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Monday, January 28, 2008

A victory for the birds, and the people

Yesterday's Raleigh News & Observer ran a terrific story on last week's surprise victory by the grassroots movement fighting the U.S. Navy's plans to build an outlying landing field for fighter jets in one rural Eastern North Carolina community. The OLF was to be sited near critical habitat for migrating water fowl, and on land farmed by families for generations. Reporter Jerry Allegood recounted how OLF opponents met in farm garages, raised money at pig pickings, and drove to rallies in tractor convoys. As No-OLF leader Doris Morris told the paper:
"We would just sit around the table and try to come up with ideas about what to do and how to do it," Morris said. "We were often told we were not following protocol, but we were fighting with all our hearts and souls."
It's an inspiring story, and that inspiration is needed -- because as a leader of the N.C. Coastal Federation points out, the battle to keep the OLF out of other rural Eastern North Carolina communities will continue.

(Photo from Citizens Against OLF.)

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CHRIS KROMM blogs three days a week for Facing South. Chris is Executive Director of the Institute for Southern Studies and publisher of the Institute’s award-winning magazine, Southern Exposure.

SUE STURGIS blogs four days a week for Facing South. Sue is the Institute’s Editorial Director and a former reporter for The Independent Weekly and The Raleigh News & Observer.

DESIREE EVANS blogs four days a week for Facing South. Desiree is a Research Associate at the Institute and former policy analyst for TransAfrica.

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