Dooda Desert Rock to Address Navajo Nation Council on February 26th
Elouise Brown and members of Dooda (NO) Desert Rock (DDR) will take a huge new step on Thursday in their effort to protect their land and people from emissions at a proposed coal-fired power plant.
"This precious day is not only a great day for the Navajo Nation Grassroots but for all of humanity," said Elouise in a recent action alert. "DDR's efforts extend to all living beings because toxins in the environment harm all of Mother Earth and Father Sky's children. It is history in the making and 100 years from now it will be regarded as the first grassroots effort granted a presentation in front of the Navajo Nation Council."
In this Respectful Presentation of opposition to the Desert Rock Energy Project Rights of Way legislation, no protesting will be allowed. Though supporters of the project have been lobbying and meeting with Council delegates on a daily basis, DDR will get only a few hours to present their case against the legislation that grants access across Navajo Nation lands to Sithe Global Power, LLC and the Dine Power Authority for construction of the plant.
On Friday the 27th of February, the 21st Navajo Nation Council delegates would then hold a special session to vote on the Desert Rock right of way legislation.
Many of us here in the Appalachian coalfields have been supporting Elouise and Dooda Desert Rock. They face the same situation that many of us do. Just as the U.S. government seems willing to sacrifice land and people for coal in Appalachia, many of those governing the affairs of the Navajo Nation seem willing to sacrifice their citizens to the air and water pollution that inevitably follows coal power.
I have spent some time reading the history of DDR's resistance to construction of the Desert Rock project, as well as many of the studies generated to document potential environmental impacts. Today I even sat through a very long dial-up download to watch a short video at the Dooda Desert Rock website. It's an amazing and heroic story that inspired many insights into my own spiritual history and that of our planet Earth. I hope to write more about this soon.
For now, I just wanted to alert everyone to the important event on Thursday at the Navajo Nation Council Chambers in Window Rock, Arizona. I'm planning to link in spirit that day with Elouise, Dine elders and other people who oppose the Desert Rock plant. If I had enough money, I would go there to sit with them in person and pray that wise decisions are made for the future of the Dine and all who live in the Four Corners area.
