This past Saturday I went to an event sponsored by the Riveredge Nature Center and the Wisconsin DNR. Hundreds of people gathered at the edge of the Milwaukee River to release young sturgeon into the river.
Millions of these fish roamed the lakes and rivers in the Midwest during the early 1800s. By 1900, there were no sturgeon left in the Milwaukee River. Most of the decline was due to human action. Researchers believe that there are 2,000 - 5,000 adult fishing in Lake Michigan.
I'm not a huge supporter (in terms of time and money) of eco programs. My contributions gravitate towards spiritual and social change. I do think, however, that our physical world is in crisis. I think that people should stop debating the existence of global warming, and find solutions to heal a planet that is obviously in need of some help.
My daughter named the fish we released "angel". As fish go, it's appearance is prehistoric -- bony-like plates on its back, looking shark-like. We released Angel into a river recently cleaned of pollution. It wasn't a huge gesture, releasing this little slip of a fish into the river where she joined her brothers and sisters at the bottom of riverbed in temporary shock. The release is just one step in an attempt to restore balance to a badly damaged eco system.
Angel has a tracking device implanted in her somewhere. We'll be able to track her on-line, and with any luck, watch her return to the same spot to spawn in 15-20 years. I'll be close to retirement age, and the next generation will be running the show. Life goes on.
I think God gave us a precious gift in the earth, with all its intricacies. Hopefully the next generation will find it healthier, and live with more respect to the earth we walk on.
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