As part of a continuing response, the OU Campus Greens and the
Ohio State University Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)
are
organizing the 'March for the Ancients,' a walk from Athens to Columbus
on
Memorial Day weekend. The walk will promote awareness, education, and
support for Dysart Woods, a National Natural Landmark supposedly protected
by the Department of the Interior.
We intend to reaffirm our demands that Dysart be protected by
both
the OU administration and the Ohio state government.
Ohio University owns Dysart Woods, and top OU officials have
testified repeatedly against permit #7; However, OU officials seem
to be
ignoring public opinion by proposing to reduce the watershed buffer
zone
by nearly twelve times!
Sterling said OVC Co. must complete three final revisions of the
original 393 for their permit to be deemed complete. "If they complete
the
revisions then we will proceed," Sterling remarked, and a decision
on
permit 7 would likely come "in two to three weeks" from May 11.
Sterling dismissed the thousands of citizens who have commented
during the supposed public comment period as lacking scientific basis.
The ODMR asserted that OVC Co.'s Permit #7 was outside of the direct
watershed of Dysart Woods but scientific analysis based on the permit's
application shows it to be within the watershed. When questioned
about
the ODMR's flawed "science" and the fact that leading scientists have
asked that the watershed buffer zone be protected, Sterling said, "I
am
not going to debate you."
'March for the Ancients' is an attempt to demonstrate the statewide
concern
for Dysart Woods through committed action to preserve the watershed
buffer
zone from mining. Walkers will be departing from OU's College
Green at 10
a.m. Saturday, May 23 and conclude the day's walk in the Dorr Run Area
of
the Wayne National Forest Saturday evening, where they will be camping.
'March for the Ancients' will reach Lancaster May 24 (co-coordinated
by
Marcia Rose 740-653-6915), and South Columbus May 25 where walkers
will reach the Statehouse at noon, Tuesday May 26 for an ending rally
to
save Dysart Woods.
OSU SEAC member Chris Sheffield (614-291-2064 or sheffield.5@osu.edu)
is co-coordinating the Columbus portion of the walk. We cannot stress
enough how important of an issue this is, not only in Ohio, but
nationwide. We cannot let such an important natural and historical
landmark be destroyed.Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Citizens will walk from Athens to Columbus Memorial Day weekend
along Route 33 to save Dysart Woods.
Top OU scientists studied the hydrology and geology of Dysart
Woods and drew up a 4,170 acre watershed buffer zone -- a tiny area
in a
state of more than 26 million acres to save our last virgin forest.
Thousands upon thousands of citizens have written letters to the ODMR
requesting that they protect the watershed buffer zone from mining
and
deny permit D-0360-7 that threatens Dysart Woods.
Ohio University owns Dysart Woods, and OU's hired attorney and
top
administrators spoke against permit D-0360-7 repeatedly. OU's
Faculty
Senate, Graduate Student Senate and Student Senate all past resolutions
requesting the watershed buffer zone be protected from mining and that
the
buffer be removed from permit D-0360-7.
But ODMR spokesperson Bill Sterling said the ODMR is not even
considering the watershed buffer zone. They say they will likely
decide
on permit D-0360-7 by the end of May or first week in June.
Dysart Woods is a National Natural Landmark, but the Department
of
Interior has grossly avoided their duty to protect what their own
scientists have classified as among the most endangered ecosystems
in the
world: the eastern deciduous old-growth forest.
It is up to the people now. Please join the March for the
Ancients May 23-26. We will leave OU's College Green at 10 a.m.
May 23
and arrive at the Statehouse in Columbus for a rally at noon.
We need committed walkers. Please call me at 740-594-7287
or
email ougreens@frognet.net.
Also donations are needed of money, poster
material, banner material, food and healthy beverages. Make checks
to
"Dysart Defenders" and send to P.O. Box 31, Athens, OH 45701.
Powerful political forces are at work to permit the destruction
of
the oldest living beings in our state. It will take a growing
committed
movement of citizens if we are to save the ancients for our children
to
see.
for Dysart Woods,
Chad Kister
chad@pageville.com