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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 19940
[Action/Protest]
Date Posted:
8/20/2008
4:59:49 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 5,691
RSS: 7,235
Comments: 5
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The Magnolia Watchers
Author: Jon Elliston Source: Mountain Xpress News (NC)
Title: THE MAGNOLIA WATCHERS
No one seems to know exactly how long the magnolia tree has graced City/County Plaza, a stone’s throw from the Asheville City Building. Based on old photos, most interested parties have guesstimated it to be more than 100 years old.
Predicting the date of the magnolia’s demise entails a more precise calculus, aided by a pledge from the man who may have the most to say about the matter. On Aug. 5, developer Stewart Coleman, who says he plans to build the Parkside condominium project on the land where the magnolia now resides, handed a letter to Steve Rasmussen, one of the activists leading the drive to stop Parkside and save the tree.
The letter laid down a timeline, asserting, “The magnolia tree will be removed sometime after 35 days from today’s date.”
In the meantime, Rasmussen and his wife, Dixie Deerman, are keeping a round-the-clock vigil at the tree (except for shower, food and bathroom breaks), joined on many days by Asheville resident Clare Hanrahan. Rasmussen and Deerman are devotees of the Wiccan faith, serving as priest and priestess of Coven Oldenwilde. Hanrahan, a veteran social-justice crusader who logged prison time for her activism against the U.S. Army School of the Americas (now the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation), keeps a digital diary of her tree-side watch on her blog: http://www.ashevilleontheground.blogspot.com.
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Community Thoughts: There are 5 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Doesn't Matter | Aug 21st. at 11:34:57 am EDT
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Silverfang (St. Clair Shores, Michigan) - Email Me
Even though the magnolia tree is not endangered, there can be no harm in trying to keep it from being cut down. For the sake of everything holy, it's survived for 100 years!!! Trees produce, not just oxygen for us to breathe, but a sense of nature in the big cities and a calmness normally absent in our busy lives.
Does anyone else feel calmer driving in the country where trees and other wildlife are present? Or feel nervous when they drive by a place where many trees once stood and are now gone? I know I do, but sometimes I wonder if I'm alone in those feelings.
I consider all life to be sacred, and consider trees, plants, and wildlife a part of that. I'm no vegetarian, which may sound hypocritical, but I love a piece of steak as much as the next girl. Nor am I one of the extreme environmentalists, though I am friends with some. If the land where the magnolia tree stands was donated to be a park it should remain a park. Not be bulldozed over to become condos. Anyone remember how Coruscant looked in the Star Wars movies? Seems like we may be heading toward that.
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| I Fear It's Already Too Late.. | Aug 21st. at 9:27:25 am EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
I feel for the tree, but if it's in a city, it is already doomed because the city will decide what it wants to do no matter what. After all, they don't have any problem in declaring eminent domain on people, why should a tree be any different. Until those who actually care about their environment beyond the almighty coin of the realm can get voted into office, we shall always have to deal with the glaring lack of ethics in our National, state and local govenments.
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| Different Callings.... | Aug 21st. at 8:25:57 am EDT
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Lady Luna Dreamer (Ithaca, New York) - Email Me
Some of us are called to work globally and some are called to work locally. Yes, there are some things that could be considered more important but, protecting our own little corner of the world is of value too. Sometimes we need a break from the larger duties to focus on the communities in which we live. Blessings!
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| This A Case | Aug 20th. at 7:55:30 pm EDT
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Dennis Deal (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) - Email Me
that really goes beyond a tree. This is a greedy city council in cohoots with a land developer. The land was donated to the city to be a park, but becuase the mans family is no where in sight to make sure that there deadrealtives wishes are adhered to. The city council feels free to do what ever it wants to. Lovely got to love a greedy council to do the wrong thing regardles of ethics, morality, or even decent human compassion.
But hey they're politcians silly me thinking any of that has any place in that world.....
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| Misdirected Energy | Aug 20th. at 7:27:49 pm EDT
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Finn (San Marcos, Texas) - Email Me
I am going to come off cold, but I think this is the most wasteful display of energy. This is a Magnolia tree. It is not endangered. In fact, it thrives. Where is all this activism when I'm chaining myself to old growth, threatened trees in wilderness areas? There is such a thing as selecting the important battles. The Magnolia does NOT represent all trees. The ancient, threatened trees don't need representation by a Magnolia in a town. They need people working to save them and the habitats they make up.
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