opinion.

Herald <r Lantern 22 April 81

Environment, the Gov’t & Us

sr'uSSsiK

The results of our

gressman Bill Hughes on

the Interior James Watt was published last Wednesday On Thursday came published reports that rto less a group than the Sierra dub has begun a petition drive to secure a million signatures demanding Watt's ouster. ^ A week earlier, there were reports that

takes). ... ... WOULDN'T IT BE NICE if man could be trusted to always act wisely and with humanity uppermost in his thoughts’ It seems that all of recorded time has shown that isn’t the case. It is, in fact, the very reason governments have come about. If the coming of the Reagan

, " , to ipi five New have come aooui. 11 me coming m me mra*....

"SuthoriUes 1 continue to Administration in the 1980s spells a turnabout

Jersey sewerage authorities continue dump, at least temporarily, sewage sludge 12 miles off the North Jersey-Long Island coasts while the U S. Environmental Protection Agency decided whether to permit such continued dumping at a site ten times further offshore Subsequently the EPA came to that far reaching decision and it now appears quite likely that the government that's supposed to be protecting us has adopted the 1980 s version of ffs OK to Dump in the Water as Long as it s Down stream The new attitude seems to be:

Dump Further Off Shore.

EVEN THOUGH OUR INTERVIEW with Mb Hughes had actually taken place a few weeks earlier than its publication (and a lot happened to the environment in the interim), we found the congressmen’s remarks far from

reassuring

He did note that the Reagan administration will provide less money to preservation "and Itrat could forebode some problems for us." And the congressman did indicate that he had been struck by the fact that some of Mr. Reagan's appointees (presumably including Mr. Watt) didn't seem very knowledgeable in

their fields.

^But basically, Mr. Hughes' attitude was one r of wait and see. He repeatedly used the phrase '-the jury's still out in responding to questions about the effect of Mr. Watt's taking the rains

of Interior.

PERHAPS MR. HUGHES' COMMENTS can best be summarized by his remarks: "There is going to be some change, at least if we believe some of the rhetoric we hear. But that hasn't been translated into specific programs and decisions that will as yet give us a clear reading. There would appear to be a trend, however, to move much, much more toward less regulation." With EPA's imprimatur to dump further off shore (presumably spelling an end to the ban on ocean dumping that was due to become effective the end of this year) serving as but the latest signal from D.C., we surely hope Congressman Hughes won’t wait too much longer before adding his very effective voice to those who have already sounded the alarm over what the new administration is (or isn’t) doing to protect man and the environment. OUR MOST FERVENT HOPE with regard to Congressman Hughes and his conservative view of government (which we commend) is that he does not lose sight of the often fine line of distinction between peril and protection. If degradation of the environment continues despite what is perceived as over-regulation — what will happen with less regulation? Whether it’s the immediate safety of miners' in Colorado or the longterm effect of ocean dumping on marine and estuarian, life on the shores of the Jersey Cape — surely the

1980s

We must each, as individuals,always strive fof such a state of affairs because that is the only way it will ever come about; for government can never be greater than its people. But are we ready to trust the environment with ourselves? The Herald & Lantern

British Seagull 387 The Midnight Gull

By Im« Byrd Down at the end of the beach in Avalon, the Midnight Gull holds poetry sessions. Midnight belongs to a select group of gulls who are the philosophers, artists, musicians and writers of the bird world. Their symphonies are maghificent! The composer birds arrange clam shells along the beach and then the musicians get out their little wooden recorders'and fly down the beach playing the

song.

The birds decided to form a recorder flock after listening to a group of humans last summer. Chili and Ruth Thompson and others performed regularly at Learnings Run Botannical Gardens in Swainton, and the birds went wild. THIS YEAR, now that we have our own musicians, we intend to join them in concert at the gardens. Kind of a back-up group which will create a tiny echo effect. It should be beautiful! Our only problem is thinking up a name ‘ for our flock. Chili’s group

mality that gives the group a special kind of beauty, a unique distinction. The people playing are there because they want to be

there.

JACK APRILL doesn’t get those gardens open until July 1, but if you warit to hear some music before then, come down to the

beach at midnight and you’ll hear our sym-

phonies.

You might get lucky and hit a night when the Midnight Gull recites his poetry. Or you might want to write some of your own, like l did. There’s lots of inspiration on the beach at

midnight.

is called the 8fcphance Players. The ider being that "perchance they'll all make it to the performance

or perchance not."

Now our group of performers are not as disorganized as the Perchance Players, or I guess I should say not as informal. Yet, thdje’s something about that infor-

The sky sefmed high one night and I could stretch my wings for centuries and never

touch its soft' white clouds.

But I feel...how I could feel its wide spread magic creep into my soul and set my

mind on travels only angels know.

The darkness of that night was showered with a moon filled light that touched the

ocean in a game of hide and seek.

«. And as my rapture rode the waves I saw him standing all along...the great conduc-

tor merging heavens, sand and sea.

He stood as glued upon the jutting jetty stones, all wet and slippery with salty moss

grown hair.

His face took In the wild ocean world, his hands were raised...the moon shone on his

form.

And then I heard what all the earth must hear. A symphony that spoke of spirits

■ deep.

Beyond pure self, beyond the vast domain...and so the great conductor gathered In

the dream.

And just last night I travelled to that shore again. The jetty stood alone, the master had gone home. The earth was silent save the cftll of one...the MIDNIGHT GULL, who puts his trust In dark and sets the heart aflame. Then waits upon the clam shells song for spirits to return the symphony.

•

'You see, deep inside, underall the feathers — we’re all poets. Next week: KLAN BIRDS

"'S tit CAPK MAY II 1 4 -V —^furaun P»Mkbe4Kv«ry Wedariday Rv- P.O. • TS* Nra » a«r ( nrporaUo* Aval—. NJ SMW John II. Andrun lI Edllor William J. Adams Advertising Director Bonnie Reina General Manager Darrell Kopp Publisher 1 IWI S*ov>a«* Co»p AD rijbi* '•t«rv«d AM property lightl lot the ooliro tort loots ol ftMa publKOHon tholl ho ot tho Wawava Cofp No tpmrt ho'ocd moy ho roprodutod without poo* wntlon <onaont DEADLINES. News & Photos Thursday Advertising Friday - 3 p.m. Classified Advertising Mondav Stton I >I7-33I2 For Sfews Or Advertising Information 1 Mrllhrr partkipaliat advrrtkrrs nor Ihr Mbltahrra o! thr MK.H M,l> AMI I.SNTKRV «*lll h* rraponatblr or llaWr lor mlrlnformaUon, tnUptlnis M»po*rapMral rrrnra. elr.. In ant htur THr rditor rrtrrtra Ihr riKht In fdH ant kllrr or artWks tuhmllirtl for pAhlka-

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