Forest Service closes area to Rainbow (Family)

[davidinalameda]

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2005061537

Forest Service officers changed policies Wednesday, denying entrance to an area of the Monongahela National Forest where the counter-culture, loose-knit Rainbow Family plans to gather in the week prior to July 4.

“The new direction is they’re turning everyone around,” said Steve Stine, spokesman for the national Forest Service’s Incident Command Team.

That’s starting to worry State Police, who don’t want to deal with thousands of people camping along roadways.

[Mistress Quickly]

1. Reason given:

Forest Service officials want the Rainbow Family to go to another site, saying the one chosen — along the Glady Fork of the Cheat River near Sully — is too environmentally sensitive. Stine said there are two species of endangered bats living in caves in the area and some other endangered plants.

Instead, they have proposed the group — which could be as large as 18,000 or as small as 7,000 based on whose estimate is used — camp in an area in southern Randolph County near Durbin, or an area in northern Pocahontas County near Slatyfork.

end snip<<<

They'v found another place for them.

[HuckleB]

2. OK, then.

Maybe this is actually a legitimate decision.

I hope so.

[davidinalameda]

3. doubtful

http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2005061630/

U.S. Forest Service officers are now denying entrance to everyone trying to get into an area of the Monongahela National Forest where the counterculture Rainbow Family plans to gather in the week prior to July 4.

Officers previously had been turning away only those obviously heading to the event.

The forest service cited about 70 alleged Rainbow members Tuesday for attempting to camp without getting a noncommercial permit, which is required for groups of more than 74.

[meganmonkey]

4. And the 'permit' was created specifically for Rainbow gatherings

to my understanding - I used to go to gatherings quite often and it was an ongoing issue. But generally, the Forest Service backed down and let the gathering go forward. The problem is, no one is 'in charge' of Rainbow gatherings, so no one will sign a permit. It's a catch-22.

National Forests are public land. We have the right to camp on this land. The Rainbows work very hard at being respectful of the land, and hundreds of folks hang around after most of the people have left to clean-up - not just trash, but also to re-seed trails as needed, make sure the campsites and fire pits are properly covered/spread out/etc. They work with the forest service to do this appropriately.

IF the forest service has a legitimate concern about environmental sensitivity, the Rainbows will respect that and move their site. I have seen this happen. If they are just being obstructionist, the Rainbows will stay where they are. And once the 10,000-20,000 people show up for the main week of the gathering, well, they can't arrest everyone ;)

[earthboundmisfit]

5. I went to gatherings in the '70s (first husband was one of the originals)

and the Rainbows do not just pick a spot for the Gathering at random and have thousands of people just plop down bedrolls & tipis. Months of research & preparation by volunteers go into the location of a Gathering site. They study all possible impacts to a site from environmental concerns to interactions with local residents before a site is agreed upon. After the Gathering is over, a large group of volunteers stays for as long as necessary (even months) to make sure the area is back to its pre-Gathering condition.
I hope to go to another Gathering someday - it is a wonderful experience, and the rainbow which appears in the sky at the Om circle high noon July 4th is just magical.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. The permit requirement is blatantly unconstitutional. The right

to freely assemble isn't contingent on a permit.

Next we will need a permit to write a letter to the editor....

[SouthernDem2004]

13. You are mistaken. Permits are required at almost any public area.

[John Q. Citizen]

14. Yes, just as free speech zones are required in many public areas,

but they are both unconstitutional.

[SouthernDem2004]

15. Not according to the Supreme Court.

Peace

[John Q. Citizen]

24. Wasn't that the bunch who said blacks are 3/5 of a citizen?

And that recounts are unconstitutional but only in Florida in 2000?


Peace to you too, my friend.

[dgocracker]

6. Gatherings don't harm land

I am from Montana and when they had the gathering up there they did a study the next year and found that in one year the area had made a 100% recovery. There was no evidence 12,000 camped there. I went to the gathering in Idaho the next year where salmon protection was an issue. They had signs everywhere telling you only to get water from one specific place in the creek and not let your dogs play in the stream. The Forest Service is mad because they can't do anything about the gathering, but their concerns are unwarrented.

[meganmonkey]

8. Thanks for your post and WELCOME TO DU!!!

:toast:

[On the Road]

9. Welcome, DGOcracker!

:toast:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

11. Gatherings do harm species.

Anyone who's ever worked in spotted owl territory during mating season can tell you how important it is to leave them alone. 12,000 people in one place is *never* a quiet thing.

[dgocracker]

12. Rainbow people are special people

who do much less damage then ordinary people. Plus they pick the site carefully. If they had a gathering in spotted owl country during mating season I would be more than suprised.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. Oh, please.

"Special people."

That's such bullshit. Look, I've dealt with these guys before. Most of them are good. Some of them are NOT. It's the same with any large group. I've seen them come into areas without any deep understanding of the ecology, and it's always been a goddamn uphill battle to explain that picking up your trash is not 100% of being a responsible steward of the environment. And I've personally kicked Rainbow people off a nature preserve during spotted owl mating season, so I actually know what I'm talking about. Granted, they were very understanding of the situation, but the fact remains that even a basic understanding of the ecological situation at that particular place would have given them enough information to know that it was wrong to be there. I grow tired of good intentions being weighted more positively than good actions.

[WhiteTara]

22. when I went to a gathering some years ago

the leaders were having to remind people not to shit in the river! I am not sure how environmentally sensitive that was. These are just people, some smart and some not so much.

[norml]

10. Rainbow Family of Living Light Unofficial Home Page

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow.html

[slay]

17. I've never been to one, but am thinking of going this year

I used to do three or four east coast Dead shows every year from 89-95 and am really missing that kind of open-minded gathering of good nature loving people. :hippie:

[Old sixties guy]

18. Rainbow folks.

Has anyone ever done a study on the class backgrounds of the Rainbow people?
I ask that because I am working two jobs to keep my head above water and don't have the time or finances to take off for weeks on end on some kind of Magical Mystery Tour like it was 1967 all over again?
Yeah,maybe i'm "hating"as the kids say.I just wonder how many of these people are living off of someone's trust fund and come from privileged backgrounds.That doesn't make them bad folks but I sort of wonder if the every day working men and women relate to them at all.

[norml]

19. When I'd go to the National Gathering each year I'd quit whatever job I

was working at, and maybe come back to it. I'd save up the money to be able to go and be gone for about 3 or 4 weeks. There are a lot of semi poor semi street people who go to gatherings. Many spend their time on the road, going from gathering to gathering, making and selling bracelets and jewelry, getting food from food banks, and dumpster diving along the way. Some are there on the two weeks vacation they get once a year from their full time jobs. Finally there are a few who seem to have lots of money, and lots of free time. As to how they manage that, you'll have to ask them. Recreational drug dealing to supplement income is not unknown among any of the economic levels I've described.

[dgocracker]

20. Money is not allowed

at gatherings anyway. That alcohol and violence are the biggest no-nos. you have to either trade or rely on the kindest of others, of which there is plenty. The Hara Krishna always have a good kitchen and are willing to feed anyone.

[meganmonkey]

21. Krishna Kitchen is always the best!!!

Man, maybe I need to go to another national gathering one of these days. There is a tiny weekend gathering in Michigan in the fall, and I think I may go this year. Only about 30-50 folks show up, it is very intimate and laid back. But nothing like the National!

:hippie:

[norml]

25. It's great if people can donate, but money isn't required at gatherings.

However it does require some time and money to get there.
The Hari Krishnas always serve up lots of extra food and good music, unfortunately I can't support their particular sect of Hinduism, way too fundi, way too cult like!

[Old sixties guy]

26. Rainbow travelers

Good valid points for sure.But curious as to why they all seem to be white folks.Again,nothing intrinsically wrong with a bunch of white folks getting together but I am amazed at the lack of black,Latino or Asian faces in these crowds.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

[norml]

27. There are some Rainbows who aren't white, but not many.

Why that is I don't know. It's certainly not a whites only thing. I've met people from all over the world at Rainbow Gatherings.

[gorbal]

28. I haven't done a "study" , but here is a message board

http://hipforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=4c991b1d66298e1935364c3b0bb5b1fd&f=64

Check out "Rainbow Basics", and then check if you have a belly button:)

[spinbaby]

23. Funny...

I just posted in the lounge about this--hadn't seen this thread. I know a lot of folks down in WV and they're all unnerved by the whole thing.