Monthly Archives: March 2012

Being an activist, or taking a vigorous and sometimes aggressive action in pursuing a political or social end, is a strange and often difficult task for most common folks.  Some activists are termed anarchists, or somebody who believes that governments should be changed or abolished.  This is not the roll of most activists, and those that remain active against Wild Horse Herd Roundups remain synonymous with positive attributes.

Change is Inevitable and Positive Change is not an Easy Task

Within a wayward definition, an anarchist and supposedly an activist, as opposing authorities believe the term, also defined as somebody who tries to overthrow a government or behaves in a lawless way.  Neither definition provides a likeable term toward activists, who, simply defined, are people that believe something wrong should be corrected.  Without activism the reality is we would have lost our Rights as citizens of the United States many decades ago. As it is there are not enough activists to uphold “all” of our current Rights.

Demonizing Activists

The other and more significant problem is demonizing the activist, so popular and used by politicians loosely in today’s media.  Some Journalists fall under this situation quite a bit, especially describing the opposition or those views contrary to the politician’s.  But when needed for their votes, suddenly activists become a popular necessity, and in reality can and often do sway results.

These terms are used by those who believe “hate” is acceptable in our culture.  One must wonder if politician’s consultants tell them that’s what a politician should do, or behave like, in today’s social environment; this compared to simply confronting and to actually resolve a problem or controversial situation.  Then activists would not be needed.  No, hate is not acceptable!

Rights to All Americans

Americans have Rights upheld by the Constitution and within the Bill of Rights.  There is no confusion within either document, that is, until our government agencies, and their employees attempt to persuade us toward confusion, especially when caught doing something contradictory toward either document.  Attorneys argue before our Courts, whether the arguments honest or being paid to be an ass, never the less many are most often dishonest and contrary to our existing Rights as Americans.  Fortunately, often our Rights remain upheld, whereas, there have been additions to the Bill of Rights, but nothing taken away or any existing situations edited for a different result.

Rights and the Law

Here is a quick example: Under other than perfect circumstances someone sees one of the lost arguments, although contrary to our Rights, and indeed lost in a Court of Law, assesses the questionable situation as a truth and the confusion begins; even though a quick check would show the error.  Confinement to a government agency’s Policy is another characteristic confused by most, often assumed law, but just as often contrary to the law and unenforceable; certainly debatable.

Common Folks and Activisim

Whichever the definable attribute is accepted, what makes many common folks activists today is motivated most often by our government and the way people in the government go about their daily responsibilities, or lack of. . .  Often the way our civil servants, who are responsible for safeguarding, for example taxpayer lands and wildlife, do so in a questionable or disrespectful manner toward those who actually own, in this case, our lands and wildlife and owned/managed by the government body, defined as American ownership, as the government is made up . . . for the people and of the people of the United States of America.

Manipulated Confusion

The difficulty arises when there is too much communication, or an overabundance of information, which often confuses many people; for example the controversial National Debt situation, with an overview and breakdown of the reality on the Internet and referenced here.  The breakdown of debt percentages may be enlightening to most, demonstrating that receiving the correct information most often corrects future problems of controversy.

Open Debate is Good for the Country

An Open-Debate platform, having correct information is good for our country, good for our freedoms of speech, our freedoms of daily movement and activities, and the very foundation good decisions are made upon.  Thereby, the necessity is for transparency in all matters concerning any government body.

This confusion, or overabundance of information, becomes a vast road-block to many activists that have, indeed, taken upon themselves the responsibility of correcting something wrong in our government system.

BLM and Dishonest Horse Counts

Good examples are the way the BLM do Wild Horse Counts, or how they are paid-off illegally and their fraudulent activity, or their theft of government property (steeling horses from BLM land and BLM employees paid to “Look the Other Way”) being okay, when it is not okay, and is a felony.  The BLM has the same responsibility toward upholding the laws of our nation, just as we do.

When the common folks finally have enough of this type of behavior from government employees, the common folks then become activists.  The reality is making something right, whether it is behavior or saving wildlife or icons such as our Wild Horses as far back as the 1950’s.  This roll then becomes a difficult task at best.

Activists are Patriots Make No Doubt

True-Activists are true patriots, believing in the American system in their attempts to develop the truth of the matter, in this case the lies and overall illegal nature of the current BLM activities, in the attempt to resolve problems.  As a Veteran of a foreign war myself, I can attest to the fact the roll of activist is not the same, but similar in performing an ideological and patriotic act.  Make no doubt these people that take on the activist roll are warriors, attempting resolution in an appropriate manner, legally.  It is one of our Rights as Americans; the Boston Tea Party participants were activists and patriots, as was our first Congress and President.

Sometimes I may not agree with an activist’s belief, but I believe in American Rights, and will again defend any American to have those beliefs and Rights as prescribed by our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  Picking and choosing which Constitutional Right, or choosing only a few Rights from the Bill of Rights, and benefits me only, or any I may agree with and toss the others away, is simply wrong.  If that makes me a radical, or other derogatory remarks made by those wanting to usurp my rights, then whose wrong here?

Why Information Confusion?

Our government uses confusion and the overabundance of information, as well as derogatory terms and name-calling in order to side step controversy, to cover up questionable events, cover up theft and other felonies as if our laws inAmericaare not applicable for them as well.  Currently they do this often.  This needs to be stopped.

Activists Love Their Country

This is what true activists do out of love for their country, their environment, or their condition of living standards, make no doubt about this!  Joining rather than condemning activists is good for the human spirit; positive contribution always uplifts all of our spirits.  If a person has knowledge of government crimes, yet says nothing, then later yells about their rights when violated, should perhaps rethink their living arrangement or redefine how this country become free in the first place.

Our freedoms being upheld takes cooperation and involvement from us all.  Perhaps our country is the way it is today due to lack of involvement, hate, and information confusion.  So it’s a matter of stepping forward and stating such things as, “. . . the BLM is doing things in an abusive and illegal manner”.  Then demanding our legislators fix the problem, and if they don’t then asking, Why Not?  Too many excuses are present today to hate, when none of the excuses, in reality, are real and this equates to dissention and nothing getting done.

Article written by John Cox, Cascade Mountains (03-27-2012)

When we, as advocates, speak of abuse, we speak of some extremely serious situations.  We speak of legitimate animal abuse, in this case horses, which the abuse is not acceptable what so ever.  The BLM (i.e. Bureau of Land Management) would like to make us believe there is such a thing as “acceptable abuse.”  There is no such thing, situation, or attitude that makes an “acceptable abuse” situation legitimate what so ever.

Acceptable Abuse?

Government Speak: “After reviewing instances of alleged animal abuse during the recently completed Triple B wild horse gather in Nevada, a Bureau of Land Management team has found that helicopter contractor Sun J Livestock generally demonstrated appropriate, humane handling of wild horses over the course of the six-week gather that ended August 31. . .”  This is what BLM employees consider acceptable abuse?  But oh, there is so much more and this tale continues below. . .

Let’s Investigate This

Of course as we discover later as outlined within their “own” document, “The U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s internal review of a wild horse roundup in Nevada found some animals were whipped in the face, kicked in the head, dragged by a rope around the neck and repeatedly shocked with electrical prods, but agency officials concluded none of the mistreatment rose to the level of being inhumane.”  As recorded within a BLM document, by eye witness testimony, and further covered in the Las Vegas Review Journal, and posted on the Internet March 26, 2012.

“Outlandish and irresponsible” is most often the advocates’ response within this situation.  There is no such thing as an “Acceptable Abuse” of animals, and this is what the supposed internal BLM investigation wants us to accept, conclusively.  Why?  The only assumptive thought on this matter is that BLM employees, because they are a government agency, assumes it is okay to abuse animals.

The BLM demonstrates this obvious and obscene and uncalled for rhetoric on every occasion, and yet the BLM PR person states that we, meaning Advocates — “. . . advocates are dishonest” and claim a “. . . sky is falling” attitude.  Therefore, we can assume as well that if the public, or American’s speak out on abuse by BLM and government officials toward animals, then we are called names, harassed, threatened and outright felonies by BLM employees and private contractors are overlooked.  Then we are led to believe these actions are okay?  They are not okay!

Keep in mind that this is the Sun J Livestock company which is an acceptable private contractor with the BLM; and yet, has a vast history within a small amount of time of animal abuse and activity that one can consider of a questionable nature.  They have made millions in tax payer money, as a private contractor, and for what?  Abusing our wild horse herds!  And appallingly getting away with it, under the guise of “acceptable abuse” of the horses!

Also ignored is the illegal actions, that consistently ignore FAA Laws.  The law is FAA   PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES § 91.13 – Careless or reckless operation.  The law is quite clear, yet ignored.  This Journalist says “ignored” because there exists video taped evidence, in abundance, on the Internet, which is not edited what so ever.  This is a felony, and as outlined in FAA Part 91–#91.13, as well as within many state and federal jurisdictions on Vehicular Assault upon people or animals.

“Officials for Sun J Livestock in Vernal, Utah, the contractor for the Triple B Roundup between Elko and Ely, did not return messages seeking comment,” as the reporter at the Las Vegas Review Journal states in the article when asking them about the obvious abuse within the BLM report.

In this Journalist’s opinion there is guilt written all over this situation, and why?  Because those abusive situations did happen, and will happen again because these people get away with the abuse, supported by the BLM administrators!  And, I might add, get paid with tax payer dollars quite well, for abusing the horses.  Ignoring this situation, outright felonies, simply escalates the problem.

Using/Misusing Taxpayer Money for Abuse!

It is appalling for me to assume that my tax money is paying for what is termed “acceptable abuse” what so ever.  Within the research of this same appalling situation are the facts, we as taxpayers have supported this same “acceptable abuse” on many occasions, unwillingly and certainly unknowingly.

Here is a brief list of payments to this same Sun J Livestock company, as reported on the Government’s BLM “Contracts for Wildhorse/Burro Control Services (FY 2000-2009)” i.e. 2010, 2011, and 2012 not included, but their behavior far worse as witnessed and logged abuses accumulated ten-fold:

February 23, 2011 – Sun J Livestock received $82,648.20 for not even an entire weeks worth of roundup;

September 13, 2010 — Sun J Livestock received $82,966.00 for a little short of a weeks worth of roundup;

December 6, 2010 — Sun J Livestock received $649,850.20 for a little over a weeks worth of roundup;

January 10, 2011 — Sun J Livestock received $1,221,767.90 for about two weeks of roundup; etc. . . .

Exploring further we find even more appalling situations, and payment by all of us as tax payers, in the amount of $116,744,281 million dollars between the same period of i.e. 2000-2009, per their “Contracts for Wildhorse/Burro Control Services.”

Not so surprising is the fact that the abuse has indeed escalated due to lack of qualifications, inexperience of the roundup personnel, the cover-up of bad conduct by BLM employees, and the all around bad attitude and the Tribal Mentality of the BLM. It has indeed become a situation of employees and the private contractors versus the presence of the general public and witnesses at each of the roundups.

Why Does This Abuse Take Place?

BLM employees and Ranchers and other groups say the roundups are needed to protect fragile grazing lands that are used by cattle, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife.”  But the fact is this has been conclusively found to be a lie.  For one, the Bighorn Sheep have been extinct within that landscape for quite some time, run-out by the overgrazing and lack of proper management by BLM and the Ranchers in the area of their cattle.

Then we consider just how harsh are the wild horses to the environment.  “None what so ever,” states NSA retired Research Scientist James Culver, “. . . and the overwhelming fact is that horses are docile within their environment, and the horses are the least contributing factor to any of the change developing within that terrestrial biosphere.”  This is only one of several dozens of similar opinion and given by many Terrestrial and Range specific Research scientists.  For further discussion you can read research and studies of grasslands at a very good and informative Internet site, www.peer.org and made up of government researchers and previous scientists.

Sun J Livestock – Example of Questionable Conduct

Then we can go to several other roundups, and find more significant abuse, and by those same people, which only a couple are given here, but assuredly there exist many more examples that could fill a book, and of other companies who contracted with the BLM:

“November 11, 2010 “BLM Roundup in Oregon Claims Lives of 9 Wild Horses in First Week.”

“The tragic death of the stallion we call Braveheart in the BLM’s Silver King, NV roundup.”

“RENO, Nev. (Dec. 13, 2011) – During the helicopter roundup of wild horses and burros in the Calico Complex of northwestern Nevada last Thursday, Ginger Kathrens, director of the Cloud Foundation, filmed the hotshotting of a group of 10 burros that had been captured and were being loaded into a stock trailer by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contractors, Sun J Livestock.”

Or facts such as Contractor Qualifications, that are written for safety and competence standards – to qualify for government contracts:

“WASHINGTON (Jan. 20, 2012) – The Cloud Foundation (TCF) of Colorado Springs, CO has requested an investigation into the contracting process which led to Sun J Livestock of Vernal, Utah, receiving millions of dollars in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contracts to round up wild horses and burros in the West since the Fall of 2010.”

“. . . filed a protest with the U.S. Department of Interior in 2010 regarding the awarding of the contract to Sun J. The mandatory qualifications include “1,500 hours of flying experience… in similar projects” as well as 3,000 hours of “humanely capturing wild horses and or burros… while utilizing helicopter drive trapping,” The Cloud Foundation .

“When Kathrens questioned BLM about the experience of the Sun J crew, she was told that they had worked with Cook Livestock, also of Vernal,Utah.  Kathrens contacted the owner of Cook Livestock and former BLM roundup contractor, asking about Sun J’s work experience with her company.”

“Josh Hellyer was never on our payroll,” Kathrens was told. “And it’s seriously questionable whether the Sun J ground crew had the hours of prior experience required.” The Cloud Foundation .

But this goes much further, and you can read about more questionable conduct on The Could Foundations Internet site.  As well, you can read about much more of the “acceptable abuse” by BLM and their private contractors at their site, and find out how this entire advocacy began, and for what reasons.  Very interesting stories are there.

All requests for further information, FOIA requests, and anything else in regard to Sun J Livestock was denied by BLM administrators, even though the facts directly relate to Sun J Livestock indeed lied about their qualifications submitted to the BLM for private contract work.  As well, Public scrutiny of private contractors remains standard policy within every government agency, unless “government classified” issues involved, which there exist no issues involved in this private contractor situation, just a cover-up.

The Filing of a False Claim is Illegal

Make no doubt to the seriousness of this situation. The False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729–3733, also called the “Lincoln Law“) is an American federal law that imposes liability on persons and companies (typically federal contractors) who defraud governmental programs.  It is quite obvious there is an illegal act committed by Sun J Livestock, continuously – then why has BLM administrators ignored this?

Not to be ignored is the illegal activity that transpired here, in regard to false information given to the government, but as usual the BLM employees ignored, and at the expense of many horses being crippled and killed as well.  This is unacceptable, and there is just no excuse for this type of incompetence and/or attitude within our government agencies and their employees.  To actually allow felonies to occur, and being paid for the felonies, is beyond doubt an unscrupulous and uncalled for situation.

“In the war of words over the plan to round up thousands of wild horses on federal lands, it’s the images that speak loudest. Even as the Bureau of Land Management argues that the thinning of herds is for their own good, critics of the program keep coming up with damning footage showing abuse of the animals by BLM contractors,” Video: Wild horse roundups featuring burros being “hotshotted” are kinder, gentler?, Denver Westward Blogs, Internet site January 26, 2012.

The resolution is very apparent and source-specific – that there does exist felonies, and ongoing for quite some time that need to be approached by BLM and legal entities within the government.  More illegal activities with concerns toward destruction and theft of government property, horse theft, horse records in permanent management facilities, felony filings of false documentation and horse herd counts, private contractor qualifications, payment toward non-authorized purchases, false job-categories filed, and other BLM’s daily occurrences are all covered by Federal Law, and make no doubt many are serious Felonies.

There exist many more felonies, by BLM and private contractors too numerous to mention here.  Arrests need to be made, and the culmination of the roundups needs to happen immediately.  Then the wild horses need to be placed back onto public lands, and the ranchers and BLM need to leave them alone.  There is no such thing as “acceptable abuse”! Another agency must be appointed for the management of our Wild Horse Herds here in America.  The taxpayers “Buck” that is being thrown away on useless horse herd roundups – must stop Right Here, Right Now.