So, I've been doing a lot of reading and a lot of thinking about the Asian Carp problem over the last few weeks. There are so many different aspects of this problem and so many people trying to place blame that even bringing the subject up seems akin to stepping into an ideological minefield.
Now that we are in the process of poisoning the Illinois River and the State of Michigan is considering re-opening a court case against the State of Illinois to force a closing of the Sanitary and Shipping Canal I found myself facing the question of blame. How did we get in this mess? Why was it necessary to poison miles of river over the last couple days? Why, 10 years later, are we still battling these two fish species? Who is to blame for this situation?
The questions seem practically endless when it comes to this situation. And there seems to be more than enough blame to go around. Should we blame the USDA, who first allowed Asian Carp to be imported on a permit? Should we blame Southern fish farmers for not insuring that the fish could escape into the Mississippi? Should we blame the Chicago officials who 100 years ago, to insure the health of their citizens, reversed the flow of the Chicago River? The answer of course is no, and yes.
Yes, we all carry some blame and some responsibility. Problems like this are made up of millions of small decisions made by hundreds or thousands of people over many years. It's easy to assign blame in the short-run. We can all point our fingers at the Army Corps of Engineers saying that they implemented a flawed system that needs regular maintenance without properly accounting for how to handle doing that maintenance. We can all point our fingers at every other person who had anything to do with Asian Carp, or shipping, or anything. But what we should be doing is examining ourselves in the mirror. We are ALL responsible for the Asian Carp problem. Just as we are all responsible for any invasive species that created a problem in the Great Lakes.
As always, the past is behind us, we can't do anything about what's already been done. But as a region we can take responsibility for what needs to come next. We can support the people who are doing what they can to control the problem. We can make sure that we are fully considering every option on the table.
What would be the consequences to all parties if we temporarily closed the locks between the Illinois River and Lake Michigan and ran a full study of exactly what is happening? Can Chicago work to find a different way to handle waste?
If we all work together and accept the responsibility for this problem progress can be made. Controlling the spread of Asian Carp is in everyone's best interest, so I say we start from this day forward with a strong plan for helping each other to address this very pressing problem. It means that everyone shoulders some blame and lets go of the past, but I honestly believe that its possible.
For more information see any of the below articles and press releases from the last few weeks:
~ Chicago canal to be poisoned to stop Asian Carp, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
~ This fish kill in necessary to save the Great Lakes, from the Detroit Free Press
~ Asian Carp may have breached barrier, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
~ Battling back the Asian Carp, from Great Lakes United
~ Asian Carp Invasion: Prepare for the worst, from the Detroit Free Press
~ Asian carp pose 'catastrophic' threat to Great Lakes, by The Windsor Star
~ Close the Gates, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
~ Poisoning of Chicago canal is working, but no Asian Carp found yet, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Other posts I've done on Asian Carp:
The future of Asian carp in Illinois and the Great Lakes
Funding in question for electronic carp barrier
Drastic alternative contemplated in the fight against the Asian Carp
Comments
Brekke, as I see it, the problem is not so much the Asian carp, but the Asian Muslim, who poses a far greater threat to all Americans, not just those in Illinois. The Asian carp does not want to impose sharia law, as does the Asian Muslim. The Asian carp does not force women to wear those hideous burqas, or stone them for exposing even minimal skin.
By the way, your name kinda reminds me of an exotic dancer's name. No offense intended, but it is unusual.
(continued)
"And now, the Pussy Galore Gentlemen's Club, presents, from Miami Beach, Brekke Bounds and her incredible mounds!"
What a cop out!!! OK so we all are at fault so we really can't point the finger at anybody. Now we all sit around the campfire and sing Kum Bai ya!!. BS. Can't believe that you get PAID to write this garbage! This is the fault of the farmers who let the accursed things escape into the public waterways. They should be sued to Cambodia and run out of the country! Won't happen though.
Kevin,
I think you may have missed the point of the article. I was trying to say that we should point the finger at everyone involved, not at no one who was involved.
I agree that the farmers who brought in the Asian Carp deserve blame, but I also think the USDA the Army Corp of Engineers and the general public who ignored the threat for the last 20 years (among others) are to blame.
Also, I would never suggest anybody sing Kumbaya. I never liked that song.
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