Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mrs. King. Thank you, Senator. Senator McClure, I have some questions for you to think about. How are you going to explain to your grandchildren what a wil derness was? Do the people of Idaho have any chance at all against the corporations who want to exploit us and our resources? ASARCO, a corporation that wants to strip mine in the White Clouds, is a defendant in litigation brought by average citizens such as farmers, native Americans and over a thousand of ASARCO's own employees, all of whom claimed damage to their lives and health by ASARCO. But people apparently matter little to the company. In fact, lawyers for such corporate interests have misrepresented constitutional rights lawsuit in an attempt to gain acccess through my yard not for the public, but for the large corporate in terests the lawyers actually represent. Corporations promise jobs and minimum negative impact. Cyprus Mine and Bunker Hill show how these promises are not kept. Challis has over 200 empty houses, a high crime rate and other social problems the city's fathers and mothers never antici pated. And the future of Cyprus Mine is still uncertain. I know, be cause Challis is the county seat where I live. Kellogg and the surrounding communities up north are devastat ed. Corporations use employment as a leverage against the people of Idaho. Many are afraid to speak out. But so many of us want this wilderness, and we have a hard time being heard. Today we are fortunate. But don't forget, wilderness brings income from tour ists, a continuing renewable resource with relatively little impact on the environment. I'm an Idahoan by choice. Idaho's environment and people have given me inspiration, sustenance and the courage to stand up for what I believe is right. The original spirit of '76 is symbolized and embraced by our wilderness. We must preserve that wilderness, and that spirit along with it. We have our grandkids to answer to. my Thank you.