In response to this week’s County Council meetings, I’m advocating for two things: 1) an educational process for remodeling toxic waste practices locally, for schools, households, neighborhoods, and businesses; and 2) a citizen task force to research and recommend valid options for initiating minimal to zero waste systems in our county.

It’s time to practice stewardship 101 from here on out. Mothers, fathers, educators: decisions may be made that keep us in a parasitical relationship to the finite resources here. Pivotal conversations are on the table for immediate and longterm policies, to be delivered in the traditional black and white ballot format. There is no acceptable margin of safety for trashing our land and water, nor for delivering our waste to any distant, unsustainable facility. The buck stops here because we own it. Where there are money, time, and resources to be spent, let these be on alternatives we know are working elsewhere.  Denmark and Japan have models that are replicable in our area. I want more than a plan A or B on the ballot, since I cannot, in clean conscience, vote for either one at present. If a plan C can be formed by the citizens of our county, then it will represent the voice of a community consensus. The golden rule must not be suppressed on any issue. The well-being of the many must weigh upon the individual right until a consensus can be established. A consensus retreat could be created and the necessary voices and options can be sanely heard.

Please take a few minutes to look up “sustainable solid waste options” online, including the following, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proximity_principle.

I believe there are enough creative, curious, and conscientious people here to invest in a wisdom process on these issues. We can call in an independent agency for what we don’t understand, and make a commitment to support what we can.

Morgan Meadows

Eastsound