Deseret News | Group protests Redford's stand on drilling

Reader comments
Group protests Redford's stand on drilling

annoymous | 10:02 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

intresting how Robert Redford can run a ski resort, tear up mountian sides for the ski runs, and then tell the rest of us how bad we are for the environment.

I supose that if you can talk a good story then you are a good enviromentlist, and if you are poor and in need of affordable fules, you are destroying the enviroment. Shame on us for being alive.

Thinkin' Man | 10:16 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Hooray for this group! They hit the nail on the head -- attempts to restrict energy use or inflate its cost hurt the poor first, and barely affect the wealthy.

Not to mention that stifling American oil and gas development directly sends money to Venezuela, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and other countries who oppress their people and are corrupt. What do you value more, desert or people?

Tutt Tutt | 10:17 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Mr. Redford did not "tear up mountain sides for ski runs." He bought a run down old ski resort and then renovated it into a showplace that Utah can be proud of. It was environmental stewardship at its best. Shame on you for your ignorance.

Comments continue below

Western Woman | 10:22 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Mr Redford has been a true and sincere environmentalist for over 40 years and he is right to try and save Utah's Redrock Wilderness. Our beautiful country cannot be destroyed for corporate greed and gas guzzlers. Alernative fuel is the answer and I pray that in court on January 19th the Judge will make a fair decision on this matter.

Carl | 10:28 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Hey Bob,
They sell face putty, you know.

Cori Redstone, SLC UT | 10:33 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

This CORE guy is a pawn of the gas and oil companies. It is another example of creative branding for a cause. Natural gas prices are hurting low income families, however in the short term drilling will do little to alleviate the problem. Long term, relying on Natural gas to heat homes is foolish. In the long run sustainable energy resources are the ONLY WAY low income Americans will be able to afford energy costs. Mr. Redford should be commended for standing up against a corrupt system and Congressman.

Robert | 10:55 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Redford is a hypocryte. So he bought a "run down old ski resort"... If he were to act the way he preaches, he should pull down the lifts, replant the trees, tear down the lodge and remove the roads. Instead he rolls in the money, calls everyone else who wants to use the wilderness evil and gets a pass. There is nothing enviornmentally friendly about a ski resort!

I guess a "true and sincere enviornmentalist for over 40 years" is definded as someone who already has his and is going to stop everyone else from getting theirs. Typical liberal "applies to everyone else but me" logic.

Trying to raise a family | 11:10 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

My husband and I both have bachelors degrees and he is currently continuing his education. He supports my children and I by working for a gas and oil company here in the Uintah Basin. I am very grateful that we can raise our family and have a job that provides income and great benefits. He spent all that time and money getting his education and he makes more in the oilfield. I see many families that these companies support. Jobs are a good thing. It is better to have everyone working and contributing then living off welfare. They take great care in reclaiming the land and restoring it to its original condition. Rules and regulations are in place to ensure this is properly done. They are closely monitored. I love this area and wouldn't want to see it ruined. I can truly say it is beautiful and we enjoy it everyday. Please know that by stopping the gas and oil development many families and communities will be hurt tremendously.

Sundance | 11:25 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

I'm not sure Sundance rolls in the money as much as you think.

I find it | 11:37 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

interesting that all these rich people are so "for the environment" and so out of touch of the rest of the people, their neighbor, brother, sister, other human beings. At what point are they going to get it (probably never) that PEOPLE and their livelihoods are more important. Yes, we shouldn't be desimating our planet, but lets get some balance here! You can save the planet without driving up all the prices and taking jobs away!!!!! Robert: care about PEOPLE, balance this "cause."

C.w. | 11:51 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

At last someone is stepping up to the plate to explain the real cost of NOT drilling. When energy prices skyrocket the first ones hurt are those who don't have quite as much money or friends in high places as Redford. When and if the enviro-nuts ever build all the solar panels and windturbines that they need, and can supply SOME of the rest of us with this environmentally "safe" power, then, and only then, should we scale back on traditional energy production!
By the way, I'm old enough to remember the "rundown ski resort" that Redford so graciously developed into a multi-million dollar environmental blister, so anyone who believes Redford has done anything for anyone but himself is seriously deluded. I used to camp where Sundance, etc. is 45 or 50 years ago, and I can't recall quite as many homes, or roads up there that seem to be present now!
Also, while we're at it, anybody ever imagined how ugly thousands of wind turbines are to the landscape?
Kudos to ANY group who will stand up to the enviro-nuts.
BTW: what got stuck up Provo Canyon beginning 40 yrs. ago is NOT "environmental stewardship".

Great Quote | 12:53 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

"lust for environmental headlines" is that the best quote of the year or what?

Robert Redford | 1:19 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Green Bobby has destroyed some of the most beautiful and pristine wilderness in the Western United States. He has thoughtlessly bulldozed countless trees, shrubs and other native plants and driven scores of wildlife, large and small, from their rightful homes in developing and ever-expanding his mountain resort.

Flowers, deer and moose have been replaced with concrete, steel and asphalt.

Annual emissions from his mega resort and other related activities, such as the Sundance Film Festival, are many times greater than all of us will emit in our entire life times.

Bob, if you really care about the environment, restore the mountain and move your film festival to the San Fernando Valley.

C.w. | 1:47 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

You're right "western woman" Redford has been an "environmentalist" for over 40 years. . .Right after he built his own home right in the middle of the most beautiful canyon in the state and began subdividing it!
Thats a good time to become "born again" - right after he's gotten his!

Can you say elitist snobs or environmental hippocrites?

Take your pick, both labels apply!

@Tutt Tutt 10:17 | 1:54 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Environmental Stewardship would have been to tear down the aging ski run and LEAVE THE LAND ALONE!! THAT would have been real environmental stewardship.

Redford is also stealing | 4:03 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

. . . from the Utah school trust by blocking drilling on state trust lands. That takes money from the pockets of every one of us.

And it hits poor kids particularly hard.

They already can't afford college. Soon high school will be out of reach.

Whether oil from Utah ever makes us less dependent of foreign oil or not, when Redford and his socialist environmental buddies block development of a lucrative resource on state lands, they are stealing our children's education.

Even if Bob offered (which he hasn't), not even he makes enough money to make up that difference.

Paul | 4:26 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

There is so much natural gas development going on here in the Uintah Basin that it is hard to feel bad if a few places are special enough to not have a well pad put there. Sure, allow drilling, but drill in places where it makes sense. Leave a bit of Utah alone for the rest of us that live here.

Helopilot | 4:27 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

I don't understand. We have National Parks, National Monuments, National Study Areas, Set-Aside areas. etc, ALL WITH SPECIFIC BOUNDARIES. No drilling, no roads, no nothing in those areas. They're protected. Now, comes the environmental lefties who say "we also don't want anything happening in areas NEARBY or ADJACENT TO the boundaries. Next, they will be taking a stand on areas near the areas that are next to the boundaries, and pretty soon they will run out of their "adjacent areas." Why do we even have park boundaries? Those people had all the input in the world when the boundaries were set, now they want to set them again - just to suit their agenda. Let them either shut up or make new boundaries, but leave the established lines alone.

suzyk | 4:40 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

To Annonymous..Go for it...these actors and actresses really think they are on a pedestal and can do anything they want. Good for you...wish I was living back in Utah and I would help you stop him. they don't care about anyone but themselves. It has been proven over and over again. Unfortunately it is the fans that have fueled the fire for their popularity. They leave a lot to be desired as far as most of them are in my estimation. Most of the good entertainers have died and gone on. I hope you are able to accomplish your goal but stopping Redford.

Re: Helopilot | 5:22 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Go read about National Parks. Establishing such a park affects more than just the land within its boundaries. They pretty much affect anything that can be viewed from within their boundaries. It has been that way since, well, forever.

Tony | 5:26 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Thank you Mr. Redford, he is standing up in UT for just as BLM prostesters have done. He is trying to prevent a catastrophe as opposed to always fixing one. He is no different than the LDS church flexing it's muscles on views of its own. End the greed and keep the green!

jgma ts | 5:48 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Wondered how long it would take to mention LDS.
Not matter what the article is about it eventually
happens.

Wildman | 5:59 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Can someone define "Green" for me? Cause to me green means to protect the environment. Not just the air and not just the water and the soil. In order for us to be green we need to stop buying and producing anything electronic, cars, motorcycles, ATVs, boats, etc. We will have to walk or have horses. Although the horses will not be able to shoes on their feet and we need to stop manufacturing anything plastic or rubber. No steel or any other metal. No more mining, just farming with no chemicals. I don't think that many of use are willing to go backwards to that style of living. We use many toxic chemicals to enhance our lifestyle and we are no willing to pay the price. I will be happy to have a "fuel cell" SUV but it needs to have a sealed electric motor because I have been known to have crossed many streams and river in the back country and I don't want to be stranded out there. Especially because it hurts so much to walk very far since my knees have gotten arthritic.

lol...go green? | 7:38 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

EnviroNUTS...going green? is that what you call an oxymoron? I bet REDFORD produces more waste than he protests.

green | 9:06 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

green means money. It always has and always will. Dosen't matter which side you are on. It always comes down to green. Red is making green some way or another just like all the rest. Happy new year to all and to all red green or anything a good night.

Geezer | 7:36 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009

The Deseret News should have said CORE is a right-wing group. It has nothing in common with civil rights groups such as the NAACP.

Dave | 7:45 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009

"Let them eat cake".

Anonymous | 8:47 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009

to the children of utah ( meaning most so called
adult's in that state ) grow up.

CORE this. | 9:56 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009

CORE must all be socialist, wanting government to care for them. We do need eviornmental controls regardless of needs for waste. We need more high profile individuals taking an interest in our country and our enviornment. Money seems to be the only excuse to destroy and disfigure our country. Oil and gas companies are not renound for not caring about the enviornment they destroy. If the individuals are so concerned about Utah and our education system whe don't the get active in forcing illegals out of the education system and Utah. They, being the majority of the so called poor, already get state subsdies for heating thier dwellings and can't be used to instigate rampant destruction of land and environment. Redford is right, we need these restrictions and controls on exploration and drilling by irresponsible oil companies. They don't promise jobs, taxes, oil, or any benefits to Utah or workers. They are temporary visitors looking for people and states to expoloit and don't have to live in the aftermath of what they create. These oil companies already have permits and areas to explore they haven't used yet. They are shopping for free land whether they use it or not.

God bless Robert Redford | 10:01 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009

Redford is a truly great man. Through his efforts he has brought hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars into the state of Utah. The posters (and posers) who comment here have done nothing to benefit the state but instead express anger that they can't continue to waste their children's future by guzzling as much oil as they can before they exit this planet. God bless Redford and all those who try to protect the irreplaceable and fragile beauty of nature!

KansasGirl | 10:14 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009

This man is wrong about Obama. Obama states he would make building power plants so expensive, that they wouldn't be built. So take that. Happy New Year.

Thinkin' Man | 9:10 p.m. Jan. 1, 2009

We already have history to judge the merits of developing natural resources versus putting them off-limits. The influence of environmental extremists like Redford is why America sends such massive amounts of money to unfriendly countries, and has periodic energy shortages and price spikes. It's Redford and like-minded pals that are directly to blame. Try to deny it.

Aldo | 9:40 p.m. Jan. 1, 2009

James Farmer was a cofounder of CORE, who resigned in the 70's due to his disagreement with the direction it was taking.
According to an interview given by him in 1993, "CORE has no functioning chapters; it holds no conventions, no elections, no meetings, sets no policies, has no social programs and does no fund-raising. In my opinion, CORE is fraudulent."
It seems to me that he is a tool for the energy side of this argument. If Redford is a tool for the environmentalist side, I'd at least say he is well-grounded in the issue.
Thinkin' Man, think again. Even if we blitz out every single deposit of hydrocarbons in Utah in the next decade or two, we're still going to be in deep doo-doo at the end of it, because THEY ARE NON-RENEWABLE. We are going to have to change; I'd like the change to occur somewhere this side of sacrificing everything else we hold dear on the altar of fossil fuel development.

To Hollywood Pretty Boy | 10:06 a.m. Jan. 2, 2009

An environmentalist is someone that already has built their home in the wilderness they seek to protect. When you have millions it is easy to tell others not to worry about fuel prices and the reality of getting a job.

wayne | 5:16 p.m. Jan. 2, 2009

I'm sick and tired of these so called environmentalists witholding our resources to drive up the prices.

These nuts have been around for too long, and it's time we had politicians with enough guts to stand up to those idiots.

Just figure if the Sierra Club or some movie actors are against something---then it is probably a good thing!

Uncle Sam | 7:52 a.m. Jan. 26, 2009

Redford is just another hollywood hypocrite socialist enviro whacko. The enviromental movement is just a guise, and socialism is the true agenda.

The modern environmental movement arose out of the wreckage of the New Left. They call themselves Green because they're too yellow to admit they're really Reds. Why else do you think Lenin's birthday was chosen to be the date of Earth Day. Global warming has taken the place of Communism as an absurdity that "liberals" will defend to the death regardless of the evidence showing its folly. Evidence never has mattered to real Leftists

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened."
ï¿½ Norman Thomas, American socialist

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