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Show DO YOU NEED HELP IN ORGANIZING? John Marl in, head of the Coalition on American Rivers, has been giving helpful talks and slide shows about successful organizing against water projects to people across the country. If you would like John Marl in to speak to your group, write him at Coalition on American Rivers, P.O. Box 2667, Station A, Champaign, Illinois 61820. USEFUL ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR GROUP 1. Develop a slide show on the affected area showing the people who would lose their homes or farms and the scenic valley and river that would be inundated. Present the slide show to groups all over the state. 2. Take elected officials on a float trip on the river. Hold an appreciation day for the river with a picnic and a variety of activities. Invite the press. 3. Find novel ways of dramatizing your concerns and promoting publicity about what is going on. If you can't get official hearings, then hold your own and publicize the results. One group in Indiana delivered a tiny pig and a barrel to the Congressman's local office. 4. Publish a calendar containing pictures of your river and valley that would be affected. Insert inspirational quotations. The calendar can help bring money in to fund your efforts and can educate people about the project. 5. Hold a symposium on your project with a variety of expert speakers criticizing the project and speaking about the values that would be lost. A particularly large gathering can be impressive for publicity purposes and can strongly influence elected officials, all of whom should be invited to attend. PUBLICATIONS WHICH CAN HELP YOUR FIGHT The most complete and up-to-date guide on f i g h t i ng destructive water projects is In Defense of Rivers available from the Delaware Valley Conservation Association, Box 159, S t i l l w a t e r , New Jersey 07875. Make a check payable to them for $5.95 for one copy or $4.75 apiece for orders of 5 to 10. This publication contains a r t i c l e s about how to use historic preservation laws, how to organize, how other groups have won struggles against bad projects, etc. It has an extensive bibliography of works which w i l l be useful to you. Conservation Directory. This contains the names and addresses of all the key federal and state agencies concerned with natural resources. It also l i s t s state and national conservation organizations. Copies can be obtained for $3 from the National Wildlife Federation at 1412 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Benefit Claims of Water Development Agencies. Prepared by Brent Blackwelder and available for $2 from the Environmental Policy I n s t i t u t e , 317 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This report describes numerous undesirable impacts of dams, canals and other water projects and provides useful examples of projects that have aggravated damages, been counterproductive, or f a i l e d. |
