We had a very successful Rally to Save the Santa Ritas in downtown Tucson in front of the Federal building on Saturday, April 13.
About 300 sign-waving people were there along with three jaguars. You’ll see a couple of the jaguars in the photos.
The speakers were Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, in whose district the mine site is located; Ruben Reyes, District Director for Congressman Raúl Grijalva; Austin Nuñez, President of the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation; Councilmember Regina Romero, Tucson City Council; Supervisor Sharon Bronson, Pima County Board of Supervisors; and Chairman Richard Elías, Pima County Board of Supervisors.
All pointed out that this mine would have enormous, long-term negative impacts that would far outweigh any short-term positive ones. Also they all emphasized that the Santa Ritas are NOT THE RIGHT PLACE for an open-pit copper mine!!
Retired biologist Mike Ward sang a wonderful song that he had written called, “Adios, Rosemont Copper.” The words are below.
We’ll keep you posted, as the legal wheels start turning regarding this truly egregious mining proposal.
Gayle Hartmann, SSSR President
Adios Rosemont Copper
Our parents all told us when we were just kids
Beware of kind strangers who come bearing gifts
These miners from Canada all seem very nice
But a nagging voice tells me we’d better think twice
They reach out their hands and assure that they’ll be
So kind and so gentle with our grasses and trees
They’ll refill our wells and pipe water for free
Hell, they even give money to Public TV
(Chorus)
Well thanks, but no thanks
We’ll get along fine Please pack up your shovels
And head down the line
No gracious amigos
Though you’ve been so very kind
Thanks, but no thanks
We’ll get along fine
Adios Rosemont Copper
We don’t need your mine
They promise to hide the pit from our view
Just another swell favor they’re willing to do
The Red-tails will gaze at the gash from above
We can’t let them tear up those hills that we love
(Chorus)
Someday we’ll wake up from this surreal dream
The Santa Ritas will shine out so clear and so green
Our new friends from Canada can come and enjoy
Those sweet, sacred mountains they tried to destroy
(Chorus)
Adios Rosemont Copper
We don’t need your mine
@Copyright 2011 Michael K. Ward
This was a great rally. I was happy to see all the support we have. Our opponents’ rallies (from what I have seen on You Tube) seem to have fewer people attending. I think the rally against Grijalva’s office had ten people, all supported the copper mine. Our rally had at least three hundred. If it were ever put it to a vote, I believe our side would out-vote the mine supporters ten to one!
If folks are so concerned about job creation, our state should take the initiative and create a civilian conservation corp, retrain laid-off miners and other folks, and put them to work with good wages, good unions and change the face of our state forever. That would be the best example we as Arizonans could set for the rest of our country and for the world.
If anyone does not know what a civilian conservation corps is, it is a federal or state organization that hires stewards and researchers to take care of public lands, restore destroyed areas, such as wetlands and forests, and to protect wildlife. That would yield a greater number of permanent jobs, rather than have temporary mining jobs. These mining companies, who send profits and resources overseas, also exploit workers and treat them like they were disposable. We don’t want to create jobs like that. We want to create better jobs that last, better jobs that will save our planet!
If anyone saw me at the rally, I was the guy with the painting. I am in the photo above, with Gail Hartmann speaking. I look like I am sleeping, but it was just bad timing for the camera to snap its picture. The camera caught me while I was blinking my eyes or something. Gail Hartmann is a wonderful and brilliant person to lead this organization, and I was awake for everything she said.
The painting I had is for sale, for 250$. If anyone would like to purchase it, or make a better offer, all of that money will go to the Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, so they can continue to do the work they do. If you are interested, please post a reply and I will get in touch with you.
Thank you and we will continue the fight!