Here is a good news environmental story for a change. A quarry was to be opened in an area just north of Orangeville Ontario and it appeared to be a "done deal." The land was purchased, municipal approval was all but granted, beaucoup bucks were to be made.
The problem? This is prime farmland -- 2500 acres worth -- and people knew it. They were also concerned that the water table could be compromised by such a massive quarry. So, they organized and protested and did all kinds of creative things to get the project stopped. Two events, Foodstock then Soupstock were held, one last year in the area of the proposed quarry and the other in Toronto the Smoggy just recently. Leading chefs got behind these events, thousands were fed, and lots of people were educated about what was unfolding. The Toronto Star tells us:
The company behind the proposal for a massive quarry in Melancthon Township has withdrawn its application to build what would have been one of the largest quarries in North America.
The Highland Companies announced that it will also cease efforts to restore a rail corridor through Dufferin County, and that Highland president John Lowndes has resigned.
“While we believe that the quarry would have brought significant economic benefit to Melancthon Township and served Ontario’s well-documented need for aggregate, we acknowledge that the application does not have sufficient support from the community and government to justify proceeding with the approval process,” said John Scherer of the Highland Companies in a statement released today.
Some critics of the protest movement claim this is NIMBYism of the worst kind. I see it as a realization that feeding people trumps gravel pits and the resultant profits. Highland will continue to farm this land. Good choice.
Our bible upholds the importance of agriculture as a gift of God for the benefit of everyone. Jesus used agricultural imagery in many of his parables and aphorisms. Somehow we have lost touch with the necessity of producing food for our existence. As those of us who live close to the Oak Ridges Moraine know, aggregate quarries are a dime a dozen. Prime farmland is hard to find.
Soupstock October 2012
Have any of you followed this story? Are you heartened to hear about the decision?
This is a great development, not only on an environmental level, but also in terms of the signal it sends to communities everywhere about what they can do when their leaders' decisions compromise their beliefs.
ReplyDeleteHallelujah! I had heard about Foodstock and knew a lot of people who participated in Soupstock, but never did hear about these results. I echo Ian's comments that this does send a great signal.
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