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NTM: Pat Barlow, M.O.S.E.S.; Michigan Congressman Joe Knollenberg; Ray Anderson, President of Interface
by Rebecca D
NTM I-NetNews Team at the National Town Meeting

Detroit, Michigan •• May 3, 1999 •• SolarQuest® iNet News Service •• BEGINNING THOUGHTS: Greetings! This is Rebecca Dean here in DETROIT!!!

I've been working closely with the youth delegate from Alaska, Leanne Bailey, to learn about the ReNew America Award winner from my home state. Below is all the information that we gathered together through an interview. This is an amazing project, making me proud once more to be a Washingtonian. We're always doing RAD stuff!!

Protect the Water sheds and the Rivers. Gather the facts and let's work togther to Sustain the state of our environment, and community relationships!!

Peace out, Bec


People are getting “green” everywhere, and each person takes on a different shade.

MAY 2, 1999

My first full day as a youth Delegate was filled with all sorts of excitement. The mix of participants gave the Town Meeting a real global village feel. I talked to a variety of people so I might depict the diversity of participants at this happening. What I learned is that Sustainability can truly be universal and apply to everyone who is human and is invested in the world.

Outlined below are the comments of a Reverend Barlow’s Wife, Pat Barlow. Reverend Barlow is the president of M.O.S.E.S. (Metropolitan, Organizing, Strategy, Enabling, Strength). The Congressman Joe Knollenberg of Michigan, Ray Anderson, President of interface, and the vice president of interface Jim Hartzfeld also shared their thoughts.
Pat Barlow’s perspective uncovers the way religious people and community people are feeling about sustainability as well as some insight on how she perceives other people’s on Sustainability. Congressman Joe Knollenberg shows the political side, and Ray Anderson and his Vice President Jim Hartzfeld show the corporate aspect of their involvement in this Town Meeting as well as Sustainability in general.

PAT BARLOW, M. O.S.E.S.

Pat Barlow is a grandmother who believes strongly in Sustainability because she feels it is necessary for the future of her grandchildren. She stressed the word necessary, and this struck me. It reminded me of the fact that movements like Sustainability don’t just happen for any reason. There is a need, and this need motivates us to improve and sustain.

Barlow expressed interesting facts about how corporations feel. She informed me that the business people in an earlier session wanted to be close to customers and gain there trust. There wasn’t an attacking motive from the corporate end, but she did assess the need for accountability between corporations. There are some that aren’t being honest and they are tricking consumers based on the lack of information. She suggested that consumers think of asking lots of questions and to not make any deals unless there is some sort of written agreement available.

The strongest point Pat Barlow shared with me was about individual people. “ We need to build Sustainable people,” Barlow says. There must be a change on an individual scale so that more sustainability will occur. If we work towards building up and strengthening individuals in to being more sustainable then a sustainable United States will be in our reach.

I agree whole heartily about her comments. Sustainability does start with you, and education is the place to start to get some personal improvement. I also agree with the necessity of Sustainability. There are to many statistics that prove our Earth is running dry of Natural resources. We should act now!

CONGRESSMAN JOE KNOLLENBERG of MICHIGAN

Congressman Joe Knollenberg talked in the first plenary session about the economic state of America. He states we are at a high point where there are good paying jobs, as well as strong market.
Along with his belief about the economy he suggests that environmental improvement can occur at the same time. Knollenberg feels it necessary that much action needs to take place at many levels of the government, but more than anything it is necessary that the federal government listen to the people. The time has arrived where the government really needs to open their ears for the voices from the communities who have the need for Sustainability and our making it happen.

I asked Congressman Knollenberg what he wished to get out of the National Town Meeting, and similar to my purpose here, he came to learn. He shares his wisdom with me and explains how learning is what a spreading movement is all about. The movement of Sustainability is definitely spreading, because I clearly see the 3, 000 participants already learning on the first day.

RAY ANDERSON, PRESIDENT of INTERFACE & VICE PRESIDENT, JIM HARTZFELD

I’ve heard Ray Anderson be referred to as the “green” CEO in America. I wouldn’t doubt it with the efforts his company Interface is taking on. Jim Hartzfeld, the vice president let me in on a large project Interface is working on. They’re working on developing a method to make carpet without any waste. This is incredible! This type of manufacturing takes solar energy and other green methods of manufacturing like using recycled material.

I asked Ray Anderson the same question I asked Congressman Knollenberg. What is it that you wish to get out of the National Town Meeting? Why are you participating? He forwardly said, “The crossroads of the environmental world is here these four days.” I suppose a man who is such a leader in the business community would definitely have a large place in the crossroads of the environmental world. His second reason for attending was to learn. Along with this learning he had a direct purpose, that purpose is to go home and teach others. While he told me about learning and then passing it on, he suggested I do the same.

Following what Ray Anderson said about learning then teaching I pass this on to you. Here it is Via Internet.

ReNew America Award Nominee
Dungeness River Water Sharing Program
Presenter: Ann Seiter
Location:Squim, Washington

SUSTAINABILITY:

They met the needs of both sides, environmental, cultural, economical, and political.

“Doing one thing to impact more than one area.”

THE WESTERN CONTROVERSY:
Water rights between the Salmon, now on the endangered species list, and the agriculture water users. Survival of tribal asset the Salmon, versus the jobs for the local agriculture in Squim.

WORKING TOGETHER:
WORKING TOGETHER!! This is key to come to agreements. The essentials are found through info, and then the needs can be met.

1987 – Asked Ann Seiter to do something about the river

next 3-4 years – Time of dispute and arguing
next 3-4 years – planning years
last few years – implementation years

- Farming community involved some very great leaders that were real visionaries!

** Currently there is an ongoing Watershed Council. Members: environmentalists, tribes, water users, council people.

THE NEW AGREEMENT: Before the water users used 80% of the river water... now they use between 40-50% A major improvement!!

THE CHELAN AGREEMENT: State, Local, environmental groups, tribes, business people, and recreationists, met to see if local management plans of the watershed would solve the problem. The Dungeness River was able to receive funding from this agreement.

EDUCATION:

  • Publications
  • Community Play presented in schools as well. Tribal involvement with music and script writing
  • Parade participants in the Irrigation festival
  • Website www.olympus.net/commmunity/dungenesswc/
  • Water shed Tours to public and government officials

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