Hostile Restructuring

"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
~ Elie Wiesel

 

 

Fighting the Good Fight

Perhaps this is an appropriate day to philosophize about about activism; today being the Holocaust Memorial Day. Because fascism, left unchecked, ignored, can lead to such enormous atrocities against humanity.

The Holocaust wasn't just about Jews, though they were the primary recipients of that bigoted system. Other targeted victims were the LGBTQ community (though the acronym wasn't developed then), Roma (Gypsies), people w/ mental or physical disabilities, communists, trade unionists, anarchists, Poles, other Slavic peoples, & resistance fighters.

As a young teenager, I learned about Elie Wiesel and Simon Wiesenthal; both Holocaust survivors. I am not prone to heros or idolizing people, but these two men were heros to me, role models.Wiesel became a human rights advocate. Simon Wiesenthal dedicated his life to tracking down and gathering information on fugitive Nazi war criminals so that they could be brought to trial; two men that imprinted on me in my young developmental stages.

Wiesel stated, "Those who are bigots do not stop at classes, at races or again at gays or lesbians, those who hate you, hate me. Those who will hate Jews will hate blacks. And those who hate blacks will hate people simply because they talk differently, or because they believe in something that they refuse to believe in. Hate is contagious. They are committing sins; sins against society, sins against humanity, and against creation, as such. So Why should I not be here to speak to you about self-respect and about civil-rights that must apply to every single segment of our population." 

This same mentality is the driving force behind much of what we have to battle against, including our environment, natural resources, conservation and wildlife. 

I recently read a book by Sarah Kendzior (Missouri), The View From Flyover Country (because Montana is also a flyover state). Kendzior is a writer and analyst who studies digital media and politics in authoritarian states. She speaks Russian, has a Masters in Eurasian Studies, a PhD in anthropology, and has a podcast - Gaslit Nation. It would probably be an understatement to say that Kendzior is concerned about the state of our country right now. 

 Here in Montana, our environment, our natural resources, our public lands, public access, and our wildlife are inextricably woven into our society and our social issues, which includes the constant battles with our legislature

George Ochenski recently wrote an article, History disproves Fielder’s state management fantasies. He was refuting Fielder's ad nauseum "state management instead of federal management" diatribe. In Ochenski's brief walk through history he pointed out, " 'Management' would be a very kind term to describe the rape and pillage that actually occurred and with which we and future generations must live." 

While our federal workers (Montana has the 2nd highest amount of fed workers affected) have a brief reprieve (until Feb. 15th, or Trump threatens to shut it all down again or declare a national emergency), I would like to share a thread from a federal worker, a scientist, concerning the wall - the reason for the shutdown, presumably (Kendzior states "the plan is a hostile restructuring. They want to strip down the US and sell it for parts; I've said this for years. The shutdown accelerated it. The point she's making (and I'm making) that the danger is not gone. They'll continue the same kleptocratic, destructive behavior..") 

Kristin Hook is a scientist. She links to data, to refute the more common excuses for a wall. In addition to Hook's links, the New York Times just published an updated article on the wildlife aspects - Why a Border Wall Could Mean Trouble for Wildlife. 

Which leads me to the media aspect of information gathering. I have been pissed off about certain aspects of our media for years. Being a news maven (aggregator), or what some might call a news junkie, I try to seek out independent sources of news, especially those that arm us with facts, not those that basically try to tell you, "Nothing to see here, move along." I do not like homogenized news, one size fits all. Due to the recent batch of journalist firings, I got more irate and vented with some data that affects Montana. I compiled list of 8 of the largest papers in Montana and their corporate owners, with some of those owner's political ideologies and funding (click on link or image for larger version) - which is affecting what news we get to see and the perspective it is written from.

Shortly after my venting I saw a good thread on the newspaper situation by Jeremy Littau. 

I also compiled a wee bit ago the email address of our Montana legislators in block format for those that like to not be silenced, to fight back, they are pasted below. 

For those unfamiliar, here is the main MT Legislative website, you can find legislator contact information here, or call the Capitol to leave a legislator message at (406) 444-4800. Most of the email addresses have changed from the last session, going from mt.gov to a mtleg.gov extension. There is only 1 legislator without an email - Keane. There were also some address and phone no. changes. 

Senate Committees lists House Committees lists 

For those unfamiliar with the bill look up page, here is the link.You can do bill searches by number, legislator or subject. Clicking on each bill shows text, and schedule. For example: Fish & Wildlife bills Environmental Protection Forests and Forestry Rivers 

But, not everything involving conservation, outdoor recreation will be in these categories. Bison or predators may also be in Livestock, public access could be in Roads. Two of the sneaky trespass bills I caught last session were in Judiciary. 

There are also organizations that have bill alerts to help you weed through them all, and bullet points for public comments, like MEIC. 

Here's to our public participation. 

Please save these addresses in a document or such, so that you have them thoughout the session. As much as I like helping others in public participation, I don't have time for tons of emails asking for these links again.  

Senate block emails

goodwind1.duane@gmail.com, rnewbar@gmail.com, bennettformontana@gmail.com, Mark.Blasdel@mtleg.gov, Kenneth.Bogner@mtleg.gov, Carlie.Boland@mtleg.gov, Dee.Brown@mtleg.gov, Jill.Cohenour@mtleg.gov, mcuffe@interbell.net, Janet.Ellis@mtleg.gov, Jason.Ellsworth@mtleg.gov, johnesp2001@yahoo.com, Jennifer.Fielder@mtleg.gov, Steve.Fitzpatrick@mtleg.gov, Pat.Flowers@mtleg.gov, Terry.Gauthier@mtleg.gov, Bruce.Gillespie@mtleg.gov, Jen.Gross@mtleg.gov, Steve.Hinebauch@mtleg.gov, Brian.Hoven@mtleg.gov, David.Howard@mtleg.gov, Tom.Jacobson@mtleg.gov, Doug.Kary@mtleg.gov, Bob.Keenan@mtleg.gov, Mike.Lang@mtleg.gov, Margie.MacDonald@mtleg.gov, senatormalek@gmail.com, Edie.McClafferty@mtleg.gov, Nate.McConnell@mtleg.gov, Mary.McNally@mtleg.gov, Albert.Olszewski@mtleg.gov, ryanosmundson@gmail.com, mikephillips@montana.net, jp.pomnichowski@mtleg.gov, Keith.Regier@mtleg.gov, Tom.Richmond@mtleg.gov, Scott.Sales@mtleg.gov, dan.salomon@mtleg.gov, Diane.Sands@mtleg.gov, jon.sesso@mtleg.gov, Jason.Small@mtleg.gov, Frank.Smith@mtleg.gov, Cary.Smith@mtleg.gov, Russ.Tempel@mtleg.gov, Fred.Thomas@mtleg.gov, Gene.Vuckovich@mtleg.gov, webb4mt@hotmail.com, Susan.Webber@mtleg.gov, Jeff.Welborn@mtleg.gov,

House block emails

Kim.Abbott@mtleg.gov, Fred.Anderson@mtleg.gov, Jbachmeier4hd28@gmail.com, Jade.Bahr@mtleg.gov, nancyballance@aol.com, Danbartel2@gmail.com, becky4hd80@blackfoot.net, David.Bedey@mtleg.gov, Seth.Berglee@mtleg.gov, Barbara.Bessette@mtleg.gov, Laurie.Bishop@mtleg.gov, Bob.Brown@mtleg.gov, brownformontana@gmail.com, Tom.Burnett@mtleg.gov, Ed.Buttrey@mtleg.gov, marycaferro@gmail.com, Willis.Curdy@mtleg.gov, Geraldine.Custer@mtleg.gov, Greg.DeVries@mtleg.gov, alandoane@midrivers.com, Julie.Dooling@mtleg.gov, kimberly.dudik@gmail.com, DAVID.DUNN@MTLEG.GOV, MaryAnn.Dunwell@mtleg.gov, Neil.Duram@mtleg.gov, robformontana@gmail.com, Dave.Fern@mtleg.gov, Ross.Fitzgerald@mtleg.gov, flemingLor5@gmail.com, John.Fuller@mtleg.gov, Moffie.Funk@mtleg.gov, wyliegaltformt@gmail.com, chairmangarcia@aol.com, frankgarnerhd7@gmail.com, Carl.Glimm@mtleg.gov, Sharon.Greef@mtleg.gov, Bruce.Grubbs@mtleg.gov, Steve.Gunderson@mtleg.gov, Jim.Hamilton@mtleg.gov, Bradley.Hamlett@mtleg.gov, Derek.Harvey@mtleg.gov, Denise.Hayman@mtleg.gov, greg.hertz@mtleg.gov, Ken.Holmlund@mtleg.gov, Mike.Hopkins@mtleg.gov, Llew.Jones@mtleg.gov, Jessica.Karjala@mtleg.gov, Joshua.Kassmier@mtleg.gov, Kathy.Kelker@mtleg.gov, Connie.Keogh@mtleg.gov, Emma.KC@mtleg.gov, Casey.Knudsen@mtleg.gov, Rhonda.Knudsen@mtleg.gov, Joel.Krautter@mtleg.gov, Jasmine.Krotkov@mtleg.gov, Dennis.Lenz@mtleg.gov, Denley.Loge@mtleg.gov, Ryan.Lynch@mtleg.gov, Forrest.Mandeville@mtleg.gov, Theresa.Manzella@mtleg.gov, Marilyn.Marler@mtleg.gov, Wendy.McKamey@mtleg.gov, Bill.Mercer@mtleg.gov, Terry.Moore@mtleg.gov, Eric.Moore@mtleg.gov, Shane.Morigeau@mtleg.gov, Dale.Mortensen@mtleg.gov, marknolandhd10@gmail.com, Andrea.Olsen@mtleg.gov, Rae.Peppers@mtleg.gov, Zac.Perry@mtleg.gov, Gordon.Pierson@mtleg.gov, Chris.Pope@mtleg.gov, joeread2019mt@gmail.com, Alan.Redfield@mtleg.gov, Matt.Regier@mtleg.gov, Vince.Ricci@mtleg.gov, Tyson.rw@mtleg.gov, Marilyn.Ryan@mtleg.gov, Walt.Sales@mtleg.gov, Casey.Schreiner@mtleg.gov, Ray.Shaw@mtleg.gov, Lola.Sheldon-Galloway@mtleg.gov, Derek.Skees@mtleg.gov, repbsmith@gmail.com, Sharon.StewartPeregoy@mtleg.gov, Katie.Sullivan@mtleg.gov, Mark.Sweeney@mtleg.gov, Brad.Tschida@mtleg.gov, Barry.Usher@mtleg.gov, Gordon.Vance@mtleg.gov, Sue.Vinton@mtleg.gov, Marvin.Weatherwax@mtleg.gov, Webb4house@gmail.com, Tom.Welch@mtleg.gov, winwithwhite@gmail.com, rep32jwb@gmail.com, Tom.Winter@mtleg.gov, Tom.Woods@mtleg.gov, Daniel.Zolnikov@mtleg.gov

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Thank you,
Kathryn QannaYahu
406-579-7748
www.EMWH.org
Helena, MT