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Report on the Feb. 11 '06 SOUL Rally
by Adam Ritscher
On February 11, 2006 the Douglas County chapter of Save Our Unique Lands hosted an indoor rally to commemorate the one year anniversary of the dramatic victory last year when hundreds of people converged on the County Courthouse to express their opposition to the proposed Arrowhead-Weston bulk transmission line. In doing so they helped convince the County Board to vote "NO!" - temporarily halting the project. But unfortunately the will of the people was not respected, and the corporate fat cats behind the line went to Madison, where with suitcases full of money they proceeded to buy off the state government and had them pass a new law - the Montgomery Bill - which took away the right of a County to say no to such a project.
This was a major blow, and a striking display of how corrupt our political system is. But the fight against the line didn't, and hasn't, stopped - which was highlighted at Saturday's rally. SOUL, and other groups, are mounting legal challenges, planning future protests and are networking with concerned people to take on the corruption at Madison.
To show that the fight is not over, and to provide an opportunity for folks to hear where the fight is currently at the Feb. 11 rally was held. Speaking at the event were five very powerful speakers who helped to put the ATC powerline fight into the context of the massive corruption afflicting our state's government. The speakers were:
-Nino Amato – former Pres. WIEG, forming coalition for PSC reform
-Mike McCabe – Executive Director, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
-George Crocker – Executive Director, North American Water Office
-Tom Kreager – President, Save Our Unique Lands
-Mark Liebaert – Douglas County Board Supervisor
In the audience where about 75 people, young and old, from all across northern Wisconsin [and a few from Minnesota and central Wisconsin too!] who expressed their deep concerns over this issue. Also in the audience were two note takers from the other side.
The energetic rally went on for about 4 and a half hours, and a considerable amount of hard earned money was donated to SOUL and used to buy fund raising t-shirts, buttons and raffle tickets. All in all it was a very succesful event, and much needed morale boost for us all!
The Arrowhead-Weston line is now under construction in Central Wisconsin, and the small leg in Midway Township south of Duluth, MN has also been built. The bulk of the line though has not been built, and in the discussion at the rall the idea was raised several times that when the construction reaches the Namekagon River a mass rally be held there to block it. In other words, that we draw a line in the sand at the River and refuse to let them cross. We urge everyone opposed to this line to stay vigilant and prepare for this next stage in the struggle. In the meantime SOUL is also in need of contributions for its legal challenges. Please send donations to this address:
Lake Superior SOUL
8585 E. Baldwin Avenue
Solon Springs WI 54873
Finally, a special thanks to Beth Aker, Amy Spiering, Mark Liebart, Carl Sack, the wonderful and inspiring speakers and everyone from the Lake Superior SOUL chapter who helped make this rally possible. This fight is not over!