"Muchas Gracias," President Obama
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
PHOENIX - After last week's announcement of a ban on new uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, a Latino nonprofit group is taking to the airwaves to thank President Obama for his support of the ban.
The group Mi Familia Vota is praising the president in a series of Spanish-language radio ads this month, thanking him for protecting the canyon's legacy.
"'El Gran Canon, el rio Colorado y sus alrededores son nuestros patrimonio." Translated: "The Grand Canyon, the Colorado River and its surroundings are our heritage."
The mining ban is important, says Ben Monterroso, the group's executive director, but it's also important to Latinos for the president to consider creating more monuments and national parks in the West to preserve some of the Latino-American heritage.
"Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona share the same values in terms of the long history with the earth, and the environment in this country."
He says there is often a misconception that the Latino community only cares about one issue: immigration.
"Like any other American voters, we care about education. We care about health care. We care about the economy and good jobs. Quite frankly, the issue of environmental is something that nobody has really felt that we care about it, but it is something that we are very deeply engaged."
Monterroso says Mi Familia Vota is inviting Obama to meet with Hispanic leaders about potentially protecting more public land in the state.
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