Considering Wednesday's post on which candidate is "more green," I found today's article in the LA Times on suspension of the chinook salmon season particularly interesting.  The article reminded me that The Environment is much more than one issue--even if that "issue" is global warming.

To summarize the article, the declining population of California and Oregon's chinook salmon has reached such a low point that there are concerns about the ability of the fish to survive, especially if fished this season.  As a result, the federal government has suspended the 2008 fishing season for chinooks.  The article cites numerous reasons for the decline in chinook population; changing ocean temperatures, changes in the offshore food chain, draining of the Sacramento delta to provide water to Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley, the impact of bridge building on juvenile fish...to name just a few.

Add to that two nuggets of current common wisdom; 1.  That salmon is better for you than other fish (especially tuna and swordfish), 2. That it's good to eat wild salmon and bad to eat farmed salmon.  Both facts lead to an increased demand in recent years for wild salmon like California and Oregon chinook.

Definitely an environmental issue.  But also a health issue, a food issue, an infrastructure issue and (several) sustainability issues--sustainable water usage in Southern California, sustainable fishing levels, to name a few.

The complexity of just this one sub-issue of the larger climate change issue is an argument that we need more than just a nod to the "green" this election cycle.  We need a leader who is committed to making significant changes in our way of interacting with the environment.  We need a leader who grasps complexity and develops innovative answers that meet multiple needs.  We need a leader who will hold us accountable for the changes we need to make now and who will challenge the people of the world to imitate our example.

It's clear to me that McCain is not that leader.  As to Hillary and Barack?  I'll be watching them carefully and reading more speeches to parse just who might be the better leader into a sustainable future.

 


Comments

Hal

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:19:02

Based on your description of what we need in a leader, it sounds like we need God. I like God. We do need more God.

 

Bev

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:16:39

It is odd that in going down the list of blogs that I read regularly, the one on my list after this one had a delicious recipe for salmon.

 

Erik

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:16:40

Was just in the Pacific Northwest this weekend visiting family, and heard this news from several locations. Interestingly enough the "folk on the street" that I heard mention this seem just fine with it. I think you're right Laura - The Environment is more of a top-of-mind issue, and I think people are more willing to consider steps to help with care for it.

 

Laura

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:08:30

Yes, Hal, but WHICH God?

<gg>

 

Laura

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:09:33

Bev,

S'like I said...everything's connected.

There will still be options for salmon (Alaskan salmon for example) but they will be, I would suppose, significantly more expensive.

 

Laura

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:15:14

Hey Erik,

I agree...I think it's the right choice and the fishing industry seems to be behind the decision, as well. But they also want changes to policy so this doesn't have to be the future of salmon fishing in CA/OR.

I (and my tummy) agree!

 



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