From Our Readers...

Editor:

The Threat Is Still Real 

The terrorist attacks on 9/11 seemed unreal 20 years ago.  

Could someone destroy our water & Lake Michigan next? 

Yes, this threat is real. Michigan already granted permits for a massive sulfide minerals open pit mine 50 yards from the Menominee River. A judge revoked the Wetlands permit but it’s not over yet. As long as there’s gold here, someone will try to mine it. Luckily you could take part in stopping it now. 

There is no sulfide mine on earth that has not polluted its location. Water touching the mining-exposed sulfide creates sulfuric acid. This acid water leaches other toxins (lead, mercury, arsenic...) everywhere it flows. The river, aquifers, wetlands and linked waterways would be contaminated, aquatic life killed, drinking water poisoned. 

How does a mine kill? Poisons kill. The millions of tons of waste rock and a slurry of toxic mining waste tailings with cyanide would be stacked as, & poured into an earthen dam (no concrete, no steel) to be left on-site forever. These moist dams don’t all hold “forever”.  When they fail, the surging flood instantly destroys everything and everyone in its path. It sends wastes and poisonous sludge flowing sometimes hundreds of miles which would poison Lake Michigan. A mine dam broke (2019) killing 270 people.  Another dam failed in Florida (March 2020) resulting in 600 tons, so far, of marine species killed in Tampa Bay.  

 “Won’t it be OK if the mine follows all the laws?”  NO! Chemistry and water flow do not follow States’ laws: 100% of sulfide mines create sulfuric acid which leaches & carries toxins found either during operation or after closure. Michigan created the Flint Water Crisis by diverting acidic Flint River water into homes and businesses there. The acid leached the lead from pipes and poisoned people. Knowing this, Michigan kept that poisonous water flowing to peoples’ homes for years. Michigan’s law permits sulfide mines knowing they pollute.

Acid mine drainage will flow no matter who mines these sulfide minerals. Earth-bermed mountains of toxic slurry will be left on site to burst and kill if this ore is mined.

Take Action at: www.JoinTheRiverCoalition.org. Click on the 2 blue buttons to send 2 prewritten letters to regulators saying NO to more State Land leased here for mineral rights, & NO such toxic “dam” on site here.

Want a free presentation for your business, club or social group? Leave your name & contact information at erin.jointherivercoalition@gmail.com. Ask for Natalie’s presentation. I will contact you.

The threat is real. Learn the facts to debunk the propaganda. And take action, the time is now.

Natalie Lashmet, 

Menominee

 

 

Dear Editor:

At the Bridge

We live at the border of Michigan and Wisconsin, at the push-pin point where the Menominee River ends its waterway journey, and at the edge of that river’s blue-green boundary. Thus, our geography creates a unique place with the bridge at the heart of one community composed of two cities, two separate counties, and two different states. So, for us, crossing bridges is routine.

As the bridge is at the heart of our territory, competitive behavior is at the center of the way we think. We operate in the land of Vince Lombardi, the M&M Game, and the University of Michigan Vs. Michigan State. We grew up in an age where progress was made by fighting wars, winning campaigns, and building big chains. Likewise, you and I participated by competing for top test scores, being the fastest, and gaining status over others.  For us, like crossing bridges, competing is second nature.

Competing is in our history, and, understandably, we default to this way of solving a problem; but, how is the constant clash of opposing sides working for you, your community, and our nation these days? 

Consider that playing games has its place for personal development, entertainment, and fun.  We are motivated by the challenge of a starting point, boundaries, and a score at the end. However, community development does not seem to be a game like that to me. Contrast competitive gaming with the fact that we strive to live long and eternal lives. As well, the pursuit of happiness is subjectively personal. In society, there are no starting blocks or a finish line. Building a better community is a different model than our regular competition.  Can we acknowledge that we are not better off when our games create more losers than winners for our young people, family, friends, and neighbors?

Each time you are at a bridge, let it remind you about the heart of our community. If you care, you would not be striving to win a game of you vs. me, us vs. them. What if we discarded the win-lose thinking and instead worked shoulder to shoulder with empathy and without fear? Replace the energy spent on skirmishes and avoidance with actions of gratitude, building on strengths, and cooperating as allies. Then, without permission from anyone but yourself, you can be constructive at little to no extra cost. Cross your mental bridge to making things happen through participation, acts of kindness, mutual trust, and respect.

Keith Killen,

Marinette