Flagstaff Protest: NAU off sacred Mount Graham

Contact: Robin Silverrsilver@biologicaldiversity.org
(602) 799-3275 (Photo: Mount Graham website: www.mountgraham.org )
Action in support Winona LaDuke's presentation at NAU campus on Feb 1st. Protest rally to stop NAU desecration and extinction on Mount Graham!
When: Tues. February 1.
Gather at 5:00 PM
Walk starts at 6:00 PM
Where: NAU High Country Conference Center located at 201 West Butler Avenue.
Meet outside near Butler Ave and Conference Center main entrance.
Look for banners.
Why: The Mount Graham telescope project desecrates a central Apache religious site. It destroys and fragments the old growth forest heart of an endangered species' critical habitat.
Northern Arizona University is a partner in the projects centerpiece Large Binocular Telescope.
NAU administration has ignored previous attempts to address this issue.
Please join us!
Who: NAU students, faculty and concerned community members. Elders from San Carlos Apache will be in attendance.
This action is being supported by: Center for Biological Diversity, Mount Graham Coalition, and Indigenous Action Media.
Plan: Walk from Conference Center to Winona LaDuke's speech at Ardrey
Auditorium (ticket necessary for admission: http://nau.ticketforce.com/ordertickets.asp?p=432&backurl=default.asp)
Contact: NAU President Haeger and urge him to respect the Apache, to save the Mount Graham red squirrel and to get NAU out of the Mount Graham telescope project.
Phone: (928) 523-3232 Email: John.Haeger@nau.edu
Further Info: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2010/mount-graham-red-squirrel-12-22-2010.html
NAU OFF MOUNT GRAHAM! PROTECT SACRED SITES!
Background:
For the Apache, Mount Graham or Dzil nchaa si' is of central sacred importance to the Western Apache as a geographical landform, as a burial ground, and as home to the Gaahn (mountain spirits). Mount Graham is also sacred in very specific locations. One of these sites is Emerald Peak where the centerpiece Large Binocular Telescope (formerly the Columbus telescope) is now located. NAU is a partner in this telescope which is now visible from the San Carlos reservation.
The Mount Graham Red Squirrel is found nowhere else except on Mount Graham. Only a little more than 200 squirrels now survive. The telescopes destroy and fragment the forested heart of the squirrels' essential spruce-fir habitat. Nearly one third of the spruce-fir was needlessly destroyed recently under the guise of protecting the telescopes from fire.