Humane Borders Newsletter Index
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New maps created by our GIS (geographical information system) expert, Dr. John Chamblee at the University of Georgia, show that migrants continue to die in the same trails, in the same numbers as in previous years. One big exception to the pattern is that migrants are generally dying farther away from roads than in years past.
Representatives of the Pima County Natural Resources department came to us in late March with plans to erect and maintain more water stations on Pima County managed lands. We have now erected four new stations on the land known as Rancho Seco.
We’re coming up on our 8th Anniversary of Humane Borders. Sometime in the next year or so, I am confident that we can have one hundred operational water stations in the desert! We’re not there yet, but we’re getting close.
The work of Humane Borders is far too extensive and time-consuming to continue retaining a small board. Our board of six officers has been expanded to 16 persons, which includes six officers.
We tabulate the total amount of water dispensed on public lands from 2001-2007: 60,740 gallons. We also note a change -- not for the better -- in the tone of the immigration debate.
A big thank-you goes to the office of Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry who has boldly and singularly supported our efforts. Two productive meetings with the new Chief of Tucson Sector Border Patrol, Robert Gilbert, have been held. to migrants.
Humane Borders is beginning some work with several research interests at the University of Arizona. We havehad far more requests this year to help families find relatives believed lost or perished in the desert. Groups from Australia, Colorado, Oregon, Missouri, beyond have visited.
Several More Years to Go, Folks: Suppose a magic wand were waived tomorrow and all the things we would like to see in migration policy reforms passed both houses of Congress and the president signed it into law. It would take at least two more years of main-taining the water stations.
On Thursday, Feb. 8, someone opened fire on a truck full of migrants on a remote desert road just outside of the Tohono O’odam reservation in Iron-wood Forrest National Monument. Two men and a girl were killed and a Guatemalan woman and a Mexican man were injured..
September/October/November/December 2006
March for Migrants: One hundred volunteers gathered on October 1 at First Christian Church to remember migrants who died during the past year. Participating clergy included Rev. Hal Cowart, Rev. Larry Kimberlin, Rev. Randy Mayer, Rev. Robin Hoover , Brother David, Sister Audrey and Sister Elizabeth.
Humane Borders hosted five representatives of Mexico's National Commission on Human Rights. We offer some special recognition to our water truck drivers. Rev. Robin Hoover speaks at the University of Arizona.
Outgoing president Rev. Robin Hoover looks back on his six years leading Humane Borders, starting with a germ of an idea on Pemtecost Sunday, June 11, 2000, that water needed to be put in the desert for migrants. New president Mark Townley and new executive director Sue Goodman look forward.
A Humane Borders delegation will meet with Mexico's human rights commission Jan. 19-25 in Mexico City to present the warning posters/maps, meet with high level Mexican officials, perhaps make a presentation at the university, and hold a press conference to spread the word and warnings.
Steve Auslander, former editorial writer for the Arizona Dail Star, will speak at the fifth annual March for Migrants on Sept. 25. (More on March for Migrants here.) Truck No. 3 is in the shop. Fundacion Mexico pays to name a water station for the year. Our insurance challenges continue.
Special recognition for volunteers at our fifth anniversary celebration. Migrant deaths now top 180 for 2005. Encounters with Minutemen and near-encounters with armed opponents and thei handiwork continue.
Humane Borders announces a gift received from Bob Feinman and his family to name a water station in honor of two people whose family became immigrants. Warning posters created with donated ESRI software are published.
Humane Borders announces its fifth anniversary program at First Christian Church in Tucson. Scheduled speakers include Ernesto Portillo, Jr., a columnist with the Arizona Daily Star, and Father Daniel Groody.
ESRI donates Global Information System software to Humane Borders to allow exact plotting of water stations, migrants deaths and other salient details on high resolution maps. John Chamblee donates his time and expertise to configure the siftware and bring it online.
Humane Borders visits Altar and Sasabe, Son., to familiarize new volunteers with conditions on the Mexican side of the border and to help Father Daniel Groody complete work on a documentary film about migrants.
For more information, please contact us.