Random Use of Fossil Fuels
5 Steps to Deal with New Strategy to Unnecessarily Limit Our Use of Fuels
By Jim Bramham, CA4WDA and ASA
(Special to ModernJeeper by Jim Bramham, Past President of C4WDA, Board Member, American Sand Association, and 2018 Inductee to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. Reprinted with permission.)
When the anti-access folks want to shut us down, they find all kinds of reasons and strategies. Typically, they challenge our image or point out the bad behavior of a few.
We’ve seen them hiding in the bushes along trails like
the Rubicon to spot folks who might throw out some trash – or leave trash in a
campsite.
Dust and noise are on top of their list as well –
especially in places like Oceano Dunes. Plants like milkweed grab national
attention (and cause major closures in places like the Imperial Sand Dunes
(Glamis).
Let’s not forget endangered (rare or threatened) species
that seem to show up anywhere we like to have motorized fun.
And what about carbon and our footprint? There is a
billboard in southern California that advocates Date Night—with no carbon footprint or fossil fuel emissions. You can go produce-picking, have plant-based
dining, walk through a vineyard, or do anything but use a car (or 4x4)!
Bad science and some real science are connecting climate
change to your carbon footprint. There it is – climate change. Another reason
to shut us down, of course.
Now, there is a new sheriff in town – it’s the random use
of fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels, or mineral fuels, are hydrocarbons found in the earth's upper layers. They include coal, liquid petroleum (oil), and
methane gas. Everything that makes motors work comes from carbon-based fossil
fuels.
The term comes from the widely accepted theory that
fossil fuels were formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and
animals.
Anti-access folks are now saying that the random use of
fossil fuels is unnecessary and environmentally unsustainable. This is any use
of fossil fuel beyond the shortest line from start to destination. Think of
ATVs in the sand, snowmobiles, motorcycle hill climbs and rides, boat fishing, water
sports, and even general aviation. All will become targets.
Organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council
start their webpage on fossil fuels, calling them “the dirty facts,” pointing
out that mining, drilling, and burning dirty energy are harming the environment
and our health.
This new “sheriff” is something we must pay attention to
and have counterpoints ready to make!
Certainly, it’s not fair that we must defend the freedoms
we fought so hard for and keep our access to trails and public lands. But it’s
a fact -- and well, you know, who said life was fair?
To combat this new strategy, we must:
1. Use good science and have it ready at public
meetings and in public comments.
2.
We must beef up our professional land use staff and
organizations at every turn so they can be our voice of reason when these
matters surface.
3.
Keep our rigs and toys in top-notch condition
so we’re not an obvious eye sore or environmental issue on the trail.
4.
Be cognizant of our posts and pics on social
networks so that we portray our concern for the environment.
5.
Join organized recreation groups and
associations and learn as much as we can about fossil fuels and the hobbies we
love.
##
MORE HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
More land use and volunteerism help here:
- MEETINGS:
- RUN A BETTER MEETING
- NEPA:
- LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
- LETTERS:
- WRITE A LETTER
- SPEECHES:
- GIVE A SPEECH
- FACILITATE:
- LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
- CLUBS:
- WHY JOIN A CLUB
- CONVOYS:
- ORGANIZE A CONVOY
- JOIN:
- JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
- TRAINING:
- GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
- LEAD:
- LEAD VOLUNTEERS
- JOBS:
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU
No comments:
Post a Comment