Letter: Protest against desecration in New Mexico

DAVID KEYS rightly considers the Anasazi Petroglyph National Monument to be a spectacular site (Civilisations, Review, 23 May). This 7,000-acre monument comprises one of the largest collections of sacred indigenous markings in the world, and was established as a national monument by the US Congress in 1990.

Eight days ago an urgent message was sent by Native Americans whose ancestors made the carvings, alerting the world that the City of Albuquerque and commercial developers intended to build a six-lane expressway through the monument, bisecting it and destroying its integrity.

Petitions to the President and Congress are being collected. Anyone concerned by this desecration should protest now to the US embassy or President Clinton direct.

Sara Champion

University of Southampton