sustainability

Sustainability is a hot button topic right now. Almost every country
has shown some interest in getting involved with the sustainability
movement at the risk of being looked at as wasteful and environmentally
unfriendly. Even the US government has begun backtracking on their
previously denying of global warming. But what is sustainability
really? Many people associate sustainability with being green however
that is only one small part of the total picture.

Sustainability is a hot button topic right now. Almost every country has shown some interest in getting involved with the sustainability movement at the risk of being looked at as wasteful and environmentally unfriendly. Even the US government has begun backtracking on their previously denying of global warming. But what is sustainability really? Many people associate sustainability with being green however that is only one small part of the total picture.

It has been estimated that if all of the ranching that exists from the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the west coast of the United States was eliminated that only two percent of the national beef production would be affected. This is because of the nature of the landscape in the west of America where it takes about fifty times the amount of land to raise one cow as it does in the biomass-rich east. Given how much more delicate the countryside is in the region, it makes little sense to put cows all over and make the entire west into what Edward Abbey called "cow burnt." In case you are wondering: no, bison do not have nearly the effect that cattle do. Hoof shape and the migratory instinct lessen such impact.

Open space isn't necessarily good for wildlife or ecosystem protection. If that were the case, then Montana would not have any endangered species. There would be bison, wolves, grizzlies and sage grouse everywhere—but these species are on the verge of extinction. Why? Because of sprawl? Hardly. Because of agriculture—primarily livestock production.

UPDATES: December 25, 2007 from Juxtaposeur

• Cante Tenza Grandmothers consulted, message released by Canupa Gluha Mani regarding purpose of Treaty Withdrawal MORE...
• Delegation representatives held meetings for over three years leading to Monday's withdrawal MORE...
• Lakota to reveal land boundaries on eve of Wounded Knee anniversary. Check back for updates!
• Lakota delivers introductory Portfolio Packet to State Department and foreign embassies READ THE PACKET...
• The Lakota Freedom Delegation acknowledges the rumors of Russian Government support. In addition, Lakota has been in contact with other Nations who are considering Lakota sovereignty.
• Press Conference Photos...SEE THE GALLERY...

I am going to stovepipe this comment by Juxtaposeur called Attempts at Debunking this are Severely Flawed which is in response to Lakota Secede From U.S. and All Treaties. I think it is worth a pretty fine push to the front page:

1. This is not a rumor; Putin has even chimed in on the side of the Lakota! The president of Bolivia has said that nation is intensely interested in this and Hugo Chavez has expressed solidarity.
2. The four member Lakota delegation traveled to Washington D.C. culminating years of internal discussion among treaty representatives of the various Lakota communities. Delegation members included well known activist and actor Russell Means, Women of All Red Nations (WARN) founder Phyllis Young, Oglala Lakota Strong Heart Society leader Duane Martin Sr., and Garry Rowland, Leader Chief Big Foot Riders. Means, Rowland, Martin Sr. were all members of the 1973 Wounded Knee takeover.
3. “We have 33 treaties with the United States that they have not lived by. They continue to take our land, our water, our children,” Phyllis Young, who helped organize the first international conference on indigenous rights in Geneva in 1977, told the news conference.
4. Russian legal experts further state that of all of the United States Indian Tribes, the Lakota Sioux are the best positioned to have their declaration of independence from the American government recognized by the United Nations as they remain the only indigenous peoples in the US to have refused to accept payment for their lands, estimated to be nearly $1 billion, which they consider their ‘sacred grounds’ and have stated they would never relinquish.

Folks, the Lakota People within the Sioux Nation have disacknowledged all treaties with the United States government and are seceding and proclaiming themselves an independent nation. They have also declared the northern Great Plains a place for wild bison without cattle and their accompanying fences and are talking about bringing Yellowstone's besieged wild bison herds to this region for good. This is not a rumor; Putin has even chimed in on the side of the Lakota!

The mound of data that is already mountainous in proportions grows even higher; I speak, of course, of the evidence that what is happening to the atmosphere on Earth is unprecedented. Like most of it, it is unambiguous. See On Global Warming: A Challenge to Skeptics.