Time to develop renewable energy

I would like to respond to Vic Svec’s comments that try to sway Navajo and Hopi from developing alternative energy.

(Vic Svec, Vice President of Public and Investor Relations at Peabody Energy wrote a column, “It’s vital that we support solutions to keep Mohave generating,” which appeared in the Sept. 24 edition of the Navajo-Hopi Observer.)

As a community member living without electricity in Cameron, I’d like to share my point of view as to why tribes need to develop their own electrical power sources.

Cameron community is all too familiar with transmission lines that transport the power to electrify power hungry California. There are a total of six transmission lines crisscrossing our landscape.

As a “gateway” community to Grand Canyon National Park and Navajo Nation these metal structures only mar our painted desert. Cameron doesn’t get any revenue for hosting this lines that converge on our community.

I’d suggest to the tribe, to allow communities to negotiate fees with utility companies for right of ways—funds that can go to developing local economies.

Developing small-scale alternative energy is the right thing to do for all communities, where feasible. If communities experience a shortage of power, they can rely on the community power to supply what is needed for the short interim. During normal use, the additional power generated can be sold back to electricity companies, whereby generating revenues for the community.

Cameron is considering developing its alternative energy. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a wind map that identifies Cameron as having a good source of wind. This is an opportunity for the community to secure its own power, since the transmission lines overhead supports California communities (who are experiencing economic development and unbelievable growth) and not our community infrastructure needs…you can’t blame them since we’re small potatoes.

Mr. Svec speaks for the survivability of Peabody’s use of our tribes’ non-renewable resource, but I speak to developing one of our community’s renewable resources that could easily meet our needs for the foreseeable future (and when the technology is developed more) and for eons to come.

Mae Franklin

Cameron, Ariz

Thanks all for princess support

Miss Bobbie Benally, Miss Tuba City Primary 2002-03, would like to express her sincere appreciation for all the support and encouragement from family, friends and community members. She did her best representing the Tuba City Unified School District, as a Little Warrior princess.

Bobbie, 6 years old and in the first grade, made numerous appearances as Miss TC Primary, participating in local events as well as traveling long distances. Keeping commitments was very important to her.

Bobbie also knows the importance of academic success and how it can affect your future. She has big dreams, and we always tell her that her educations is a big part of being successful in everything.

I, as a parent, always teach both my daughters to have respect for their elders, the same way I was taught by my parents and grandparents. Of course, we also stress the importance of learning the Navajo language and culture.

The work that comes with carrying the title of princess is not easy. It requires a lot of time and effort. But we, as her family, didn’t mind because she made us all very proud. We will continue to encourage her and guide her as she continues on her journey toward her goals of becoming Miss Navajo Nation and Miss Indian World.

Thank you for supporting Bobbie during her reign in 2002-03. We hope she made you proud.

On behalf of the James

and Benally Families

Pamela James,

Tuba City, Ariz.

Disagrees with Chief Justice choice

If the position of Navajo Nation Chief Justice were an honorary one—to be given as an award or “trophy” to a Navajo who had devoted her or his career to Navajo Law, no Navajo would be more deserving of this award than Claudeen Bates Arthur, Esq. Ms. Arthur has been a distinguished lawyer, the first Navajo Attorney General, the first Navajo Nation Council Chief Legislative Counsel, a member of the Arizona Board of Regents, a Department of the Interior Field Solicitor, a legal services lawyer and a former White Mountain Apache Attorney General.

The position of Navajo Nation Chief Justice, however, is not an honorary position—it requires an energetic person skilled in court administration, with experience as a judge or justice. It would also seem necessary that the person selected to be the Navajo Chief Justice be fluent in the Navajo language and knowledgeable about Diné Fundamental Law. However fine a person and lawyer Ms. Arthur is, she has no experience in court administration and is not fluent in the Navajo language.

As has so often been the case throughout his Presidency, Joe Shirley when confronted with a decision has done two things—he has delayed the decision and he has made the wrong decision.

He could have selected veteran Navajo Nation District Judge Allen Sloan—a judge with fourteen years of service and who is respected by his colleagues, Judicial Branch staff and many members of the Navajo Nation Council and its Judiciary Committee. Unlike Ms. Arthur, Judge Sloan is fluent in Navajo—it is his first language and he follows Diné Fundamental Law both in his courtroom and his life.

To be sure there is an appropriate place for Ms. Arthur—as an Associate Justice of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court. This is a position for which she applied and for which she is eminently qualified.

It is sad for the Navajo Nation and those who use its courts that President Shirley has done the wrong thing…again. (Perhaps, the Navajo Nation Council will set this matter right at its Fall Session—as they have done with respect to some of his other mistakes this year.)

Lawrence A. Ruzow

Window Rock, Ariz.

We’ve waited long enough

Time is running out on Congress to pass a prescription drug benefit in Medicare. Before they go home for the year, AARP and its members continue to urge lawmakers to keep their promise and pass legislation that would spell a meaningful and affordable benefit to seniors.

Over the last several weeks, AARP and its members have urged a congressional committee to improve legislation that was passed by the House and Senate last July and send a final bill to President Bush.

Some of the changes AARP is advocating include not penalizing Medicare beneficiaries for wanting to remain in traditional Medicare over enrollment in a private plan, providing access to a reliable benefit regardless of residence or income and coverage eligibility to both Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. In addition, AARP would like the final piece of legislation to encourage employers to continue providing prescription drug coverage to its retirees.

Every year it seems Congress promises to pass a prescription drug benefit in Medicare, yet fails to get the job done. Many of our members are now asking: “Haven’t we waited long enough?”

It’s time for Congress to keep its promise—fix the legislation and send it to President Bush.

AARP continues to urge its members to call their representative in Congress at 1-800-211-0907 and tell them to keep their promise on Rx in Medicare.

David Mitchell

AARP Arizona

State Director

Phoenix, Ariz.

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