Sustainable economy? Reasons for hope

This is an early and short posting because I'll be at a photography lesson for most of the day. (There's hope that my pictures will improve.) More importantly, I want to share news, which I consider extremely hopeful, that a coalition of northern Minnesota businesses has formed in recognition that

“Our locally owned small businesses are proof positive that a more sustainable model is possible. We, and other locally owned businesses, will continue to reinvest the wealth we create into new jobs over the next 20 years."

Duluth Harbor from Lake Superior

Photo by J. Harrington

They're opposing PolyMet's NorthMet project which gives me hope they, and we, are seeing just the beginning of transformations to drivers of the state's economy. We all need to recognize that there's strong linkages (you know, connected dots) among energy efficiency and renewable energy and a creative, diverse economy that doesn't depend on the boom and bust of extractive industry. The more businesses and their customers speak up about this, the more our political leaders should follow us.  Next time you're up north, be sure to support any coalition member you can, and don't forget to thank them for their contributions to a sustainable Minnesota.

Closer to (my) home, the Better Half and I are scheduled to spend tonight at a local historic hotel that's reported to have one or more ghosts. Tomorrow's posting could be interesting. Personally, I'm just hoping for a good night's sleep.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - (314)

By Emily Dickinson 

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

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