-The Horrid Flip Side To My Recent Poem: ‘Night and Day’-
I’ve Been Wandering America’s Waterways,
Thinking About ‘The Clean Water Act’ Debate;
Very Horrifically, Like Most Environmental Issues,
Most Of Our ‘Leaders’ Still Say: “Hell, We Can Wait.”
“When we start making more money,
Maybe then we can focus on cleaner waterways.”
A Pro-Business, Anti-Environment Congressman
"Only when the last river has been poisoned,
Will mankind finally come to realize,
That we cannot eat or drink money.”
A Native American Proverb
If anyone still believes that we are not killing our planet
Just take a ride out to some ponds, and rivers, and lakes
As I re-visit bodies of water that I loved as a young child
I can see with my own eyes, the devastation that we make
Forty years ago I could travel out to any lake, stream, or pond
And, without any fear, I could drink, or swim, or fish, in them
Today, as I very sadly search for remaining clean water havens
I see a ghastly array of all sorts of ‘Warning Signs’ without end
We as a nation have allowed Big Business to pollute our waters
And, most of our ‘leaders’ today, are still on their side, not ours
As our waters become more toxic, and our food chain is poisoned
Most of our politicians, still refuse to challenge Big Business power
And today, so many elected officials and Big Business industrial concerns
Continue to view our waterways as an inexpensive way to dispose of waste
They want to annul every local and national water purity rule and regulation
Protecting our water for future generations to come, they insist that we delay
The U.S. Geological Survey recently completed an analysis of America’s waterways
Concluding 72 percent of our waters already contain chemical or biological pollution
Yet the majority of our elected officials today do not even feel a need to address this
“When we start making more money, than perhaps, we’ll start working on a solution.”
U.S. Geological Survey scientists now find mercury in every single fish they test
Over one quarter of these fish have mercury levels, exceeding safety limitations
Other studies recently found that fish, in waters all across this vast nation of ours
Are tainted with household chemicals, industrial waste, and discarded medications
The Environmental Protection Agency has also very recently concluded that
Over one third of Americans, rely on drinking water, from our small streams
These receive the most pollution from industrial waste, pesticides, and sewage
But hell, over one third of our citizens, will have to wait for tomorrow, it seems
I now very sadly wonder, just how much money we need to make;
And I truly wonder what future generations will think of our mistake.
I also now find it harder and harder to find clean waters to fish and swim in;
If you have children or pets, use extreme caution, before letting them ‘jump in.’
©Spring Wandering 2011, Mr. Ed
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best anyway, Mike
fee
Anna
Hugs to you,
CJ
in Asia where it's safe to drink water
directly from the tap. I hear you clear, Ed,
in this essential work, hear you; water is
highest priority, clean water vital to survival.
John
~Mr. Ed~
strive to become one with nature!
Lady Vivian
Blessings,
Christine
Well done Ed, more awareness certainly can’t hurt. Thanks Dick
Newfie Hugs, Rose