Corporations Confronted for Roles in Snowbowl Human Rights Violations – CALL TO ACTION!

From www.protectthepeaks.org

TAKE ACTION HERE : http://protectthepeaks.org/stop-expansion-desecration-of-the-san-francisco-peaks-take-action-call-in-cause-we-aint-gonna-give-in/

Read the Towsley Deman Letter here: http://protectthepeaks.org/towsley-demand-letter/

Corporations Confronted for Roles in Snowbowl Human Rights Violations

Call to Action: Call-in! Don’t Give-in! Week June 18 – 22

FLAGSTAFF, AZ – On June 15, 2012, more than 20 Flagstaff community members holding banners and signs delivered a letter to RSC Equipment Rentals and their parent company, Stronger United, requesting an immediate halt of construction and withdrawal of their contracts with Arizona Snowbowl.
The actions taken today are part of a coordinated effort to address contractors complicit in Arizona Snowbowl’s destruction and desecration of the San Francisco Peaks.  Similar letters were delivered to Towsley Welding & Construction in Big Bear, CA and to High Desert Investment Company in Flagstaff, AZ.

Toby Manuelito, 10-year-old Diné youth, read aloud a letter of demands after management refused to meet with him. As he read the community’s statement, Toby and the other community members were rudely interrupted and verbally harassed by employees. Toby chanted as he left the building, “When our human rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!”

After presenting a letter requesting RSC and Stronger United’s support for human rights in Northern Arizona, community members gathered on the sidewalk, holding banners and chanting. An employee approached the group requesting they leave the area, and then made a number of racist remarks, demanding the group that if they were so concerned about sanitation, they should “go back to the reservation and tell everyone to clean their yards.” The employee then pushed Toby Manuelito before leaving.

Flagstaff resident James Kennedy stated, “It is shocking to receive such a hostile and disrespectful response from this well known company. I guess its no surprise that a company furthering Snowbowl’s efforts would make such a racist remark about indigenous people to Diné children.”

A representative of RSC Equipment Rentals (Stronger United) identified Snowbowl as the company’s “biggest client.” Much of the equipment and heavy machinery used in Snowbowl’s construction operations has been supplied by RSC, a nationwide corporation.

Leslynn Williams, Dine’ mother, stated, “ It’s important that we continue to fight for our sacred Holy mountain, our future generations depend on our efforts to protect the Peaks. Today, our culture and mother earth are under attack on all levels by greedy corporations, from the stripping away of our water rights by corporations like Salt River Project, Navajo Generating Station, to the desecration of our sacred sites. We have to take a stand now and take action today.”

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Stop Expansion & Desecration of the San Francisco Peaks

TAKE ACTION: Call-In! Cause we ain’t gonna Give-in!

(Below is a short/simple guide to help you get started.  Please feel free to state those facts/points that you feel are most important to you.  If you would like more talking points, please visit www.ProtectThePeaks.org)

Hello, my name is ___________ and I am a resident of ____________.
I am calling to ask that your company immediately halt all construction on the (sacred) San Francisco Peaks and withdraw your contract with Snowbowl.

(Company name here) is committing gross Human Rights violations against diverse communities of Flagstaff and surrounding areas.  Your participation in the expansion of Snowbowl Ski Resort threatens the very health and safety of our communities, the environment, the homes of endangered species and our water security.

To the 13 Indigenous Nations that hold this mountain sacred, you are an accomplice in cultural genocide.
To the children who will accidentally eat the snow, you are risking their health and their lives.
And to the fragile alpine ecosystem already under duress, you are committing irreparable harm and death.
You are not absolved of your responsibility. Immediately halt all construction and withdraw your contract with Snowbowl! As long as your involvement continues, we are committed to protecting our communities.

————————————- Contact the following companies! ———————————–

Towsley Welding & Construction
1 (800) 552-5177 (office)
(909) 866-0600 (shop)
snomaking@aol.com
Fax: (909) 585.7902

High Desert Investment Company
(928) 774-9111
Fax: (928) 774-9113
hdico1@qwestoffice.net

RSC (Parent Company is Stronger United)
(928) 526.2823
Fax: (928) 526-6815