Wolf Watershed Educational Project

Alice McCombs (amccombs@MAIL.WISCNET.NET)
Mon, 18 Mar 1996 00:58:17 -0600

TO PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WHO WANT TO STOP UNSAFE MINING:

Come to Wisconsin this Spring to Help Prevent Metallic Sulfide Mining

Wolf Watershed Educational Project

Upriver Speaking Tour on Crandon Mine Begins April 22:
Statewide Gathering to Oppose Exxon in Rhinelander on May 4

Press Conferences in Green Bay and Madison on March 25, the anniversary of
the Exxon Valdez

Toll-free Hotline: 1-800-445-8615

The Exxon mine controversy in Wisconsin is heating up again. This time, it
is mine opponents who are going on the offensive. The Wolf Watershed
Educational Project has announced a speaking tour and gathering to bring
the issue of Exxon's proposed Crandon mine to the public that would be
directly affected by the mine--either environmentally, economically, or
culturally. The project is a joint effort of grassroots environmental
groups, sportsmens' groups, and Native American nations, particularly along
the Wolf-Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. Two speaking tours will simultaneously
go up the two waterways, starting on April 22 (Earth Day) in Green Bay and
Madison, stopping in at least 20 other communities along the way. They will
meet in Rhinelander--the headquarters of Exxon/Rio Algom's Crandon Mining
Company. -- culminating in a large, statewide gathering on Saturday, May 4
(the opening of the angling season).

The May 4 Gathering will be at 12 noon at Hat Rapids on the Wisconsin
River, where Crandon Mining Co. proposes to dump wastewater piped from the
mine. (To get to the site, take Highway 8 west of Rhinelander, go south on
Highway 17 to Hat Rapids Road and take a right). A public picnic will
follow at Pioneer Part, at Business 8 and County G (no alcohol or glass
containers please). Organizers declined to give an estimate on the numbers
expected.

The 12-day Upriver Speaking Tour will involve speakers with a well-informed
background on the sulfide mining issue. There will be an event (free and
open to the public) in each of the towns along the two rivers, with one
representative each from environmental, sportfishing, and Native American
groups speaking and taking questions. Some speakers will also address other
audiences and classes. The project will bring information to people from
many different walks of life--including sportfishing groups, chambers of
commerce, students and teachers, media, public officials, media,
canoeists/kayakers/rafters, tourists and tourism businesses, Native
American communities, social clubs, health care workers, real estate
dealers, resort and cottage owners, and environmental and conservation
groups.

Along the Wolf-Fox waterway, the tour will stop in Green Bay,
Appleton/Menasha, Oshkosh, Fremont, New London, Shiocton, Shawano,
Keshena/Bowler, White Lake, Antigo, Mole Lake, and Crandon. The Wisconsin
River tour will stop in Madison, Sauk City, Portage, Wisconsin Dells,
Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Wausau, Tomahawk, Merrill, and
Rhinelander. (Call the toll-free hotline for information, posters, or ride
information).

"The Exxon mine is not simply another environmental issue," said George
Rock of the Wolf River Watershed Alliance in Langlade County, "This new
movement wants to protect our local environment, our local tourism-based
economy, and our local rural cultures from control by an outside
corporation. It includes people who wouldn't identify themselves as
environmentalists, but who don't like being told they have to let in Exxon.
Local opposition to Exxon has mushroomed recently around Crandon,
Rhinelander, and other towns, and this gathering will bring that into full
view."

Organizers say that the goal of the project is to reach as large and as
broad an audience as possible. "If there was ever a single issue to unite
the people of Northern Wisconsin, it is the threat of mining by the world's
second-largest corporation," said Menominee mining director Kenneth Fish.
"The mining issue has brought together different communities of
people--particularly Native Americans and sportfishermen who have been at
odds over resource issues, but who nevertheless agree that the resources
should be protected." The project is dedicated to the memory of Menominee
environmental leader Hilary Waukau, Sr.

Alice McCombs of the Watershed Information & News Service (WINS) in Shawano
described the proposed mine as "the largest toxic waste dump in state
history, at a size of about 340 football fields." McCombs stated, "We've
learned from experience that the county, state or federal governments are
not going to ride in and save our communities. Only by organizing ourselves
can we protect our children's future from another Exxon Valdez."

Press Conferences in Green Bay and Madison:

Monday, March 25, (Exxon Valdez anniversary), 11am

Green Bay: City Council Chamber, City Hall, Room 203, 100 N. Jefferson, 11am
Madison: Assembly Parlor at the State Capitol, 11 am.

The Wolf Watershed Educational Project will hold a joint press conference
on Monday, March 25 (the 7th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in
Alaska) in Green Bay and Madison, where the Upriver Speaking Tour will kick
off on Earth Day. Spokespeople will answer questions pertaining to the
project, and the status of the proposed Crandon mine. In addition,
Rhinelander-area media with questions about the May 4 Hat Rapids gathering
can contact Wally Cooper at 715-369-0528.

PLEASE COPY & DISTRIBUTE THIS INFORMATION. THANKS!



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"People have the power to redeem the work of fools."
Patti Smith

For Mother Earth. . . I
For Humanity. . . / | \
|
Alice McCombs W ----o---- N When EarthWINS,
P.O. Box 573 | Everybody Wins!
Shawano, WI 54166 \ | /
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PH: 715-524-5998
FX: 715-524-9958
Email: amccombs@igc.apc.org

PEACE
*****