A victory for the birds, and the people

Yesterday's Raleigh News & Observer ran a terrific story on last week's surprise victory by the grassroots movement fighting the U.S. Navy's plans to build an outlying landing field for fighter jets in one rural Eastern North Carolina community. The OLF was to be sited near critical habitat for migrating water fowl, and on land farmed by families for generations. Reporter Jerry Allegood recounted how OLF opponents met in farm garages, raised money at pig pickings, and drove to rallies in tractor convoys. As No-OLF leader Doris Morris told the paper:

"We would just sit around the table and try to come up with ideas about what to do and how to do it," Morris said. "We were often told we were not following protocol, but we were fighting with all our hearts and souls."

It's an inspiring story, and that inspiration is needed -- because as a leader of the N.C. Coastal Federation points out, the battle to keep the OLF out of other rural Eastern North Carolina communities will continue.

(Photo from Citizens Against OLF.)