The Wetlands and Iraq

I read in the Times-Picayune today that 1) the wetland restoration is being stalled in some places because of land-rights issues and 2) George Tenet is not to blame for the Iraq War, this according to George Tenet.

Where to place the blame? Does it matter? A lot of blame to go around. Because the problems of war and wetland degradation and the decision making process about how to solve each is disassociated from the people who are directly impacted, people may point the finger back and forth until a) the entire Middle East blows up or b) the Gulf is in the backyard of New Orleans and JazzFest gets a whole lot wetter. All of which are possibilities.

What does this advocate for? Local control, carajo! Decision-making where it counts. If you believe that only governments can get our energy resources secured for us, or save our necessary wetlands, then you don't understand how the government is responsible for the loss of wetlands or is responsible for the scourge of war or the insecurity of the entire world. Okay. enough ranting.

Low Impact Development is one way to rebuild New Orleans and other devastated cities. Devastated by natural catastrophes or by Wal-Mart stores. You can look up Low Impact Development on, ironically enough, the EPA's website. Think about the principles of LID, notice how it's taking a completely different route than regular development. Different thinking. Follow nature. Could be driving all our planning. And all our living.