New Mexico Water Law 101 the State owns the water in New Mexico and it is in public trust for the citizens of New Mexico. Water Law gives people, through the appropriation process, the right to use the water.
A few years ago the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) (the Feds) said that they owned the water. However, most people understood the BOR's role was strictly conveyance of water and it is what the state and municipalities thought the role of the Feds were. This issue is sure to be the next big court cases of Water in the West in 2010 and beyond that will speak to the delivery of water to TX, NM, AZ UT, NV, CA and Mexico. I agree with your principle of a water commons but according to NM law we already have one. There is currently such a water law case in Georgia, Alabama and Florida right now, as Florida has sued Georgia for water delivery and the Army Corp of Engineers. BOR is in the Western States as the water conveyor. When one takes into consideration the drought and the 9 Coal Fire plants in Georgia and 4 nuclear power plants which uses billions of gallons of water a day and water becomes scarce; the nuclear reactors that rely on external water sources end overheating and spill like that of 3-Mile Island. Just this last year in France this happened during intense heatwaves where three towns in the Provence region now have contaminated water. Georgia alone produces more CO2 than 5 countries in Western Europe. Everyone in the southeast would have enough water if they were to transition to Renewable Energy. Water and energy are intrinsically attached.
The same goes for AZ and NM but we have subsidized water as the dangling Carrot to lure Intel to Albuquerque and the list goes on.
Currently, there is NO Aquifer depletion testing in NM. In my opinion this is done purposefully so that nuclear weapons industry can use all it needs and that ignorance is bliss because unsustainable development can continue unimpeded.
There is a good NM Legislature bill that Dede Feldman (D) Albuquerque is sponsoring to study the depletion rates. This is a good bill and a start to real water balancing. This is what is needed before we tap brackish ancient water. Furthermore, the cost of Reverse Osmosis Desalination is costly. What they will do with the saline from this process is to pump it back into the aquifer soiling the nest just like they are currently doing in Las Cruces.
Anytime an idea pops up regarding Public Trusts similar to Land Trusts it is a form of privatization. Even the glorious Maude Barlow has to be corrected as she supports "Covenants of Water" to regulate how water will be used worldwide. Covenants are also a term used in property holdings to regulate allowances. The UN is grappling with this issue even as we speak. The closest we came to assuring that we protect water is to declare water a "right of nature." How long that will hold up in order to keep an ecosystem whole in a time of permanent drought caused by climate change is anyone’s bet. We need to declare water right unto itself and address the connection of water and energy. This is the “Real Deal and the one legislators are ignoring, both in our state and nation.
Currently in CA it takes a coal fire plant to operate a RO desalination plant. I worked with a Stanford engineering professor who has made a break through in operating a RO desal and still achieve the California AB 32 CO2 standards and the end use relies on conservation no matter how one operates the plant. This is the only way-- Conservation.
There in one other thing that needs to be realized here. As long as there is no accountability and transparency there will be no solving the problems we face i.e. like the Bailout and the 0.08% for NM. Geithner has not a specific plan because there is so much fraud that if the people really knew the bottom-line there would be a mass revolt. To hold accountable the ring of thieves would be to bring down the masters of the universe. Just like NM to get accountability on water use and connect the external costs of subsidizing we would see who got the giveaways and who gave it to them and why. Still I am hopeful enough to believe that to have an actual water balance we would be on the road to sustainability.
Elaine Cimino
Artist, Activist and Author
http://thirstyforchange.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
An Open Letter to President Obama
I just returned home from an Obama House Party, we read aloud what was eliminated from the Stimulus package, and we are grieving the death of our grandchildren. School lunches for some children are the only meal they are getting. I know this because my daughter is a middle school teach at King Middle School in Los Angeles. Women in tonight's meeting are also volunteering at a local food bank to prepare cereal packages for children to take with them for the weekend. Another person there was laid off back in April of last year, went for retraining and then Eclipse laid off hundreds and is now going under. In the light of human misery that is befalling the American people this stimulus package is shameful.
President Obama does not need to compromise because the stimulus is not enough, as it stands now is flawed and people are falling further than anyone in the Senate realizes or even cares. Tonight, I was at Melissa Curry's Obama's House Party her daughter is an aid to Congressman Martin Heinrich of NM. She will be sending a report on what we need in NM to create jobs. The transportation infrastructure jobs will go to those in the construction industry not to the 40yearand older unemployed workers who were at our party tonight.
It takes 12 people to build a 10Mw wind generator 6 mo. for production and assembly. The Rust belt can make the steel part s and assembly factories in every county can make solar and wind renewables. We could put to work 140,000 people here. Instead, we have the nuclear dirty-energy-contaminating-earth-killing -wolves at the doors of congress raping the coffers and the soul of the people in this country by getting $32.5 Billion for nuclear weapons and DOE spending spree-- this is unacceptable and beyond shameful, especially when children are going hungry and their futures in jeopardy. How dare they do this to the American People. President, you want our support then give from the bottom up. Congress and Senate do the same. Show your base you can give what you promised and castoff the jackals of the Senate. I understand none of this is easy.
At the meeting tonight we discussed phone banking and calling from the base. We are going to find out what other groups are doing. I want to support this and you and we need more because the Bush Administration hollowed out the government and if nothing else they need to be help accountable for it. Accountability and transparency.
President Obama does not need to compromise because the stimulus is not enough, as it stands now is flawed and people are falling further than anyone in the Senate realizes or even cares. Tonight, I was at Melissa Curry's Obama's House Party her daughter is an aid to Congressman Martin Heinrich of NM. She will be sending a report on what we need in NM to create jobs. The transportation infrastructure jobs will go to those in the construction industry not to the 40yearand older unemployed workers who were at our party tonight.
It takes 12 people to build a 10Mw wind generator 6 mo. for production and assembly. The Rust belt can make the steel part s and assembly factories in every county can make solar and wind renewables. We could put to work 140,000 people here. Instead, we have the nuclear dirty-energy-contaminating-earth-killing -wolves at the doors of congress raping the coffers and the soul of the people in this country by getting $32.5 Billion for nuclear weapons and DOE spending spree-- this is unacceptable and beyond shameful, especially when children are going hungry and their futures in jeopardy. How dare they do this to the American People. President, you want our support then give from the bottom up. Congress and Senate do the same. Show your base you can give what you promised and castoff the jackals of the Senate. I understand none of this is easy.
At the meeting tonight we discussed phone banking and calling from the base. We are going to find out what other groups are doing. I want to support this and you and we need more because the Bush Administration hollowed out the government and if nothing else they need to be help accountable for it. Accountability and transparency.
Water as a global commons
In case you have not seen this (article below) even the new Constitution in Ecuador faces challenges. Despite the laws and regulations that are designed to protect water, protection of water resources are successful as to what importance people make of them. For instance, with the Espanola Sole Source Aquifer System designation in NM that places a drinking water designation on the groundwater and recharge zones of an Aquifer; only mean what people do with it to enhance and define its importance.
Once a law, a designation or regulation is passed the work then begins. The work includes supply and demand analysis, roles and responsibilities, surface and ground water supplies Urban BMP's, Ag BMP's, Conservation LT and ST plans, shortage contingency plans, uses and measures of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and agricultural. Including Landscape uses and measure that convey soil, water plant relationships, Water efficiencies, surveys, type of turfgrass and alternatives including recycled, greywater and rain harvesting.
Ultimately this is what goes into the entire focus and evaluation for the techniques used, recommendations made and incentives put forth.
Perhaps by defining this as guidance outline would be helpful in coming to an
understanding of what the global water commons means. t is the local experience that makes up the global definition.
Ecuador approves law to resume mining activities
Associated Press Archive - Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Author/Byline: JEANNETH VALDIVIESO, Associated Press Writer
Ecuador's legislators have approved a bill that would resume mining
activities suspended nine months ago and promote large-scale mining
projects.
Environmental and Indian organizations immediately denounced the bill
approved Monday night and accused the government of selling out to foreign
interests.
The government says the new mining law will open the door to a potentially
lucrative and traditionally underdeveloped industry in the small Andean
nation.
Legislators approved the bill by a 50-15 vote and President Rafael Correa
has 10 days to sign it into law.
The assembly that wrote Ecuador's new constitution revoked nearly 80 percent
of the country's mining concessions in April, causing the stock of some
companies to plummet.
At the time, Correa said the mining sector lacked controls and sufficient
government benefits and was monopolized by a few.
The new bill establishes sufficient controls and environmental regulations
and would create 300,000 new jobs, Ecuador's Economic Development Commission
President Irina Cabezas said Tuesday.
Cabezas told Teleamazonas TV station that criticism by social groups
was "political."
Indian activist Monica Chuji told Teleamazonas on Tuesday that the law was
not sufficiently debated and said a slew of planned mining projects will
infringe on the human rights of nearby communities and damage the
environment.
Indian groups are planning a national protest on Jan. 20 and plan to sue to
have the bill declared unconstitutional.
Following the April decree suspending most mining activities, 3,100 of
Ecuador's 4,112 active mining concessions passed to the hands of Ecuador's
government and 1,220 concession requests were canceled. Affected companies
included Canada's Aurelian Resources Inc., International Minerals Corp. and
Iamgold Corp.
Those companies could resume projects under the new law.
Mining output in Ecuador is minimal. Large-scale projects have typically
centered on nonmetallic minerals like cement, in the hands of Swiss-based
Holcim Ltd and French Lafarge Cementos SA, among others.
The new law prohibits mining in environmentally protected areas, establishes
public auctions for government contracts and government royalties "no lower
than the amount" earned by the mining company, among other controls.
Once a law, a designation or regulation is passed the work then begins. The work includes supply and demand analysis, roles and responsibilities, surface and ground water supplies Urban BMP's, Ag BMP's, Conservation LT and ST plans, shortage contingency plans, uses and measures of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and agricultural. Including Landscape uses and measure that convey soil, water plant relationships, Water efficiencies, surveys, type of turfgrass and alternatives including recycled, greywater and rain harvesting.
Ultimately this is what goes into the entire focus and evaluation for the techniques used, recommendations made and incentives put forth.
Perhaps by defining this as guidance outline would be helpful in coming to an
understanding of what the global water commons means. t is the local experience that makes up the global definition.
Ecuador approves law to resume mining activities
Associated Press Archive - Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Author/Byline: JEANNETH VALDIVIESO, Associated Press Writer
Ecuador's legislators have approved a bill that would resume mining
activities suspended nine months ago and promote large-scale mining
projects.
Environmental and Indian organizations immediately denounced the bill
approved Monday night and accused the government of selling out to foreign
interests.
The government says the new mining law will open the door to a potentially
lucrative and traditionally underdeveloped industry in the small Andean
nation.
Legislators approved the bill by a 50-15 vote and President Rafael Correa
has 10 days to sign it into law.
The assembly that wrote Ecuador's new constitution revoked nearly 80 percent
of the country's mining concessions in April, causing the stock of some
companies to plummet.
At the time, Correa said the mining sector lacked controls and sufficient
government benefits and was monopolized by a few.
The new bill establishes sufficient controls and environmental regulations
and would create 300,000 new jobs, Ecuador's Economic Development Commission
President Irina Cabezas said Tuesday.
Cabezas told Teleamazonas TV station that criticism by social groups
was "political."
Indian activist Monica Chuji told Teleamazonas on Tuesday that the law was
not sufficiently debated and said a slew of planned mining projects will
infringe on the human rights of nearby communities and damage the
environment.
Indian groups are planning a national protest on Jan. 20 and plan to sue to
have the bill declared unconstitutional.
Following the April decree suspending most mining activities, 3,100 of
Ecuador's 4,112 active mining concessions passed to the hands of Ecuador's
government and 1,220 concession requests were canceled. Affected companies
included Canada's Aurelian Resources Inc., International Minerals Corp. and
Iamgold Corp.
Those companies could resume projects under the new law.
Mining output in Ecuador is minimal. Large-scale projects have typically
centered on nonmetallic minerals like cement, in the hands of Swiss-based
Holcim Ltd and French Lafarge Cementos SA, among others.
The new law prohibits mining in environmentally protected areas, establishes
public auctions for government contracts and government royalties "no lower
than the amount" earned by the mining company, among other controls.
Observations on Stimulus and President Obama
The political elite cannot solve the problems they created. Their platforms are ridged and they don't want to see the truth of a dying planet. Other truths they will keep silent as long as possible the politically correct until they cannot do it any longer, which time the mainstream media will be forced to write the new narrative. What we are missing is the "thinking a new" disruption of the thought patterns actually hearing the angry voices of Americans will be the only thing that will shake them up enough. It is the agitation that the political elite are most afraid for it is in their economic interest to continue to be unchanged until it is not in their economic interest.
This is where the sphere networking comes into play. 100,000's of people mobilized. Polls show that 9-10 people have lost faith in the government. These mobilized voices are going to tell Washington legislature what to do. Broadcasting the message of angry agitated voices from his base that tell the President what they expect of him. Contact by email and faxes that conveys what needs to happen, when and why. However, this is not enough there needs to rallies in Washington DC. Unfortunately that the senators and congressmen have no clue about, not eating, losing a home and jobs and having everything you worked for spirited away with high inflation and overpriced products. All of this because the unregulated banks were reversing red lining practices and targeting poor neighborhoods to herd people into sub-prime mortgages.
President Obama is a compromiser and if he doesn't hear from his base he will fall into Washington status quo. This is power of DC and igniting the American people as to what needs to happen. Another week of not passing a stimulus package that does not have enough stimuli for the bottom 1/3 of the country will put people over the edge.
President Obama was elected because 9-10 people lost faith in government perhaps not even himself realized the power of his words. The people's faith turned into hope and the people of America embraced a new leader. It is through this lens in which we see the world is now changing before us and it is time we think a new. This will be the test to real leadership of the President Obama Administration to have the vision of President Jefferson, understanding the power of governance as President Hamilton and servicing of the American people as FDR understood the sufferings of humanity and worked to relieve it.
It's time America to take to the streets to agitate Congress and the Senate what we envision for ourselves. For they have come to realize that they cannot fix what they have created. The economy is where it is because it needs to change. This is the change the great Turning of technology to lift the heart and spirits of our nation and restore out planet.
2 billion for Renewable Energy infrastructure is a start....
This is where the sphere networking comes into play. 100,000's of people mobilized. Polls show that 9-10 people have lost faith in the government. These mobilized voices are going to tell Washington legislature what to do. Broadcasting the message of angry agitated voices from his base that tell the President what they expect of him. Contact by email and faxes that conveys what needs to happen, when and why. However, this is not enough there needs to rallies in Washington DC. Unfortunately that the senators and congressmen have no clue about, not eating, losing a home and jobs and having everything you worked for spirited away with high inflation and overpriced products. All of this because the unregulated banks were reversing red lining practices and targeting poor neighborhoods to herd people into sub-prime mortgages.
President Obama is a compromiser and if he doesn't hear from his base he will fall into Washington status quo. This is power of DC and igniting the American people as to what needs to happen. Another week of not passing a stimulus package that does not have enough stimuli for the bottom 1/3 of the country will put people over the edge.
President Obama was elected because 9-10 people lost faith in government perhaps not even himself realized the power of his words. The people's faith turned into hope and the people of America embraced a new leader. It is through this lens in which we see the world is now changing before us and it is time we think a new. This will be the test to real leadership of the President Obama Administration to have the vision of President Jefferson, understanding the power of governance as President Hamilton and servicing of the American people as FDR understood the sufferings of humanity and worked to relieve it.
It's time America to take to the streets to agitate Congress and the Senate what we envision for ourselves. For they have come to realize that they cannot fix what they have created. The economy is where it is because it needs to change. This is the change the great Turning of technology to lift the heart and spirits of our nation and restore out planet.
2 billion for Renewable Energy infrastructure is a start....
Senator Bingaman leads the Gang of Ten
Senator Bingaman leads the Gang of Ten "So now you are leading in the "Gang of Ten." I was horrified to read this in the NYT today! The battle to fight global warming can only be won through transitioning from coal to renewable energies within 5-10 years. Coal accounts for 40% of GHGE. It is urgent that we shift your thinking in order stop the climate acceleration that is now happening. Climate change results in water displacement. If I am to watch 50 million people in the Southwest die of thirst within the next 10 years. I want to know that we, humanity, did all that we could to save this planet and ourselves. AND I and others like me will hold accountable those who worked against the planet and humanity and try them with crimes against humanity. This means you Senator Bingaman. This is a promise. I think you should make yourself perfectly clear to your constituents once and for all where you stand on coal. Last I heard we needed to fight gang violence. If the legacy of your work is to save coal then it is violent act against humanity and the earth. To support Coal is to have a suicide pack with Earth. There is no other way to see it. We need the real deal in DC, we don't need coal, we need green jobs and you need to listen to the people or get out of the way, oil head. Come up for air.
We are needing to run an ad for the new position available in the US Senate.
The Santa Fe Ring cannot be far behind.
We are needing to run an ad for the new position available in the US Senate.
The Santa Fe Ring cannot be far behind.
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