2008-01-24_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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continued from page 4 ~~ ~®~~~~~ who developed the extraction process for nitrogen, Fritz Haber, also developed the initial technology for poison ~'11~~~ ~~ Internat~®~~~ ~~~'Sp~C~1V~ gas, which eventually became the foundation for the new i' generations of pesticides. These pesticides, too, found their way into our freshwater resources. That day in the late 1960s when Dick Gray walked out on his dock, he could see the world had been changed. The pristine lake that he had known was now suffering "collateral damage" related to increased food production, Is it really a Faustian Deal? On one side of our "deal" with chemistry, we have fresh waters that bear heavy burdens of nitrogen and pesticides. Freshwater fish are often smothered:out in favor of either bottom-feeding species or a fishless environment.. The huge explosion of algae growth has created hypoxia, or a dead zone, from agricultural runoff into the Mississippi River, producing hundreds of square 5ishir Bommakanti miles of lifeless water in the Gulf of Mexico. In large and small ways, our freshwater resources have been greatly As part Of a COntlnUing effort to fOCUS impacted bythese chemical inventions. on the importance of protecting freshwater resources, the Freshwater Society sponsors- The "deal," however, has a good side. American an annual Contest that provides Scholarships to agriculture has been providing food at record low prices. In the 1920s and 1930s, feeding a family required at least Minnesota high School Students Who Creatively one third of the family income. In 1950, the cost decreased and meaningfully express; through art, 1.he to 20% of household income, and today, it is'less than 10%. relationship of water to life. Now.in its :fourth This is the reason fast food companies can super-size year, the contest has expanded to include meals. The obesity issue notwithstanding, awholesome northeast, Southeast, South Central, W@St supply of inexpensive food is a quality. of life matter. U.S. Central, and the Minneapolis/St. Paul regions of agriculture :feeds our nation, but it also keeps healthy, low price food on the tables of many third world countries. MinraeSOta. Hundreds Of Stunning art'pieC2S and arfists' statements have been created by high The solution to the eutrophication of our fresh water School Students for this annual event. because of algae is not to roll back time and try to live on less food. The expanding population of the world The,:Freshwater Society has also invited a simply won't permit that to happen. The solution is school from'Bomalang'Omb, asmall vfl age in to introduce engineering controls and safeguards that the SOUth Central region Of lringa In the African allow this "better living-through chemistry" approach to country of Tanzania, o create artwork'.for the agriculture to continue, while minimizing the damage to our freshwater resources, This must be accomplished 2008: Water is Life Art Contest. Their Village now with disciplined controls on fertilizer and pesticide has an operating well for the first ime, with the use. Buffer zones must be strictly enforced, using new assistance of Saint Paul Partners and Freshwater satellite technology to assure that overzealous agricultural Society Board Director Stuart Grubb. Their practices do not abuse waters. Mostly, it has to do with artwork Will bring ate interrtatlOnal perspective 'to ..organizations Like the Freshwater Society, with support the theme VI'utc7~ is Life. from people who read articles such as this, finding a logical course to allow enhanced agricultural practices For more information on the. l~'utrr is Li~c- Ari while safeguarding freshwater resources. We must find Contest, please visit w1Nw.freShwater.~rg or Call a way for fresh water to co-exist with our food production 952-471-9773. capacity. - t=ACETS 1!~~.-c~r~i}~~~r_Z(I(1;'~~