Tag Archives: United States

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IKEA’s dangerous little secret

07/06/2011 Nativegrl77

In Sweden, IKEA‘s factory workers are paid $19 per hour and get five weeks of paid vacation every year. In America? Not so much.

IKEA’s Swedwood plant in Danville, Virginia is the most dangerous plant in the wood furniture industry — workers there have suffered more than 1,536 days of lost work due to accidents on the job in a 30-month period. According to the LA Times, IKEA’s Danville workers are paid as little as $8 an hour and face racial discrimination from their managers. Workers often find out on Friday night that they’ll be forced to work for the entire weekend — and if they can’t make it, they face disciplinary action.

In Sweden, IKEA’s factory workers are unionized, which is one reason they receive better wages and have a safer workplace — but the company is going all out to prevent American workers from receiving those same rights and protections. Please sign the petition to tell IKEA to give its American workers the freedom to organize.

The workers in Danville have filed for an election to start a union of their own — the election could come as soon as six weeks from now. But rather than pay its workers fair wages, Swedwood pays the notorious union-busting firm Jackson Lewis thousands of dollars a day to hold mandatory “captive audience meetings” with the Danville workers. At these meetings, the Jackson Lewis associates inundate the workers with anti-union propaganda and veiled threats that are backed up with random firings.

Here’s the good news: The publicity surrounding this organizing drive has already made a difference — last month, Swedwood announced that Danville workers would no longer be forced to work mandatory overtime. But Liz Cattaneo of American Rights at Work stresses that continued public pressure is extremely important: “If IKEA thinks the public isn’t paying attention, they’re going to play hardball … throughout the election process — which could mean more firings and more union busting.”

Now that the workers have filed for a union election, you can bet IKEA will redouble its efforts to squash their rights. They need our support now more than ever.

Please sign the petition to tell IKEA’s head of Corporate PR that we are paying attention, and we expect IKEA to treat its American workers just as well as its Swedish workers:

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-ikea-to-respect-its-workers

Thanks for taking action,

– Jess and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress: what’s going on in – the House … – the Senate

07/06/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes at 10amET July 6, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1323, to express the sense of the Senate on shared sacrifice in resolving the budget deficit with the time until 12:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 12:30pm, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly party conferences.

The time from 2:15pm until 6pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

As a reminder to all Senators, the Majority Leader filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1323 during Tuesday’s session of the Senate. Unless further agreement is reached, this vote will occur during Thursday’s session of the Senate.

Senator Reid announced there will be no roll call vote on Monday, July 25th.

There will be no roll call votes during today’s session of the Senate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JULY 6, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

H.R. 2219:

making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes

9:44 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Cohen amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Cohen.

9:42 P.M. –

Mr. Clarke (MI) raised a point of order against the Clarke (MI) amendment Mr. Young (FL) stated that the amendment seeks to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriationbill. The Chair sustained the point of order.

9:39 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Clarke (MI) amendment under the five-minute rule, pending the reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Clarke (MI).

9:38 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Cicilline amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Cicilline demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:30 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Cicilline amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Cicilline.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Cohen amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Cohen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Cohen amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Cohen.

9:21 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Lee (CA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. Lee (CA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Lee (CA) amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Ms. Lee (CA).

An amendment to strike funding for Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund and apply it to the Spending Reduction Account.

9:11 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Poe (TX) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Poe (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:02 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on thePoe (TX) amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Poe (TX).

An amendment to reduce funds in Operation and Maintenance and apply the savings to the Spending Reduction Account.

9:00 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Nadler amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Nadler demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

8:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provsions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on theNadler amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Nadler.

An amendment to transfer funds with respect to Operation and Maintenance.

8:54 P.M. –

Mr. Young (FL) raised a point of order against the Welch amendment Mr. Young (FL) stated that the amendment seeks to amend portions of the bill not yet read for consideration. The Chair sustained the point of order.

8:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on theWelch amendment under the five-minute rule, pending the reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Welch.

An amendment to reduce funding for Operation and Maintenance and apply the savings to the Spending Reduction Account.

8:47 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Garamendi amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Garamendi demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced

8:38 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded withdebate on the Garamendi amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Garamendi.

An amendment to strike $20,887,651,000 from title IX and increase the Spending Reduction Account by the same amount.

8:37 P.M. –

8:20 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on theLee (CA) amendment under the five-minute rule, pending the reservation of a point of order. Subsequently, the reservation was withdrawn.

Amendment offered by Ms. Lee (CA).

An amendment to strke $33,000,124,000 from title IX and increase the Spending Reduction Account by the same amount.

8:19 P.M. –

Mr. Frelinghuysen raised a point of order against the Boswell amendment Mr. Frelinghuysen stated that the amendment seeks to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriationbill. The Chair sustained the point of order.

8:15 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded withdebate on the Boswell amendment under the five-minute rule, pending the reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Boswell.

7:35 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with pro forma amendments to H.R. 2219.

7:29 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Sessions amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll No. 501).

7:24 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Amash amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll No. 500).

7:20 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Welch amendment Failed by recorded vote: (Roll No. 499).

7:15 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Broun (GA) amendment Failed by voice vote.

7:14 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Broun (GA) amendment Failed by voice vote.

VACATING DEMANDS FOR ROLL CALLS – Mr. Broun of Georgia asked unanimous consent to vacate the demands for recorded votes on amendment Nos. 21 and 22 which had been debated earlier and that the disposition of each amendment stand as decided by the voice votes thereon. Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the Kucinich amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll No. 498).

7:08 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Connolly (VA) amendment Failed by recorded vote: (Roll No. 497).

7:05 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Broun (GA) amendment Failed by recorded vote: (Roll No. 496).

6:59 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Connolly (VA) amendment Failed by recorded vote: (Roll No. 495).

6:36 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.

6:35 P.M. –

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

Considered as unfinished business.

Mr. Webster filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 337.

H.R. 515:

to reauthorize the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004

6:34 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

6:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 515.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H. Res. 268:

reaffirming the United States’ commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and for other purposes

6:21 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

5:30 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 268.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

5:24 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

H.R. 2219:

making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes

5:22 P.M. –

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2219 as unfinished business.

On motion that the Committee now rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Young (FL) moved that the Committee now rise.

On agreeing to the Carter amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

5:11 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Carter amendment under the 5-minute rule.

5:10 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Carter.

An amendment numbered 31 printed in the Congressional Record to strike section 8127, which limits military bands to $200M.

5:02 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Sessions amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Dicks demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

4:50 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Sessions amendment under the 5-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Sessions.

An amendment to strike section 8101 of the bill.

4:28 P.M. –

Mr. Young (FL) raised a point of order against the Sutton amendment Mr. Young (FL) stated that the amendment proposes to change existing law, and violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The Chair sustained the point of order.

4:25 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Sutton amendment under the 5-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Ms. Sutton.

An amendment to indicate in the report from the Department of Defense to Congress whether such items or parts of purchases from foreign entities are available for purchasing in the United States.

4:20 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Amash amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Dicks demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

4:16 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Amash amendment under the 5-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Amash.

An amendment numbered 62 printed in the Congressional Record to strike section 8015 of the bill.

4:10 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Sessions amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

4:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Sessions amendment under the 5-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Sessions.

An amendment to increase TBI funds by $10,000,000 for a pilot project.

4:03 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Stearns amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:57 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded withdebate on the Stearns amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Stearns.

An amendment to transfer $16,000,000 from Research, Development, Test and Evaluation to the Defense Health Program.

3:56 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Broun (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Broun (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

3:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on theBroun (GA) amendment number 22 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Broun (GA).

An amendment numbered 22 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer $4,424,000 from Research, Development, Test and Evaluation – Air Force to Research, Development, Test and Evaluation – Defense-Wide.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Welch amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Welch demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

3:40 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on theWelch amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Welch.

An amendment to transfer $297,023,000 from Research, Development, Test and Evaluation to the Spending Reduction Account.

3:39 P.M. –

3:35 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceededwith debate on theBroun (GA) amendment number 21 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Broun (GA).

An amendment numbered 21 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer $9,140,000 from Research, Development, Test and Evaluation – Navy to Research, Development, Test and Evaluation – Defense-Wide.

3:34 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Broun (GA) amendment Failed by voice vote.

3:31 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on theBroun (GA) amendment number 26 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Broun (GA).

An amendment numbered 26 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer $21,714,000 from Research, Development, Test and Evaluatio to the Spending Reduction Account.

On agreeing to the Broun (GA) amendment Failed by voice vote.

3:26 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded withdebate on the Broun (GA) amendment number 25 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Broun (GA).

An amendment numbered 25 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer $22,796,000 from from Research Development, Test and Evaluation to the Spending Reduction Account.

On agreeing to the Broun (GA) amendment Failed by voice vote.

3:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceededwith debate on theBroun (GA) amendment number 24 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Broun (GA).

An amendment numbered 24 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer $25,798,000 from Research Development, Test and Evaluation to the Spending Reduction Account.

3:13 P.M. –

By unanimous consent, the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment was withdrawn.

3:07 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceededwith debate on theJackson Lee (TX) amendment number 67 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee (TX).

An amendment numbered 67 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer funds from Operation and Maintenance to the Defense Health Program.

On agreeing to the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceededwith debate on theJackson Lee (TX) amendment number 69 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee (TX).

An amendment numbered 69 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer funds from Operationand Maintenanceto the Defense Health Program.

2:55 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Kucinich amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Kucinich demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

2:50 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on theKucinich amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Kucinich.

An amendment to transfer funds from Operation and Maintenance to the Defense Health Program.

2:49 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Connolly (VA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Connolly (VA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

2:43 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceededwith debate on theConnolly (VA) amendment number 9 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Connolly (VA).

An amendment nubered 9 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer $15,000,000 from Operation and Maintenance to Research, Development, Test and Evaluation.

2:42 P.M. –

2:38 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320,the Committee of the Whole proceededwith debate on theBroun (GA) amendment number 23 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Broun (GA).

An amendment numbered 23 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce spending in Operation and Maintenance and deposit the savings in the Spending Reduction Account.

2:37 P.M. –

2:31 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 320, the Committee of the Whole proceededwith debate on theConnolly (VA) amendment under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Connolly (VA).

An amendment to transfer $10,000,000 from Operation and Maintenance to Research, Development, Test and Evaluation.

2:27 P.M. –

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

Considered as unfinished business.

2:25 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on July 1, 2011 at 11:50 a.m. stating that that body had made appointments to the United States-China Interparliamentary Group.

2:02 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

2:01 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Foxx to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

2:00 P.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Democrats Preview the Week Ahead in Congress

07/04/2011 Nativegrl77

WEEK IN REVIEW

Senate Democratic leaders invite President Obama and Vice President Biden to
Capitol Hill the week of July 5 to move deficit-reduction talks forward.
Democratic leaders say progress will depend on Republicans‘ willingness to end
tax breaks for the wealthy.

Senate Democrats ask Republicans to stop protecting frivolous tax breaks for the wealthy, such as loopholes for corporate jet owners, and work with Democrats to reduce the deficit

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What We’re Fighting For … Jim Messina, BarackObama.com

07/04/2011 Nativegrl77

I know we’ve been asking a lot of you.

In the first major test of this campaign, you delivered.

More than 475,000 people decided to own a piece of this campaign in just our first quarter — a promising sign of what’s to come if we all stay focused and work together.

We’ll be in touch with more information as we continue to crunch the numbers. But for now, I wanted to pass along a quick video I think you’ll like.

If you missed it, the President held a press conference earlier this week. The last few minutes were really something special. It’s a good reminder of why we’re fighting so hard to get him re-elected:

Thanks again. Hope you have a great holiday weekend.

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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The Great Dismal Swamp

07/04/2011 Nativegrl77

Dismal Town historical sign. Credit: USFWS

Human occupation of the Great Dismal Swamp began nearly 13,000 years ago. By 1650, few native Americans remained in the area, and European settlers showed little interest in the swamp. In 1665, William Drummond, a governor of North Carolina, discovered the lake which now bears his name. William Byrd II led a surveying party into the swamp to draw a dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina in 1728. George Washington first visited the swamp in 1763 and organized the Dismal Swamp Land Company that was involved in draining and logging portions of the swamp. A five-mile ditch on the west side of the refuge still bears his name.

Logging of the swamp proved to be a successful commercial activity, with regular logging operations continuing as late as 1976. The entire swamp has been logged at least once, and many areas have been burned by periodic wildfires.

The Great Dismal Swamp has been drastically altered by humans over the past two centuries. Agricultural, commercial, and residential development destroyed much of the swamp, so that the remaining portion within and around the refuge represents less than half of the original size of the swamp. Before the refuge was established, over 140 miles of roads were constructed to provide access to the timber. These roads severely disrupted the swamp’s natural hydrology, as the ditches which were dug to provide soil for the road beds drained water from the swamp. The roads also blocked the flow of water across the swamp’s surface, flooding some areas of the swamp with stagnant water. The logging operations removed natural stands of cypress and Atlantic white-cedar that were replaced by other forest types, particularly red maple. A drier swamp and the suppression of wildfires, which once cleared the land for seed germination, created environmental conditions that were less favorable to the survival of cypress and cedar stands. As a result, plant and animal diversity decreased.

The swamp is also an integral part of the cultural history of the region and remains a place of refuge for wildlife and people. The dense forests of the Great Dismal Swamp provided refuge to runaway slaves, resulting in the refuge becoming the first National Wildlife Refuge to be officially designated as a link in the “Underground Railroad Network to Freedom” in 2003. For more information click here.

Establishment of the refuge began in 1973 when the Union Camp Corporation donated 49,100 acres of land to The Nature Conservancy. This land was then conveyed to the Department of the Interior, and the refuge was officially established through The Dismal Swamp Act of 1974.

Last updated: January 14, 2010

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
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