Articles about the wisdom from and connection to nature, and environmental protection.
Is it “green” to have the greenest lawn on the block? In today’s more socially conscious society we are increasingly faced with duplicity in our work and personal lives. Are you being true to your own heart?
Come join us! WALK FOR DUNES LAKE WOODS The Friends of Dunes Lake invite you to join them for a walk through the bog, woods and trails surrounding Dunes Lake to raise awareness of the ecological, recreational and quality-of-life value of this area. A road and housing development is being planned between the Bordelais Bog and Dunes Lake. This is home to many bird and animal species as well as old growth forest. It’s not too late to save this place, but we need your help! Let’s show the developers and Town Council that St. Lazare residents don’t need another road here - we want this ecologically sensitive area preserved for future generations! WALK INFORMATION Nature Interpreter Ryan Young will be our guide as we explore the bog, adjacent woods, and Dunes Lake. Come see some of the flora and fauna that make this area so special. Date/Time: April 11, 2010, 1-2 pm Start: Bordelais Bog parking lot (rue Yearling/Bordelais) Bring your children, your friends and your dogs for the Walk, Easter Egg [...]
What would happen if we started to think of ourselves less as "land owners" and more as "land stewards"? This is something that indigenous people understood and which allowed them to respect and protect the environment that sustained them. What would happen if we started to shift our thinking in this direction?
A fitting legacy Last Monday night, the town of Hudson ratified a recommendation to name a new nature trail after my husband, the late councilor Robert Parkinson. Our family is very grateful that the town saw fit to honour Bob’s service in this way (Gazette article). I couldn’t have thought of a more fitting tribute. We are also so grateful to the dedication and passion of a small but mighty local organization that helped create this new trail: Sentiers Vaudreuil Soulanges (SVS). Almost four and a half years ago, Bob was drawn to local politics by his passion to protect the local beauty of the nature parks and trail system. He saw this as a unique asset of Hudson that required support. His campaign platform was based on this concept. Once elected, he quickly got involved in green space preservation issues, which he continued to do until the end of his tenure as councilor. Early on, Bob worked with the town and residents to protect and rebuild the Apple Glenn dam, which was a pivotal element in protecting the wetland and [...]
Western cultures have ignored the wisdom and voice of indigenous people for a very long time. We are just starting to wake up to it now, thankfully. We still have a long way to go toward mutual respect and understanding. One of things we do need is a better ways to communicate. I recently had the privilege of listening to Mohawk council representative, Stuart Myiow, speak. I was at a day-long retreat about environmental protection. We listened to him speak and sing. He had us riveted for hours. The wisdom and insight that this man shared with us was profound. I felt like I was listening to a sage. Yet, he admittedly has no formal education and doesn't hold a "money economy" job. I have attached a one-page imperative that the Five Nation Iroquois Confederacy has developed. It summarizes some of the knowledge that Stuart imparted on us that day. But, I have to warn you, the language is harsh and the tone of voice will be foreign to most. While it touches on the main point of his discussion with [...]
