Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Three Lakes Sierra Club Comments on 1st Symphony

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak at a meeting of our local Sierra Club. I gave a brief overview of the Symphony project, then the 20 or so people in attendance broke into four groups and discussed the Symphony's visioning questions. Note-takers in each group gave me their notes, which I summarized into the statements below. Thanks, Three Lakes Sierra Club members for your great ideas.

I encourage everyone else to add their comments!
-gz


What concerns us
Continuing environmental degradation: pollution (sewage, industrial pollution, runoff);  invasive species; loss of natural areas and biodiversity due to urban growth, industrial activity including mining, natural gas production, unsustainable ag practices, loss of aesthetic values

Potential for water exports

Loss of local control and reduced access to decision making (e.g., inability to regulate multinational corporations)

Loss of access to shorelines

What unites us
The beauty of the lakes/rivers, the similarity of the ecosystems

That we can learn from each other – what works in one part of the basin may well work in another
 
What to promote
Effective environmental laws/regulations to protect environmental quality
Clean water as an intrinsic value
Sustainable economies
Education, K-12 and adult about natural systems
Overcoming greed, get some people to appreciate the lakes as much as they appreciate their money
Decentralized, sustainable, local economies, businesses that are part of the community
Access to decision-making, respectful communications with each other
Creative approaches to problem solving, using nature’s principles
The role of healthy lakes for healthy people (mind, body and soul)
Appreciation of the lakes/rivers

Vision for 2035
Communities with sustainable food systems, transportation, energy systems and other businesses. Communities that live with the lakes with a smaller ecological footprint.
Public access to natural areas/shorelines, communities that value the beauty of natural areas and systems

How to make the vision a reality
Education – adult/general public and K-12 – about each of our local watersheds as well as the greater Great Lakes/St Lawrence system.
Kid-to-kid learnings – like the videos featured in the Vide-Eau contest
Artists, musicians, writers helping develop a perspective on the lakes/rivers
Local celebrations/festivals

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