Thank you Governor Walz (et. al.)

The Governor has announced that his administration will continue a legal challenge to Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline project. To be candid, this is one of very few rational, coherent, aware decisions we've seen emerge from politics and government for some time. If you've previously read this blog, you may have noticed we're rarely very supportive of either the decisions, or the decision-making processes relative to mining, water quality, industrial farming and a variety of other sectors that affect both the environment and the economy.

One of our major concerns has been the willingness of too many decision-makers to accept that "this time will be different" promises that are usually, as far as we can tell, unfounded. Who ends up getting hurt? Those who enjoy and/or economically depend on an environment that doesn't poison those who use it or consume its gifts and, the taxpayer! When was the last time a major corporation fully cleaned up a disaster rather than file bankruptcy and walk away?

St. Louis River downstream of proposed PolyMet mine

Photo by J. Harrington

The list of potential environmental and economic disasters facing Minnesota grows by the year. Notable recent projects that fit those categories include:

• PolyMet


• Twin Metals


• Enbridge's Line 3


• Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) like the Catalpa Ag hog farm

We are living in a global economy where some entities are deemed "too big to fail." Some of us believe that "too big to fail" is just too big. A presidential candidate some years ago made reference to "that sucking sound you hear." We suggest that the sucking sound lots of local communities and businesses and governments hear is caused by international profits, local controls and choices leaving the community. When was the last time we saw the Sherman anti-trust act used? Are we really willing to sell our country and our freedom as commodities, in exchange for low-paying jobs and not having to make difficult decisions?

near Birch Lake and the Twin Metals mine project

Photo by J. Harrington

At a global scale, we have been told that there's only slightly more than a decade available to make changes needed to preserve a viable environment for our descendants. We are also told that current governments are failing to undertake the actions needed to meet goals to which they committed themselves. Such inaction, and its effects, is compounded by the implications of the sixth extinction and the loss of invertebrates, on which nature relies.

Until Governor Walz's recent decision, one of the few signs of hope we've been able to find were based on the growing numbers of "young" leaders, those with most at stake in having a future, leading school strikes and other efforts to get the "adults in the room" to act like responsible adults. We look forward to more decisions from the Walz administration that are based on science, due process and a time horizon that exceeds the current fiscal quarter. Too many governmental decisions these days are justified on the length of time consumed and quantity of pages filed rather than the quality of the analysis supporting the decision. Change to our current process is needed.

Here's a longer and more eloquent explication of that topic: 

Stymied, We Stew

Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go deal with the effects of a disrupted climate that's resulted in a pattern of record-setting February snow storms.

The Process

By Dilruba Ahmed

So grateful the process is clean

and faithful. Does not cheat

like a disenchanted spouse

dozing on a haggard couch.

Take heart: the process is always right — 

is automatic, phlegmatic. Clean, cold,

and always refreshing. Brewed to perfection

some say. Guaranteed to satisfy

you might say. Give thanks the process

is organized. Synchronized and sterilized.

Optimized but not disguised, like

the grown man at my door long after

trick-or-treaters have gone, hand

outstretched, mask covering his eyes.

Thankful, too, for the oversight: no

boogeyman standing over the drain pipe,

clogging it with debris when no one sees

so he can charge you your life

for the cleaning; name your price.

And how shall we praise the instruments

of investigation? So shiny, so new, gleaming

with silver and glass? No traces of fingerprints

or funders. No whispered voices

softly requesting, of the results, a first glance.

There’s no need to come clean. We know

the process won’t fall prey to steak and wine

and then slink upstairs to spend some time,

just a little. The process doesn’t. The process

wouldn’t. The process isn’t that kind.

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