Old North State to Disperse $128 Million for Conservation

This week, the General Assembly and the Governor signed into law the state budget for 2007 and 2008, which included $128 million over two years for land and water conservation (it isn't $1 billion over five years, but it does show commitment and it helps meet immediate needs):

$100 million in COPs bonds (Certificates of Participation) to be distributed to the Natural Heritage Trust Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (to be paid back through those same funds)
$20 million in COPs bonds to Division of Marine Fisheries for beach access projects (to be paid back through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund)

$8 million of appropriations to the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust FundThank your legislators and the Governor for these critical funds

Non-Secular Conservation in the Pacific Northwest

Just when you thought the Northwest couldn't get any weirder there is some good news! Here is an interesting article about conservation and building on conservation-minded relationships with a non-secular slant Posted from the Trust for Public Land's website (http://www.tpl.org/)...










A Conversation about Conservation with the Reverend Carla Pryne:
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=21414&folder_id=3368

Didn't make it all of the way through? Rev. Carla's movement online at http://www.earthministry.org/

~CCC

Thoughts on the Inception of American Conservation

Reclaiming Environmental Leadership: http://www.rep.org/opinions/speeches/76.html

The truth is that conservation and environmental stewardship are core conservative values. The misperception stems from the fact that the GOP establishment has lost sight of these values. This misrepresentation has been perpetuated by the media over the last 15 years or so. The result has been a polarizing battle that is not at all about the advance of conservative principles, but rather the advance of special interest political agendas. The argument is based on essential elements of conservative thought that have been articulated by conservatives throughout history, including the very founders of modern conservatism including Edmund Burke, Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and modern leaders such as John McCain and Newt Geingrich.

"Conservation of our resources is the fundamental question before this nation, and that our first and greatest task is to set our house in order and begin to live within our means." -T. Roosevelt

~CCC

Why Let the liberals Take All the glory?

When I sat down to start this blog, I knew that I've been thinking about it for months and even years! The fundemental question on my mind is what makes a conservationist? Is it a misnomer to think of all conservationsists as tree-hugging, scruffy-faced and stereotypical liberals? I think yes! The truth be known that the "silent majority" is just as passionate about "all things green" as the next person...and that many of the green movement traditions have their roots in conservative doctrine. I am starting this blog to help give those that identiy themselves as conservative a voice and to articulate many of the conservation-minded topics that are on the minds of Conservative Conservationists.

Conservative Conservationists Unite! Send me your thoughts and comments and lets explore this doctrine.

**Discalaimer - I seek not through this blog to bring down any individual who identifies themselves as liberal, trash any liberal doctrine, but to merely give thought to conservative values as they relate to the conservationist movement, the green movement, or similar. We are all trying to reach the same goals and I hope not to further divide.**

~The Conservative Conservationist Columnist