FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2012
1:56 PM

CONTACT: Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club

Mollie Matteson, (802) 318-1487
Shawnee National Forest Plan Would Trade Away Endangered Bat Habitat for Strip Mining

HARRISBURG, Ill. - January 30 - Conservation groups submitted comments today opposing a proposal by the Forest Service to trade away a parcel of the Shawnee National Forest that is home to two kinds of endangered bats to a subsidiary of Peabody Energy Company. The company intends to strip-mine the parcel for coal. The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club oppose the land swap, which would put nearly 400 acres of wooded river bottom and upland forest along southern Illinois’ Saline River into the ownership of American Land Holdings, in trade for three other privately owned tracts within the national forest boundary.

The groups also filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Forest Service today for failing to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the land exchange and other actions affected by the Shawnee Forest Plan do not illegally hurt endangered species.

That sound that you hear of cameras running, is really the sound of your career dissipation meter running.

At Chicago Indymedia, Andy Thayer calls our attention to proposed changes in Chicago law that will hinder possible protests at the G8 and NATO summits, and continue to remain in effect afterward, even though they were originally announced as temporary measures. 

(proposed changes to the city's protest ordinance now include a sunset provision)

According to Thayer, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has pulled a bait and switch, pending final approval by City Council on January 18th:

"Last month, while introducing draconian amendments to sections of the Chicago code and a wholesale rewrite of the parade permit ordinance, he in effect said, "Don't worry, this is just for those 'bad people' coming to Chicago to disrupt the G8 and NATO summits. This won't affect the good people of Chicago. Go back to sleep."

But then came the classic switch: when the actual language of the proposed legislation was produced, there were no sunset clauses in most of the proposed "temporary" measures.

This week Urbana Public Television presents this lecture by food systems analyst Ken Meter. It airs Tuesday 1/10 @ 7:30 pm, Wednesday 1/11 @ 4:00 pm, and Saturday 1/14 @ 7:30 pm.

Ken Meter is president of the Crossroads Resource Center in Minnesota, a non-profit organization working with communities and their allies to foster democracy and local self-determination. His work integrates market analysis, business development, systems thinking, and social concerns. Mr. Meter's lecture was sponsored by Urbana's Common Ground Food Co-op, and was recorded there by UPTV in September of 2011.

UPTV is the television service of the City of Urbana, providing governmental, educational and public access television for, and by, the local community. It is available on Comcast Channel 6 to over 40,000 homes in Urbana, Champaign, Savoy, Bondville, Philo, Ogden and St. Joseph, as well as in Springfield, Decatur and Danville on ATT U-Verse Channel 99. The complete program schedule is at www.urbanaillinois.us/uptv. Membership is free and entitles volunteers to free video and editing training and equipment use. For more information, contact UPTV at 217-384-2452 or at uptv@urbanaillinois.us.

Please join us for a showing of the 1946 Frank Capra film, "It's a Wonderful Life", in Champaign Library room C, 6:00-9:00pm Thursday 12/29.  Snacks and discussion to follow.

Sponsored by OccupyCU and AWARE.  This film's selection is inspired by the Move Your Money campaign, urging people to withdraw their funds - and consent - from the big Wall St. banks and to save in local banks that invest in the community - like character George Bailey's.

Free, and all are welcome!

Recently I discovered that Deputy Chief John Murphy, the main contributor to problems at the Champaign Police Department has been basically relieved of duties. But the public has a right to know what that exactly means. He has been assigned some type of special duties and is expected to work from home, not come into the department. So we are paying him to stay home and at the same time work on his own private electrical business. Furthermore based on an agreement between him and Steve Carter he has agreed to "retire" in March but will still be provided six more months of pay!! How can this pure waste of money be excused? If he is not doing his job then fire him. Don't let him work from home and double dip and then get six months worth of free pay after he retires!!!

Amasong, Champaign Urbana's Premier Lesbian/Feminist Chorus, would like to invite you to our Winter Concert, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 4:00 p.m., McKinley Presbyterian Church, 809 S. Fifth St., Champaign. Suggested donation $15-$25, more if you can, less if you can't!

Join Amasong for a high-spirited concert of songs and dances from around the world. Sung in ten different languages, this program of music and movement will inspire your heart – and your feet – to dance. Enjoy vocal music from four continen...ts: traditional dancing songs of Serbia, Ghana, Afghanistan, and the Huron Native Americans, Renaissance devotional music from Spain, contemporary composition by Meredith Monk and many more celebratory pieces. Featuring Subhalakshmi Kumar, Bharatanatyam (South Indian Classical) dancer, Josh Houchin, bass, and others.

SEEDS of HOPE is a series of five short documentaries by film-maker Dorothy Fadiman about the courageous efforts underway in Ethiopia to break the silence, encourage innovative approaches to prevention, and lift the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. You'll meet activists, family members, neighbors, humanitarian groups, community activists, and health care profess...ionals who work side by side to advocate for greater awareness and provide care. Through the compassion and generosity of those whose actions are not only documented, but honored, the series conveys a message of empowerment and hope. The films are in Amharic with English subtitles.

The films air on UPTV (Comcast Channel 6, ATT U-Verse Channel 99) tonight (Thursday 12/1) @ 7:30pm, Saturday 12/3 @ 8pm, and Sunday 12/4 @ 11pm.