Some folks still view me through cranberry bog blinders; they cannot seem to get past the fact that I argued to keep the Coonamessett River cranberry bogs open.
Truth be told, these people have never really talked with me about the subject. Sure, there may have been passing words here or there, but there was never really any effort to sit down, discuss things at length and come to any understanding.
It wasn't for lack of trying; I tried approaching a number of people, but they weren't interested in talking. Had they done so, they would realize that I, too, want to help the Coonamessett River - I just don't think we need to close cranberry bogs to do this.
For those who have chosen to speak with me, minds have changed. Indeed, over the past few weeks, I've had some wonderful conversations with a number of folks who had, until recently, thought of me as an intractable anti-environmentalist.
However, my environmental credentials are good and sound, and for those of you who aren't aware of them, here's a quick run-down:
* As a Boy Scout (I earned my Eagle Award in 1986), I earned a number of environment-related merit badges, including Environmental Science and Soil and Water Conservation.
* I was a member of the Falmouth Conservation Commission from 2003-2007. It's worth noting that I was a member of the quorum which unanimously imposed 99 conditions on the Little Pond Landing project.
* We are members of the 300 Committee.
* I drive an 8-year old Saturn which gets 30+ mpg.
* Our house was - at my insistence - built with 50 percent more insulation than what is required by code.
* I am a founding member, and former member of the board, of Clean Power Now, a non-profit organization which supports the development of renewable energy resources.
* I'm a member of the International Dark-Sky Association, an organization dedicated to stopping the adverse effects of light pollution, including, "Energy waste, and the air and water pollution caused by energy waste," and "Harm to nocturnal wildlife and ecosystems."
No, I don't belong to Greenpeace, but then neither does Dr. Patrick Moore, one of its founders. In the mid-1980's, Dr. Moore left Greenpeace to found Greenspirit, an organization devoted to cooperative - as opposed to confrontational - environmentalism.
As he notes, "...when a majority of people decide they agree with you it is probably time to stop hitting them over the head with a stick and sit down and talk to them about finding solutions to our environmental problems."
It's fair to say that - with respect to the Coonamessett River cranberry bogs - we've finally arrived at the cooperative environmentalism which Dr. Moore advocates. We've a grower with a fisheries background who is going to farm the bogs organically and install a modern irrigation system. While I'm disappointed that it took so long to get here (four years), I'm glad we finally did.
It's the kind of practical environmentalism that I've been advocating all along. Some folks were listening from the beginning; now that the confrontational environmentalism is behind us, perhaps more will remove their blinders to sit down and talk.
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