I encourage you to add a comment in reply to the following visioning questions. Several groups around the Gt. Lakes/St Lawrence Basin are collecting these comments and will compile them for presentation to the meeting of the Great Lakes Cities Initiative later next summer in Quebec City.
What unites all of us who live in the basin?
What is important and what worries us about our waters?
What do we want to promote?
What is our vision for the basin in 2035?
How can we make our vision come true?
1. We share a common place - the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin. What we do in Lake Superior ultimately effects the St. Marys River, Lake Huron, and all the way down the line to the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. We can share a common focus. By developing strategies for conserving Lake Superior, we're helping build strategies to conserve waters all the way down the line.
ReplyDelete2. Our bodies are 85% water. That water is Great Lakes/ St. Lawrence water. We are literally the Great Lakes. That alone should make us mindful of the precious resource but sadly does not. We all take it for granted that it will always be there for us to exploit.
3. We should promote mindfulness about our resources. We need to consume natural resources. But let's do so mindfully and respectfully. Respectfully to each other, to future generations and to the waters.
4. I envision a future in which everyone recognizes our dependence on each other and the magnificent resources of our area, is mindful of how the resources are used for the benefit of all, and are willing to make the necessary investments in using our resources sustainably instead of just looking for the lowest out-of-pocket costs.
5. Let's share our compassion and knowledge. Let's make 'what it's doing to the waters' a decision making criteria instead of just considering minimizing costs.