We’ve become a short-term focused species constantly on the go with instant communications and global market trading all happening with the stroke of a key pad or call on a cellphone. The disconnect between long-term thinking and short-term thinking to me sums up our political discourse in the United States, especially as it relates to natural resources…take it now or think about future generations.
Native Americans had it right: “In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation… even if it requires having skin as thick as the bark of a pine.” ― —Great Law of the Iroquois.
We see this playing out in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Whether to reap 50+ years of benefits with a gold/copper mine situated at the headwaters of the worlds largest wild sockeye salmon fishery OR protect a time-honored fishery that has sustained countless generations of native people and now also sustains a commercial and sport fishery worth millions.
It’s all about freshwater…let’s take a lesson from Native Americans and seriously think about the seventh generation.
If this moves you consider supporting www.savebristolbay.org and tell them I sent you…and when you buy salmon make sure its wild salmon from Alaska–vote your preference with your pocketbook.
shipbright
