On Saturday, March 5th I attended a photography presentation and talk given by Harvey Halpern at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science(VINS) courtesy of an invite given by my friend, Maureen Sheldon about the endangered wilderness and what we can do to protect and preserve it.  I not only had the priviledge to view some amazing photography of lovely Utah landscapes that most people have not seen, I also had the pleasure of speaking with others who share my passion for the preservation of nature and the wilderness.

Some of you may be thinking, Utah…it’s so far away from me and my world.  But in fact, the desecration of our wilderness is happening close to home in Maine along the Appalachian Trail as well.  These public lands are under threat of development, being stripped for their resources and are on the brink of being lost forever.  The actions being taken by those opposing what is happening in Utah are setting a standard and model for what others can do to fight the development of these wilderness regions, owned by you, that should remain untouched by the hand of man.  Regions which, of solitude and nature, should be left to its own devices.

Here is a link that will provide more information on Southern Utah:

• http://www.suwa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=work_arwa

Maureen, Harvey, Tree(from VINS) and I are discussing putting together a hiking trip to visit this region.  If you are interested in going or would like more detailed information on what you can do to get involved please contact me at: nichole.l.hastings@gmail.com

Now to address the threat in Maine on the Bigelow Preserve, a wind farm that would be visible within 4-miles from the Appalachian Trail.  This wind farm would not only put in place infrastructure, that in my mind is one step closer to other developments, it would dominate a  remote region considered ‘wilderness’ and for many hikers an escape, a moment of solitude from civilization.

Here is a link about the Bigelow Preserve:

• http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/search_name.pl?state_park=&historic_site=&public_reserved_land=42&shared_use_trails=&option=search

Here are some other links that will give you a better idea of the current state of affairs concerning the Highland Winds LLC wind farm:

• http://www.matc.org/WindPower.html
• http://www.maine.gov/doc/lurc/projects/Windpower/HighlandWind/RevisedApplication/CoverLtrApplTOC.pdf
• http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/20/a-call-to-protect-bigelow-preserve/
• http://www.slideshare.net/HighlandWind/views-from-bigelow-mtn
• http://updates.mainetoday.com/updates/residents-fighting-wind-farm-near-bigelow

Maine needs your help!  Utah needs your help!  If you are a Vermont resident, your state reps are in support of those working to protect the wilderness in Utah.  If you are a New Hampshire resident then you need to write a letter to Jeanne Shaheen asking for her support of Utah. And while you’re at it, let’s address Maine.

You may do so here:

• http://shaheen.senate.gov/contact/

Support of Utah, your efforts in supporting Utah will help with what is happening in Maine.  Please write and get involved.  Nature needs your support and voice.  As the MATC points out on their website, Maine is an exporter of energy.  Le’s contemplate this.  I am a supporter of clean renewable energy but not at this cost.

Please take action and let others know who may be interested in supporting these causes.  Thank you.

Related Articles

• Utah, Western Counties Mull Legal Assault on BLM Wilderness Policy (nytimes.com)
• BLM issues wilderness planning guidance (summitcountyvoice.com)
• BLM director to address Utah’s ‘wild lands’ designation ()
• W.H. bails on Bush wilderness policy (politico.com)
• Op-Ed: GOP off the deep on BLM wilderness rules (summitcountyvoice.com)
• Mr. Spiff Goes To Washington (news.change.org)
• “Aron Ralston Gives $125,000 Prize to the Wilderness Workshop” and related posts (tonic.com)
• MNR ignores Endangered Species Act (windconcernsontario.wordpress.com)
• Wisconsin stalemate shines spotlight on Utah successes ()
• Victory! Obama Ends Bush-era ‘No More Wilderness’ Edict (environment.change.org)