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Who's Protecting NM's Air? |
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on October 15, 2008 at 10:47 PM
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Earlier this month the State of New Mexico filed a complaint against the Environmental Protection Agency in the case of the planned Desert Rock Power Plant in northwestern, NM. On July 31, 2008 the US Environmental Protection Agency approved an air permit for the coal based power plant. This approval from the EPA resulted in a strong backlash in the community from Navajo and Conservation groups. The state of NM filed an appeal with the Environmental Appeals Board. The EAB has the power to remand the permit if it agrees with New Mexico’s Arguments. The New Mexico Attorney General has stated that the EPA cut corners with the Clean Air Act and also failed to protect New Mexicans when it approved the air permits for Desert Rock Power Plant. New Mexico Assistant Attorney General, Seth Cohen helped to compose the legal brief sent in opposition to the air permit approval and said that the states... |
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The N Mex Factor |
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on September 26, 2008 at 3:19 PM
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As the race to the White House tightens, Barack Obama and John McCain are battling it out. Just about every time I turn on the TV I see an official ad endorsed by either one of them telling my why I should NOT vote for their opponent. These TV ads cost millions of dollars to run in each state, so why are Obama and McCain investing their money in New Mexico? Let’s further examine the NMex factor…
New Mexico is a unique state due to so many different factors.
1.) In our state we have a huge diversity of cultures. The three largest ethnic groups in the state are White, Hispanic and Native American.
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Politics Heating Up in NM! |
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Posted
on September 10, 2008 at 4:54 PM
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Over the past month politics in New Mexico have heated up. We have had actor Robert Redford (Lions for Lambs), Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Sarah Palin all visit the state looking for our, your, my vote. The Democratic Convention and Barack Obama’s speech went down just a few hours north of the NM border in Denver, Colorado and the youth feedback here in New Mexico showed real support on the organizer and volunteer levels. One week after Barack Obama officially accepted the Democratic nomination, John McCain took the stage in St. Paul, Minnesota at the Republican National Convention. The night McCain accepted the Republican presidential nomination, was a cloudy and rainy night in New Mexico due to hurricane Gustav, yet young people came out to show support at McCain watch parties in New Mexico.
I attended an Obama watch party for his acceptance speech where I interviewed three young people all supporting the democratic...
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The Side Effects of Alcohol Sales |
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on August 13, 2008 at 9:16 AM
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Last week, I reported on a historical vote of a smoking ban on the Navajo Nation in northwest New Mexico. This week another important vote is taking place in the same region, in my hometown of Gallup, NM. As of now, the City of Gallup does not allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays. The decision was made in 1995 for a range of reasons, but all because of the high alcohol problems in the city. Alcohol sales are prohibited within Gallup city limits, but you can purchase alcohol in the county. Gallup residents will hit the polls this week to decide if they want to allow single alcohol sales on Sundays in the city. In my first blog (http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0098990200080098C853/User/Blog/BlogPostDetail.aspx), I wrote about how growing up in Gallup was different and almost always a challenge of issues to overcome, that included experiencing the effects of alcohol.
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To smoke or not to smoke? |
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Posted
on August 06, 2008 at 10:17 AM
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This week a historic decision was brought before the Navajo Nation Council. Located in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah, the Navajo Nation is the 2nd largest American Indian tribe in the country. According to a 2005 survey conducted by the Navajo Nation Division of Health, as many as 38 percent of children in grades 6-12 on the Navajo reservation are smokers. That is twice the national average of 19.7 percent for children in grades 6-12. In the adult population, the same survey showed about 28 percent of men are smokers and 17 percent of women smoke on the Navajo reservation. The Navajo Nation Division of Health is pushing the Navajo Nation Council to pass a tobacco- free act on the Navajo Reservation. If this act is passed on the Navajo Nation, it would be historical and the Navajo people would be the third American Indian tribe to pass a tobacco free law on their reservation. The Blackfeet and Fort Peck tribes of Montana have...
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Happy Independence Day? |
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on July 10, 2008 at 11:27 AM
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Independence- Autonomy, Sovereignty, Decolonization
This past weekend the United States celebrated its’ Independence Day, as always on the 4th of July. Growing up as an American Indian detached from the mainstream world there was never a US holiday that I felt so confused by and still to this day it can be mind baffling to me. Independence Day for the United States is a celebration of the long battle of separation between the new colonies of the USA and Britain. However the Indigenous population already in North America was colonized throughout this period of American Revolution, Independence and Manifest Destiny.
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From the Rio Grande to the Pacific Ocean, Gas Woes |
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Posted
on July 02, 2008 at 12:35 PM
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This past week I traveled from the Rio Grande River in New Mexico to the Pacific Ocean in California. When I returned to New Mexico, I never thought I would be so thankful to see gas at just under $4 a gallon. The average price of gas in Los Angeles is $4.43 (www.maps.google.com) per gallon but I also saw gas as high as $4.89 per gallon in different parts of the city for regular unleaded gas. The drive from New Mexico to LA is one that I have made quite a few times but this time it was painful. As I saw the price of gas rise and rise as we passed westward into each new city, county and state it was gut wrenching.
The average price of gas in Albuquerque, New Mexico is about $3.80 (www.newmexicogasprices.com...
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Gay Pride is Alive in the Five-O-Five |
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on June 19, 2008 at 4:29 PM
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As Gay Marriage rights progress in California this week, New Mexico joined in on supporting gay rights by celebrating gay pride. This past weekend in Albuquerque, NM the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community came together to celebrate with pride throughout the city. Albuquerque Pride (www.abqpride.com), a non-profit organization that seeks a positive image of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, put on the event and organizes the Pride schedule of events. Festivities ranged from a Candlelight Vigil, Pet Parade, Pride Parade in downtown Albuquerque, ***** Bake Off, Pride Art Show and ended Sunday morning at the Metropolitan Community Church (www.mccabq.com) for the Albuquerque Pride Service.According to the Albuquerque Pride website (www.abqpride.com), Albuquerque and Santa Fe have the largest GLBT communities in the state but smaller communities such as Las Cruces, Farmington, Gallup and Silver City will have events as well, throughout June. Albu...
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There's A First Time for Everything |
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Posted
on June 05, 2008 at 10:37 PM
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Tuesday June 3, 2008 was New Mexico’s state primary and it is turned out to be a battle to the end. On most levels there are very close, tight races. This year Republican Senator Pete Domenici announced his retirement leaving his seat open and it was a battle for his spot. Republicans Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce battled it out for his seat. Steve Pearce prevailed. He and Democrat Tom Udall will go against each other in the general election come November. Ok, I have a confession to make. I started out NM State Primary Day as a voter virgin. Yes, I have never voted before.Today really felt like much more of a warm-up until this coming November when we have the general election. It was very different than I imagined it to be. It was over in just the blink of an eye....
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