Dozens Join For Protest Against Border Fence (TX)

[struggle4progress]

(July 14, 2007)-- From the Roma bluffs, a rare high point along the Rio Grande's southernmost stretch, about 60 people could be seen Saturday morning paddling kayaks and canoes in a symbolic protest of the border fence.

After their trip down the river, the paddlers gathered with others in an amphitheater to speak out against what they say is an ineffectual barrier that will destroy the impoverished region's burgeoning bird-watching industry.

They also say that fence will be the death knell for endangered wildcats, cut farmers off from water, harm cross-border commerce and fail to solve the immigration problem.

The protesters then held hands across the middle of the bridge to Miguel Aleman, Mexico, to symbolize the region's cultural and economic ties with Mexico. ~snip~

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/8511897.html

[Double T]

1. Close our OPEN borders with a strong, high fence...............

securing our borders should be a top priority for the NEXT administration.

[Bobbieo]

2. I don't think the strongest,, highest fence will keep out the

people who want to come into the U.S. It may deter some. but at what cost?

[struggle4progress]

3. Well, let's see: first of all, that proposal has untoward environmental impacts, and

it destroys many beautifully stunning landscapes; second, in some areas, there are a number of people with friends and relatives on both sides of the border who might prefer to visit family and old neighbors without a gigantic hassle; and third, it'll probably turn out to be a damn costly boondoggle that doesn't work

[Bobbieo]

4. The Tohono O'Odham Nation in AZ is complaining the fence will

shut out family and tribal members on both sides of the border and who is going to guard the damn thing 24/7.

[struggle4progress]

5. Thanks! I didn't know about that. Here are some links:

O'odham: Border fence would cause damage

Nation fears for its land along 75-mile stretch of border

Border security fencing authorized under legislation before the U.S. Senate will damage environmental, cultural and natural resources on the Tohono O'odham Nation, its chairman says. ~snip~

The reinforced fencing is to go through portions of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. "This type of wall would be extremely damaging to the fragile desert ecosystems of the American Southwest," Juan-Saunders wrote. ~snip~

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/border/27123.php


Mohawks join Tohono O'odham in solidarity at border summit
http://www.indymedia.org/fr/2006/10/847674.shtml
By Brenda Norrell

SAN XAVIER DISTRICT, TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION, Ariz. -- Indigenous at the Border Summit of the Americas opposed a border fence that will separate Indian communities in their ancestral territories and contribute to the Bush administration's plan for corporate profiteering.

Without compromise, Indigenous called for a halt to the militarization, oppression and psychological terrorism created by the military industrial complex along the US/Mexico border.

<via> http://nnirr.blogspot.com/2006/10/mohawks-join-tohono-oodham-in.html

[Bobbieo]

6. struggle 4 - I have covered most of those topics on My Native Unity blog over the past year

but I am always looking for new information - Thanks for the links!

[struggle4progress]

7. What's the URL for the blog?