. Free. 505.776.7903, www.taosten.org Open Daily LA HACIENDA DE LOS MARTÍNEZ 708 Hacienda Way Northern NM-style Spanish colonial “great house” built in 1804 by Severino Martínez.

575.758.1000, Taoshistoricmuseum.org

HERE & THERE Jan. 3, 2018 Application Deadline LOS SEMBRADORES FARMER TRAINING Northern NM Learn how to be an organic acequia farmer, increase production, put your agricultural land and water rights to use. Includes business planning. Program dates: midFeb. to mid-Dec. Trainees must commit to 3 days/wk. Presented by the NM Acequia Association. 505.955.9644, Serafina@ lasacequias.org Jan. 6 BALD EAGLE COUNT Abiquiú Lake, NM Join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the NM Wildlife Center to count eagles from monitoring stations. Data collected helps biologists monitor the health of the population. 505.685.4371 Jan. 16, 5 pm LANL LEGACY WASTE CLEANUP PLAN PUBLIC MEETING Los Alamos County Council Chambers 1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos, NM Presentation by DOE’s Environmental Management L.A. Field Office. Hosted by the NMED. 505.476.6000, neelam. dhawan@state.nm.us Jan. 31 Nomination Deadline TECH TREK SUMMER CAMP FOR GIRLS 7th Grade science and math teachers in NM can nominate up to 4 students per school for, a weeklong (June 10–16) residential summer camp at NM Tech in Socorro focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). http://techtrek-nm.aauw.net Feb. 6 SIERRA CLUB OPEN MEETING – BATS PEEC, 2600 Canyon Rd., Los Alamos, NM Learn about bat behavior and protection.

505.662.4782, Riograndesierraclub.org/pajarito Feb. 6–8 GREENBIZ 18 JW Marriott Desert Ridge, Phoenix, AZ.

Annual event for sustainable business leaders. www.greenbiz.com/events/ greenbiz-forum/phoenix/2018 Feb. 9 Application Deadline ALDO LEOPOLD WRITING CONTEST NM students in grades 6–12 can win several $500 awards. Entries should tell the story of a local/regional land ethic leader, reflecting an understanding of Aldo Leopold’s land ethic but not limited to it. A sponsoring teacher must sign the entry form. Golden Apple Foundation of NM. 505.268.5337, www.

LeopoldWritingProgram.org March 15, 5 pm Application Deadline NM FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE Winners showcase/awards ceremony May 19 in ABQ. Eight categories. Info: 505.476.5671, BarbaraA.Kerford@ nmfilm.com, https://nmfilmoffice. submittable.com/submit March 19 Application Deadline AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP $5,000 will be awarded to NM high school senior attending accredited college or university in NM full time beginning fall 2018. 505 Southwestern NM True scholarship applicants must demonstrate commitment to impacting the agricultural industry or economy of food and agriculture of NM. NewMexico.org/505TrueScholars First Mondays each month, 3–5 pm SUSTAINABLE GALLUP BOARD Octavia Fellin Library, Gallup, NM The Sustainable Gallup Board welcomes community members concerned about conservation, energy, water, recycling and environmental issues. 505.722.0039.

Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat., 10 am–4 pm Pajarito Environmental Education Center 2600 CANYON RD., LOS ALAMOS, NM Nature center and outdoor education programs. Exhibits of flora and fauna of the Pajarito Plateau; herbarium, live amphibians, butterfly and xeric gardens.

505.662.0460, www.losalamosnature.org BASIC LITERACY TUTOR TRAINING Española area After training by the NM Coalition for Literacy, volunteer tutors are matched with an adult student. 505.747.6162, read@raalp.org, www.raalp.org/ become-a-tutor.html NM BICYCLE NETWORK PLAN Cyclists and others can share information on an interactive website as part of the state transportation department’s planning process for prioritizing routes that are safe and offer the most connectivity. The plan is to be completed by summer 2018. www. bhine.com/nm-bike-plan/ SPIRIT OF THE BUTTERFLY 923 E. Fairview Land, Española, NM Women’s support group organized by Tewa Women United. Info/RSVP: Beverly, 505.795.8117 WILDLIFE WEST NATURE PARK 87 N. Frontage Rd., Edgewood, NM 122-acre park just east of ABQ. Interactive trail focuses on rescued, non-releasable, native New Mexican wildlife and native plants. http://wildlifewest.org/wwblog/

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WINTER / SPRING 2018 EVENTS

Lannan Foundation presents its

24 JANUARY NOMI PRINS WITH JULIET SCHOR

winter/spring events

31 JANUARY COLUM McCANN WITH GABRIEL BYRNE

READINGS & CONVERSATIONS

brings to Santa Fe a wide range of writers from the literary world of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry to read from and discuss their work.

In Pursuit of Cultural Freedom is a lecture series on political, economic, environmental, and human rights issues featuring social justice activists, writers, journalists, and scholars discussing critical topics of our day.

28 FEBRUARY ALEKSANDAR HEMON WITH JOHN FREEMAN 7 MARCH NANCY M ACLEAN WITH GREG GRANDIN – NEW EVENT! 14 MARCH ROXANE GAY WITH TRESSIE McMILLAN COTTOM 11 APRIL DIANE RAVITCH WITH JESSE HAGOPIAN 18 APRIL RACHEL KUSHNER WITH MICHAEL SILVERBLATT 2 MAY CLIVE HAMILTON WITH LISA SIDERIS 9 MAY COLSON WHITEHEAD WITH KEVIN YOUNG

ALL EVENTS BEGIN AT 7PM

Lensic Performing Arts Center 211 West San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM Tel. 505.988.1234 ticketssantafe.com Tickets for each event go on sale the first SATURDAY of the month prior to the event.

General admission: $8 students/seniors with ID $5 Ticket prices include a $3 Lensic Preservation fee.

lannan.org Green Fire Times • January 2018

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