From: mjvande@pbhye.PacBell.COM (Mike Vandeman)
Subject: Closing Roads to Protect Migrating Newts
Organization: Pacific * Bell
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 03:37:12 GMT
Followup-To: sci.environment

                                   January 24, 1993

Board of Directors
East Bay Regional Park District
2950 Peralta Oaks Court
Oakland, California 94605-5369

Re: "District Acts to Protect Newts"

Gentlepersons:

     I was very happy to see that you closed South Park Drive for
several months in order to protect the newts who need to cross the
road. I hope that this type of courageous conservation becomes the
norm in the management of our parks. I also hope that you will
exploit this opportunity to the fullest to educate the public about
the importance of protecting wildlife.

     For example, there should be a large, conspicuous educational
display next to the gates so that people can learn about the newts
and other wildlife that live in this area. After explaining why the
road is closed, it would be good to give other examples from here
and around the world of "sacrifices" being made to protect plants
and wildlife. E.g., I heard that there are islands in the Hawaiian
chain that have been made offlimits to humans, in order to protect
birds or other wildlife.

     It should end with a list of other measures that are necessary
to preserve our local wildlife (not just the "endangered" ones),
and how the public can help. At the top of the list should be other
suggested road closures, tunnels, and wildlife corridors that are
needed in the Bay Area, statistics on the numbers and types of
animals killed on our roads, etc. Most people have their heads
firmly planted in the sand, ignoring this obvious problem; you can
be of significant help to enlighten them.

     It wouldn't hurt to admit your own failures in this area. I
don't understand why your success (with the newts) was prowdly
broadcast in your "Regional Parks" newsletter, but I had to read
the "Examiner" to find out that you tried to relocate some deer
from Ardenwood to Ohlone Regional Wilderness (typically, to please
a farmer) and caused most of them to die.

     Also unfortunate was the lack of backbone (is this evolution
at work?) shown in the fact that you immediately caved in to
bicyclists, and allowed them onto the "closed" road. Your logic
escapes me. Do you really think they will keep their speed at the
posted 15 MPH on that steep downhill run? Do you really think that
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a newt cares whether it gets squashed by a car, a truck, or a
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bicycle, or at what speed?
__________________________

     Twentieth century man has become so ignorant of, and alienated
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from, his/her roots that we now think (judging from our actions)
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that we don't need other species (except for those that are
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economically profitable)! In order to reverse that trend, we need
to send clear verbal and nonverbal messages that repudiate this
sort of thinking, and that replace it with the appropriate
reverence, courageously and unashamedly making use of our oft-
vaunted freedom of speech. Please help!

                                   Sincerely,


                                   Michael J. Vandeman, Ph.D.