CYRUS BUFFUM
CHARLESTON WATERKEEPER

Photography by: Kim Held

"Your descendants shall gather your fruits." — Virgil

So many people ask us, "What does the environment and peace have to do with each other?" Actually, most wars today are being fought over scarce resources. Violence and fear break out when people are threatened with their basic needs being taken away. We as a human race share a home and the resources that come with that. The Greek understanding of the the word "ecology," actually means home. So how do sustainable actions lead to peace where we live? It comes down to respect for people and for the earth we call home. The environment is not just a playground for those who like to go outside, it serves as a resource to all people and therefore becomes a social issue when destroyed. We can either exploit the earth and living creatures, or nurture and care for them. We must work to preserve our rights to these resources, not only for ourselves, but so that future generations will be able to live in a peaceful culture. It was the Iroquois who taught that in every deliberation we should consider the impact of our decisions on the next 7 generations. Let us commit to preserving our resources with this in mind.

Charleston Waterkeeper helps citizens realize that polluted waterways are not only an environmental issue that hurts the asthetic value of our community, but a social issue affecting all of us. We as citizens need to take action in order to preserve our right to clean water. Take part in this by visiting www.charlestonwaterkeeper.org and finding out what you can do.