WTW Official Statement on Advocacy

[DirtyDog]

Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul. -Edward Abbey

We usually avoid political topics at this site. However, in light of recent focused attacks on funding for our national parks, I have decided that it is time for Wander the West to come out with an official position on a subject:

Wander the West is an advocate of and supports funding for our national Parks. WTW is also a supporter of reasonable land use laws and protections. It is in all of our best interests to preserve our natural wonders for our own continued enjoyment and the enjoyment of future generations.

At a couple rally's this last year I had discussions with a few people about some specific things we could do to give back a little to these areas we all enjoy. I'm hoping that 2011 is the year that a few of us can get together and have an inaugural event where we can do a little good in addition to passing out drunk in the dirt. We can discuss specifics in other threads as I'd like to keep this thread on topic.

 

[MarkBC]

Yes!
(not sure if you wanted comment on this, but if permitted, here's mine)
I happen to be a bleeding-heart, tax-and-spend Liberal, so I usually support most government/laws-and-protection anyway.
But seems like anyone who enjoys wandering the west in the spirit of this site would support continuation of the West's natural lands in the state we see and enjoy them now (or even better, IMHO, something closer to natural than it is now).
- Mark

 

[DirtyDog]

Yes!
(not sure if you wanted comment on this, but if permitted, here's mine)
I happen to be a bleeding-heart, tax-and-spend Liberal, so I usually support most government/laws-and-protection anyway.
But seems like anyone who enjoys wandering the west in the spirit of this site would support continuation of the West's natural lands in the state we see and enjoy them now (or even better, IMHO, something closer to natural than it is now).
- Mark


Thanks for the reply Mark.

To expand and clarify a bit on the original statement: WTW is a community of people that love the outdoors but more specifically most of us like to access remote areas with the use of 4x4 vehicles. The initial statement is not against off-road driving or intended to limit land use for the most part. It is simply about responsible use. When our remote campgrounds, hot springs, historical sites etc are full of garbage and heavily vandalized, they are of little value to anyone.

So carry on, but do so with respect for the land and be mindful of small ways that you can make a difference. A friend of mine has his own little program that he calls "One Piece" - every time he is outdoors he picks up one piece of trash. A lot of little things can add up to big things if more of us get involved.

 

[MarkBC]

Yep, I like to use my 4x4 truck to access remote spots (on established routes), so I'm not really a "lock-it-up" guy. Actually/honestly...I've even driven cross-country through untracked sagebrush (in a quest to find the OR/ID/NV 3-State spot).

 

[Ted]

It is a rare camping trip when I don't walk around with a bag picking up garbage. So this idea really appeals to me. Count us in. If the chosen location is too far away to participate, we will try to donate to the cause. And if we are able to participate, I'll bring food as well.

 

[highz]

Hear, hear!

Responsible Use, yes. Sometimes that means we must agree to close down areas for a time that have been damaged. That's the case with a nice camping area near where I live. It was trashed by eejits with OHVs and now it is closed to all use for a while. I regret not being able to camp there, but Responsible Use would have kept it open, and closing it was the right thing to do for the land. Responsible Use means sometimes keeping our rigs on the backcountry roads and hiking to our destination. Hey hiking is good for us! Responsible Use means designating roadless areas as well as areas that we can take 4X4s to play in. It does the land and future generations no good if we are in denial about the damage our rigs and our actions can cause.

Don't know if my type A profession will allow me to attend whatever you think up this year, but I'd be proud to donate some $$ to help make it happen.

 

[Nimbl Vehicles]

I am for one against Off road driving!!!

How ever, I fully support on trail driving!!

 

[DLN]

I'm with you completely Mr. Dog. Funding for parks has become a big issue here in California and we still don't know what the outcome will be. It would be sad to see many of them closed as well as anything on the national level. Advocate on fearless leader.

 

[SunMan]

A friend of mine has his own little program that he calls "One Piece" - every time he is outdoors he picks up one piece of trash.

I've been practicing this for years, falls under the leave it better than you found it doctrine.

I do the same everytime I'm on the beach in front of my house. Sadly, I keep picking it up but there is always more the next time.

 

[chnlisle]

Yes!
(not sure if you wanted comment on this, but if permitted, here's mine)
I happen to be a bleeding-heart, tax-and-spend Liberal, so I usually support most government/laws-and-protection anyway.
But seems like anyone who enjoys wandering the west in the spirit of this site would support continuation of the West's natural lands in the state we see and enjoy them now (or even better, IMHO, something closer to natural than it is now).
- Mark

What he said... oh but you already knew that.

As Edward Washington Abbey said "Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself."

 

[ski3pin]

"God bless America. Let's save some of it."
– Edward Abbey

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead

 

[RJones]

I also do a clean up for others when breaking camp but I'll tell you it seems to be a losing battle lately. It's discouraging but I'd hate to see the back country if I stop.

 

[MarkBC]

A number of years ago I heard an interview with Ted Turner (who despite being a loudmouth, egotistical billionaire, also has world-conservation leanings), and he told of a conversation he had with Jacques Cousteau. [Approximately paraphrasing this from memory] Ted asked Jacques, "If you somehow knew for a fact that we will eventually screw up the oceans and sea life, would you still continue in your efforts to save the oceans now?" And Jacques replied [approximately], "Yes, of course -- what else would a person do?"
Ted went on to say [approximately paraphrased], "If I was a betting man, I'd bet that we won't succeed -- that we will screw up the planet's natural environment in a big way. But what else am I going to do but try?" Then Turner went on to mention a TV program on the damage caused by world population growth (the ultimate villain for all environmental/land-use/quality-of-life issues IMHO -- also Turner's opinion), a program that his network was going to re-run even though he knew that ratings would be lousy...because what else can he do but try?

BTW: I'm not an advocate/defender of Turner or Cousteau -- just the principles contained in these statements.
Principles before personalities, I say.

So I ask myself -- especially now that I have almost 100% free time (until I'm like Grandpa Simpson, at the rest home sittin' in front of "the staring window"

) -- what else can I do but try to do the right thing even if it seems a low probability that the right thing will ultimately prevail?

(OK, I'll step down from the soapbox now

)

 

[simimike]

Protecting the wilderness. Being a member of this site, it goes without saying. It was taught to me as a Boy Scout to leave the campsite cleaner then when you got there. That has been the bases of my philosophy in life. "Try to leave the world a better place." If only a little.

Mike

 

[craig333]

How does someone get raised NOT to leave things cleaner than we found them? I don't understand that. I can understand motorcyclists, hikers, bicyclists not taking more than their share but anyone with a truck and camper has the space to fill up at least one bag.

On our annual father and son trip, before we leave on Sunday everyone (little kids, oldsters, even teens) grabs a trash bag and we scour the site clean. Funny but we never have a problem getting the reservation every year.

 

[UglyScout]

On our annual father and son trip, before we leave on Sunday everyone (little kids, oldsters, even teens) grabs a trash bag and we scour the site clean. Funny but we never have a problem getting the reservation every year.


My truck club does the same thing at our annual campouts - amazing how our image changes from a bunch of 'rowdy, smelly truck owners' to those 'really nice auto enthusiasts that left the campground cleaner than when they arrived'.

We need to continue to lead by example - make our positive voices be heard - and tell people about our good works.

 

[Steve Scearce]

We need to continue to lead by example - make our positive voices be heard - and tell people about our good works.


Yeah, what he said!