Law of the land

Today the Chicago Tribune talked about a dispute over public lands owned by the Lake County Forest Preserve that is currently being used by a neighboring company which is a ski resort.  It is interesting that although this resort has been using this small piece of land that they feel entitled to continue its use even when lawfully the small piece of land is owned by Lake County.

The protection of nature begins at the "edge" as we call it in ecology.  Edges define the boundaries of a habitat or protected landscape and are vital to protection of the entire area within those boundaries.  Yet, the argument of negatively affecting the income of the resort is an understandable one.  When we make decisions to protect nature over immediate economic interest or immediate recreation some people just don't agree.

Yet, when there is a law of the land that delimits the boundaries one must abide by such policies.  Similar conflicts will continue to come about as urban population density increases in peri-urban regions.  Space is capital in the world and people want to see profits.  Hopefully we will begin to look at the consequences of our environmental and economic tradeoffs and how each of those very important decisions moves us closer to attaining true sustainability.

Trib Article:
Ski resort in a border war with Lake County
By Dan Hinkel

URBAANE: An urban environmental conference for communities of color

URBAANE: An urban environmental conference for communities of color

African American Urban Environmentalism

The city of Chicago is the ideal location which to study the effects of urbanization and its effects within minority communities. Individuals that are nature deficient don't have any instinctual connection to the earth and furthermore don't associate or apply any intrinsic value to natures flora or fauna. So why is it so important that urban communities and its residents are connected to the earth? It is an astounding revelation to realize our society is filled with people that don't understand their relationship to the earth and are so use to being inside or doing things that aren't involved with nature. This blog is designed to discuss why and how African American urban communities can begin to learn the fundamental basics of environmental issues. it is important for Black environmentalist to be at the forefront of educating minorities because they intuitively understand the socio-economic foundation that some communities face. In order for our communities to move foward through this "Eco" phase of society we must be educated. However we must be patient and our expectations be realistic. It is important that our goals be both short term and long term as well as beneficial to not just the African American communitites but the larger urban area as a whole. The plan set forth must be one that involves not just local legislators, but also new and creative ways of linking "nature" and other issues. The approach must involve some aspect of economics in which African Americans are introduced to the benefits of making environmentally friendly purchases and choices; as well as healthy individual choices. It will involve the local educational systems to accept and implement enhanced scientific cirriculum that will benefit the overall development of students and finally it is dire that urban planning and design of the built environment incorporate "equal" and "comparable" living spaces for all ethnicities and classes that allows for the same type of interaction with nature for all citizens and residents in both communities.