THIS IS OUR HOME!

Mason County, WA USA

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Tom Davis

Environmental activism is a messy affair, wrought with differing personalities and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But the recent decision requiring Adage to undergo an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is clear evidence that power still resides with the people.

Everyone involved in the movement to protect the air quality, property values and general quality of life of Mason County residents can take heart in the fact that our system of governance still works for the people and by the people.

True, the fight against those industries that would sacrifice our health and welfare for profit is far from over. But wars are won one battle at a time, and this battle belongs to us. We must, however, remain vigilant and totally involved if we are to prevail in the final outcome, as the forces against us are formidable and well financed.

Our county is in the midst of a crisis brought on by poor management and exploited by special interests. Conditions for a plutocratic government are fertile, and there is no shortage of players willing and able to use the current economic downturn to advance their agenda.

Some would describe our efforts to protect the right to breathe clean air as anarchistic. But we are simply individual Americans who have banned together to fight those who would contaminate our environment for profit.

We live in a county built by strong, independent minded men and women. But the challenges we face are unlike any of the original settlers. Native peoples held the land in reverence, and utilized its bounty with humility and respect. The original Anglo settlers viewed the forests as something to beat back, log and clear for farms and businesses.

Traveling from Portland to Seattle, one sees how so many small communities have surrendered their identities to strip malls and cookie-cutter subdivisions, with little to inspire wonder or stoke the imagination. This is not our vision for Mason County.

It is often said that people just can't seem to appreciate what they had until it's gone. But it doesn't have to be that way.

At a recent meeting, Port Director John Dobson was asked, "Why Adage? Why not something less environmentally damaging?" He answered, "Beggars can't be choosers."

Is that the way our officials view the people of our county? As beggars, hungry to embrace any industry that comes along, no matter how destructive?

What Mason County has is a gold mine of natural resources. What we lack is leadership with the imagination to capitalize on those resources without destroying them. There are many ways to do this, but the incineration of biomass is not one of them. Adage and the new Simpson co-generation plants are not good "fits" for our community. Hell, they're not even good fits for Pittsburg.

For the moment we have prevailed. I don't know why, or who should get the credit, and I don't care. What I do care about is the next battle. The battle to preserve that which others seem so willing to destroy.

This is our home, our air, our families and our lives. If the local power structure thinks we will give these things up without a fight, I say, bring it on.

Photo by Christine