It shouldnt surprise anyone that my favorite PBS documentary is “America’s Best Idea” about our National Parks. I purchased the DVD set last year at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center. I like to make comparisons from when the National Park Service was first created in 1916 to now. One theme remains the same. Wild lands should be preserved and protected. From the very beginning the protection was from the timber industry, the mineral industry, and the hydroelectric power industry. Today our land is still under assault by the mineral industry. Under the banner of “drill baby drill” and a fight to ween ourselves from foreign oil we have cut off the tops of beautiful mountains, injected toxic chemicals into the earth to extract gas and endangered our most valuable resources….mainly soil and water. This has not changed from the 1800’s. The mineral industry is relentless. One thing has changed drastically. That is the dedication to service in our government officials. I think most people sense a failure in our system. It’s even more evident when you compare the actions of Stephen Mather, the first National Parks Service director, to the actions of government officials today. Mather, a successful business man, used his own money to ensure the ideals of his newly created NPS. Today it seems the ideals are lost in a whirlwind of dirty deals and self-gratification. We need more Mathers. I know a few. My friend Robert fights for the wilderness in Oregon. My friend Darrin fights for the birds and bird habitat. My friend Karen teaches our young children how to love and understand nature. Local biologist Jim Martin fights for our local streams. Local farmer Lynn Henning fights the CAFO’s in Lenawee. Local businesswomen Aimee Weeber and Erika Aylward support and increase the demand for local food. I wanted to acknowledge all the Mathers out there because people need to be hopeful for our future. Personally, I am doing my best, working within the Government to do what’s right. In true Mather form I am dedicating my lunch breaks to walking our 240 acre property and creating an inventory of our trees. My plan is to assess the condition of the trees on our property and to promote green ideas. This week with the help of friends I am researching conifer tree propagation. By the Spring I hope to plant 25-50 new conifer trees on our property at no cost to the tax payers. I am working hard to install 6 acres of prairie grass to reduce the amount of mowing and CO2 emissions. I am working for a new hoop house for inmates to grow organic vegetables to donate to the needy. I am researching green roofs. I am working for the purchase of new solar panels to reduce our electric usage. There are many obstacles but I am determined to promote the ideals of Stephen Mather. You can be a Mather too. All you have to do is get outside, love nature and then do something/anything to fight for it. The mineral industry is not your puppet master. You can do it.
The Heron 