Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Russ McSpadden

Laiken Jordahl @laikenjordahl.bsky.social · 11d

This interview with my dear colleague Russ McSpadden is a phenomenal roundup of our work to stop Trump's absurd and irreversibly destructive push to wall off Arizona's San Rafael Valley.

And if you're not already following @peccarynotpig.bsky.social, you should!

Jack 🦫 @jackhumphrey.com · 19d

Biodiversity Battle in the Borderlands: I recently spoke with Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social from @biologicaldiversity.org. Hear stories about Jaguars, Ocelots, Bears, a huge number of bird species, and what you can do to help protect them. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ech...

Episode 155: Jaguars, Justice, and the Border Wall – Stories from the Frontlines With Russ McSpadden

YouTube video by Rewilding Institute

www.youtube.com

11 24

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · 11d

Chasing a rainbow over the northernmost occupied jaguar habitat on the planet. Gotta love Arizona.

2 4 42

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · 19d

Excited to share this! Join us to celebrate the release of BORDERLINGS, the debut book of poems from environmental activist RUSS MCSPADDEN, Saturday October 18, 2025, 6:30pm doors, 7pm reading and book signing. Free & all-ages.

Che's Lounge, 350 N. 4th Ave, Tucson

Published by Artspeak Press.

1 3 18

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · 19d

Great talking with you for the podcast Jack!

1

Reposted by Russ McSpadden

Jack 🦫 @jackhumphrey.com · 19d

Biodiversity Battle in the Borderlands: I recently spoke with Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social from @biologicaldiversity.org. Hear stories about Jaguars, Ocelots, Bears, a huge number of bird species, and what you can do to help protect them. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ech...

Episode 155: Jaguars, Justice, and the Border Wall – Stories from the Frontlines With Russ McSpadden

YouTube video by Rewilding Institute

www.youtube.com

2 7 12

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · 22d

BREAKING: The first segments of border wall have gone up in the San Rafael Valley, south of Tucson, Ariz. Construction crews have drilled at least two wells and have turned the area, a corridor for jaguars, pronghorn, bears, mountain lions, ocelots, porcupines, into an devastating industrial site.

7 22 47

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 27

Oh no. I think I fixed that. Thanks for letting me know.

1 2

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 27

Ahhh. I had no idea. I think I have it now. Thanks!

1

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 19

You might want to talk to a friend about a your white dude gripes and opinions, or a therapist. You have no idea about Oak Flat. It’s a religious site with specific ceremonies. You can settler-splain all you want. You are being creepy. Move along please.

1 1

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 19

Nice how it’s Native American Tribes that have to lose their land (again and again and again) for your material needs. 🤮 classic manifest destiny bullshit.

1 1

Reposted by Russ McSpadden

Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · Aug 11

There is still time. Will you help me - no matter what state - save all of THIS from foreign copper mining? Pls RT.

By Aug. 27, send a quick email to BLM's AZ state & local office (tips and suggestions here: tinyurl.com/3ene6wa6).

This collage includes photos of : Desert purple martins atop mature saguaros in the heart of proposed mining activity; a view of the Galiuros with the setting sun turning them Sedona red; a close up of a baby fawn next to her mother; a Sonoran desert tortoise; an unfurling white Sacred Datura flower with interesting lavender-colored tips; a lowland or Chiricahuan leopard frog; a gray fox; view of saguaro and miles of undulating mountain vista; a pipevine swallowtail butterfly (black with gorgeous orange/yellow/blue dots)

3 41 87

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 19

Trump smearing us as ‘anti-American’. If Oak Flat is mined, the winners won't be Americans, and definitely not Native Americans, whose sacred site will be destroyed but two foreign mining giants, BHP (Australia) and Rio Tinto (UK) whose largest shareholder is a Chinese state-owned company.

10 45 97

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 16

I don't remember that rock. Beautiful and speaks to some sort of violence.

1

Reposted by Russ McSpadden

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · Aug 15

@peccarynotpig.bsky.social

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · Aug 15

"Blood Meridian"
Rio Aros, Sonora Mexico

1 1 10

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 16

Appeal Launched After Federal Judge Greenlights Oak Flat Land Exchange in Arizona

Center for Biological Diversity: PHOENIX— Conservation groups appealed a federal judge’s ruling today denying their request to pause the Oak Flat land exchange in Arizona. Without an injunction from t...

biologicaldiversity.org

1 2 8

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 16

BREAKING: A US judge just denied our request for an injunction to the land transfer of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. Oak Flat, a sacred site of the Apache and part of the Tonto National Forest, is scheduled to be privatized on Tuesday.

With the clock ticking, we have appealed to the 9th Circuit.

6 35 74

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 5

The Forest Service intends to convey Oak Flat, an Apache sacred site, to Resolution Copper on August 19.

@biologicaldiversity.org, conservation allies & San Carlos Apache Tribe will be in fed court August 6 to argue for a halt to the Oak Flat Land Exchange until our lawsuits are resolved.

3 21 30

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 2

Wow. Thats beautiful. Did you make that!

1 2

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 1

Tribal leaders and environmentalists are asking the Bureau of Land Management to reverse course on a southern Arizona mining project it green-lit at the end of June.

Environmentalists, tribes ask BLM to reconsider southern Arizona mining project

The Copper Creek Exploration Project is the beginning stage of what could become an open-pit copper mine across a roughly 25 square mile stretch near the San Pedro River in the Galiuro mountain range ...

www.kjzz.org

3 12

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Aug 1

“They…substituted corporate engagement for formal government-to-government consultation,” McSpadden said. “This…Project is a test case for whether BLM…has learned from SunZia or whether it will continue to fast track industry at the expense of tribes, ecosystems and public trust.”

Conservation groups challenge BLM approval of Copper Creek Mine in Pinal County

www.azpm.org

1 9 24

Reposted by Russ McSpadden

Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · Aug 1

Then, read the full report by Center staff @peccarynotpig.bsky.social and @laikenjordahl.bsky.social to learn more.

This report documents the San Rafael Valley’s biodiversity, the species it sustains, and its indispensable role in the survival of endangered wildlife. ➡️ biodiv.us/4l1iGfb

14 28

Reposted by Russ McSpadden

Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · Aug 1

A recent Center report found that a new border barrier, in a remote part of Arizona, would threaten one of the most important remaining animal migration routes on the state’s southern border.

Check out the @nytimes.com feature about it. ⬇️

Trump Wants a New Border Wall. It Would Block a Key Wildlife Corridor.

www.nytimes.com

3 26 49

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Jul 31

Great coverage by @dmain.bsky.social for the New York Times on how new border wall construction could destroy one of the last, best wildlife corridors for jaguars, ocelots, bears and puma in the U.S., and @biologicaldiversity.org ‘s lawsuit
to halt it.

Trump Wants a New Border Wall. It Would Block a Key Wildlife Corridor.

www.nytimes.com

21 45

Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · Jul 30

Fourth lawsuit launched to challenge the land transfer of Apache sacred site to Resolution Copper.

'So much has been taken': Apache women sue to halt land swap for Oak Flat copper mine

Four Apache women filed suit in Washington, D.C., asking a judge to block a land exchange needed to build a copper mine at Oak Flat.

www.azcentral.com

1 4 21

Reposted by Russ McSpadden

Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · Jul 30

It's #TeamJavelina time... two sets of lil' reds in this squadron... One pair born three weeks ago, the smaller pair is kitten-sized ‼️ and recently born. Look at the umbilical cords and 🔊 up for lip-smacking and grunts! #cameratrap

1 8 39