Ways that Communities Can Respond to Crisis

Claire Danielsson’s opening comments at the Mohonk Consultations forum: “Lessons learned from Katrina” held at Mohonk Mountain House April 23, 2006

We are gathering today at Mohonk Mountain House to discuss how our Hudson Valley community can respond to troubling times.

This public forum is a continuation of the tradition of more than 100 years of conferences to “talk things over at Mohonk.” The “think tank” retreat concept originated here at the Mountain House, and Mohonk Consultations has the responsibility for its continuation. There is no substitute for dialog. We ask you to join in this spirit of thoughtful speaking and serious listening at the Public Forum. We hope to reach the creativity that is in everyone as we reflect upon and share our concerns about a changing world, and how to cope with disasters of all kinds. We invite you to bring your wisdom and listening skills to this dialog, respecting differences as they are expressed publicly in the second half of this Forum. The common good of the Hudson Valley community calls for our attention. Here the beauty of the Shawangunk Ridge surrounds us. Hopefully, this beauty will guide us to keep living in harmony with the earth.

In any crisis, people often become paralyzed or make unwise decisions because of the shock of the disaster. Many are not able to pick up the effective social roles they normally held when the environment was familiar and recognizable. What are the past accomplishments that give us the courage to look at the end of a time or historical period and imagine how to create a worthwhile life that would follow such a disaster? What are our choices of how to live and what actions to take for our collective survival?

This workshop is more than just about Katrina. It is also about more than the realities of global warming, now becoming obvious with the climate changes everywhere in the world. It is also about more than distrust of authorities and the roles they have played in the aftermath of disaster in the past. It is about influencing the future.

Let us take a moment to reflect on the major differences in the bioregions of New Orleans and the Hudson Valley. Both involve rivers, the sea and the surrounding lands. Yet humans have made their stories different.

The Hudson Valley still is mostly mountainous (or hilly) countryside with small cities and villages. The beauty of the region is legendary, and its history shows that many were inspired by beauty to preserve and respect its geographic integrity. The possibility of regional self-sufficiency continues to exist, as the growing Community Supported Agriculture movement with its “eat what is grown locally” philosophy spreads. Agricultural self-reliance continues, even with suburban development challenging historic pride and expanding tourism. In all, the Hudson Valley is still (more or less) environmentally intact (even with the PCBs in the river and the continuing danger of the Indian Point Nuclear Power plant.). Hudson Valley’s environmental activism is well known beyond this region.

In the Louisiana area around New Orleans, a heartfelt relationship with the earth has gradually been lost. The land is flat and water is everywhere, immediately underground, in the canals, bayous and lagoons. The Mississippi periodically changes its course as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. It was possible to live a good life at one time in this “sportsman’s paradise" with its diversity of wildlife, if one blended with the earth and lived simply.

During the last fifty years, the environmental integrity of this bio-region was compromised by the development of oil and chemical industries. The waterways encouraged the development of New Orleans as a major port. The oil was right there underground. The design and location of levees did not work in harmony with the natural flood periods of the Mississippi. Power over nature was thought possible, even though it was expensive. When the levees were younger, New Orleans survived its frequent natural disasters. Yet the industrial pollution of the wetlands in “cancer alley” was already making New Orleans an un-healthy place to live, and industrial and residential growth continued to unbalance the bio-region. The conflict over federal funding for protection against flooding existed long before the Katrina hurricane, for many years had passed since New Orleans and Louisiana were functioning bio-regions.

We can influence the pace of change in the world and the intensity of things that happen. Hudson Valley environmental history shows that we know how to move away from exploiting the earth to a philosophy of restoring and blending with the beautiful universe that surrounds us. There are challenges to be faced: restoring the soil to health from depletion by synthetic pesticides and fertilizers; continuing to clean the rivers and streams so that humans, animals and fish all have food water available to them; reducing our dependence on oil for homes and travel; and much more. We trust that our creativity and community concern will help us make the right choices for difficult times, and give hope that we can continue to thrive, based on our past experience and local competence. Beauty, worthwhile lives and regional self-sufficiency will continue if we live within the web of life and in harmony with the natural world.

Here at the Mountain House, the beauty of the earth is a guide, as the buildings blend with the earth at the same time as providing a home for various activities. Let us do the same with the region. This Public Forum is here to explore preventative actions and the many ways that cooperation can take place between individuals, small communities, local, state and federal authorities. It is good to move beyond things and people that may be lost, and consider focusing on our spiritual connectedness and community bonds. Of all that is important, love is the most important. With open hearts, awareness and respect for others, we can shape our understanding of the common good for the entire web of life and the future of this beautiful place we call home.

Let us now have a moment of silence in solidarity with those in New Orleans as they struggle with their very difficult task of making a worthwhile life after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.