On Saturday, April 8, I went to a daylong conference called Saving Special Places. It was New Hampshire's annual land conservation conference, and took place at Prospect Mountain High School in Alton.
Why did I go? When it was advertised in midwinter, it was noted that the keynote speaker at the conference was to be Terry Tempest Williams. She is an award-winning environmentalist writer/poet from Utah who has written extensively about the value of wilderness. I used to own a few books of hers, and they affected me. Once in 1996, Bill Clinton was dedicating a new national monument in Utah. He held up a book co-written by Williams called "Testimony: Writers speak on Behalf of Utah Wilderness." He said: "This book made a difference." Williams poetic vision of the value of place has made a difference to many worldwide.
kAmx H2?E65 E@ D66 96C 2?5 962C 96C DA62<] $@ =2DE H66<[ x 42CA@@=65 E@ E96 4@?76C6?46] |2?J 7C@> r2CC@== r@F?EJ 2EE6?565]k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmxE EFC?D @FE E92E =2?5 4@?D6CG2E:@?:DED 7C@> 2== @G6C }6H w2>AD9:C6 92G6 366? 8@:?8 E@ E9:D 2??F2= 4@?76C6?46 7@C 2 =@?8E:>6] %92E :D[ A6@A=6 :? =2?5 ECFDED[ 4@?D6CG2E:@? 4@>>:DD:@?D[ A=2??:?8 3@2C5D[ 7@C6DE6CD[ 2EE@C?6JD 2?5 >@C6] %96 4@?76C6?46 92D 366? 92AA6?:?8 7@C `e J62CD] %@52J[ :E :D CF? 3J E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6 r@@A6C2E:G6 tIE6?D:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 <6J?@E6 255C6DD 3J (:==:2>D H2D 2E b A]>] q67@C6 E92E[ DE2CE:?8 2E h 2]>][ b_ H@C<D9@AD H6C6 @776C65 :? E9C66 D6DD:@?D] %96 6IA6CE DA62<6CD H6C6 G@=F?E66CD] %96J H6C6 @776C65 2 7C66 A2DD E@ E96 4@?76C6?46 2?5 H@C<D9@AD[ H9:49 :?4=F565 2 56=:4:@FD 9@E =F?49 2?5 C67C6D9>6?ED] %9:D 92D H@C<65 H6== 7@C `e J62CD]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE H@C<D9@A x A:4<65 H2D A6C92AD E96 =62DE AC24E:42= @?6 :? E6C>D @7 =2?5 4@?D6CG2E:@?] xE H2D 6?E:E=65 Q%C2?D:E:@?:?8 E@ 2 $A:C:EF2==J t4@=@8:42= r:G:=:K2E:@?]Q x? D9@CE[ :E H2D 72D4:?2E:?8]k^Am
kAm%96C6 H6C6 EH@ DA62<6CD] %96 7:CDE H2D #@86C qFC<92CE[ 2 C6E:C65 &?:E2C:2? >:?:DE6C 2?5 72C>6C 7C@> #@496DE6C] %96 @E96C H2D y@9? r2CC@==[ 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?D6CG2E:@? AC@76DD@C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6 7@C c_ J62CD] q@E9 6>A92D:K65 =:G:?8 H:E9:? t2CE9VD AC@46DD6D C2E96C E92? 36:?8 D6A2C2E6 7C@> E96>] (92E 92AA6?D E@ ?2EFC6[ 92AA6?D E@ FD] q@E9 E2=<65 23@FE =@42= 28C:4F=EFC6 EC2?D7@C>:?8 7@@5]k^Am
kAm%9@>2D q6CCJVD E6C> t4@K@:4 tC2 H2D 567:?65] xE >62?D H6 2C6 6?E6C:?8 2 ?6H 86@=@8:4 6C2 H96C6 9F>2?D =:G6 :? 2 >FEF2==J 6?92?4:?8 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 t2CE9 2?5 :ED 4@>>F?:E:6D] qFC<92CE DF886DE65 E92E :E H@F=5 E2<6 a__ J62CD 7C@> E@52J E@ 24EF2=:K6 E9:D]k^Am
kAmu665324< 2?5 BF6DE:@?D 7C@> E96 6IA6C:6?465 2F5:6?46 H2D 6IE6?D:G6] x 82E96C65 E92E @?6 A:G@E2= A@:?E H2D 9@H >F49 A6@A=6 G2=F6 36:?8 A2CE @7 2 4@>>F?:EJ] (92E 2C6 H6 H:==:?8 E@ 5@ 2?5 A6C92AD D24C:7:46 7@C E96 36EE6C>6?E @7 2==n x DF886DE65 E92E E96C6 2C6 @442D:@?2= 52C< E:>6D[ =:<6 H:E9 E@52JVD 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ 3FE E92E E96 Q8C62E EFC?:?8Q E@H2C5D DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 4@?E:?F6D] qFC<92CE C6DA@?565 E92E E9:D :D =:<6 D66:?8 E96 DE2CD :? E96 52C<?6DD @7 ?:89E]k^Am
kAm~? E96 >@C6 5@H? E@ 62CE9 =6G6= @7 EC66D[ =2<6D 2?5 >@F?E2:?D[ r2CC@== E2=<65 23@FE E96 H@C< @7 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 96C@ p=5@ {6@A@=5] x? E96 Q$2?5 r@F?EJ p=>2?24Q {6@A@=5 >6?E:@?D 2 36?49 E@ D:E @? @FE :? ?2EFC6[ 7C@> H9:49 @?6 42? @3D6CG6 :? 2 BF:6E H2J[ 2?5 23D@C3 2== E92E 42? 36 A6C46:G65]k^Am
kAmu@C 2 =@?8 E:>6[ E9:D H@@56? 36?49 56D:8? 92D 366? 42==65 2 {6@A@=5 36?49] Q$:EE:?8 BF:6E=J @? 2 36?49 @FE :? ?2EFC6 4@F=5 36 42==65 2 C6G@=FE:@?2CJ 24E[Q D2:5 r2CC@==] Q%96D6 36?496D 42? 96=A 8:G6 FD 7@CE:EF56 E@ AC@E64E 2?5 >2:?E2:? @FC =@42= 2?5 8=@32= 64@DJDE6>]Qk^Am
kAm{2E6C[ x v@@8=65 2 {6@A@=5 q6?49] x C64@8?:K65 :E :>>65:2E6=J[ 2D x @?46 D2H @?6 @? E96 D9@C6 @7 2 =2<6 :? r2CC@== r@F?EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6IE H@C<D9@A x 2EE6?565 H2D 42==65 Q&D:?8 u@C6DE #@25D 2D(:=5=:76 — (2E49:?8 #64C62E:@?2= %C2:=DQ 3J {:?5D2J (633 @7 E96 }]w] u:D9 2?5 v2>6] xE H2D >2:?=J 7@4FD65 @? =2?5@H?6CD H9@ 2C6 564:5:?8 23@FE E:>36C >2?286>6?E 2?5 4FEE:?8[ 2?5 A=2??:?8 =@88:?8 C@25D E92E 42? 36 G6CJ FD67F= 27E6CH2C5D 7@C C64C62E:@?]k^Am
kAmp=D@ 7@C6DE C@25D E92E 2=C625J 6I:DE 92G6 8C62E A@E6?E:2=] %96:C FD67F=?6DD :D :?4C62D:?8] wF?E:?8 :D @?6 FD6] (633 D2:5 E92E 9F?E6CD 2?5 E96 =2?5D42A6 2C6 492?8:?8] %96C6 :D =6DD 2446DD 7@C 9F?E6CD] wF?E6CD 92G6 =6DD E:>6 E@ DA6?5 :? E96 H@@5D[ 92G:?8 H@C< 2?5 @3=:82E:@?D 6=D6H96C6] %96J 2C6 2=D@ @=56C[ 2?5 5@?VE H2?E E@ DA6?5 2 =@E @7 677@CE 86EE:?8 E@ 2 A=246 E@ 9F?E[ @C 2 A=246 H96C6 :E H@F=5 36 5:77:4F=E E@ 6IEC24E 2 566C] u@C6DE C@25D H@C<k^Am
kAmp=D@[ 4@??64E:?8 D68>6?ED @7 H:=5 =2?5D 7@C H:=5=:76 >@G6>6?E :D 2 >2DD:G6 A2CE @7 E@52JVD =2?5 AC6D6CG2E:@? 677@CED] ~=5 2?5 ?6H 7@C6DE C@25D 2C6 2? :?E68C2= A2CE E9:D 4@??64E:G:EJ] (633 DF886DE65 A6@A=6 =@@< FA 2? @C82?:K2E:@? 42==65 E96 $E2J:?8 r@??64E65 x?:E:2E:G6 WDE2J:?84@??64E65:?:E:2E:G6]@C8X]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 2 56=:4:@FD =F?49 @7 =2D28?2 2?5 r26D2C D2=25[ 2?5 4@??64E:?8 H:E9 @E96CD 7C@> E96 }@CE9 r@F?ECJ[ E96 ?6IE H@C<D9@AD 4@?G6?65] x H6?E E@ @?6 42==65 Qr@?D6CG2E:@? (C:E:?8[Q CF? 3J E96 AF3=:D96C @7 }@CE96C? (@@5=2?5D |282K:?6 2?5 2 ?2EFC6 4@?D6CG2?4J AF3=:4:EJ @77:4:2=] |F49 @7 :E H2D 23@FE 9@H 7@=<D 7C@> 2 4@?D6CG2E:@? @C82?:K2E:@?[ 2 D49@@= @C HC:E6C H@F=5 2AAC@249 2 AF3=:42E:@? E@ 86E E96:C 244@>A=:D9>6?ED 2?5 E96:C HC:E:?8 :? AC:?E] %96 25G:46 8:G6? 4@F=5 2AA=J E@ 2?J DF3;64E[ E92E :D[ E9:?<:?8 23@FE H92E E96 AF3=:D96CVD ?665D 2C6] z?@H E96 AF3=:42E:@?] p=D@ H92E >2<6D E96 DE@CJ 6I4:E:?8n $@>6E:>6D E96 >@DE 4@>A6==:?8 E9:?8 4@F=5 36 E96 =62DE @3G:@FD] p=D@[ :?E6CG:6HD 2C6 8C62E]k^Am
kAmpE aicd 2== 962565 E@ E96 2F5:E@C:F>] %96C6 H2D 2 3C:67 :?EC@5F4E:@? 3J p>2?52 $E@?6[ H9@[ 2=@?8 H:E9 @E96C &}w r@@A6C2E:G6 tIE6?D:@? 7@=<D[ DE2CED A=2??:?8 E96 ?6IE $2G:?8 $A64:2= !=246D r@?76C6?46 6249 $6AE6>36C]k^Am
kAm%96? (:==:2>D 42>6 @? DE286] u@C `_ J62CD[ D96 92D E2F89E 2E s2CE>@FE9 r@==686[ 2?5 7@C 96C[ 4@>:?8 62DE :D 2=H2JD 2 C6;FG6?2E:@?] $96 7:?5D 4@?D6CG2E:@? 677@CED :? E96 62DE :?DA:C:?8] ~FE H6DE[ E96C6 2C6 =2C86 EC24ED :? 52?86C[ DF49 2D E96 q62CD t2CD }2E:@?2= |@?F>6?E]k^Am
kAm$96 :D @7 E96 86?6C2E:@? @7 t5H2C5 p336J[ $E6H2CE &52== 2?5 {25J q:C5 y@9?D@?] $96 H2D 6DA64:2==J :>AC6DD65 H:E9 y@9?D@?[ H9@[ 27E6C =:DE6?:?8 E@ 2 C625:?8 (:==:2>D 5:5 23@FE 4@?D6CG:?8 2 A=246[ {25J q:C5 D2:5[ Qq62FE:7F= H@C5D[ ?@H E6== >6 H9J :E >2EE6CD]Qk^Am
kAm$96 42==65 E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:? }2E:@?2= u@C6DE D24C65 =2?5] $96 2D<65 E96 2F5:6?46 9@H E@ AC@?@F?46 |@F?E |@@D:=2F<6] x? E96 DAC:?8 D96 8@6D E@ s2CE>@FE9VD |@@D:=2F<6 {@586 H:E9 DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAmp3@FE D2G:?8 =2?5D[ D96 C646?E=J 7@F?5 @FE E92E ;FDE 27E6C E96 q2EE=6 @7 v6EEJD3FC8[ 2 =2?5 8C2?E 24E D2G65 *@D6>:E6] p? :?E6C6DE:?8 AC@8C6DD:@?[ 2?5 A2CE @7 2? 6G@=G:?8 :562] p3@FE 2?J 7@C> @7 5:D4C:>:?2E:@? E@52J[ D96 D2:5j QxE 42? ?@ =@?86C 36 23@FE E96 4@=@C @7 D<:?[ 3FE E96 4@=@C @7 3=@@5]Qk^Am
kAm"F@E:?8 E96 DA:C:EF2= HC:E6C z2C6? pC>DEC@?8[ D96 D2:5 4@>A2DD:@? :D 2? 24E[ ?@E 2? 6>@E:@?] xE :D 5:D4@>7@CE[ D24C65 5:D4@>7@CE[ 2?5 ?66565 E@52J 2D H6 C2==J 2?5 >@C6 7@CH2C5]k^Am
kAm$96 >6?E:@?65 E96 56E2:=D @7 D2G:?8 2 D>2== G2==6J @FE H6DE] *6E 96C E2=< H2D =62?:?8 >@C6 E@H2C5D A@6ECJ 2?5 :?DA:C2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 2F5:6?46 H2D 2EE6?E:G6]k^Am
kAm%96? D96 F?6IA64E65=J A=2J65 2 ?6H C64@C5:?8 @7 2 C6\4@>A@D:E:@? @7 ':G2=5:VD u@FC $62D@?D 3J |2I #:49E6C] (:E9 @FC >:?5D 2=C625J 7F== @7 8C66? G2==6JD 2?5 >@F?E2:?D[ E96 >FD:4 AFE E9@D6 A=246D E@ D@F?5]k^Am
kAmu:?2==J D96 D2:5 23@FE =2?5 ECFDED 2?5 4@?D6CG2E:@?[ QxE :D 23@FE =@G6]Qk^Am
kAm%96C6 H2D 2 DE2?5:?8 @G2E:@?] x H2D >@G65 E@ 8@ @G6C E@ 96C] x D2:5 E92E D96 5:5?VE <?@H >6 3FE x <?6H 96C] x 2D<65 7@C 2 9F8] $96 82G6 >6 @?6]k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAm k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.