click to enlarge
click to enlarge
These pictures were recently taken from my sister and brother-in-law's home on the Peshtigo River in Northern Wisconsin. In 1969, the Peshtigo had the distinction of being one of only three rivers in the United States that was unpolluted from its source to its terminus. That was the year the Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire and as a nation we realized just how badly we had damaged our environment. This appalled awareness, due in part to A RIVER catching fire (listen to Randy Newman's "Burn on Big River, Burn on"), led to the enactment of clean air and water legislation and things have improved with many rivers now unpolluted.
But undaunted and having imperfectly learned our lesson, we find ways of doing even greater damage to our earth and her waters. The Coyahoga fire pales in comparison to what is happening in the gulf. I wonder, will there be public outrage and resolve after this disaster sufficient to result in effective legislation as there was in the 1970's after a river caught fire?
This is a picture of the Cuyahoga burning in 1952, one of THIRTEEN fires on that river since 1868!
wonderful photos, which inspire us to think green.
ReplyDeletepaz ;-)