Democracy for New Mexico

RSVP for NM Wild Otero Mesa Outing

From the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance:
Join us for another outing to Otero Mesa, September 22 - 24 and experience America's largest and wildest Chihuahuan desert grassland! With all of the rain New Mexico has been receiving, the grasslands in Otero Mesa should be exceptionally healthy and tall. Don't miss this opportunity to witness Otero Mesa in all of its brilliance.

There are only 25 spots left so if you are interested, please RSVP by September 15. To RSVP and for more information, contact Nathan Newcomer at nathan@nmwild.org.

The outing will include hiking in the tall grasslands, exploring the thousands of petroglyphs on Alamo Mountain, and conducting surveys to find the endangered Aplomado falcon. A social potluck will be held on Saturday, September 22 where we will provide buffalo burgers for all.

Nathan Newcomer, Otero Mesa Campaign Organizer

Campaign Kickoff for Conservation Set for 8/23

From Conservation Voters New Mexico:

Politicos, Foodies, and TreeHuggers Unite!
Come join us for the
Campaign Kickoff for Conservation
A fundraiser for Conservation Voters NM Action Fund (PAC) At the Home of Eric Griego and Michelle Rizek
1421 Marble NW Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006  6 - 8 PM  $50 suggested donation, 100% of the proceeds will go directly towards electing pro-conservation candidates

Food and drink generously donated by Slate Street Café, District Bar & Grill, & Rio Grande Brewing Co. Come hear about CVNM’s electoral strategy for electing pro-conservation candidates this November! You’ll also receive a copy of the new CVNM 2006 Legislative Scorecard just hot off the press…

Host Committee: Eric Griego, Michelle Rizek, Councilor Martin Heinrich, Neri Holguin, Mike Puelle, Maggie Toulouse, Allan Oliver, Drew Setter, Erika Anderson, Sara Berger

You can RSVP by making your online donation at then click on the link that says “Donate online to CVNM Action Fund PAC”.  Your online donation serves as your RSVP to our fundraiser.  You can also email rsvp@cvnm.org if you prefer to donate by check.

Together we can turn the balance of power to take us closer to a pro-conservation majority in the NM Legislature & Statewide offices.

www.CVNM.org

Valle Vidal: Urgent Call for Support

From the Coalition for the Valle Vidal:
“The Valle Vidal has become a battleground in the drive to expand energy exploration on public land, attracting the attention of a growing coalition of hunters, anglers, environmentalists, ranchers, homeowners and politicians across the ideological spectrum. Here and elsewhere in the Western United States, this coalition is starting to resist the push for energy exploration in some of the nation's most prized wilderness areas.

Although it remains unclear how successful they will be, these new activists have brought a new dynamic to the public debate over energy development in the West.” --from The Washington Post 8/6/06

The Fund for the Valle Vidal helps defend the Valle Vidal in the courts, in the legislature, in Forest Service policy-making, and works to enable communities to organize effectively to protect the Valle Vidal. We are presently engaged in a “full-court press” media campaign designed to encourage New Mexico’s United States Senator Pete Domenici to sponsor the passage of The Valle Vidal Protection Act in the Senate this September. 

He can make it happen. The future of the Valle Vidal is in his hands.

Please help us with these efforts by contributing online at: www.vallevidal.org.

Urgent call for support
Please call Senator Pete Domenici.
The future of the Valle Vidal is in his hands. Your calls and letters WILL make a difference. Call now. DC 202-224-6621; FAX 202-228-3261. AND write to: Senator Pete Domenici, 328 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510

We need your help to expand this campaign. Please contribute to: THE FUND FOR THE VALLE VIDAL
WWW.VALLEVIDAL.ORG 

Urgent call for support
Please call Rep. Heather Wilson and ask her to talk to Senator Domenici and let him know how important protecting the Valle Vidal is to you. Call now: DC 202-225-6316; FAX 202-225-4975. AND write to: Representative Heather Wilson, 318 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515

Conservation Voters NM Endorses Jim Baca for Land Commissioner

Photo from Baca campaign website. Click on image for larger version.

Editor's Note: Jim Baca will be our featured speaker and special guest at our Albuquerque DFA-DFNM Meetup on August 3rd. He'll be talking about his campaign and what's at stake in the Land Commissioner race, as well as answering our questions. Click here to join our Meetup or RSVP for this event.

From :
Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM), the political voice of New Mexico’s conservation community, is pleased to announce our endorsement of Jim Baca as our next State Land Commissioner. The Commissioner of Public Lands manages approximately 9 million acres of state trust lands, and thus wields considerable influence over New Mexico’s natural landscapes and precious resources.

“Jim Baca has a proven record of leadership and a tireless commitment to protecting the natural qualities that we cherish about New Mexico,” stated Sandy Buffett, Executive Director of CVNM.  “Jim Baca will protect our legacy and bring balance back to the State Land Office.”

“We need a Land Commissioner who will bring innovation, a love for the land, and a vision for generating sustainable revenue on state trust lands while protecting our ecological wealth for future generations,” stated Buffett.   

Baca’s plan includes a proactive approach towards clean energy development in New Mexico. The plan will diversify the state’s current revenue dependence on oil and gas towards clean energy. “Clean energy is going to be a major economic growth industry in the American West,” said Baca. “New Mexico has some of the world’s best potential for renewable energy development.”

“I am honored that a conservation group as prominent as CVNM would endorse my campaign based upon conservation principles,” stated Baca upon learning of the endorsement. “This group fights diligently everyday to protect New Mexico’s water, landscapes, and wild places.”

Conservation Voters New Mexico is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501c4 organization. CVNM’s mission is to make sensible conservation policies a top priority for elected officials, political candidates, and voters across the state. For more information, please visit www.CVNM.org

CVNM can only elect pro-conservation candidates with your valuable support! Please consider updating your membership support by clicking .

Please also visit https://www.jimbaca.com/

Valle Vidal Protection Act Passes House of Representatives!

From the NM Wilderness Alliance:
Just moments ago, the House of Representatives passed the Valle Vidal Protection Act! This is a huge victory in our efforts to preserve New Mexico's "Valley of Life" for future generations to come.  A big congratulations to all of you who have written letters and made phone calls to our representatives.

If you live in New Mexico, please take a moment to call your representative and thank them for their efforts to pass this legislation through the House, in particular Congressman Tom Udall who is the author of the legislation. All of New Mexico's Representatives supported the Valle Vidal Protection Act.

Congressman Udall: 202-225-6190 ; Congresswoman Wilson: 202-225-6316; Congressman Pearce: 202-225-2365

It is important to note that the bill must now pass through the Senate in order to secure permanent protection for this spectacular area. Please also call Senator Domenici and respectfully urge him to work to pass the same legislation in the Senate: 202-224-6621

With over 99% of the citizens of New Mexico supporting the protection of Valle Vidal, it is critical that Senator Domenici work with Senator Bingaman to ensure this area stays protected for future generations to come.

Editor's Note: This bill would ban oil and natural-gas drilling on 102,000 acres of Northern New Mexico's high-mountain valleys and forests that is controlled by the US Forest Service. Visit the website of the Coalition for the Valle Vidal for more information.