Fracking in La Cebolla?

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a Federal Agency within the Department of the Interior.  They hold what is called the "mineral estate" of public lands.  Private companies can nominate a federal mineral estate.  What that means is that the BLM becomes engaged in the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process to assess whether the nominating company (or any companies) can drill on a parcel of land.  Currently, 16 parcels of land in the La Cebolla, New Mexico area were nominated.  The NEPA process on these parcels began two years ago.  But, the BLM has decided to begin again because there hadn't been enough public input in the process.

One of the things that's changed in re-doing the NEPA process is that Rio Arriba County has become a partner in this process by Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  Rio Arriba County passed an ordinance protecting the surface of the land in 2009.  BUT, the Federal Mineral Estate has primacy over the surface of the land

Tuesday (12/3/13) evening, the BLM re-started the process by holding a Public Comment Meeting to determine the Scope of the Environmental Assessment.  Here's some more information on the Public Comment Period and the BLM's NEPA process:

Rio Arriba County Oil and Gas Ordinance:   
http://www.rio-arriba.org/pdf/2009-01_rio_arriba_county_oil_and_gas_ordinance.pdf

To View BML's NEPA process:

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas/lease_sale_notices/2013_lease_sales/january_2013_lease.html

To View BLM's report on the 2013 previous NEPAprocess, which they decided to re-do:
 http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/nm/programs/0/og_sale_notices_and/2013/january_2013.Par.55042.File.dat/January%202013%20Oil%20and%20Gas%20Lease%20Sale%20EA_TFO.pdf

Public Comment Deadline for Scope of the Environmental Assessment: Extended to 1/4/14

Email Comments to: Bradley Higdon, BLM bhigdon@blm.gov or snail mail your comments to Brad at: Taos Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571-5983

Snail Mail Comments to:  Bradley Higdon, Taos Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87575-5983

Questions?  Call Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Office at: 575-751-4725


REMEMBER FOLKS, your comment does not have to have a scientific basis!  Your opinion, your experience with the land, air, water, and communities that fracking COULD effect are JUST AS IMPORTANT as science!  Oil and gas companies can hire scientist after scientist to debate on the safety of fracking.  The oil and gas companies CANNOT debate your cultural expertise or experience of the community!  Even if you're not from northern New Mexico, your experience of land-based cultures and your fears regarding the safety of land, air, water, and life are VALID.  Write 'em up and email or snail mail them in BEFORE 1/4/13!  Thank you!

ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP:  If you're going to mail or email a comment, please consider asking family, friends, neighbors and community members to sign on to your letter.  Even children could sign on.  I think this is the best way to show the BLM how many want the NEPA process to stop and the possibility of fracking to be defeated!

Senator Tom Udall Hosts Women's Success Career Conference 2013

Career Conference 2012, Hosted by Senator Tom Udall

First of all, let me just say, WOW!  Any woman who wants to start or grow her own business can receive an amazing amount of support through all of the organizations located in the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, in Albuquerque, NM. As it turns out, one of those women is me.  That's why I signed up for and attended a women's conference on the subject.

The information presented during Women's Career Success Conference & Job Fair 2013, Hosted by Senator Tom Udall and the Hispano Chamber of Commerce was PHENOMENAL!  The conference's welcoming remarks were given by:  Bianca Ortiz Wertheim, State Director, Office of Senator Tom Udall; Alex Romero, President, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce; and, Tom Udall, U. S. Senator, via video.

Our keynote speaker, Erin Andrew, Assistant Administrator for Women's Business Ownership, U. S. Small Business Administration, gave us insights on what it takes to be a successful small business owner.  There were many points made, but the one stood out most clearly  for me is Mentorship.  Ms. Andrew started out with a quote from Madeline Albright, "There is a special place in Hell for women who don't help other women."  It was a great way to start.  All the attendees were women looking for help. And, the majority of presenters were women who were there TO help.

The help began to roll out with our first panel speaker, Monica Armenta - former newscaster at KOB TV, in Albuquerque; current Public Information Officer of the Albuquerque Public Schools.  Ms. Armenta talked about her first mentors, her parents. She talked about her own mentoring of women.  Besides the amazing generosity displayed by Ms. Armenta, what was remarkable about her portion of the presentation was the way she talked to us.  She was intimate, she was vulnerable, she was evocative, she was unafraid of what was real.  It made many of us cry.

Mrs. Armenta set the tone and the rest of the speakers followed.  Dr. Alexis Artery, Senior Director of Manufacutring Operations, at Eclipse Aerospace started with tears in her eyes over Ms. Armenta's talk and went on to tell us what it was like being a Ph.D. from MIT in a world of work where only four out of 150 engineers are women.  Tina Cordova, President of Queston Construction told us about finding opportunity and seizing it.  Katherine Garza, Director at the Aveda Institute in Albuquerque, NM, talked about keeping a dream alive through physical abuse, substance abuse, and poverty. Four amazing women in New Mexico, lent themselves to us that day and gave me courage, knowledge, perseverance, adaptability, truth, and justice.

I spent the lunch time networking with conference attendees.  An idea was born for me there, I could help women in my community to focus not on getting a job - but, creating small businesses.  I've always been interested in micro-businesses.  I think they're the cornerstone of New Mexican economy.  It is the perfect time to engage women in my community on this subject! With the support of the organizations represented at the conference - Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), WESST Enterprise Center, SBDC's Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) - we can succeed.

Our afternoon was rounded out with talks from the South Valley Economic Development Center (SVEDC), and two of their clients, one of whom had gone from micro to small business by baking traditional bizcochitos.  The other, Valerie Clark, who owns What the Fudge?  Valerie is from Española, is a chocolatier by trade, and runs a business aimed at providing a product to be used for fundraising in schools and by community organizations.

I loved hearing these women's stories!  It was said over and over again - don't worry about the money, just start your business.  And, through help from the multitude of helpful organizations, a woman can . . .

On a personal note:  I have made an appointment to begin working with WESST, I plan on applying for a Value Added Grant through the USDA, and I hope to develop a relationship with What the Fudge? to assist in our fundraising for our current project that includes re-developing a system of barter in nothern New Mexico via a Time Bank, Mentoring Program and Traditions Classes all planned to reaffirm New Mexican culture.  You'll hear more about this in the coming days through my blog posts.

For those of you thinking - this was in Albuquerque, what about Santa Fe or Española - the answer is yes!  In speaking with the State Director of Senator Udall's office, Bianca Ortiz Wertheim, I learned that the Senator would be interested in hosting the same type of training for our area next year.  How exciting is that?

A great big ¡THANK YOU/GRACIAS! to Senator Tom Udall, Bianca Ortiz Wertheim, and all of the staff; Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce; all of the organizations and presenters; and, to those women brave enough to create a new beginning in local economic development through entrepreneurship!  ¡Que Viva las Mujeres!

MLC - Our Treasure

Photo by:  Barbara Baumann

Mary Lou Cook

April 29th, 1918 - October 7th, 2013

Mary Lou Cook's last words to us:  Our job is to be happy.  Ask for spiritual help, it is always available.  Establish healthy boundaries.  Guilt is optional.  Be creative, have fun, embrace life.  Live in joy even though you have all the facts.  Live in the present and realize freedom.  Forgiveness is the key for happiness.  We have a choice between peace and fear.  Make your own rules, forget "ought" and "should".  Find your authentic self.

Mary Lou Cook was my first mentor in community organizing and progressive politics.  She was the kind of person people dream of being.  She was brave, thoughtful, and kind.  She lived peace and was a great example of that reality.  MLC was human, she had her trials and tribulations, as do we all.  She showed me how to rise above during countless hours in the sitting area of her bedroom.

Co-organizing the Dennis Kucinich for President Campaign in 2003, galvanized us into a great thinking, feeling, being of action.  MLC provided the spiritual power of tapping into the universe for decision making via our discussions.  I provided the "down on the ground" data and made our visions happen.  We were a real team.

Everyone who knows MLC has a story about her.  Yesterday, at her memorial, I heard lots of them.  I also heard the facts about her.  But, I want this piece to illuminate WHO she was - not in context of any other person.

MLC had a book of names and phones number (something most of us can no longer imagine).  This was her book of real world power.  She had the numbers of the movers and shakers, stars and politicians, spiritual leaders and 1%er CEOs. Every one of them was at MLC's beck and call.

Why?  Because she listened.  And, gave "consejos".  Consejos may translate from Spanish to English as advice, but that's not really the gist of it.  It's that life advice that only the most wise of our grandmothers can give that I define as consejos.  Mary Lou Cook listened and she gave consejos.  It's a lost art.  Something of a bygone era.  MLC's consejos were always right on target.  Sometimes, a person couldn't stand how on target they were!

Mary Lou Cook lived her life as a woman who "ladies" emulated.  She had a grace that was evident in her every movement.  She was deliberate and expected the same of others.  Some people may have thought of her as an old lady when they first met her.  But, the more you were around her, the more you realized that her grace and deliberateness belied the absolutely joyous spirit with unbound energy who lived within that tiny body.  MLC was a sprite clothed as a graceful grandmother.

MLC's eyes twinkled.  Stars were jealous of those blue beauties. They seldom wept, despite the heaviness she often encountered in the world.  Her smile illuminated Santa Fe.  In fact, PNM probably owes her a bundle for that light.

I'll never forget the silver fingernails, and the huge silver octagon-shaped waffle patterned ring that sat on her hand.  That ring was the fly on the wall.  It heard all, saw all, knew all.  Her daughter, Karen, now wears it.  It hold so much of us - those whom Mary Lou mentored.

MLC paid attention.  She knew who and what belonged where.  She knew what timing meant.  She was able to speed things up or slow them down if needed.  She made sure things happened as they should.

I said before that Mary Lou Cook was human.  But, in writing this, I now wonder - was she really?  So much of her was from a place beyond the physical world. I've always called MLC the Grand Dame of Spirituality.  I can't wait to see her work as pure spirit, now.

Mary Lou Cook was my mentor.  She called me sister.  I live by her words and in her spirit!  Te quiero mucho, MLC!  Que descanse en paz, comadre!


 http://www.silverplanet.com/lifestyles/silver-stars/silver-star-mary-lou-cook/54130#.UnLHPicdTpo

Seed Sovereignty Symposium, (a. k. a., Traditional Agriculture and Sustainable Living Conference) 2013

 

Keynote Speaker Vandana Shiva; Phillip Charos & Claissa Durán, Registrars

Seed Sovereignty Symposium/Traditional Agriculture & Sustainable Living Conference

    Conference Website:  http://4bridges.org/annual-conference/2013-conference/

   

    This was my seventh year and my husband, Phillip's, third year as Conference Registrars.  Each year I've sat at the table for two straight days, greeting old friends, neighbors, and like-minded newcomers to one of the most spiritual and thought provoking experiences available.  Our conference comes out of Tesuque Pueblo and the work to preserve traditional tribal agriculture, spirituality - life.  As organizers, many of us have worked the gamut from public demonstrations to lobbying for bills in the New Mexico Legislature, and working to educate our Congresspeople.  But, it is this conference that creates the opportunity for true healing and life-honoring change.

     At the heart of the conference sits the spiritual leaders of indigenous nations and communities (including the annual participation of the Thirteen Grandmothers).  After listening to one spiritual leader's words in one of the conference panels, a native friend and former conference volunteer said that her DNA had been changed by the Mayan spiritual leader's talk.  This is not to be taken lightly, especially in considering my friend's involvement in her own sovereign nation and her position at a native college.  

    This year we hosted over 400 students from local schools (the majority of whom were 5th graders).  This was a brilliant step taken by conference organizers.  Planting seeds early gives the indigenous communities time to water and care for seeds that will mature and bear their own seeds.  Our area's youth were given an education in a world in which the sickness of materialism and modern life have no roots.  

    Each year the conference is different.  This year, I felt the abundance in our community.  We heard the messages and felt the spirit together.  We prayed and were blessed.  We broke bread together and lingered in dynamic conversations.  We learned about one another and our work to uphold the sovereignty of traditional cultures.  We laughed together and held each other's gaze respectfully.  Our hearts beat together.  Many experiences.  One people.

Power House

El Parasol North is the perfect place to confront your demons and to be told that addiction to thoughts about those demons can be released.  As, for the releasing of the demon, I'll be praying that it can be released, too.

My demon now has a very succinct name:  Institutionalized Capitalism.  I'd like to thank my friend, Donna House (powerful woman, long time organizer and member of the Diné nation) for sitting with me and helping me to come into a stronger understanding about my fear of the corrupting power of cash.

Institutionalized Capitalism, in my definition, is the dehumanizing effect of capitalism on individuals and their families, which allows them to abuse the resources with which Mother Earth blesses us.  It allows them not only to benefit from the abuse of resources on a cash basis, but on a power level that is ALL about subjugating other beings.

I'm thinking a lot about this, because when I'm working in the community, for community, my fears come up.  I keep cycling through them until I can release them.  This is part of my purpose - to heal myself and prepare myself for what happens after I leave this earth as pure spirit.

If you have anything to add or experiences you'd like to share about Institutionalized Capitalism, please feel free to do so here.  If you don't want your post posted publically, please state that and I will treat it as a private message (I have to approve each post individually to make them viewable by the public).

Thanks!
Clarissa

Recently "American"

I've been thinking a lot about the subject of assimilation into "American" society since our Durán family reunion this summer.  Our family was fortunate that a few of our cousins had worked on our family tree/history and built a website so that we could share the knowledge previous to the reunion.

During the reunion, our cousin Dr. José Rivera spoke on our family tree/history.   This gave me an entirely new perspective on the broad European and Native Mesoamerican mix that I embody.  Further, our reunion committee held several meetings.  My father was the reunion director.  I was the registrar.  My father and I traveled to Las Vegas, New Mexico (where the reunion was held) several times to these meetings.  We discussed his recent readings on the history of northern New Mexico.  We debated.  We discussed.  He talked. I listened. I learned.

I learned that a part of my family that I disliked - namely the ambition to "succeed" in mainstream American society (one that immigrants often adopt in order to survive) - was a normal response to a genocidal situation.

The problem was that I've never seen myself as an immigrant.  I've always thought of myself as native to this land.  Sure, I took History of New Mexico at Northern New Mexico College, but the phrase, "we didn't cross the border, the border crossed us" never mattered much to me except as phrase used in organizing for social justice.  It's become very personal to me.

At our Compadrazco on the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo this Spring, I learned that when the U.S. came to what is now called northern New Mexico, they burned our villages and burned our seeds. We hid in the hills.  We were hunted.  They wanted us dead.  If they couldn't kill us now, they would get us by ensuring we starved to death without seeds/crops/food. This thought always brings me to tears.  My father reminds me - we were at war.  It is a different perspective than the Holocaust.

However, those whose families lived in the outposts of the Spanish/Mexican empire know, it wasn't a war for us.  We didn't have the defenses that could match our enemy.  It was genocide.  As a people of mixed history who owned a piece of American leaders' Manifest Destiny, we were expendable.  As a people who would not be beaten down, we were better left dead.  Yes.  We were nearly on the same plane as our tribal brothers and sisters.  We were not human.  We held no value.  Nor do we now.

That is what we as Chicanas/os live each day.  We are a people of many peoples. We fought the country in which we now find ourselves as citizens.  Our land was taken from us through chicanery.  Our relationships with our native brothers and sisters was broken and used as a tool to divide us.  We have had to declare ourselves not native, but European to survive.  We have held ourselves as only half people to this country's government.  We may only hold ourselves as whole - Meztizos, Chicanos, Genizaros - within our own families, circle, communities.

Like our native sisters and brothers, we have hidden the depth of our religion(s), our ceremonies and traditions.  We have watched as some tried to sell our sacred.  We have fought.  Sometimes we've won.  Mostly, we have fallen into a bog and been confused by mist as to the way to get free.  Mostly, we struggle.  That is not a meek word - struggle.  It denotes a constant battle that takes strength, stamina, determination and faith to continue waging.  Mostly, we are constantly seeking ourselves in this foreign world.

Immigrants. My grandfather remembered someone coming to his family's home when he was a child and telling them that the family had to choose whether to remain in "America" and become U. S. citizens or to move further south and remain part of the country that had only recently become "Mexico".  Choose the victor and remain as peasants on their land or choose the way we'd known for both 400 years (as Europeans) and milenia (as native peoples).  What was this choice to them?  How did they make it?  Many of our families went south.  Why did we stay?

This blog is now my personal journal to knowing the mysteries of ME along with all of the actions I choose to undertake in the struggle.  It's the time to learn and know myself through the deepest part of me - the part that IS powerful, whole and free.

Bioneers Cultivating Women's Leadership Training 2013 at Ocamora

I've entered a new world.  A world of light.  My dreams are playing themselves out before my eyes.  Every resource comes to me as I think of it - sometimes before. Every opportunity becomes my gift. This is the world into which CWL inducted me.  And, I am not alone.

I spent five days in my Durán family homeland:  Ocaté, New Mexico.  

                           Photo by:  Dalene Coriz


I was visited by the spirit of my people.  I asked for and found my path illuminated.  I was protected, guided, and healed by formed and formless.  I was lead on a journey by our facilitators Toby and Sarah.  There, I found a concentrated power named Clarissa.

My CWL sisters held the mirror and I came shining through.  Most people will never truly know themselves on a soul level.  Most people will never be offered the experience to gain that knowledge.  I am grateful to have been.

 I can't really say more about it.  It's just something you'd have to know.  My experience has changed me profoundly.  And, for that I'm grateful, too.

Thank you all!