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Re: Update from the Field 10/24/02

Buffalo Field Campaign


Update From the Field


October 31, 2002




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Mease's Musings




Have you ever just stared up into a snowstorm? Well today, I think I spent too much time doing it. I have always known that each snowflake has its own pattern and is different from all the others. Today I concentrated on how each one's flight is also unique. Some come down straight, some sway, some come sideways, some start down then go up and then back down, expressing their own freedom of flight. There is no controlling the freedom of a snowflake. Unfortunately, if you have four hooves and you leave an arbitrary manmade boundary your freedom is limited.




Some of us two leggeds do not have much freedom either, and local law enforcement officials here in West Yellowstone Montana make sure of it. In our efforts to document the slaughter of the only free ranging buffalo with continuously wild ancestry, our rights seem to be nonexistent. This week marked the third time in recent months that an illegally arrested BFC volunteer had his charges thrown out of court. Vince Godby, arrested in May for trying to document the buffalo slaughter, had to waste six months of his life dealing with this illegal arrest before his charges were dropped. Meanwhile the guilty sheriff still walks the streets and continues his unlawful ways.




On the front lines the DOL gave the taxpayers a break this week, they only had one agent down here in West Yellowstone most of the week. The weather kept him indoors and in front of his TV for most of the time, with a couple of recons to justify his presence. On Thursday another agent showed up, disturbing the taxpayer funded vacation of the other agent. Today, once again a lone bull buffalo was pushed by DOL back towards the Park from Horse Butte. BFC volunteers followed the operation until the agents trespassed onto one of our supporters' yards. When we told them they were trespassing on a "buffalo safe zone" and that the owner did not want them there, the DOL lied and said that they had permission. This marks the second straight week in which DOL agents have violated private property rights and trespassed where they are not welcome. The local police have been informed and still have done nothing. The word justice around here seems to mean "just us." The good news is that once again the wise old bull buffalo outsmarted the DOL and disappeared into the woods.




Until the buffalo are once again free we will stand strong with them.




With the Buffalo,




Mike Mease






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The response to our requests for kitchen equipment continues to be wonderful. A special thanks to Francis Carroll who sent us a brand new stainless steel coffee percolator and three big pots.....what an incredible act of kindness! Francis please contact us with your address so we can send you a proper thank you.




We are in full swing with food production and things are getting easier as the supplies come in, but we could still use a few things. Write to buffalo@wildrockies.org if you'd like to help supply our kitchen. If you can help in any way please let us know. Whatever you can give will be put to heavy use for years to come.




Thanks again to all you wonderful folks out there who love the buffalo.




Amani...kitchen coordinator






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Greetings! Friend of the Buffalo -


Just a reminder that BFC is a grassroots group. That means you and your efforts are vital to help us truly protect the last wild buffalo. With winter settling in, please take a moment and evaluate what you can commit to doing for the Buffalo!




Can you commit to:


* one letter and one 37 cent stamp a week to write an official responsible for this travesty?


* 2 weeks in West Yellowstone?


* asking a local business to host a Bucks for Buffalo spare change jar?


* hosting a showing of our video and distributing newsletters in your community?


* collecting computer cartridges and recycling them for the buffalo?


* passing these updates on to your friends and family and newsgroups that you are on?


* posting a link to our website?


* holding a fundraiser for the buffalo?




Each of these actions can help! We don't have any fancy offices or high paid staff - just dedicated volunteers working 365 days a year to win true protection for the last wild buffalo. Contact us with any questions or ideas. Together we can make a difference!




Thank you.




Respectfully,




Su Gregerson




buffalo@wildrockies.org


www.wildrockies.org/buffalo


For The Buffalo