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Who is Nature
Ali?
Alison Marie Sheehey
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Links |
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Essays by Nature Ali
An Environmentalist's
Viewpoint
Is the Future of
Humanity a Myth?
Essays by Nature Ali |
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Childhood |
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Born and raised in New York State. Educated in
one of the best school systems in the state until eighth
grade. Left home at 13 to begin adulthood, worked until age
18.
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Family |
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The fifth of seven children. I have one child,
Brandon Brice who was born in 1976. He married Desireé in 2004.
Father passed away in 1992. Mother lives in
Florida. Siblings live in Connecticut, Florida, and
Virginia.
I have two nephews. |
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MUSINGS |
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History is mostly based on few people's perception and is always
culturally biased.
The ability to realize that what is written is not necessarily
true, to know that what is reported is most likely half truths
or sensationalized facts, and to understand that the key to
knowledge rests with one's own curiosity and the ability to
answer questions without the expectation that they are always
going to be right.
Education is not a ethereal belief based system and should never
be taught in that realm, no matter how outside rhetoric might
try to persuade otherwise.
Be supportive of others in understanding the difficulties of
living life while trying to attain the knowledge to be
successful in it. Never pretend that education is a black and
white, either or, immutable thing. The shades of gray in
science and life are what makes some of us realize that all of
us are bound to repeat the same mistakes of others long ago
past, but that does not mean that the lessons learned will
necessarily be the same. The only mistake in life is a lesson
unlearned. Take from this life the wisdom earned or blundered
into from many lessons. |
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Personality Tests |
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My
Political Profile:
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| Overall: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal
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| Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal
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| Personal Responsibility: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal
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| Fiscal Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal
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| Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal
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| Defense and Crime: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal
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You Are Marge Simpson
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You're a devoted family member who loves unconditionally.
Sometimes, though, you dream about living a wild secret life!
You will be remembered for: your good cooking and evading the police
Your life philosophy: "You should listen to your heart, and not the voices in your head."
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Photos of Nature
Ali |
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Graduation from Bakersfield College
in 1998
Visiting my sister in San Francisco
in June 2001.
Photos by Margot Shay
Performing a wedding in January
2002. |
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Working as a volunteer at
FACT
Photo
by Barbara Mansfield |
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Before the hair cut. February 2004. Photo by | |
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Life |
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The long and winding road leads to experiences of painful joy.
Knowing what I know now, I really wouldn't change too much.
I have been married twice and
choose not to pursue any relationships in the future, as I
have experienced enough pain to fill several large ships.
Tears are not a productive way to experience life. If I made
better choices with the men in my life, I don't think I would
have had such uniquely diverse experiences. I wouldn't trade
those relationships but I certainly don't want to repeat them.
I choose to find joy in all
of the little things that create such a rainbow of diversity
on this lovely little blue planet. A warm breeze, the gentle
fragrance of the tiger lily, the parade of spring colors
splashed across a hillside, a butterfly dashing from flower to
flower in search of a meal to nourish its soon to be laid
eggs, the curious stare of a ringtail cat in the wee hours of
the night, the bounce of a kangaroo rat across the road, the
autumn migration of the tarantula, the laugh of a friend, an
awakening smile in a sad person, the chatter of woodpeckers
telling compatriots of unknown things, a landscape newly
dressed in snow. There are so many wonderful things that bless
us all.
I am a naturalist
who shares a love for all living things except neocons and
fascists (one in the same)! Peace is not something that is
found through prayer or religion but something that happens
when one excepts all beings as worthy of respect and
tolerance. Take every action as a personal responsibility
toward others. Don't pollute, make excessive noise, kill, keep
insecurity lights that destroy the night sky, be greedy, be
wasteful, do recycle, have only 1 or 2 children, and respect
this planet. This is the point of a God and we are the only
one's who actually have the power to affect any change at all.
That makes us all Gods in a sense, use that power wisely and
kindly.
This journey of the spirit
continues.
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Philosophy |
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It is my belief that each of us bears the
burden of individual responsibility and an obligation to
support the social framework of human society.
This is why I tend towards Democratic
principles with a Libertarian bent.
I despise the current Republican ideals that
support removing the rights of the individual by producing
legislation criminalizing private activities while legalizing
activities that destroy all social responsibility.
Clean air, water, and land is not a
privilege, it is a right. Greed should never be an excuse to
destroy that which has evolved to a unique niche on the
planet. Saving biodiversity is a moral issue and not an
economic one. Hitler thought Jews were a threat to the economy
and sanctity of his ideal world. Economics of a society is
never a justification to destroy life.
Human beings are just
selfish mutations of the genetic code. It doesn't matter the
color, creed, ethnicity, gender, or religion. We are all cut
from the same cloth. Hiding behind superiority is so false,
none of us are superior nor inferior, we just are.
God is not a being to worship without respect. It does no good
to say how you Luv Jesus, while condemning an entire nation to
bombs and bullets because they do not live the way you want or
for the more sinister intent to exploit their resources. I
see no nations rising up to defend people from the likes of
despots like Robert Mugabe or Kim Song Il. Resident Bush has
all rights to protect our nation from real harm. Not getting
all the oil his administration wants when doing absolutely nothing to find
alternatives is not a threat to our nation, but to this
corrupt man's friends pockets.
Reverend Universal Life Church since January
2000. |
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Education |
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1998-2001 Bachelor of
Science, Biology (Environmental Emphasis) • not yet
completed • GPA - 3.76 • California State University,
Bakersfield • Bakersfield, CA
1991 - 98 Associate of
Arts, Anthropology • Summa Cum Laude
Bakersfield College • Bakersfield, CA
1982, 1996 Liberal
Studies • GPA - 4.0 • Taft College • Taft, CA
1992 Certificate,
Massage Therapist • Southern California School of
Massage • Riverside, CA
1978
Real Estate • Los Medanos College •
Pittsburg, CA |
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Experience |
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2006 - present Outreach Program
Coordinator • Audubon California Kern River Preserve • Weldon, CA
Author natural history brochures, natural
history signs, and kiosk materials. Work with manager and
other staff. Coordinate 4 annual nature festivals. Webmaster for Kern
River Preserve. Newsletter editor, design and edit
quarterly newsletter for a circulation of 1500. Provide or
acquire all graphics. Write articles. Repair and install
computer hardware as necessary. Diagnose and repair software conflicts.
Perform quarterly maintenance on 3-on-site computers. Maintain
database of volunteer Friends of the Kern River Preserve and
4-annual festival attendees. Maintain database. Write brochures, design pamphlets for sale to the
public.
1998 - present President / CEO • Nature
Ali • Weldon, CA
Independent publisher of small volume sales
materials. Duties include: Obtaining copyright registration
from United States Library of Congress, obtaining
International Standard Book Numbers from the ISBN agency.
Design and printing of brochures and pamphlets for
professionals and non-profit organizations. Contact and
contracting with book stores and museums for outright or
consignment sales. Author of natural history brochures.
Current projects include writing of multiple volumes on local
ecology. Webmaster for independent websites: Audubon
California, California Parrot Project, Tulare County
Audubon Society, Nature Ali, Kern
River Preserve, Rose-ringed Parakeets of Bakersfield and
Yosemite Audubon Society. Painted logo for Parrot
Project of Los Angeles and Rose-ringed Parakeet t-shirts. Kern
River Preserve website, update with necessary information,
linked to two other websites of my design, www.valleywild.org and natureali.org. Acquire domain names,
web hosting services. Newsletter editor, design and edit
quarterly newsletter for a circulation of 1500. Provide or
acquire all graphics. Write some articles. Repair and install
computer hardware as necessary. Diagnose and repair software conflicts.
Perform quarterly maintenance on 3-on-site computers. Maintain
database of volunteer Friends of the Kern River Preserve and
4-annual festival attendees. Maintain database. Write brochures, design pamphlets for sale to the
public.
2002 - 2006 Webmaster
• Audubon
California
Design, illustrate and maintain Audubon
California web site.
2005 Visitor Services
Assistant • Sequoia
National Forest • Greenhorn RD.
Created new one page handouts on sequoia
groves, birds, reptiles & amphibians, full color brochure on
wildflowers of the Sequoia, answered 4-line phone system,
wrote web pages on bioregions of the Sequoia, answered visitor
questions, hosted campfire programs.
2004 Biological Technician • Sequoia
National Forest • Cannell Meadow RD.
Field studies of Spotted Owl, Northern Goshawk,
Pacific Fisher, Piute Mountain rare plants, and meadow bird
surveys.
2003 Biological Technician • Sequoia
National Forest • Cannell Meadow RD.
Field studies of Spotted Owl, Northern Goshawk,
Pacific Fisher, Kern Plateau rare plants, and soil erosion
analysis.
1992 – 2002 Owner / Operator •
Nature Ali Myotherapy • Bakersfield, CA
Trigger Point Myotherapist operating licensed,
independent, private practice in Bakersfield. Duties include:
diagnosis, analysis, application of therapy on patients.
Written and verbal consultation with doctors, attorneys, and
insurance adjusters. Maintenance of records and billing
materials. Design and maintenance of business website,
brochures, business cards, and advertising materials.
Accounting and tax preparation. Appointment scheduling and
business networking.
1992 - 94 Biological Technician •
Automated Temporary Services • Bakersfield, CA
Contracted to EG& G Energy Measurements for
temporary assistance on small mammal trapping study. Duties
included: preparing bait, baiting traps, driving vehicles,
scribing data, weighing, measuring, and identifying mammal
species, preparing equipment for each days sessions. Worked
long hours in split shifts. Brian Cypher – Supervisor.
1992 Biological Technician •
Biosystems Analysis • Bakersfield, CA
Contracted to USDA Sequoia National Forest -
Greenhorn RD for California spotted owl survey. Duties
included: planning survey routes, conducting spotted owl
surveys after 10 p.m. each night, follow-up surveys if
necessary, mimicking and identifying various owls by
vocalization and sighting, care and feeding of feeder mice,
maintenance of primitive campsite for crew of 8, training of
inexperienced biologists in the protocols of spotted owl
surveys, daylight trail surveys.
Bill Van Herweg – Supervisor.
1991 - 92 Wildlife Aide • Sequoia
National Forest, Greenhorn RD • Bakersfield, CA
Seasonal employee duties included: field survey
for spotted owl, habitat analysis, stream survey, cartography,
condor roost site surveys, snag and canopy transects, soil
sensitivity matrix analysis, cumulative watershed effects
analysis, erosion analysis, stereoscopic aerial photo
analysis, photography, navigation by compass, solar analysis,
and topographic map, trained to use clinometer, densiometer,
cruiser stick, d-tape, altimeter, and computer, recorded mine
sites and cultural sites, worked with archeologist cataloging
site information, created maps, databases, and photographic
records of streams, conducted fire patrol, conducted wood
cutting permit verifications, limited law enforcement duties,
as well as public relations. Drove 4-wheel drive and 2-wheel
drive vehicles in all types of weather and road conditions.
Terry Simpson – Supervisor.
1990 - 92 Manager / Delivery Driver •
Domino's Pizza • Bakersfield, CA
Duties included employee scheduling, map
reading, money management, food preparation, , ordering,
handling, and baking, laundering uniforms, and cleaning store.
Howard Adams - Supervisor.
1976 - 90 Homemaker • Taft, CA
Duties included maintenance of household,
cooking, cleaning, managed finances, tax preparation, designed
and installed over 10,000 of sprinkler system and landscape,
maintained farm animals.
1982 - 86 Temporary Employee • Taft
City School District • Taft, CA
Substitute employee for various titles. Teacher's Aide (passed
C-Best test), groundskeeper, custodian, and food
service. |
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Photos Published |
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Audubon California. 2006, 2007. Various Publications.
Backpacker Magazine. 2007. A view from the Carrizo Plain.
Kaufman, K. 2004. Mammals of North America. San Joaquin Pocket
Mouse.
Bakersfield Californian. 2000. Children viewing Bald Eagles.
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Publications |
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Sheehey, A.M. 2006. Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra
Nevada Wildflowers. Nature Alley, Weldon, CA.
Sheehey, A. M., B. Barnes, T. Gallion, and R. Tollefson. 2002.
Kern River Preserve Nature Trail Guide. Audubon California,
Weldon, CA.
Sheehey, A. M., and B. Barnes. 2002. Bird Checklist Kern River
Preserve & South Fork Valley. Audubon California, Weldon, CA.
Sheehey, A. M., and B. Barnes. 2002. Kern River Valley &
Southern Sierra Bird Checklist. Audubon California, Weldon,
CA.
Sheehey, A. M. 2001. Field Card Birds of Kern County. Nature
Ali Publications: Bakersfield, CA.
Sheehey, A. M. 2000. Birds of the Kern River Parkway. Revised.
ASC Publications: Bakersfield, CA.
Sheehey, A. M. 1998. Birds of the Kern River Parkway. ASC
Publications, Bakersfield, CA
Sheehey, A. M. 1990. Birds of the Kern. Kern Audubon Society
Bakersfield, CA |
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Conference
Activity |
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“Rose-ringed Parakeets of Bakersfield”. Tehachapi Mountain
Bird Club. Tehachapi, CA July 2001.
“Rose-ringed Parakeets of Bakersfield”. Central Valley Bird
Club. Bakersfield, CA August 2000.
“Rose-ringed Parakeets of Bakersfield: The Data Gap” Western
Field Ornithologists 25/30/2000 Conference. Kernville, CA.
July 2000.
"Status and Distribution of Rose-ringed Parakeets of
Bakersfield" Naturalized Parrot Conference. Pasadena, CA.
March 2000.
"Preliminary Assessment of Rose-ringed
Parakeets in Bakersfield, CA" The Wildlife Society – San
Joaquin Chapter Natural Communities Conference. Bakersfield,
CA. March 1999.
McNeill, K.
F., L. A. Vega, and A. Sheehey-Cunningham. 1998. Does viewing
music videos propagate violence towards women? Poster
presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the American
Psychological Association, San Francisco,
CA. |
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Volunteer
experience |
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2000 - 2007 Webmaster California Parrot
Project
2001 - 2003 President / Webmaster, Kern
Audubon Society
1998 - 99 Vice-president Kern River
Parkway Foundation • Designer informational signs
1999 President Biology Club CSUB
1984 - 98 Tule Elk State Preserve •
Designer of Banner used at public functions.
1996 - 97 Phi Theta Kappa International
Honor Society- Scholarship Chair
1996 Bakersfield College -
Curriculum committee
1996 - 97 Associated Students of
Bakersfield College - homecoming committee
1996 - 97 Bakersfield College - Christmas
parade
1997 Kern County Lupus Society –
presentation
1987 - 97 Bureau of Land Management –
wildlife surveys, archeological surveys, habitat monitoring.
1997 Friendship Community House
1992 Center for Bird Population
Studies – Burrowing Owl Surveys
1992 Earth Day of Kern County -
Designed t-shirt
1990 Earth Day 1990 of Kern County
creator & co-coordinator
1986 - 03 Kern Audubon Society officer –
President, Conservation and Publicity Chairperson, newsletter
editor, webmaster, Vice-President
1986 - 95 National Audubon Society
Citizen’s Acid Rain Monitor.
1993 Muscular Dystrophy Association
Labor Day Telethon
1989 - 92 Kern County Endangered and
Threatened Species Work Group, conservation
1993 Representative Tulare County environmental alternate on the
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air District’s Citizen Advisory
Council
1988 - 92 The Nature Conservancy
1987 - 92 Special assembly teacher -
kindergartners through college students at CSUB,
1988-1992 Centennial
Elementary, Elk Hills School, Roosevelt School (Taft) and
Greenacres School on the subjects endangered species,
environmental activism, acid rain, bird identification, and
old growth forest ecosystems
1983-86 Boy Scouts of America - Unit
Commissioner, Den Leader, Scout Leader - Sunset District of
the Southern Sierra Council
1986 Chair Safe Highway 119
committee
1986 Initiator protection efforts
ARCO’s Cole’s Levee Ecosystem Preserve
1985 Creator & chairperson Toy’s
for Taft |
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Honors and
Awards |
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2000 President Clinton - Personal
letter of thanks
1999-2000 Dean's List California State
University Bakersfield
1998 Bakersfield
College Life Sciences Departmental Award
1998 Who’s Who of Junior College’s
1995-98 Dean's List Bakersfield College
1998 Associated Students of
Bakersfield College Scholarship
1998 Extended Opportunities
Scholarship
1997 Wally Beardsley Memorial
Scholarship
1996 President’s Re-entry Scholar
1996 Speck and Lorraine Haslam
Memorial Scholarship
1991 Conservation Award U.S. Forest Service, Sequoia
National Forest, Greenhorn Ranger District
1990 Beyond War Award – Given for
creating Earth Day 1990 of Kern County.
1987 National Audubon Society -
Western Region Chapter Activist of the Year
1985 President Reagan Personal Letter
of Commendation for Toys for Taft
1985 Grand Marshall Taft Christmas
Parade |
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Hobbies |
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The
natural history education of the citizens of Kern County.
Photographing the natural world.
Writing web pages.
Drawing and painting.
Breathing clean air. |
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Favorite Causes |
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Human Population Control
Saving Endangered Species
Planting native trees
Recycling
Universal Health Care
Defeating Resident Bush |
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Political Reality |
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Resident Bush is
not only destroying a great nation through his policies of
greed and corruption, he will destroy humanity and the planet
if allowed to continue. He needs to be impeached for high
crimes and misdemeanors for manipulating the oil markets in
1999 and 2000 in order to destroy the Clinton economy and win
his selection. In addition to getting us into an illegal war,
and doing nothing while New Orleans drowned.
His moral bankruptcy ranks right up there
with Adolph Hitler. Right-wing Christians like him hide behind
a false God created to abdicate personal responsibility.
Vote all of the
rubber stamp Republicans and Democrats out. Don't let the current
"Republican" Party destroy any more budgets, jobs, wildlands,
wildlife. You know all of those departments he slashes the
budgets of like EPA, TSA, HUD, Forest Service, Park Service,
are full of people who are now unemployed.
A lean government does not have to be a mean
government. Hey and while we are at it, taxes pay for these
things. Yes, I make very little money but if my taxes pay for
public services and education I am happy to pay them. If they
only support perpetual war and environmental destruction then
I am not interested in paying them.
Let your voice be heard at this website.
There is an honest petition working to impeach Bush.
Vote to Impeach Bush dot
org is a grassroots effort. Join it if you care.
The single most pressing issue for
sustaining tomorrow is not robbing the earth of its resources
today. The only thing Bush is doing for the environment is
helping to thin the ranks of people, and that is not the way
to help humanity nor the earth.
I hope the next Congress will resume
fully funding International Family Planning, get us back on
track with Kyoto, increase CAFE standards, increase funding
for Land and Water Conservation, push toward sustainable
energy in all new development, call for increased use of
recycled building materials, and so much more. |
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Nature
Ali
P.O. Box 153
Weldon, CA 93283
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