7 minute read
The Power of One
Northwest Ecosystem Alliance’s Brian Vincent
by Traci Edge
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W
hen I walked into his cubbyhole oflBce in suite 316 ofBellingham’sHeraldBuildingI couldtell BrianVincentwasabusy guy. Papers andletters, informationalflyersandmailingsclutteredhisdeskandhung from thewalls. On thefloorwere three stacks ofNorthwest said. “NWEA recognizesthefactthattheNorthwestis ahot regionforthe ESA. Ifthe ESA is gutted, the quality ofthe environmentintheNorthwestwillbe gutted. ProtectingendangeredspeciesintheNorthwestisprotectingits econon^^. “Students make a tremendous difference in the com
Ecosystem Alliance (NWEA) “actionalerts,” whichinform readersofwhat is happeningwithlocal environmentalnews.
Apicture ofSlade Gortonsits ontopofhis computer. “I should move thiswhere itcanbe seen,” Brian said, picking up Gorton’spicture and retapingitto the shelfbehind him. “He’s my idol,” he added, laughing mischievously.
Brianis notabigman,buthisenvironmentalethicsand activism are tremendous. As I looked around the room, a livid orangepieceofpaperreading“The ESA protects us” caught my eye fromitsplaceonthewall. Belowit was a drawing ofa salmon. On it wereprintedthewords, “helpFinn get to spawning grounds!” I had heardfromotherenvironmentalists that Brian was the one to talk to abouttheESA, andthe lookofhis munity. Ihaveneverseensuchenergeticyoungpeople. Western students are so politically involved —what a powerful asset. They are a gem inthe academic system.”
Brian loves Whatcom County and said he won’t leave iffunding for NWEA continues. However, he said he has received morethreatsfromthe opposition intheNorthwest than he didwhen heworked in Washington, D.C. “I’m not used to being yelled at or accosted,” Briansaid, “butI don’t want tension between communities — sitting down to talk is better thanyelling and screaming. I’m not willing to sacrifice anythingthatIbelievein.” Brian moved to Bellingham from Washington, D.C. nine months ago to work for NWEA. He started out as a
ofBce confirmedthat advice.
He spends about 12 hours each day at NWEA, and as a result, Brian’s work reaches further
writerforthe Greenpeacepaper. The Examiner. After a year at H Greenpeace, he moved on to a I* year’s internship with the Na-
than one might think. “I talk to about 350 people a day on electronic mail,” Brian said “It’s eng tional Audubon Society. At the National Au
Brian Vincent
couraging that so many people have been referred to me (for information), but it’s a lot of workre^nding.”
Brian stressed the importance ofactivismandpolitical awareness within the general public, which “fell asleep at thewheel lastelection.” Heisworriedabouttheweaknessof the environmental movement compared to the opposing
groups.
“The Christian Coalition and the radical rights movementhavemuscle,”Briansaid. “IthinktheirpowerisawakedubonSociety,Brianworkedon Alaska issues: the Arctic NationalWildlifeRefuge, oil ^illliabilityandlegislationinresponse tothe Exxon Valdez incident, ancientforestprotection, and endangered species. Upon completing his internship, Brian decided to stay active, andworked as a lobbyist forenvironmentalissues foranothereightyears.
He described a typical work day as, “Chaotic — My oflBce always looks like this — it’s always a wreck. I get throughthedaybychewingonpens—I musthaveatonof plasticinn^stomach!” Heshowedmeapenthatwas shred
up call for environmentalists. Environmentalists have cast their nets much wider andbrought in the support offishermen, students, physicians—people thatwe would not normallythinkofputtinga ‘green’ label on.”
Briansaidthatradicalchangemusthaj^nforustosave our environment and endangered species. That change, he added, mustbegin with the ESA andthe activists who supportandbelieve in it.
“The Northwest has such sophisticated, passionate activists — they are more involved at a deeper level,” Brian ded from the top to the middle.
AlthoughBrianhas madeasignificantdifferenceasan environmentalist, hewasnotalways interestedinthetrade. In 1984, he graduatedfromWestVirginiaUniversitywitha degreein ClassicalMusicPerformance. “My interestinenvironmental issuesstartedwhilegoingtoWest\BiginiaUniversity,” Briansaid. “WestVirginiais abeautifiil state. Asa backpackerandaclimber, Iwantedto spendmoretimeoutside. I wasvery upsetwith what I sawhappening tothe environment, andveryconcernedaboutanimal rights. Becom-
ing more involved with environmental issues just seemed likeanaturalthing/’
Brian grewup in LaPlata, Maryland, with his brother, whonowworks intheDefenseDepartment, andhisparents, who workwiththe CIA. “It’s kindofan interesting things’* hesaid, smiUng.
Whenhe is notworkingto savetheenvironmentorendangered species, Brianenjoysrockclimbing,backpacking, andmusic. HeplaystheFrenchhornandclassical guitar. He callspoliticsone ofhishobbies andcredits his loveforpolitics as one ofthe reasons he spends so much time working.
When I asked him if he had any pets, he smiled and said, ‘Twokitties... Daphnis, namedafteracharacterinthe Ravel ballet, and Rimsky— he’s the little one, named after Korsakov, aRussian composer. Both are neurotic, I think.” He said hefoundDaphnisonthestreetsofD.C. andRimsky on the streets ofPortland.
Brian said he finds it difficult buy cat food because it comes from slaughterhouses. “We, as a dominant species, take a toll on the environment and endangered species (in this way),” he said, pausing for a minute to stretch. “I considermyselfanenvironmentalistaswell as ananimalrights activist Generally, environmentalistsareconcernedwithecosystems andcommunities, notanimals specifically. Animal rights activiststendtobeconcerned morewithanimals, not necessarily the ecosystem.”
AlthoughtheESAis“6irlyall-consuming,”Brianisalso working on grazing reform to remove subsidies for ranchers, andlegislationonancientforests. Hehopestobe ableto workmore onanimal rightsissues.
LeavingBrian’s office, Ifeltlike Iknewmoreaboutenvironmental issues. More importantly, I had met someone I feltcomfortable relyingon as a leadingenvironmentalistin Bellingham. It’s no wonderBellingham residentsget so involvedwithNWEAandBrianto sparkthefireandenlighten themwithknowledgeonenvironmental issues.
Saving Endangered Species is Elementaiy
Because today’s children arethe future caretakers ofthe world and the environment within, they must know
Why are endangered species important?
“Because whenkids growup, theywill neverknow what about the issues of tomorrow. Educating young children about endangered species will help them to nndftrstanrf the earthtbQ'willinherit.
The studentsat St. MaryMagdalenElementary School in Everett begin learning about endangered species in the M fourthgrade. WhenIvisitedwith somethird, fourth and fifth graders there, I asked themtheir views on this complex issue. Theyansweredreadilyandopenly, and sometimeswith surprisingperceptiveness. thatanimal looks like. Andsomeanimals helptheearth live.” —AshleyWerner, age 8,3-A. They are importantbecause they are God’s »»creatures.’ —KelseyBride, age 10,5-B. They may have a cure for canceror any other ♦>disease.’ —Tony Gillan, age 10,4-B. / (Ifwe letendangered species go) ^ewouldhave nothingto eat. We should onlykillas muchaswe n^. Nottokill forfun.” —Jordan Stupey, age 9,4-A. [
Doyou know what an endangered ^tecies is?
“Ananimalthatiskilledbyman.” —NicoleRakVar age9,3-B. Somethingthat isgoing tobeextinctifwedon’thelp it.” —Brittai^Bekins, age 10,5-B. Ananimalthat isendangeredbypoachers.” — SeanClary,
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age9,4-B. An animalthat hasveryfewofitskind.” —John Leary, age 10,4-B. “Sowhenwehavechildren, theywillknow\Vhatendai^df^ iq)eciesareinsteadofananim^ofthep^.” —Kristian^
Skolmen, age 8,3-B. “Theyare inourfoodchain.” —jkichael^tton, age8,3-A. “Iftherewere pamore tigers, thdn therewouldbeovenprau lated deer,S;oabnte, andlotsofotheranim^.vAtso^^^ would be n^pr^l^e^ see.” HeMerThoma^
Can you give an exang^le ofan endangeredsp&ies?
Most students gave examples ofendangered species, includ ing: Pandas, GrizzlyBears, GrayWolves, SiberianTi gers,OrcaWhales, Manateesand SeaTurtles.
“Manateesliveinthewater.” —PatrickByrnes, age 8,3-A. “SometigersliveinAfrica.” —JessLeonard, age 9,4-A. Thetigerlives inAsia Itusuallylivesinjungles,butreally allover.” —HeatherThomas, age 11,5-A.
^5‘hcrTV
‘GlOStBears : Explorinq a Mew, Holistic Apppoacli to Conservation Laws
by Colleen Williams
Ghost Bears: Exploring the Biodiversity Crisis
by R. Edward Grumbine Island Press, 1992, 246pages
Thebicxliversitycrisis shouldurgeustopayattentionto ourplace inthe world andto foster a discovery of“gestures thathonortheworld,” writesR. Edward Grumbinein Ghost Bears: Exploring the Biodiversity Crisis.
Unfortunately, hes^s, humanlawsare out ofsync with natural laws.
Laws such as the Endangered Species Act are not
strong enough because they protect only individual species, Grumbine argues, but the species’ habitat mustbe protectedas well.
“We must learn a holistic approach,” Grumbinewrites. “Species are notseparate from their habitat; human laws mustmatchthe laws ofna hire.”
Grumbine says the grizzly bear is one species whose survival depends onjust such a new approach.
Grumbine focuses on the loss of the North Cascades grizzly bears to illustrate the crisis. He discusses why the species is introublewiththoroughness and clarity.
Grumbinee?q)lainsthatthegrizaJies’ 6 miUion-acrehabitat can support a population of 246-377 bears. To demonstrate the inadequacyofthe habitat’s size, Grumbine citesa scientifictheorythat statesapopulationof1,670-2,000bears is neededforthemto survivewithout human intervention.
He also mentionscurrentforestmanagementplansthat could hinderpopulation recovery.
Grumbine seems so concernedwithbad enviroiunental legislation and management thathe forgets about his hopes ofdiscovering“gesturesthathonortheworld.” WhileIfound Ghost Bears very informative, I wonder why he neglected his intentions. Much ofthebook consists ofcriticizing federal policy.
Inthechapter“LawsontheLand,” Grumbinecontends that “the (ESA) is riddled with loopholes large enough to allowthe world’sbiggestonmivore and mostwide-ranging predator, as well as thousands ofother species, to teeter on thebrinkofforever.”
He clearlypresents the“glaringdefects” hefinds in theact.
Grumbine discusses legal, ecological andmanagement aspects ofthebiodiversity crisis in sevenchapters. He gives historicalaccounts, presentsituationsand sometimes alook intothefuture, all ofwhichIfound interesting.
One thing I found distracting is that Grumbine sometimes strays from the Greater North Cascades region to discuss Yellowstone National Park or the Forest Service in Wisconsin. Ghost Bears has too heavy an emphasis on the North Cascades to be about the national biodiversity crisis, and Grumbine digresses too much for thebook to be aboutjust this region. Otherwise, it was a good read. Grumbine avoids soundingtoo academic by including first-person narratives and anecdotes, such astaking students intothewilderness. He directs the undergraduate wildernessfield studies programatthe SierraInstituteattheUniversityofCaliforniaat Santa Cruz.
To help non-scientists, Grumbine doesn’t rely onjargon too much, and there is a glossary in the back for those unfamiliarwithenvironmentalterms. Hisbackgroundinformation should bring people up to speed on current conservationissues (or semi-current—thisbookwaspublishedin 1992). I found his historyofU.S. land management, beginning with the rift between John Muir and Gifford Pinchot, especiallyhelpful.
Grumbine doesn’t offer a specific plan for preserving wildlife. However, he doeslistgoals, suchasprotectinghabitat and planning over a period of centuries, that he hopes will solvethebiodiversitycrisis.
Ghost Bears is a persuading argument for serious reforms inenvironmentalpolicy. MembersofCongressshould readand reflecton it.
Grizzly Bears photos taken at Woodland Park Zoo Photos by Jonathan Duncan
