Mni Wiconi, Water is Life #CleanWaterWednesday

I think, I hope, I'm seeing a pattern develop here.

a lake near the Gunflint Trail

Photo by J. Harrington

• More than 100 Native American tribes are now supporting #NoDAPL and "Water Is Life" at Standing Rock.


• The Smithsonian and partners have commenced a national tour of Water/Ways.


• Minnesota is one of the leading states for the Water/Ways exhibit.


• Governor Dayton has declared a Year of Water Action.


• The Academy of American Poets has created an anthology of Poems on Water for Teachers in conjunction with Water/Ways


• The City of St. Paul has a manager for its "Great River Passage" initiative


• Minneapolis is working on redevelopment of the upper riverfront


• NibiWalk performed (Sept 9 - 12) a ceremonial Water Walk along the Kettle River tributary to the St. Croix


• The University of Minnesota is focusing increasing attention on the Mississippi River flowing through its campus

Kandunce River, northern Minnesota

Photo by J. Harrington

I have no doubt there are other major initiatives, such as the continuing efforts to protect the St. Louis River and the Boundary Waters from the environmental devastation that frequently (always?) accompanies mining. Are we beginning to see a new awakening to the fact that water is a renewable but irreplaceable resource? Could we begin to hope, finally, for the attainment of the goals set by Congress back in 1972, that our waters finally be "fishable-swimmable?" I'm encouraged by the above list and look forward to seeing additions to it. Please list in the comments any I may have missed.

I suppose that the concurrent occurrence of all of these initiatives is largely coincidental. I much prefer to believe that they're signs of an awakening on our part. That, looked at broadly, they're indications that we're developing a Water Ethic or water ethics. That we are starting to realize that there is indeed no Planet B. That we live on a finite planet. That indeed, Water Is Life and we can't drink oil or eat ore. Might it be time for a "Green Party" to consider becoming the Blue-Green Party, the party of Life on earth?

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Langston Hughes, 1902 - 1967

I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
     flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln 
     went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy 
     bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

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