The ''Pass the Paddle'' campaign kicked off April 1st on the Potomac River, and is currently making its way through the Midwest.
A nationwide tour designed to get the attention of the public usuallyinvolves a big star and a well-structured media campaign. But a groupof environmentalists are currently touring the Great Lakes region withnothing more than a simple wooden canoe paddle to raise awareness of thevalue of America’s rivers and streams. The organizers of the ”Pass ThePaddle” campaign hope to spread their message without having a politicalagenda. But not having such an agenda is actually politicizing thetour. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl explains:
For more info on the Pass the Paddle Campaign, see www.rivers2000.org
Transcript
A nationwide tour designed to get the attention of the public usually
involves a big star and a well structured media campaign. But a group of
environmentalists are currently touring the Great Lakes region with nothing
more than a simple wooden canoe paddle to raise awareness of the value of
America’s rivers and streams. The organizers of the “Pass The Paddle”
campaign hope to spread their message without having a political agenda.
But not having such an agenda is actually politicizing the tour. The Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl explains.
(Ambient sound of rowers)
On a hot and humid August afternoon, four men dressed in seventeenth
century French-Canadian explorer outfits paddle a canoe towards the banks of
the Illinois River. The precise strokes of their paddles cut through the
brown water in unison, making them appear to glide across the sun soaked
surface of the calm river. While their attention may be on the paddles
that are in the water, the crowd of about one hundred people on the
riverfront are waiting for their cargo — a canoe paddle that has already
traveled through thirty five states. This nationwide tour is being
organized by Rivers 2000, a coalition of environmental groups around the
county that want to make 2000 the year of the river. Marc Miller is the
Illinois Coordinator for the project. He says he wants people to take some
time to think about the rivers in their areas
“What this does is help citizens connect with their
rivers, recognize their recreational opportunities in their local area. And
also connect with organizations that are working on these issues.”
Miller says Rivers 2000 tries to attract attention to the project by adding
elements of local history to each of the stops. And in Peoria, Illinois,
that means the influence of the French Canadian explorers. Bill Dwyer of
Chillicothe, Illinois is one of the members of the North American Voyageur
Council — a reenactment group with an interest in canoeing and
conservation. The group’s replica outfits and canoe are virtually
identical to what the characters they portray would have used hundreds of
years ago. Dwyer says realism is crucial to re-enactors, and they try to
duplicate everything as authentically as possible. But Dwyer says there
is one element of reenactment his group can’t replicate. He says the
explorers he emulates would dip their oars in the water and hold them in the
air to take a drink. Dwyer says pollution and sediment keeps them from
doing that.
“You could drink out of the river 300 years ago, that
was their water supply. Can’t do it now. You have to go municipal — you
can’t do that now. About the only thing you can do is to get splashed a
little bit to cool off. That helps.”
Dwyer says he hopes his canoeing will inspire others to think about area
rivers and streams. He says he’s confident people will make the right
choice about getting involved with river clean up and conservation projects
once they start thinking about the rivers. Dwyer says he likes that
non-confrontational approach. But not all environmentalists agree that a
non-political approach is the best way to save the country’s waterways.
“They have a different viewpoint, and
certainly we respect that.”
Joyce Blumenshine is an activist with the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club. The
group recently addressed their concerns about the Illinois River in the
exact same spot, but in a more confrontational way. They openly criticize
large agribusiness companies and the government for their role in harming
the areas waterways. Blumenshine says while she sees the value in the
Rivers 2000 effort, sometimes a more aggressive approach is necessary.
“The issues have become more strident and
deciding to be on a more congenial tone has not worked in the past, and were
at the point where time is of the essence.”
But Marc Miller of Rivers 2000 says his group will stick with a more
subdued approach toward activism. He says Rivers 2000 will not push a
political agenda or take a stand on specific issues.
“We are here to celebrate our rivers today. And
that’s our primary focus. From this will follow, hopefully people will get
involved in their local efforts. From there they can make the political
changes that they may feel is necessary to protect the rivers and streams.”
The Pass the Paddle campaign has already made stops in Indiana, Michigan,
and Ohio. This week the group will sponsor stops in Pennsylvania and New
York. After the paddle has visited all fifty states, the paddle will go on
display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. For the Great Lakes
Radio Consortium, I’m Jonathan Ahl in Peoria, Illinois.