Almost a year ago, in August 2020, three conservation organizations, Trout Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, published a Critical Minerals Report A Conservation Perspective. (PDF version here) It provides, among other information, a useful context with (in?) which to consider proposed mining projects that could affect Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but of perhaps greater interest is that it's one of the few reports I'm aware of that represents a collaboration among environmental organizations. Both ancient Greek fables and the Bible's New Testament tell us that "United we stand, divided we fall." And yet, with an occasional exception, the national environmental community doesn't appear to collaborate or coordinate as much as might prove beneficial in the political and public policy arena. The Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP), "comprised of more than 70 environmental and conservation organizations," is one such exception at the state level.
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| are water and land not joined?
Photo by J. Harrington
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Many, many, many years ago I was a member of the National Rifle Association [NRA] for several years. That organization was noted for "punching above its weight" in the political arena. If there's ever been an environmental or conservation organization with a comparable reputation, I'm not aware of it. For the record, I am and have been for some time, a member of the Sierra Club, a conservation / environmental organization which long ago decided to forego receiving tax deductible donations in exchange for the freedom to engage in increased political activity. I believe that the NRA had a strategy not engaged in by environmental and conservation organizations. If a politician opposed NRA positions on legislation, s/he could anticipate the "gun lobby" would actively support, and sometimes recruit, primary opponents. Would it be beneficial to the environmental movement to have an organization with the political muscle the NRA was reputed to have? Why is it, after decades of warnings, the political leadership in this country is still not actively engaged in eliminating greenhouse gases and mitigating the effect of climate weirding? Might it have something to do with the contributions made to political campaigns by fossil fuel industry PACs? And how is it that the environmental sector, and those who depend on it (that would be all of US), can counter both the lobbying and, especially, the campaign contributions?
On this Independence Day weekend Monday, when we're celebrating the founding of the United States through the confederation of 13 separate colonies, isn't it time to urge our environmental and conservation organizations to consider forming a similar federation, while there's still an environment left that's worth conserving?
What makes a nation's pillars high
And its foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.
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