The Savvy Citizen
 Jeff Van Pelt's quote "To see this kind of vandalism
is distressful"
In the
video, Jeff Van Pelt of the Umatilla Confederated Tribes
points to vandalism on the rocks and describes how this shows
grave disrespect to the Plateau People’s feelings about their
spiritual connection to the Earth. Write a letter to a government
official explaining what you feel should be the proper action
taken when people are found responsible for such vandalism. Draw
a map of your watershed and plot the locations of major land use
activities. Find out how these activities are managed. Define
their potential environmental impacts, as well as steps that are
being, or can be, taken to mitigate the impacts.
The organization
Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLV) has been involved
for many years with Adopt-a-River, watershed recovery, Beach Clean-ups,
and other programs to encourage community action to solve problems
in Oregon. If possible, participate in one of their programs,
and evaluate their impact on supporting eco-tourism in Oregon.
Some
individuals and groups have been accused of acts of
"eco-terrorism" or "sabotage" in their efforts
to preserve the environment and wildlife in Oregon. Read about
some of these acts of destruction, which have caused more than
$42.8 million in damage since 1980. Prepare a report on the goals
of these acts, their effects, and the debate among law enforcement
and government leaders about the future of more acts of eco-terrorism
in Oregon.
A controversy
has developed about a test program in which the U.S.
Forest Service charges visitors "user fees" at wilderness
sites in order to cover the costs of forest rangers and building
and maintaining such things as trails and information booths.
Debate the use of user fees and the philosophy it represents.
Does it amount to "preserving our resources for the future"
or "commercializing outdoor pleasures?"
Can
one person really make a difference? Research the history
of Oregon’s public beach law, the landmark Bottle Bill, land use
legislation, and the 1998 protection of the Opal Creek Wilderness
Area to learn about the efforts of individual citizens to protect
resources in Oregon. What other citizen efforts have resulted
in protecting the environment of Oregon, and in turn, helping
to promote eco-tourism in Oregon?
Pretend
that you have been hired to be an "eco-tourism
consultant" for Oregon. Develop a list of goals for eco-tourism
in Oregon, strategies for developing the industry, and protections
so that Oregon can "attract enough tourists to make an economic
impact without spoiling the very things they promote."
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