Letter to the Editor, The Ridgetown Independant News Dear Mayor Hope, The meeting Monday night was devasting to watch, listen and not being able to speak was needless to say very difficult. I guess in my heart I wanted to believe your elected councilors really cared, and yes some did. But the majority felt their views more waived towards a one sided vote. Some who have personal investments and I ve got your back attitude. We are not against farmers, we are farmers or have family and/or friends who are farmers, and this by-law should be written in the that which focuses on industrilization of this area, which is progressing at an alarming rate. We have told you we dont want trees taken down, but it goes on beyond the quote of Its just trees right?. Its entire eco-systems, its our oxygen, its what cools the earth, saves our top soil and gives us medicine, and gives homes, food, life to much wildlife..but it didnt matter. We have orchards right? yes we do, along with chemicals spraying to keep those orchards. The animals can move right? Where do they go? We have them wondering around in the daytime, displaced, disoriented getting killed on the highways, walking down streets. Not to mention the ones that were hybernating, were crushed killed and buried alive in their homes, while clear cutting took place. Councillors were told we have 4.7 coverage of acres of forest land in this area, the Conservation Authority have planted approximatley 370 trees in the past couple of years..but we lost 1,000 acres of trees destroyed in 2012 from clearcutting. But hey we are up from 3 percent coverage from 2008(unsure where that statistic was accumulated well get back to you on that one). Dosent matter that we need at least 12 percent to SUSTAIN LIFE IN THIS AREA. The complaints of well who is going to flip the costs of planting trees, guess the tax payers as one of your councillors so stated. What else is new. Did you stop to think that if maybe they would of at least given a TEMPORARY BY-LAW (six months), that we as tax payers wouldnt have to replace those that are cut down?! and given time to sort out all this mess. NO. Who will enforce this by-law, we cant afford to hire any more that one guy..good luck with that job(they chuckled).. not within this budget. Did I mention how dashing those councillors looked in their three piece suits. Its not right to pick on one particular group and make them pay the pentality, they feel they are being picked on..you are right. Who really owns the land where this is happening, whether its for farming or windmills or livestock industry. Key word INDUSTRY. My father raised a family of seven children on 152 acres. 25 of that pasture, five acres planted of bush with our beloved boy scouts. 95% of this land is farmland..95%! Are you saying thats not enough? Its more than enough. Balance is needed here to sustain life, sadly we are lacking this precious commodity. Another suggestion again by a councellor Well let Chatham Kent purchase the woodlots for preservation. Great idea again, oh did I say some of the councillors have personal investments in these farms..Isn t it ironic...We havent threatened anyone, we haven t held the people at ransom saying if you don t back off we will take down more trees..we just want people to be able to live healty lives and the legacy of the forests to be preserved for future generations. I dont know anything about politics, I want to believe I am fair and caring in my thoughts, but my observations or what is happening has left a bad feeling in my stomach..we are in trouble. I am just a small town country girl, who wants to believe that our appointed councillors see beyond the dollar signs, and will come up with fair solutions or at least sensible ones. How I love looking out on the ridge at the beautiful trees, the sunset, the birds and feeling that summer breeze on my face...ah the breeze, it has changed so much since I was a child..now our visions have been disrupted by giant aliens of the mental kind, twinkling their firey red eyes at us at night, leaving the faint sounds of ringing in our ears. But Who are we to stop progress right. another councillor quoted. 121 more going up in this area. I wonder if they reallly thought that out. I mean REALLY? The wind carries right? It carries currents of weather, sweet smells of flowers and pine. Carries us over rough seas, brings us home and lifts our kites so we may smile and laugh having memories of what was. Now it carries pollution, diseases, infestation of insects, chemical sprays and here we sit in one big bowl collecting the sludge, between many cities. Absorbing all of mans waste and self destructing ways, burying dirty little secrets, ultimately leading to our own demise. But it dosen t matter. All we wanted was a chance. A chance that we could save our kids, a chance to let you know that without the filtratrion system, that wind block(FORESTS), we will be in really big trouble, we already are. There is something very personal that I share with you and your councillors, my husband and I are in the burial business. I cant describe to you what it feels like when the bell tolls. Our livelyhood is based on a heartbreak. We do this with the greatest respect and honor placed upon us. We care deeply. I want you to know, that a little piece of you goes with every young person that dies of cancer.(number one in this area of all Canada) A tear is shed as I watch those mothers, fathers and siblings say their good byes to their loved ones who have passed far to early..It is truly a heart breaking reality. Hold your hand up in this area if you know someone who has it, family or otherwise...cancer. We are in big trouble and your councillors have given free reign for those who have the power to destroy what little self defence against that wind that carries many poisons. I can t help but think having all these high windmills will help matters in this quest or destruction..does money really matter more than life..please explain to those who have lost... Going to be awefully hard to collect money from people who are no longer here..Please reconsider all clear cutting, please. We love our homes and the people within them . For god sakes help... Yours Sincerely L J Hitchcock
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 01:17:20 +0000
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