Immigration Meets Environmentalism
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06.25.07
Immigration advocates and sympathizers aren't alone in expressing opposition to federal plans to erect a fence along the border separating states like Texas and Arizona from Mexico. The North American Butterfly Association, which set up a park in Mission, Texas, to serve as a wildlife refuge in the Rio Grande Valley as part of a multimillion-dollar effort by federal and state authorities to preserve the region's biodiversity, was dismayed to hear that the federal government was planning on fencing sections of the nearby border.
Having invested a tremendous amount of time and resources into making the park a popular destination for eco-tourists, Sue Sill, its executive director, and her colleagues are afraid that the fence will cut through areas of sensitive habitat and harm endangered or threatened species. "In the last 25 years, the federal government has been in the process of purchasing large chunks of land to create an extension of the wildlife refuge," said Gilberto Hinojosa, an attorney in Brownsville, a nearby city. "It would be completely inconsistent with that policy to cut the big section of that area out in order to put the border security fence."
"From the environmental standpoint, the fence is a very, very disturbing thing," said Karen Chapman, water and wildlife analyst for Environmental Defense in Brownsville. "You are taking the entire ecosystem and you are drawing a line through it, making it impossible to function as a whole."
The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most biologically rich regions in the U.S. according to the Fish and Wildlife Survey. The 90,000 acres of native mesquite, sabal palm, Texas ebony and prickly pear provide a refuge for endangered species like the ocelot and jaguarondi, which would be especially hard-hit by the construction of the fence. "It is not just that they can't get to the water or to the food," said Martin Hagne, executive director of the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco. "If you have two populations that are cut off from each other, their genetic pool will shrink and eventually they will disappear."
One of the main issues at the heart of this imbroglio is the potential loss in eco-tourism money that the fence would engender. Estimating that it contributes close to $125 million to the local economy, officials warn that the fence would drive away enthusiasts interested in hiking, wildlife watching and canoeing along the river.
An alliance of 14 environmental groups and several business groups have appealed to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to urge his department to consider alternatives to the border fence, including a more eco-friendly "virtual fence" that would rely on cameras, sensors and other low-impact technologies. Their appeal may not go very far: President Bush recently threatened to veto a House bill that would've required the federal government to seek community feedback on the fence , alleging that doing so would "serve as an impediment of gaining control of the border."
Via ::Border fencing threatens critters — and eco-tourism (newspaper)
See also: ::Ret. Generals Warn GW Threatens Our Kids Security, ::Sweet Dreams Security, Safety with a Smile, ::Wildlife Preserve Planned for Korean Demilitarized Zone
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I probably get 1000x more butterflies stuck to my windshield driving to Mission, TX from Houston than are affected by a chain link fence.
What about the tonnes of garbage left by all the illegals in the form of water bottles, and etc?
If you have been to Mission, TX, then you would know what the real environmental issues are with illegals surging across the border. It's not butterflies.
just have to last another one and a half years. Here's hoping.
I live in Southern Arizona and am an avid outdoorsman and nature buff. the amount of litter and environmental destruction caused by millions of illegal invaders and drug smugglers has had a devastating effect on the desert. Organ Pipe Nat'l Mon. has had to close off most of its trails and roads due to the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime by these people.
I'm not going to tell TX how to run their state but the lands of Southern Arizona as we know it will come to and if we don't put up an effective barrier to illegal human traffic.
Any one who thinks a wall in AZ will have more environmental impact than allowing the status quo to continue is probably lying to further an unrelated political agenda or simply unaware of what is really going on down here!
Your problem is illegal immigration right? Yes, it is true, as true as the sky is blue. But is the sky really blue or does it just look like it is blue? Let us look beyond what we see and make sure that we are not the ones causing our own problems. Why are the poverty stricken Mexicans running up north?
1. Multinationals most from the US are coming to Mexico taking up the markets that used to be available to small mexican businesses. This makes it virtually impossible for younger Mexicans to compete. And if a Mexican ends up working at any of these companies from the US or Canada they are paid ridiculous wages. Yes the mexican government is corrupt, but the multinationals feed on this corruption to keep on growing and abusing people.
2. The Biotech industry, especially the very evil Monsanto 666, taking advantage of NAFTA are FORCING, because that is how they come to Mexico FORCING the farmers to buy their products promising amazing results (like all evil doers). Places in Oaxaca where 80% of the population have risked their lives emigrating to the US cannot survive off the land because Monsanto's products HAVE made them infertile. Places where there were hundreds of types of corn there is now only the GM corn which does not coexist with the natural corn. These people are crossing the border because they need to eat!! If bothered by the amount of "garbage" left by "illegals", then please, please tell us what do you do when you are Native American forgotten by everyone, yes your government of course, but also by those who believe themselves a more advanced society by calling themselves " The First World" who are coming to your land illegally in everyway to alter the nature of the soil? Can't you at least bring a water bottle to survive the dessert, when even so many do not survive, are their bodies also garbage?!
3. Mexican resources are eagerly sought after by US companies. Such resources include, OIL a big one, water, land (food), among others. When such resources are own by YOU US citizens, (since an American is anyone in the American continent), Mexico is left with nothing, yes, yes, the Mexican government is filthy corrupt, yes, but again, YOUR government has also got a hand on it as well, leaving Mexicans poor to a point where there is nothing to EAT. NOT nothing to wear, not a car to drive, or electronics to enjoy, since the Mexican can happily live without these, but when one has nothing to EAT, due to lack of opportunity, then one must go out and search for what any human deserves. Of course, what they find is rejection once they get to the US, BUT really what can they do????
Finally, I don't think you US citizens will ever understand Mexicans, because Mexicans and Mexico as a whole are a complex culture and nation that seemingly does not benefit you in any way. Yet, you will forever be tied to its and their economic and corruption problems as long as your Capitalism rapes the mexican soul. In the meanwhile don't expect the wall to stop them coming, it will kill more of them and put more on them on jail for sure while their women and children starve. Are you happy?
I am Mexican living outside of Mexico since I was 14, I do not live in the US but I know what it is like to be "treated like a Mexican" when I go and visit California. I have driven from CA to NY and back, and I have seen that there are poor US citizens that are also forgotten by their government and it makes me sad. Even sadder because it is not like they can go north and help themselves. It is however, very depressing that many of these poor US citizens do not understand the poor Mexicans when both are suffering from the same perpetrators.
A WALL... A WALL... A WALL
Are you happy?