近距离内射合集

Don鈥檛 permit uranium mining near Continental Divide Trail

As an avid hiker, I was appalled to learn that a Canadian company, Gamma Resources, plans to begin mining uranium near the Continental Divide Trail in the Carson National Forest near Canjilon in 2027. Uranium mining near the CDT would destroy the landscape, contaminate the land and water, create health hazards for hikers, hunters and campers, and jeopardize local economies that benefit from the trail.

The company has applied for permits to drill boreholes, build roads and drill pads that would disrupt the trail and destroy the beauty and solitude of hiking. Uranium mining is known to contaminate land and water. Hikers depend on clean water for filtering and drinking on long-distance hikes. Abandoned mines and unstable mine structures are other hazards to outdoor users. Hikers come from all over the world to hike the CDT from Mexico to Canada. They benefit the small towns near the trail by buying supplies and lodging. A 2023 Continental Divide Trail Coalition survey of small businesses near the CDT revealed that 82% believe that protecting public lands is important to their community鈥檚 economy.

Uranium mining near the Continental Divide Trail would be devastating to the land, water and people who use the trail. Carson National Forest officials and the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division should deny these permits.

Carol Thompson

Tijeras

Rescinding buffer zone will hurt Chaco Canyon

By rescinding the protections on the buffer zone around Chaco Canyon, the Bureau of Land Management will be inviting oil companies to destroy more of our beautiful state for the sake of unnecessary and harmful development.

The BLM has already leased and developed over 90% of the lands beyond that buffer zone, which in turn has destroyed a number of significant cultural sites and harmed the health of residents nearby. As a New Mexican, I believe that our cultural resources are a critical part of what makes New Mexico itself. I also know how big of an ordeal any sort of health issues can be. The buffer zone provides a respite from these threats by setting aside some of the last undeveloped federal lands in northwestern New Mexico.

Rory Taggart

Albuquerque

Protect the Sandia Mountain Wilderness and access for everyone

We can all agree that the Sandia Mountains are not simply another parcel of land. It's the defining landscape of the Rio Grande Valley, and most of us have built lasting connections with the outdoors while exploring in the Sandias.

I'm deeply concerned about the proposed transfer of nearly 10,000 acres of federally protected Sandia Mountain Wilderness because the current proposal contains absolutely no clear guarantees for continued public access throughout the entire 10,000 acre boundary.

I strongly object to letters of support signed by elected officials who appear to have endorsed this proposal without fully understanding its history, complexities or the regional impacts on public access, recreation and our economy.

Before supporting a major change to an agreement negotiated by all parties and approved by Congress in 2003, our elected officials should take time to understand the existing agreement, speak with affected parties and focus on resolving concerns within the existing framework.

Congress established the T'uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area to balance three important interests:

1. To recognize and protect in perpetuity the rights and interests of the pueblo in and to the area.

2.  To preserve in perpetuity the National Forest and Wilderness character of the area.

3.  to recognize and protect in perpetuity the longstanding use and enjoyment of the area by the public.

This current land transfer proposal does not protect the forest, it does not protect the wilderness and it does not protect public access.

The impacts of a transfer are real and must be understood.

I urge our New Mexico congressional delegation to bring the parties to the table to resolve all issues within the existing framework that Congress established in 2003. Anything less is unacceptable.

Anna Brown

Corrales

State should require cleaner air from Intel

Are Rio Rancho residents getting what we pay for? I recently learned Intel, one of the largest employers in our area, is getting massive tax breaks at the expense of our students at public schools.

Recent research from the national watchdog group Good Jobs First reveals that Intel鈥檚 property tax exemption has cost Rio Rancho over $43 million in the last few years 鈥� that鈥檚 more than $2,700 per student. Imagine the difference this kind of investment could make for our students: state-of-the-art technology, modern classrooms, updated learning materials, outstanding arts and athletic programs, and additional teachers to provide every student the attention they deserve.

I鈥檓 a neighbor of Intel's, and for years I鈥檝e been sickened and concerned about the air pollution from the facility. Anytime I go near the Intel facility, in Corrales and Northwest Albuquerque, I get migraines and asthma attacks. Intel is south of my home and when possible, I travel north to avoid the chemicals Intel releases into the air.

Intel is supposed to be an economic engine for New Mexico, but last year, when the company was going through economic hard times, management laid off more than 200 workers at the Rio Rancho facility.

As residents, we continue to pay for Intel鈥檚 presence in our community, not only with our taxes but with our health and well-being.

My neighbors and I would like the New Mexico Environment Department to demand cleaner air from Intel. Our community group, Clean Air for All Now, calls on Intel to negotiate a community benefits agreement with local residents and live up to its promises. Cutting-edge technology shouldn鈥檛 be releasing chemicals upon their neighbors daily.

Marcy Brandenburg

Rio Rancho (Clean Air Now co-chair)

Measles: A record we never wanted to see

When I was growing up, the measles wasn't unusual 鈥� it was expected. Nearly every child got it. Parents could only hope their children would recover without complications because there was no vaccine to prevent the disease.

Most people don鈥檛 know that measles was never just a rash and a fever. Before vaccination began in 1963, about 400 to 500 Americans died from measles each year, 48,000 were hospitalized, and about 1,000 developed brain swelling that could cause permanent disabilities. In rare cases, measles can also cause a fatal brain disease years after the initial infection.

The 近距离内射合集 States just recorded its highest number of measles cases since 1991 鈥� a record we never wanted to see. That should concern every parent and grandparent. A disease we came close to eliminating is spreading across our country once again.

As the New Mexico lead for Grandparents for Vaccines, I urge parents and grandparents to remember that babies who are too young to be vaccinated are especially vulnerable to measles and its potentially devastating complications. Please do not take unimmunized infants into settings experiencing a measles outbreak or where vaccination rates are too low to provide community protection.

My generation feared measles because we lived through it. Since 1971, we have had a safe and highly effective MMR vaccine that has protected generations of children. We should use it so today's children and grandchildren never have to experience what my generation did.

Richard Skolnik

White Rock

Muslims have always contributed to America

Although America was founded, in part, on the principles of religious and personal freedoms, for most of the first 200 years of our history, we struggled to live up to those principles. Slavery and then legalized segregation allowed America to prevent African Americans from enjoying their full rights. Deed restrictions, land covenants and other discriminatory laws allowed the segregation of and the discrimination of religious and other ethnic minorities.

The passing of civil rights laws in the 1960s broke down those barriers of racial, religious and ethnic segregation. People of various backgrounds began living in the same neighborhoods, sharing work environments, becoming neighbors, friends and equals.

Unfortunately, at a recent Bernalillo County Planning Commission meeting, some of those old racial, religious and ethnic bigotries were exhibited again. In a meeting to discuss the planning needs for the building of a new mosque, some residents, neighbors and people of hate spoke in opposition to the mosque not because of any legitimate construction concerns, rather out of Islamophobic fear and hate.

Muslims have been a part of American life for the entirety of our 250 year history. Muslims have been active contributors to American and New Mexican life in many ways, including serving in government, creating jobs and businesses, making scientific discoveries and even giving their lives in defense of our country, as you will find Muslim crescents on headstones in American military cemeteries everywhere.

Those who spoke out against the new mosque out of fear or hatred of Muslims not only show unfortunate bigotry and ignorance regarding Islam, but also ignorance of the history and principles of our country.

This form of hatred has no place in our community. The people of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are better than that. Our county leadership should not be influenced by people of hate.

Arthur Flicker

Albuquerque