If you like the Boundary Waters of Minnesota…

…make your voice heard.

I received this as part of an email from Sustainable Ely:

Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and Sustainable Ely hosted Bill Carter, author of Boom, Bust, Boom, in Ely last week.  He spoke to over 120 people in a packed venue about the impacts sulfide ore mining will have on this area if it is allowed to proceed.

There was a great deal of worthwhile information in his presentation, but two points stood out.

    •    Towns with copper mining are not nice places to live or visit.  He stated his belief that sulfide ore mining will change this area.  The pollution, the industrial activity, the make up and culture of this community, and the current sustainable economy will be impacted, and not in a positive way.

    •    We need to make our story national.  People from around the country (and world) come to recreate here, vacation here, and live here.  We need everyone with a connection to this area or who wants to protect public lands to know about this possible sulfide ore mining.  It is possible to stop this, but we need to spread the word and engage more people.  NMW has taken the lead on this by forming a national coalition to stop mining in the Boundary Waters watershed. (More information will be coming out about this in the weeks to come.) The work has started, but there is much, much more to be done.

For the benefit of schools or for the benefit of large corporations?

"This land ultimately belongs to Minnesota’s children – our public schools have been waiting decades for this funding.  I am a big supporter of the Boundary Waters and this bill has been crafted in a way to make it even better.  The lands of Superior National Forest were set aside for the benefit of all Minnesotans.  Undoubtedly, the BWCAW [Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness] serves as a reminder of our nation’s legacy; but the BWCAW is more than just a legacy—it’s a springboard for Minnesota’s future."

- Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-MN 8, email to constituents

Rep. Cravaack has sponsored legislation to remove Minnesota School Trust Lands from the BCWAW.  But is this to provide access to resource extraction or to swap for Federal Land elsewhere?  If Minnesota School Trust Lands can be sold, why doesn't the Federal Government pay Minnesota for the lands and let the trust buy land elsewhere?  I read his wording as the first, resource extraction.  In fact, in his email he states "These lands within the BWCAW cannot be logged, leased, or mined."

Would you want to canoe past a clear-cut island or fish in waters with mining tailings?