GOVERNMENT BLASTED, PEOPLE POWER PROCLAIMED AT GRCA WATERSHED FORUM

Saturday's (Sept. 17/11) Kitchener-Waterloo Record carrys this story: "Grand River's future hinges on sustainable growth, forum told". John Fitzgibbon a professor at the University of Guelph, in regards to local lifestyles stated... "Are we sustainable? Not even close". Experts were warning of dire and expensive environmental collapse unless there is a fundamental shift in expectations. Bob Gibson a professor at the University of Waterloo suggested that people not governments will make change. He referred to subversive change and social uprisings as being our only hope. His comments on government approval being no more than feeble attempts to mitigate environmental damage echoes my feelings exactly. Professor Gibson also suggested that it is possible for grassroots public demands combined with local (municipal) leadership to cause change at the higher levels of government. Clearly he views most politicians as essentially followers of vested interests rather than as leaders of the people.