Open Letter from Robert Redford as published in USA Today
Wild horse populations vary between 32,000 and 50,000 while livestock grazing allocations accommodate numbers in the millions. Yes, in the millions.
Horses and I have had a shared existence, personal and professional, for as long as I can remember. And while I carry a strong passion for all horses, my tenacious support for the preservation of habitat for wildlife and the American mustangs derives from their symbolic representation of our national heritage and freedom.
Any infringement on their legally protected right to live freely is an assault on America’s principles. The varied and subjective interpretation of laws intended to protect these animals on our public lands, continues to leave wild horses under attack.
Recent “stand-offs” between ranchers and the federal government are reminiscent of old westerns. But this American tragedy does not have a hero riding in to save the day, and wild horses have become the victim in the controversies over our public land resources.
In 1971, as a result of concern for America’s dwindling wild horse populations, the US Congress passed the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act. . The Act mandated that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), protect free roaming wild horses and burros, under a multiple use management policy, on designated areas of our public lands.
The BLM manages 245 million acres of our public lands, with livestock grazing permits on 155 million acres. Wild horses are designated to share a mere 26.9 million acres. That means only 17% of BLM-managed public land are made available to wild horses. Wild horse populationsvary between 32,000 and 50,000 while livestock grazing allocations accommodate numbers in the millions. Yes, in the millions.
Advocates are only asking that the horses be treated fairly. Wild horses are consistently targeted as the primary cause of negative impact to grazing lands resulting from decades of propaganda that ignores math, science and solutions that can be implemented today.
Ranchers hold nearly 18,000 grazing lease permits on BLM land alone. Grazing costson BLM land goes for $1.35 per cow and calf pair, well below the market rate of $16. This price disparity derived from BLM’s current permit policy establishes an uneven playing field on grazing economies. Understandably ranchers have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
Although less than 3% of America’s beef is produced on federal land, this subsidized grazing program costs the taxpayer more than $123 million dollars a year, and more than $500 million when indirect costs are accounted for.
The long-term economic success of public lands lies in maintaining a bio diverse ecosystem within its boundaries. However, understanding the need for a preservation balance in thriving agricultural communities often becomes sidelined.
The BLM needs to comply with its original “multiple use” principle in managing wild horses and burros. In light of the inequitable share of livestock on BLM land, the on going persecution of wild horses and those that value them is unacceptable and threatens the very spirit of the American West. I urge Congress to stand up for much needed reform of the BLM’s wild horse and burro program and livestock grazing on federal lands.
Now is not the time to repudiate environmental balance, but rather it is the time for all of us to work together – politician, advocate, rancher, scientist, and citizen. Only by doing this will the United States move forward and be a leader in environmental issues and ensure sustainability to our delicate ecosystem.
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter, Wild Burros, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
beautifuly written.glad to be able to read mr redfors thoughts and info!thankyou mr redford for aknowledgement.
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sorry mr redford..i miss spelled your name.
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Reblogged this on akacheshire and commented:
its great he speaks out.
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Mr Redford has made an appearance, and left a mellow plea for everyone to get along. Wonderful. Unfortunately, we need decisive uncompromising words stating the obvious and leading us to a righteous peace. There is no “let’s us all get along” to comfort the thousands of horses losing their freedom. Maybe he can find his way, he and his entourage, to Reveille and take a look at the 15 year old order under which the miniscule number of horses (including an aged pregnant mare and her foal) lost their right to living without harrassment, branding or death.
I mean if he has such authority we all stop to read letter, his team better put more teeth in it – it is just too disapponting to read one more piece of dribble.
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Thank you Jan, I thought I was the only one who thought the muchety mucks do to little to late.
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I agree with you too Jan… The BLM has no compromise in sight with corruption, lies and deception.
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Sally Jewell last Thursday at last made her first extended public comments about one of the most controversial and under-reported aspects of her portfolio as steward of the nation’s public lands. Speaking at the National Press Club, she addressed in detail a question about the nation’s beleaguered wild horses, which in the past few years have been rounded up by the tens of thousands from those public lands and dispatched to vast holding facilities at great cost to the American taxpayer (and to the great benefit of the ranching and livestock industries).
It was not an auspicious debut. Jewell did not directly answer the question posed to her. And the affirmative statement she did make about the herds was unsupported by key facts revealed in June in a report by the National Academy of Sciences that was sharply critical of Bureau of Land Management’s practices and policies toward the horses. She offered a series of platitudes—e.g. “So we are working on it. And we are going to work on it”—while wild horses are being sold to slaughter in contravention of federal law and policy. Time is of the essence here but there was no hint of urgency in the Secretary’s remarks. BTW EVERYTIME WE GO TO COURT THE RANCHERS AND BLM ARE TOLD BY FED JUDGES THAT BLM IS BREAKING THE LAW, SO THEY DONT ENFORCE IT THEY GO RIGHT BK TO URDERING THEM. PZP IS A PESTIIDE THAT DOES NOT STOP ROUNDUPS IT MAKES IT WORSE. AND IN THE NIGHT THEY STEAL THEM FO KILL BUYERS TO TAKE ACROSS NO AND SO BORDERS. WE NEED HORSE PROPERTIES ITS THEY ONLY WAY TO KEEP THEM SAFE. IF RETURNED TO THE RANGE RANCHERS WANT TO KILL THEM OFF. CAN YOU AND YR FRIENDS DO MORE TO STOP THE GENOCIDE? WILL YOU STOP PROMOTING ANY PZP THEY ARE NOT OVERPOPULATED AND THEY RESTORE HABITAT NOT DESTROY LIKE CATTLE DO. CAN U DO MORE FOR THEM NOW….THEY ARE ALL BEING KILLED THEY ARE RAMPING IT UP. CANT YOU SPEAK UP FOR THEM?WATCING THE GUT WRENCHING VIDEOS IS SICKENING TO US AND IM SURE TO YOU PLS GET INTO THIS FIGHT SERIOUSLY THEY WILL BE WIPED OUT FOREVER. AND THEY DONT DESERVE TO BE CALLED PESTS. HELP NEEDED RIGHT NOW IN SO MANY STATES. JOI US BUT DONT FALL FOR PZP! IT KILLED A TIGER AND A WOLF AT OUR ANIMAL ARK BY FEEDING THEM HOREMEAT FROM A COLORADO MEAT COMPANY. TY
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Exactly janwindsong,, Our Mustangs have suffered too long and unnecessary. If hes in this fight he must put of his dukes roll up his sleeves and stand tall and straight just as the Mustangs do!!!!!! Nicey nice does nothing , we already know that !!!! I am sick of the percecution of the Innocent beautiful Mustangs, their lives had been wasted by politics , make it over now…………….. this is sooooo wrong and illegal,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, It is long passed time , all stops must be pulled…………… In this case ACTION WILL SPEAK LOUDER THEN WORDS < THE BLM HAS TURNED A SELF INFLICKED DEAF EAR FOR YEARS………………. When will get it through our thick heads they consider us nothing and continue their eradification !!!!!!!!!!!!!! This requires less words more action………………………………….
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The Mustangs as a whole or singlely enrich all our Lives either directly or indirectly, they are so Beautiful , so self relieint , they are Americas greastest most Beautiful asset……. and Treasure We as Americans along with Congress unanimously in 1971 to ensure their Freedom and their peaceful lives,and the Beauty they radiate gave them protection from all harm, now we as Americans must give back to them the freedom to live protected and preserved under that LAW,
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Robert Redford said a lot. Cattle do not need to be taking all this land and the BLM needs to be dismantled and the wild horses and burros be given the range land that is rightfully theirs. Come on people, this is our American citizenship range land and they are our wild horses and burros. LET’S DEMAND WE TAKE OUR OWNERSHIP AND GET RID OF THESE HORRIBLE BLM BUREAUCRATS.
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I am with you lynne Jones,and all for ridding this Great Nation of these corrupt morons, who have no respect of the Wild Mustangs !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Robert Redford, I LOVE YOU…. but why weren’t you in WY when they rounded up close to 1,300 horses instead of 800? Why aren’t you in NV where the public will be prosecuted if they go anywhere near a trap or attempt to observe a roundup?
YOUR PHYSICAL PRESENCE out there would cause media coverage and help turn the tide much more than an article.
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We may not always agree but indisputably the slaughter houses must go!
Help reinstate back the wild horse and burro act. We need to preserve this part of American wildlife just as much as protecting the bald eagles as a symbol of the fabric of America. It is a part of all Americans who some seem to forget. Greed blinds.
This has been going on for sometime; I hope your not too late.
Thank you gentlemen
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Okay, a great actor, conservationist and celebrity wrote a letter to a national publication that received acknowledgement by probably thousands. It was a common sense approach to those that either didn’t know this situation exists (& most “horse people” are already aware to some degree or another). This is good, but does not deal at all with the already corralled BLM horses waiting for maybe adoption or more likely eventual trucking then slaughter. The average person does not own enough land to make a difference to these horses. Yes, we need to try to turn the huge cumbersome US government’s BLM bureaucracy to FOLLOW THE LAW. However, Mr. Redford might have a more effective role if he were to rally his friends and acquaintances in the world of large land owners or those who can purchase large tracts of land to privately establish lands to use for the relocation of the mustangs currently contained in the BLM’s “holding pens”. Only then, might the tides shift to pressure the BLM to use the funds saved to begin following the law. Those “adopting” or purchasing large herds of held mustangs then must be able to be monitored (as the law intended) by above board non profit group or “clean” government to ensure that these horses are truly living unharmed by mankind to live and die as nature decides.
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The problem with having wealthy people buy all the horses and burros in holding is that wild horses and burros belong to the AMERICAN PEOPLE (all of us, not just the wealthy), AND OUR PUBLIC LANDS BELONG TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE (not to the BLM or corporations). We want to be able to see wild horses and burros and have access to them on public lands, for FREE, anytime we want. Our wild horses and burros have been stolen off of public lands under false pretenses. We want HAs to be re-designated as HMAs, and return wild horses and burros now in holding to these HMAs. Maybe wealthy people can allow cattle to graze for $1.35 per cow calf pair on their land. The BLM should reduce/suspend grazing allotments on public land. And Heidi, since it seems that you are a member of the Livestock Conservancy, I’d like to mention that we don’t consider wild horses and burros to be livestock.
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Debbie, I really agree with what you have pointed out to me. The wild horses, burros AND land do belong to the American people and I DO believe that the BLM should get its act together and administer the land and the wild horses & burros legally and to be present for all people to view when desired and able. I am a member of The Livestock Conservancy because I believe in the preservation of the various genetics of animals (horses, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens & other fowl and rabbits) that have been bred by humans to thrive for their own microclimates. The Livestock Conservancy does recognize several breeds of horses whose populations are often at or below the critical point of keeping these genetics viable going forward–these include among others, the Santa Cruz, the Marsh Tacky, the Choctaw and Spanish Mustang. The Conservancy is not at odds with the mustangs on BLM lands or in the National Park Service lands. I am puzzled why you brought up my support of this group.
I think that the low price the BLM sets for leasing of land for cattle & sheep is merely a welfare handout to those who lease the land and cheats the American people of funds that should be collected for the people, by the government. It is a criminal act, but unfortunately an act that is not a top priority to fix in the view of the majority of the Congress (who have been sadly elected by the people). My comment on Mr. Redford’s piece was my attempt to try to contribute a thought as to how to address the immediate problem of more than 75,000 horses currently in holding pens across our country. I am sorry that I wasn’t clear that of course there needs to be concerted effort by people who care about our wild horses and burros for a turn about in how they are “handled” by the BLM. My intention was to give thought to a more immediate situation. I am anguished by the knowledge that these beautiful horses are collected only to stagnate in holding pens for months and years. Realistically, I doubt they will ever be returned to the land where they lived. I do not want them to be shipped to Mexico or Canada to be slaughtered. I do not want them to be slaughtered in the USA when their deaths are filled with fear and pain. They, by law belong to the American people on BLM lands designated for them. As for me, personally I have done what I can do responsibly, I bought at auction two young mustang colts that were rounded up for auction in 2013. They were not BLM mustangs, but from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. These two will have a forever home with me – while not roaming the Badlands, at least loved and living outdoors with freedom to run and with exceptional care. If not for a wonderful group of people working together and individually, these horses most likely would have been shipped to Canada and slaughtered.
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Heidi: wow, you really let it gush – all that concern. Wonderful. Your group seems to be really involved with wealthy people furthering their wealth by breeding and selling “exotic” animals and calling it conservancy. Which I can appreciate given that everyone has to make a living … And all. There are horses and bloodlines being ignored by the “conservancy” registries (Abaco Colonial, Coyote Canyon, Placitas to name a very few) so I take a different view of the ethics ruling the need for conservancy which is actually defined as judicious protection. But again, as Debbie pointed out, horses are not livestock so it is curious why you protect some groups of horses and now speak up for the wild horses and burros under the Act.
However, your solution of rich people buying up the LTH holding horses and keeping them on private property is sort of what is happening now, except the ownership part. In either case, the present situation for the horses and your proposed situation – the horses are being kept out of public view. This bright solution has been proposed by pro-slaughter and is usually accompanied by the long range goal of shipping the horses to slaughter as the title passes which I am sure you must not have considered. And actually, if you look at the history of he WHB Act, which being of a Conservancy you are probably very familiar with, the very reason the Burns Act was passed was so rich people could buy up a few thousand horses and send them to Mexico without the silly complication of lifetime protection.
The best outlook for our horses is for everyone to see the root cause of the attack on the wild horses – overgrazing and desertification. Cattle and sheep are on the wildlands as we speak, overwintering, while our horses are being fed GMO’d alfalfa.
The economics of the measly permit use fee is a side issue. But it is intrinsic to the overgrazing as it being so cheap and protections unenforced the destruction is coming. So despite the market cry of supply and demand driving costs, our wildlands are sold out and used up for cheap and our citizens are roused from their secure pursuit of happiness by this evil greed and cruelty imposed upon our companions.
Believe it or not, we do all (well some of us) have other things to do that don’t involve these issues, but I will be damned if the present culture of lying and deception is going to take the wildlands and the creatures protected from my grandchildren.
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I think part of the problem that wild horses are having now is that they have allied themselves with environmentalists against ranchers. However, the environmentalists don’t want the wild horses on the land either whether it is because of birds or as an unnecessary source of methane, I couldn’t tell you. The natural allies of the wild horse should have been the humans that are interesting in using the land for grazing herbivores because, as Robert Redford notes, the land is more productive and healthier with multiple species grazing on it. This is established science.
The non-native horse theory began in 1973 after the 1971 Act and after the first UN Convention on the Human Environment in 1972. It was a product of FWS, TNC, and the IUCN. Maybe I am just too jaded and cynical now, but I don’t think it is a coincidence that these wildlife corridors overlap with fossil fuels, metals, rare Earths, minerals. I just think that by funding a lot of these environmental and animal groups, anti-ranching activists are using biological diversity to remove ranchers and ranchers are getting rid of wild horses for them.
These ranchers, hunters and anglers that are friends of FWS and their allies will get their justice one of these days but not before the people that attacked ranchers get theres. I say this because most of the science on global warming and biological diversity is falling apart. Actually, the fact that our own government won’t acknowledge the horse as a native species has served to enlighten some countries. Some of whom are abandoning the green house gas limits and going back to coal.
The plan started as a way to get hold of natural resources in the West without having to go through Congress, so by putting these policies in international law, the entire world has had to endure policies that have led to destruction of species the ignorant IUCN decided did not belong. Now we are found out. Our former allies no longer trust our military or our science.
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Wow janwindsong, I was unaware that being a member of The Livestock Conservancy makes me be poisonous toward the plight of the wild horses that have been removed from the mismanaged BLM lands. I must profess a level of ignorance of things that you speak of. I never stated that I believed the wild horses were livestock, debbiecoffey brought up my membership with the Livestock Conservancy (I guess she felt the need to investigate me….) I do follow the line of thinking that the wild horses have genetics that are Native North American, but that hardly matters with the outcome of yesterday’s election. The now Republican controlled Senate & House can be guaranteed to not give a rat’s ass about The Wild Horses owned by the American people. The sadness for our horses will continue.
janwindsong and debbiecoffey, you both have pointed out my apparent deficiencies in the virtuous and pure viewpoints of the course of action to preserve wild horses running free on the American people’s land. You will not hear from me again. I merely tried to be part of the dialog generated here.
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This was not our intent. But you must not realize that livestock grazing on public lands is a huge reason for the removal of the wild horses. And the livestock associations are all pushing for the slaughter of horses. So, if we were sensitive to someone with ties to The Livestock Conservancy commenting here, that is why.
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Dear Debbiecoffey, just wondering Why does Heidi E Stucki think we dont want her here , Is there something I missed in her posts??????????
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Everything is posted, so you didn’t miss anything.
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I appreciate Mr. Redford’s involvement. I don’t know how involved he is or if he is involved at all in what is going on in Utah near where he lives. Park City resort was recently purchased and some of it was dedicated to preservation. This appears to be part of a Western Wild Ways International Park System that was supposed to be open in 2015.
It is just my opinion, and I don’t live in the West and while I do care what happens there, I do not know the West like I know parts of the East or the South from deep inside of who I am and what I know to be true. I know public lands and access to them are important to the people who live in the West. But were these lands privately owned, there would never have been all these international treaties created to seize the natural resource wealth that follows the ancient historical migration routes of horse, mammoths, camels and other herbivores. One of the reason that so much work has gone into shutting down Appalachian coal is to create a need to open up the land that no one owns for the profit of far left leaning organizations. I don’t oppose wind and solar energy, but the problem is that the Dems were so anxious to get the horses and livestock off the land that they filled the acres with wind turbines without testing them and studying their impacts over time. They are destroying birds across the northern hemisphere.
While I don’t believe we humans should be in the business of destroying species at all unless it is something truly deadly like Ebola, there is some poetic justice knowing that the Audubon Society, Sierra Club, The Wildlife Society, The Nature Conservancy, and all these big birder groups that have been so anti-horse are now proven to be totally scientifically illiterate because they advocated for these changes with o science behind them. These people should never be put in charge of anything that has to do with the environment.
There is not a single source in all of the documents within the government agencies or the people that wrote the exotic, alien, invasive, non-native, feral, plant pest theories to prove that the horse is non-native–not one. And yet—look what Senate Democrats have done to our wild horses. I don’t know if the Republicans will do better, but finally we will have the chance to find out whether or not they are willing to try.
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The land of the free is not so free, we must work together as stated in this letter. Our current leadership is not holding BLM authorities accountable for the laws that we citizens have already in place to protect our wild horses and burros ! Speak out and vote !
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I hve written Robert Redford and Willie Nelson on a number of ocassions and I am very happy to see such a well written article. Robert Redford has been at the helm for a long time in supporting the environment. If any one can move mountains it surely is Robert Redford. The movie the Electric Horseman is one of my all time favorites and keep it in my collections. We need more celebrities to step forward for their safety and humane treatment. I am gathering more info for my Legislators and he brings up some very accurate statements. More ammo to enlighten those who seem to have lost their way and continue the rhetoric.
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I am pleased of course to hear Robert Redford’s plea to save our wild horses but it is like a drop in the ocean of silence which has mysteriously prevailed in the mass media concerning this issue. It has become quite evident that wild horses have been sacrificed to corporate greed with the assistance of their lackeys in the mass media. It is an irony that today we vote in a time of war hysteria drummed up by the same mass media with the likely result that it will favor candidates who will hardly be sympathetic to the plight of our wild horses.
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From what I have just gathered about the Midterm elections the Republicans have taken control of the US Senate and have kept control of the House. What that could mean about stopping the BLM or the shipping of US horses to Canada or Mexico for slaughter remains to be seen. Senator Landrieu the person that introduced senate bill S.541 that has been in committee gathering dust ever since is on the verge of losing her senate seat, since she has done very little to work toward getting the bill passed that I know of, I might be wrong about that but I doubt it. It seems that these politicians will introduce bills like S. 541 to please their constituents and the rest of the public if its stopping a horror like horse slaughter but lose interest in pushing for its passage. I think that is what has happened to a number of the bills that was introduced the past ten or more years.
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Wanted to share this with all here, If you remember the 3 Girls who were held in captively by a sexual prediter for 10 Yrs in Cleveland , Ohio , Michelle Knight was one of them, whom he treated the worest and got the brunt of physical abuse from him, he committed suicide while in prison, its been a few years since all 3 girls escaped their horrible ordeal, one of them is now a motivional speaker, she was on a news Show today, explaining her Mental healing and how hard it has been to forgive her prediter, and how until someone gave her a horse named Waylan and how depremental he is to her healing , said he he is her inspiration to go on in life !!!!!!!
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Arlene: This is so true. These animals are sensitive to us and can feel when we are needing support. I know because it has happened to me. People don’t give animals credit, and especially horses, for the intelligence that they truly have.
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Dear Lynne I also have experienced this with them 2 times they helped me !!!!!!!when i needed them !!!! Iam forever dedicated to them !!!!
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This is an interesting read — when man interferes in the balance of nature. http://conservationmagazine.org/2014/10/killing-for-conservation
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Very interesting read – horrifying thinking about slaughtering all those owls. (Plus the listing of all the other creatures legally killed by FWS & WS! Did comment on that!
Its great that Robert Redford has spoken out – should have earlier on. And if he made it more public – possible more people would actually become interested!
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Ithink the letter is good one but like many of you I think he should have showed up in my e-mails like his climate change letters have. A little late in the game to be piping in now but if he is here for the long haul I welcome him but come on it’s going take more fire and bremstone to make any sort of difference this late in the game . But I would think he could muster up some more names that could join our cause ,sure couldn’t hurt. @barbara , I think it’s that little pissant from oklahoma that won’t free up the commitee to get that bill out to the floor for a vote — I can’t remember his name . @heidi , I hope if you are serious in your comments , there is a lot of work to be done since the party lines have been tidied up a little bit , lets all start with mitch mc connell and get kronze out of the doi, then work on that jerk from ok. . All i know right now we have been given alittle leway and we need to take advantage of it and keep it working and building momentum . Nice to see you here everyone.
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Reblogged this on cindymendoza47 and commented:
was anybody else looking for any of the reporters to ask obozo “who got the shellackin’ now” but i don’t think you could have mustered up even one set of balls in that whole room today to ask that one . hehehe just askiin;
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Thank you Mr. Redford for your letter. I appreciate all your years of speaking out for the environment, wild horses, the energy crisis just to name a few in which you have taken a stand. Having fought for the wild horses of Louisiana I know how the lack of response from the public and the political arena can affect you. I also know that the disparaging comments from your readers can make you wonder why you bother. I saw no one who made comments as to your lack of involvement to why you didn’t do it sooner jump on the bandwagon with a “lets do more now” or “what can we do to help?” There are lots of organizations out there that are trying to help. Join one, even if it’s got nothing to do with horses. Donate your time, your money, your voice. Make a difference. Mr. Redford certainly does. If you need to criticize, aim it at someone that is in the way of progress, not someone fighting for it.
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Thank you so much Mr. Redford. God bless you so much. That’s all I can say.
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Reblogged this on Donkey Whisperer Farm Blog and commented:
Please read what actor Robert Redford has to say about our Wild Horses and Burros (donkeys)
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The courage we all should have http://youtu.be/a7hovhbQBD4
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Reblogged this on hocuspocus13 and commented:
jinxx ♠ xoxo
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It is with a heavy heart that I speak today. I have discovered that MOST of the advocate leaderand their organizations (non-profits) have capitulated to BLM and, from all indications, have bought into the overpopulated wild horses and burros in exchange for taxpayer funded research grants. They have been busy using their position to sidle up in whisperng conversations to BLM in meetings far away and behind closed doors to strategize and implement the final chapter on our few remaining free roaming wild horses. Their positions were gifted to them from the advocates to fight for the horses when we could not,
Robert Redford is just window dressing – a public relations icon – found a cause he could identify with.
A few advocates still stand to fight for the protections of the legal right of the horses to freedom and society and that includes freedom from harrassment, freedom from branding AND freedom from capture! We stand alone against the onslaught of accusations by the backstabbing mob of ibeing idiots, stupid, ignorant, bullies, freaks, and “bought off by the ranchers.”. A lawsuit and TRO was filed by those few freedom fighters to stop the Pine Nut roundup and PZP of all mares that were to be turned back out. Judge Hicks agreed with the premise of friends of Animals and stopped the roundup. BLM after consideration in talks with attorneys decided to take the roundup off calendar. That is a WIN! 300 some odd horses remain in their home and 4 foals have been born to their families in freedom.
You’d think the so-called “Pine Nut Advocates” would be grateful but instead they act angry that the capture was stopped. Odd, but maybe the money only comes when the drug is injected. It is one big happy family of PZPers apparently. So much better than reading and seeing rational legal moves. These PZP advocates are taking actions that reveal they do NOT care about the horses. They can talk, and publish photos with heartwrenching sound bytes, but when the rubber hits the road – they gone.
I write to reveal the truth of the “division” in advocacy. Those STILL fighting for the lawful protection of the horses have NOT divided the advocacy. The capitulators, the fundraising businesswomen and men, signing onto the gravy train of “research” grants, insulting and discrediting advocates still working to protect the wild horses have stabbed us all in the heart. Recently, Fish Creek mares were pushed to be gathered (after a pilot program presentation by a RAC member we put into place and a widely known range rat in August last year). “Excess” Fish Creek horses went through the hell of processing. The babies immediately put into “on site adoptions” – oh yes, better that the trauma be muddled by happy happy and was also a presentation made by the range rat, with courtesy budget language provided to her by BLM. The pregnant and open PZP’d mares from Fish Creek are having their foals and standing eating manmade food in Broken Arrow. That is what the PZPers have handed us. Exposing the horses to harrassment (which drugging is) is ILLEGAL! “Look, its the best we can do. We can’t fight them.”. I’ve seen “we will not forget you Julia” banners for one mare – colored like a palomino – right above the “we need legal fees and gas money.”. I guess the other plainer marked and colored mares just don’t count as much. These people make me nauseated with real concern for the future of the horses. In the hands of people who value money over a true deep understanding of the needs of the horses – we have more of an uphill battle. Since they wound their way into this situation (which has become a fight) and skewed our efforts with their interference.
Please do not give up. Recognize who the enemy is and where they are and what they have done. And let’s get on it.
The way I see it all the money given to this advocate groups has brought them closer to BLM and BLM took them in. You keep supporting their now obvious complicity and hoping what they say and what they do will one day be the same – well we will all be waiting and the wildlands will be empty. Wake up America, again.
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