Director's Notes: But We Have Been
Working So Long…
by Jill Ryan
Do you ever feel
as though your
struggle to protect
your cherished
lake, wetland
or river has
been going on
forever? Do you
grow tired of continuing
to advocate
for saving the important functions
of your water resources for the
benefit of the entire community?
I hear these refrains often from the
dedicated and essential citizens
across the Great Lakes Basin who are
working so hard. Folks often feel
they are struggling alone and without
encouragement.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE! GLAHNF regularly
communicates with about 1,700
citizens and grassroots groups all
working with similar goals in mind,
to protect their local community
resources. Ultimately, all of these
similar and critically important
struggles add up not only to protect
a particular river, lake or wetland in a
particular place, but to the protection
of our water resources across
the entire Great Lakes Basin.
Your collective actions and stories do
resonate with decision-makers and
regulators. Because your work is
echoed many times over in community
after community, it begins to
make an impact beyond one local
jurisdiction and influences all of us
fortunate enough to call this wonderful
place home.
While I certainly understand how
much effort and determination is
required to keep moving forward on
local protection battles, I encourage
you to continue in your efforts.
Without all of these collective voices,
our water resources would tell a different
story of the impacts humans
can bring to their environment.
"The spirit and determination
of the people to chart their own
destiny is the greatest power for
good in human affairs."
– Matt Blunt
Disclaimer:
The interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. They in no way represent the views of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, the C.S. Mott Foundation, subscribers, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.
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