Another summer is fast approaching the Indian River Lagoon. With the humidity of our tropical season will come the rain.  In spite of all the protests, the rallies and the work by so many people, are we any closer to ending the dumping into the rivers than we were last year? On paper and with the politicians’ promises, we are.  But, in actuality, if we have a rainy summer, the same thing will happen again.

The people on the rivers have been complaining for over 80 years about the degradation of our marine and animal life. But somehow the problem persists. There was a funeral for the lagoon on Saturday morning, and we had speakers promising to end the death once again. They say recovery is a slow process and they are right. I can accept the slow return of nature’s life, but when do we stop the causes of her death to allow the rebirth?

Rachel Carson said “The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized.” The United States is sacrificing so much of its birthright so that a few corporations (with the help of our government officials) can supplant the future for the sake of short sighted financial gain. Man does not have the right to allow greed under the guise of economic development or jobs to destroy our environment.

Our boating, fishing and recreational industry brings many billions of dollars in income and thousands of jobs to our state. Most of us would not be here without the water. We do not have the right to allow its death at our hands. We need to change the people who make the laws if they do not stop her death. Promises of a future time when pristine water will return are no longer enough without meaningful programs being enacted and sufficient funds being allocated.