Disaster by any other name.

Disaster thy Name is Republican.
Rather a tough title, but as we know highly accurate. And that’s not really counting today’s disaster , the Oil rig that burned and sank , then proceeded to leak. Even at first glance ,we can say thank you republicans for deregulating all the environmental and safety legislation. You were right those giant companies can police themselves,.
What’s worse of course is the thought that this was an accident. Which gets harder to believe everyday, like say 19 men from Afghanistan, five of which are still alive , imploded three buildings with two planes and jet fuel.
Well at least one thing, when republicans say 9/11 changed everything their right, because there is now nothing too evil, for these people to do. Before you stop reading at least think about what happened and of course who gains , and who pays for what happened in the gulf. Look for clues, first off the big red flag, Haliburton did repairs recently on the very rig. Another clue is where they are leaking and how much, Is it just bad luck that the pipes are leaking at a place that cant just be shut off? Is it a coincidence that Haliburton has already got the contracts to work on the cleanup?
You must be thinking why are those guy’s allowed to breath, let alone work for the government still. Plutonomics or plutocracy, two phrases I heard Bill Moyer use on his farewell address. He was referring to what I call the one precentors. By the way what is wrong with these people? One % of our population controls 90 % of our wealth, why can’t they be happy? I guess the Boss was right, “ A poor man wants to be rich, A rich man want’s to be king, and a king aint satisfied til he has everything.”
Which get’s me back on topic , blaming republicans, which is just too easy. Mostly I hold back because I feel sorry for them, the people , not the politicians, and their corporatist backers. Then I remember that I “know” what’s going on, political parties, are just a distraction like sports. The problem with Republicans is they think they are a team. They want to be the Patriots of politics, win at any cost. Or as “Jesse the Body Ventura” used to say “win if you can, lose if you must, but always, cheat.”
So for the last thing to pick on republicans, for now is how they think this is a game. Ask them this question if your team wins what do you get out of it? Or should I ask myself that question, I consider my self now a democrat because I will never ever vote for a Republican again. That I even have , a long time ago is a scar on my karma I’ll have to live with.
That is just an opinion of course , I will have to do a follow up piece on the real story, just how many accident’s have they inflicted on us, and just what’s coming up.

I could research the oil rig and paste reports and photo's but I'm too far away to feel their pain. Lucky for me I don't have to go that far to see an environmental disaster, in ten minutes I can be on or in the Mississippi River.
While the press of course rarely covers it even locally , the Mississippi watershed has been devastated by the introduction of a foreign species, The Asian Carp. Here is the story as it is.
A local landowner wanted to clean out his lake, without you know, doing it. So he gets the idea to breed algae eating carps. Then in the flood of 93 his lake was flooded and the carp were released into the river, where they have spread by the millions. These fish are easy to spot as they have the habit of jumping out of the water. there's two different species the smaller weighing around thirty pounds. the larger up to 80.
80 pounds of flying fish, hurts I'm sure and yes they have killed. Mostly it is classified as an unexplained boating accident , but around here that means the driver of the boat get's hit by a fish then knocked out where he crashes the boat.
However the greater damage is done to the indigenous species , whose breeding grounds and food supplies are being taken by the Asian Carp. Since everything is connected in an eco-system this also effects the animals that depend on the fish as a food source. Interesting nothing around here including hungry homeless people will eat Asian Carp.
To show just how far reaching that is, this year we had an unusually low eagle count, Which since the area is the main wintering spot for the bald eagle , caused concern. Even investigation, like they had to figure it out, in fact they are still probably studying the facts. That when I was told of this news story it took me less than a minute to figure out why they wouldn't come here, no food, the fish they eat were replaced by the fish nothing eats.
Normally I would say that at this point it's rather late to start afixing blame, because the people who caused this disaster are long gone or beyond retribution. While I hope there is a Hell, because that and a guilty conscience is about all the landowner has to worry about, after all the damage is in the Millions , which means in this case the money that would have to be spent to fix the river if it could be fixed.
Now the landowner, douscebag that he is was not the only culprit. In fact he isn't even the worse guy in it. Who were the real bad guy's? Well to start The Bushes, both one and two. It was the flood of 93 that released them into the river but it was during seniors reign that , douschebag got together with the Department of natural resources.
There is the problem , not was but still is. One big problem is that while the people who work for the departments, are government employee's trained to do their jobs, are told what to do by appointed officials. As we have found these people are appointed because of a favor they have done ,and their party affiliation, not their qualifications.
Like father, George the second’s appointee introduced a new menace , The Japanese Wood Beetle. This is without a doubt the stupidest thing I can imagine. The department of Conservation, not some idiot landowner, decided to trade Wild Turkey's to Japan for Wood beetles. Okay so they thought that we needed another bug in Missouri. And this one should bite too. they decided that wood beetles would be a food source for our turkeys, they could of asked the turkeys if they will eat a bug they have never seen before. Besides the fact that bugs are one of the few species around here not being endangered, The Bee’s aside, the turkeys didn't eat them and now there are massive swarms of Wood beetles in Missouri.
In fact it get's my doomsday spider sense going, it's like they are trying to destroy everything . And when I say they I am getting into a whole other subject. Not to point a finger I'll just say "Drill baby Drill" .
While I respect the people who guard our resources, the system needs watching. The appointees especially, mostly it is a case of meet the new boss, same as the old boss. As in opinion but what is the one constant in the last twenty years its that all these appointees have been lawyer's. And what's made it worse is their pro-business usually oil industry connected. The head of the E.P.A. is an ex-lobby oil lawyer. It's not bad enough that the head of an organization designed to protect the environment has no training or experience in his job, their actually working for the other side.
I can't forget lobbies either, my first and so far only real dealings with these organizations was from the result of lobbying. A group of horse owners in Missouri formed a group, raised some cash, made some noise and then proceeded to destroy our State Parks, along with attached waterways. They fought for their right's to ride their horses in state parks , at the same time our service member's were democracising Iraq.
First off number one is number 2 if you know what I mean. They not only crapped all over the trails they rode right in the creeks and smaller rivers. I filmed a creek in A smaller state park and within two years it went from a truly pristine creek into a lifeless toilet.
Having a tv show at the time I decided to try and do something. So I contacted the organizations, Going through quite a few looking for the one that covered my creek. Lucky for me I'm stubborn, and there is now e-MAIL. I must say I kept on them , if you want to make a difference you have to get heard. Too be honest you might have to threaten, then you will still get nowhere. Acceptance is the real key, whats one more disaster more or less? That's four disaster's and I haven't eaten breakfast, or read today's news.
This is my first letter I wrote, looking at it now I almost feel like a teapartier, god forbid.
I have one question that I feel is of immediate importance. I film
a wildlife show on public access and I was filming on july 5 05 when I
walked up the Quiver River. Who’s bright idea was it to allow horses to
use the river as there toilet? I documented the destruction that is
being caused including the feces and ruined holes of water . This is
very important because the destruction of the river is imminent if u
don’t get the horses out of the river bed. Is this the case of pandering
to the rich? or just the few over the many? Are you the same ones who
thought Japanese wood beetles would be good for the environment? or that
we need a new species of carp in our waterways? Its bad enough that
every environmental law that’s took decades to enact have been repealed do
you have to go out of your way to destroy the rivers?
That said I don't believe that the conservation department itself is
for these changes but that your pawns for some idiots in Washington an
Jeff city. I would appreciate answers to these questions and I will be
keeping an eye on you.
As an also I have lots of video on Missouri wildlife most to do with
the river system and would be happy to share what I've shot if you ever
need it just ask? signed caring citizen P.S. we need
to get those horses out of our streams especially the quiver river which
was one of the cleanest in our area







Not knowing your location on the Cuivre River, I'm at a disadvantage;
however, MDC conservation areas and public fishing accesses allow horses
only on roads established for vehicles or on authorized horse trails.

If you have a specific location please let us know and we'll share your
message with the appropriate supervisor.

Cuivre River state park has an equestrian set-up with trails,
campgrounds etc. If this the location to which you're referring you may
want to visit with DNR http://www.dnr.mo.gov/index.html DNR is also the
agency in charge of water quality.

Thanks for your interest in conservation
I was shocked to get a reply , considering the letter I sent, I was mad, still am.

Hi, thank you for responding to my question about
the Quiver River state park. The area I am concerned
with is the upper part of the river in the state park.
My and our big problem is that the equestrian trails
run across the river. Of course the problem is there
feces has contaminated whole sections of the river .
Plus its on the upper part so it is working it's way
down the river. I filmed on the river July 5 and
there's clearly devastation on the river Specifically
a slime growth and dead pools of water that are
contaminated. I'm sure I don"t have to tell You the
life's that depend on those pool's not to mention the
health hazzard's being created. Thanks again for
responding and I will appreciate any help and would
also volunteer to help getting this problem solved and
any other river system in our area.
Thank you also for caring about our earth sincerely
Thanks for taking the time to express your concerns on this issue. MDC is authorized by the state constitution to manage the state's fish, forest and wildlife resources. I believe you should contact DNR http://www.dnr.mo.gov/index.html on this matter (I'll copy them) as they are the agency which handles state parks and water quality. MDC works in cooperation with DNR on water quality issues when a fish kill occurs. I'll also copy coworkers in the vicinity of the state park to alert them to your concerns.

We appreciate your interest in conservation.
So I found out then if your going to get involved you have to ;earn your letter’s. As I’ve said the problem has to do with the system. As things progressed I actually noted that the fish already had died which meant I was yelling at the wrong guys. I think they hope you just give up and go away so I sent another letter.




Hi, This letter is in response to an environmental emergency regarding the
water system's in state parks but in particular The Cuiver River in the
Cuiver River State park. I was referred here by of the dmc. The
problem is the The equestrian trails in the park which go through and
over the river. the problem with this is obviously the manure in the
river. The Cuiver river just in the last 5 years has come to the point now
where it is, or soon will be a health hazard to humans. Not to mention the
wildlife, from fish to birds that have died or been infected from the
polluted water.
I think the water of the upper portion of the river should be
tested immediately and maybe the river should be posted, as in maybe
(caution high proportion of horse feces in water). I would be happy to
show interested parties what I'm comenting on , however anyone who walks
up the river should be able to see the extent of the destruction, and how
and where it's coming from.
I produce and film for a cable access program and film
mainly on the rivers. I film The Cuiver river at least once a year and
have watched it deteriorate each year, this last time May of 06 was
heartbreaking. I've Emailed my concerns last year and this year and have
talked to conservation people . This year I feel that it may be the last
chance for that river to be saved, so I am sending out E-mails to anyone I
can find Until I talk to the right person and something gets done. Which
is of course to get the horses out of the river at least but it must be
done soon.
I'm also preparing a documentary on the river and the
equestrian trails . I will be posting numbers for concerned people to both
call and e-mail so I would appreciate correspondence including addresses
and phone numbers that they and I can call to express their views on the
subject.
This is I feel a real problem that we shouldn't be having because
the horses should never of been allowed in the river itself. I hope that
you'll will investigate the river soon and I once again volunteer my help
if it's needed and hope that for the future of that once almost pristine
waterway . Thank you for your time ,


Thank you for your concern for the environment in Cuivre River State Park. Your email was referred through the Missouri Department of Conservation to us in the Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks. I am an environmental specialist in State Parks, with responsibility for ensuring environmental compliance and assessing environmental damages.

I am assuming that the area you are referring to is located within the park where the equestrian trails cross Big Sugar Creek. I am not aware of any trail crossings on Cuivre River itself, as the park does not extend west of the river.

We share your concerns about the impact that horses may have on the creek's water quality. Equestrian use is an established activity in the area that is now the park, and has been since before it was established as a state park in 1946. We strive to offer recreational opportunities for all of our park users, and especially those uses with a long history or tradition in a given park, as is the case at Cuivre River. We have been actively improving the horse trails throughout the park in an effort to reduce or eliminate any adverse effects on the resources there. We also provide literature and signage to inform equestrian users, and other park users as well, for that matter, of applicable rules and acceptable standards of behavior in the park. Riders are instructed to stay on the trails, and are informed that riding in streams is prohibited. Unfortunately, not all riders adhere to the rules or restrictions, with the result that sometimes horses go off-trail and get into parts of Big Sugar Creek that are outside of the designated trail crossings. That is especially true during periods of dry weather, when the creek is reduced to pools, and horses will seek out off-trail "watering holes." We try to enforce the rules and encourage people to minimize their impacts on park resources, but it is difficult to catch every violation or infraction. It should be noted that we do not control or own the entire Big Sugar Creek watershed. It is possible that some of the effects you observed in the stream may be the result of upstream, off-park activities, including residential development and agricultural use. Any nutrients or other pollutants introduced into the creek above the park could produce the conditions you described within the park, and it may be difficult to distinguish effects from in-park equestrian use from off-park inputs into the stream.

I will visit the equestrian trail creek crossings to assess any damage that may be occurring, or that may be evident, and take steps to remedy the damage. We will make every effort to inform equestrians of the need to stay on designated trails, and we will actively enforce all park rules to minimize any damage to the park's resources, including its streams. We would ask that if you observe someone wilfully or negligently damaging park resources that you contact the Park Superintendent or a Park Ranger immediately and provide as much information as possible. They will then respond appropriately.

Again, thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Thanks for taking the time to express your concerns on this issue. MDC is authorized by the state constitution to manage the state's fish, forest and wildlife resources. I believe you should contact DNR http://www.dnr.mo.gov/index.html on this matter (I'll copy them) as they are the agency which handles state parks and water quality. MDC works in cooperation with DNR on water quality issues when a fish kill occurs. I'll also copy coworkers in the vicinity of the state park to alert them to your concerns.

We appreciate your interest in conservation.


Thank you for replying I appreciate taking the time to consider my concerns. Yes I found out that it is the creek that is my main concern. I will check out the mostreams org and will contact in regards to filming, however I already have the footage of the waterway itself , as I have filmed there this being the fourth year.
I do have a few more questions. Last year I filmed the section where the trails cross and in one place the trail (A marked Trail) ran in the creek for maybe a half mile, plus the trail crosses over the creek many times, has this been changed ?
Again I thank you for your mail, you said that there has been efforts to move the trails. The other offices I have contacted have seemed to suggest that they were unaware of the problem, my question is has anyone else contacted you about the problem? Besides me of course.
Next though I am mostly concerned with The Big Sugar Creek Cuiver River Watershed I Am assuming that this is a state wide problem Is there any legislation pending on the issue? Or a legislator that I might contact who might be favorable to drafting some law to protect the state parks and public waterways?
Sorry to ramble but last question, Is there any chance That I or people interested could volunteer there time to move the trails and maybe help restore that beautiful little piece of park so that it would be an enjoyment for us and future generations? Whatever it takes I would be willing to help. (cept money cause I'm broke)
I mentioned in my first E-mail that I was preparing a documentary (more of a public service announcement) I so far have decide to break this up into three parts. Parts 1 will air Saturday june 3 and again on june 10 at 1:30 P.M. on channel Ra-18 on charter cable (the reginal Access Channel). Part one is just a basic description of the problem along with the tape I made last week of the creek. Part 2 will air the last saturdays of june and will consist of an update about the people I've talked to and I will try to have the correct E-mails and phone numbers (hopefully I can correlate that with the contact number you gave me) for the people who whish to get involved. Then part three will be a 4 to 6 minute video describing the issue that I'll try to get distributed to others concerned.
I should tell you a bit about the show its very low key and very public access, though I think I have a respectable amount of viewers yet I'm sure its a small percentage. Normally its just me I play some songs on my guitar and show the video that I've shot in the last 2 weeks, almost always on the rivers creeks and wildlife. I have what I consider some pretty good video (some amazing ) and think that by showing the nature that is right in our backyard (so to speak) I'm doing something positive and entertaining. Of course You see it live but you might get a kick out of watching the show.
Once again thank you for responding and your work for the waterways and I again hope to correspond on the Big Sugar Creek including the results of water testing, and once again I volunteer me and my show if I can help in any way to restore the creek and by association the river. Thanks,
P.S. you can call me Bryan




Dear Bryan,

I've forwarded your additional questions about the trails crossing the stream and about the trail running in the creek bed to our staff at Cuivre River State Park and I'll need to await their response.

Meanwhile -

The issue of the trail and its proximity of Big Sugar has been brought up before - including yourself about a year ago - and we have sent staff to look at the issue since then and have initiated some changes but they have not been formulated yet. I think this is partially due to our statewide trail coordinator leaving us for a position elsewhere last winter. This position has just very recently been refilled.

Stream issues such as this are statewide and while we do what we can, there are other parties that impact any river, stream or creek in Missouri. The Big Sugar and the Cuivre only touch Cuivre River State Park as they pass through or by the park. The water quality is also affected by what takes place in and near the river upstream from the park, so there are other livestock issues and run-off from fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides etc. upstream that impact this watershed also. Education is a key component and our staff in our Department of Natural Resources 'sister' agency - the Division of Environmental Quality work with encouraging land owners to protect the water quality - see their Soil and Water Conservation Program at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swcp/service1.htm.

The Department of Conservation also has a program - see http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/MDCLibrary/MDCLibrary2.aspx?NodeID=175



We have a volunteer program called V.I.P. - Volunteers in Parks here's the link to our web page - http://www.mostateparks.com/volunteer.htm

I don’t know if I made a difference in fact with everything, it no longer matter’s. At the time I went there the next year things in the creek looked a lot better, somehow the message got out and the horse people were starting to watch it a little bit, wether they continue or go back to riding in the creek we’ll see . The odds are extremely long, and the creek like the river and the oceans are all doomed. I did have my moment in the sun , because I knew that the equestrians had heard of me, because I went back filming, and the riders that saw me almost wet themselves, because I was the boogyman, the mad filmer that was keeping them from the creek. I’ll take it but like in every other way we of my generation who wanted to make this planet a better place, we failed.
And lets take it even more close, I failed but only mostly. At least it took me a whole life to do it.
I used to spend time trying to convert people to the right way, before it was too late, by using guilt. I would say how can you be so cold hearted? Maybe it’s me, one of the big influences in my life was the chief. Yes that commercial, the public service announcement that changed my life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4ozVMxzNAA As usual the debate turns to Iron Eyes Cody, like the message means any less, because he was just an actor. To me the true point was about people are the only ones who can stop pollution, boy we did real good with that one. But hey don’t blame Me at least not as much as some. Yes I do mean republicans after all this is their favorite game, averting responsibility, the blame game. After all if god did Katrina because he hated gays, and even a volcano in Europe because Europe has become to peaceable. I guess god must really hate gay, peaceful fish because he sure showed them. If it was an accident we can blame god as well, if it was an accident if any of this is.
That is how we play the blame game, spread it around, until it doesn’t matter, or we will never figure out the real story as long as it matters. If it mattered, some of that blame is mine, I drive a vehicle and more importantly I’m a consumer. I’m not one of the crowd who seem to be so reluctant to giving up fossil fuel, but I know that everything I eat or use has a dependancy on gas, So we all share in that blame, and we all can make needed improvements in that area.
That said we are not the ones who are going to profit from the environmental disaster that may get biblical in proportion, as always if you want to find the perpetrators or really perpatraitor’s, follow the money plus its pretty obvious anyway. You don’t need a weather man on this one. And no it’s actually not the republicans, never really was they’re just dupe’s as I like to call it the Stooplicit,
Then you have the government which is complicit, I mean after all the real power runs the government, or the government serves the power. I think one of the greatest lines about politicians came from Mel Brook’s. “Gentlemen, we have to protect our phoney baloney job’s” .
I hope they do because the while republicans certainly caused the problem , as usual the democrats get the job of fixing it, which they better do right and fast. Then maybe we can have an actual thorough non-biased investigation like we did after 9/11. Yes I know were doomed-er.
I hope that you like the video I’m attempting to post with this rant, I’m working on the audio, the video was shot at night in 08, Yes that’s me on the guitar , no-one else to blame.
Peace and love B.