CGPC Members Continue to Raise Voices
at Denver Parks and Rec Advisory Board
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Although COVID has altered our daily lives and routines, one positive effect has been increased public presence at City Council and Denver Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) meetings. Public comments as well as virtual attendance continues to be steady. On Sept. 9th, 45 people virtually attended, and five CGPC members spoke about goose management policy and next steps. Although DPR deputy manager Scott Gilmore has stated that a round-up will not take place in 2021, he has provided neither confirmation nor evidence indicating why a round-up will not occur. The major shift at the PRAB meeting, according to attendee Kenyon Moon, was the tone of PRAB members and staff. Attention was directed on how best to engage the public, and questions related to the geese in the parks. We encourage you to speak out for the allotted three minutes in front of the advisory board. The next virtual PRAB meeting is:
Wednesdays, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9 at 5:30 pm
To attend or to sign up to speak for 3 minutes, contact Arthur Gilkison
There are many events planned in the next several weeks. Please scroll down to get more information and try to attend if your schedule permits. We hope that you can join and continue to strengthen the work accomplished over the past year to apply pressure on DPR officials for not complying by accountable and two-way transparent processes of communication with the public at large. We still have a lot of work to do. Be part of CGPC's work!
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Lake Watch Group Activism |
Canada Geese Protection Colorado announces “Lake Watch,” a grass-roots “citizen science” effort in metro Denver to help improve the scientific understanding of urban lakes and ponds as wildlife habitat. Citizen science is a way for the public to participate in scientific research, monitoring and action in order to increase the public's understanding of science. “Lake Watch” will organize local groups who live near or have a special relationship with particular lakes in the area. We encourage adult professionals, amateurs, policy-makers, as well as interested children to join the effort to observe, understand and advocate for the welfare of urban lake-related wildlife. More information will be found at canadageeseprotectioncolorado.com. Please join us for an initial community meeting!
CGPC volunteers will present this initiative at two upcoming 90-minute, virtual, Fall Community Forums, followed by Q&A, brainstorming and a general discussion of how CGPC can be most effective.
Event Dates
Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 5-6:30 pm, MST
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 863 1691 8626
Passcode: 869500
Friday, Oct. 2, 2020 from 7-8 pm, MST
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 896 1440 2057
Passcode: 669164
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The Emotional Toll of Bird and Animal Activism
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Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Time: 6 pm, MST; 5 pm PST
Canada Geese Protection Colorado Support Group with Lisa Levinson
CGPC is offering a free, virtual event to provide a brave space to decompress, listen, and reflect. In August, one of our members thought that a goose and duck family had been taken by Colorado Wildlife Services. The unmarked white trucks parked in an area of her neighborhood pond and the absence of the goose and duck family at the same time triggered her, and she reached out to all of us. We showered her with compassion while also being re-traumatized. Although there was a sigh of relief once the families were found, the emotions might have lingered.
We are so emotionally frayed by the past year and are constantly on watch and nervous. Our collective experience is compounded by a continuing emotional toll that might be similar to PTSD. Our greatest strength is our compassion and empathy, and a recognition that animal activism can result in compassion fatigue. CGPC is working with In Defense of Animals on several projects to support our activism for the Canada geese. In addition to sponsoring the Animal Activist Crisis Hotline, Lisa Levinson is going to work with CGPC members and help us navigate the emotional tolls of speaking out for the geese and bearing witness to inhumane acts against them. Please join us for this event.
Lisa Levinson directs In Defense of Animals’ Sustainable Activism Campaign, offering emotional and spiritual resources for animal activists, and co-directs the Wild Animals Campaign, advocating for wild animals.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 833 6661 8257
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Panel Discussion: Strategies to Stop Goose Roundups
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Date: September 29, 2020
Time: 6 pm, MST; 5 pm, PST
Panel Discussion: Strategies to Stop Goose Roundups
with Lisa Levinson, founder, National Goose Advocacy Coalition
Denver is only one of several cities in which USDA/APHIS-Wildlife Services is conducting lethal and round-ups and killings of Canada geese. The Denver metro area has experienced two round-ups with more round-ups more than likely to be scheduled as DPR deputy manager Scott Gilmore has not provided a firm, written commitment to the contrary. In Defense of Animals sponsors the National Goose Advocacy Coalition and has organized a panel of speakers to talk from the standpoint of strategy, history, and activism. CGPC core team leader Carole Woodall is amongst the panelists. The event is free and open to all communities experiencing Canada geese round-ups.
Register in advance for this webinar:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Lisa Levinson also started the Toad Detour to help toads migrate safely and co-founded Vegan Spirituality, the Interfaith Vegan Coalition, and Public Eye: Artists for Animals. She is Director of In Defense of Animals’ Sustainable Activism Campaign, offering emotional and spiritual resources for animal activists, and co-directs the Wild Animals Campaign, advocating for wild animals.
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First Gentleman Marlon Reis’s efforts over the past year have helped to raise awareness around USDA-Wildlife Service and DPR’s round-up and killing of the Canada geese in 2019 and 2020. Currently, he is working to help coordinate volunteer efforts with Denver Parks and Recreation. Needless to say, this has led to some confusion among both city officials, group members, and the public about who is organizing what. We simply wish to clarify that while his efforts are appreciated, they are separate from those of CGPC.
If there are specific questions, please address them to Carole Woodall at [email protected]
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Canada Geese Protection Colorado LLC is an all-volunteer activist group dedicated to stopping the slaughter of wild geese, birds of prey, and other wild birds currently being killed by cities and municipalities in urban Colorado parks.
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