Wilderness: What and Why. 3 articles & 1 map

Grassroots Action: What and How. Political Democracy at its Best.

1. We are all very pleased -- you and I equally -- that the Rev. Richard Cartwright Austin will be giving a series of talks to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community during a weekend in November on the broad subject of ENVIRONMENTAL THEOLOGY ---- on as I understand it, on the need for active care and concern by Christians and all people for the earth and at its life as created by Cod. Dick Austin's presence will be cause for great celebration!

2. Let me now talk/about the first of two subjects suggested by Lynn Cameron: WILDERNESS: Its preservation and its values

It is true that preservation of wilderness, of wild lands, has been my main area of action and concern for the environment. Sure, I have been involved in a variety of other environmental issues, but wilderness preservation has been the dominant field of action. It has simply come naturally to my temperament, my disposition. It has my sustained emotional drive.

Here quote first sentence of WAct: "In order to assure …" This statement declares a broad base for the value of wilderness. And it implies a deep respect for the natural world, for the Earth and its life as the Creator designed it. Considering all the pro-environment teachings in the Bible, it is unfortunate that the verse early in the Bible, is it in Genesis -- declaring that God has give Mankind dominion over the earth and all creatures therein has received such widespread publicity, even ACCEPTANCE. AS IF mankind were not an equal part with all other life.

The Wilderness Act itself is a strong expression of reverence for the earth, its life, its fruits. Its philosophy extends beyond any immediate uses or short term benefits; it is an expression of mankind’s fundamental, basic attachment to the living earth.

Most everyone who has given any thought to the idea of wild land has their own definition of wilderness. For some any bit of quiet woods, regardless of its small size, is and conveys to such persons much the same emotional reaction while some other person requires thousands of acres of undeveloped land to feel that he or she is in WILDERNESS, in pure nature. Forest, swamp, desert, beach, lakes & rivers.

Alright, what is a definition of wilderness? First, mentally reflect quickly on your own concept. Next consider the definition of W. in the WAct: like any legal definition of anything, it is complex and even confusing. Finally for purposes of this talk, let me offer a definition which I have long used in talking with people about W.! W. is an area that is wild, roadless and free of the works of man. REPEAT.

USES & VALUES OF WILDERNESS. The Multiple Use & Sustained Yield Act of 1960 Recreation is extremely broad. Scientific Study.. Purification of the air (if forest). Undisturbed wildlife habitat. Preserv. of microscopic life elsewhere being heedless destroyed. The living green forest itself -- exceeding any commercial values.- Esthetic, spiritual renewal.

3. Lynn suggested that I might also talk about ways & means of being active in public issues involving the environment -- of directly seeking to influence decisions on public issues of concern to you, whether local, state or national. Perhaps doing this may be new to most of you, YET IT IS THE ESSENCE OF POLITICAL DEMOCRACY.

A. Let’s approach this idea in terms of local issues, of issues --- of issues where the decision will be made by the H’burg City Council, the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors, or some official agency of those bodies. In that way you will be on your home ground and in many cases dealing with public officials known to you.

B. At the risk of seeming too elementary in my remarks, the first step obviously is to learn what issues are currently before any local official bodies and to familiarize yourselves with those issues of particular concern to you -- in your case presumably issues related to the environment.

C. Where do you get information ion about current local issues? Sources: The editor or a knowledgeable reporter on the local newspaper, any state environmental agency, City Councilors or Country Supervisors known personally to you, the city or county planning board, and the local public library may have pamphlets or books on specific environmental subjects.

D. When you feel sufficiently familiar with a given issue to take a position, then you will want to contact the DECISION MAKER(S), the official(s) who will ultimately make the decision. In fact when you reach the stage where you are planning a campaign to spread your opinion publicly, that campaign should be focused, aimed at the DECISION MAKER. It is the DECISION maker whom you really want to influence. AND should be the target of your GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN.

E. GRASSROOTS! That means folks like us, the residents, the people who live in the community affected by an issue. More in a moment.

All this may be beginning to sound complex, complicated, confusing. Remember the last time you read the directions on the box or package on how to do something? Hopeless! Yet once you learned how, the doing was simple enough.

Public officials are usually influenced by public opinion in making their decisions. That means if you want your opinion, the kind of decision you want to prevail, to be made, you need to reach the public, the community with your view. (AS I UNDERSTAND FROM LYNN, that is exactly what you plan to do in preparation for Dr. Austin’s series of talks so that as many people as possible will hear what he has to say.) Besides using the media -- print, radio, TV, arrange to give brief talks on the issue to all sorts of local groups (especially the local service clubs). The accumulated effect of these varied contacts will get people talking to one another, thereby building interest. And of course encourage everyone to express their opinion, hopefully the same as yours, to appropriate public officials.

PERHAPS I HAVE BEEN TOO ELEMENTARY AND IF SO I APOLOGIZE. It is always hard

The meeting with Cong. Robert Goodlatte early in July. Environmentally unaware, uninformed, indifferent. Mt. Pleasant he was trapped by overwhelming public support for strong protection, Keep it like it is.

POLITICAL DEMOCRACY AT ITS BEST. We are lucky to be Americans who can speak out freely, expressing any point of view, make any criticism and still be free. In the past 20 plus years ,environ. increasingly so. Today only the politicians are backward, are behind the times. A slow steady process; patience needed. Enjoy the effort, have fun to relax.