BRATTLEBORO — Some people think it will take a crisis to move people to action. I believe there are some people, however, willing to read the handwriting on the wall and take action before a crisis in order to prevent a crisis.
Unfortunately, these people do not seem to be in governmental positions of influence, as evidenced by:
1) The toxic chemicals being dumped into drinking water of the Elk River in West Virginia recently. (The potential problem had been known and warnings ignored.)
2) Thousands (82,000-plus) of tons of toxic coal ash, after being mixed with 27,000 gallons of contaminated water, being dumped into the Dan River in North Carolina and then flowing downstream into Danville, Va. (A similar event happened in Kingston, Tenn. in 2008; despite years of warnings by environmentalists and regulators, no action was taken.)
3) Officials cannot agree if or how to deal with the Dan River contamination.
4) Officials cannot agree that other sludge ponds represent similar threats to the environment (and, therefore, to all life, since the toxins move up the food chain).
Vermonters have more regard for our beautiful home. We everyday people have more vision, courage, and creativity than these officials from points south. Perhaps government is too big and too cumbersome; perhaps big business is too far removed from everyday matters of life and death in the ecosystem and too distracted - or addicted - by the system of greed and “winning.”
(Winning what? More money? More power? While destroying the planet?)
Even frogs know not to contaminate the pond in which they dwell, says one Chinese proverb. Are we not at least as wise as a frog?
I believe we, the people, the 99 percent, will come up with measures to prevent and avert similar catastrophes in Vermont. Already, BCTV (channel 8) is airing an inspiring documentary, The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, full of ideas of how to live better on less with less environmental impact (carbon footprint).
We can copy the successes and avoid the untold suffering the Cubans endured. They had no warning; we do. We need to heed the warning signs of our own economic challenges and take action now.
We can transform Vermont, Windham County, Brattleboro, our neighborhood into a self-sustainable and independent culture by following the Cuban example and using our own “true grit” and ingenuity. We can create a future of our own design.
Thank you for watching the film and considering the possibilities of a brighter, healthier future for us all.