It didn’t take my “Eagle Eyes” long to see this headline on the front page of Saturday’s S.F. Chronicle – “Save(d) Mono Lake.” It was a great article (over a full page of text, plus five photographs) that told the story about how a group of college students banded together, three decades ago, to conduct a research project that would save a dying lake. Many of the dozen members of the group that came together to “save” Mono Lake in 1976, have not seen each other since then. Several are professors, scientists, inventors, physicians, and teachers. Back – then – they camped out at Mono Lake over a two-month period, gathering data for the lake’s first ecological study. This month – now – they came together for a reunion to celebrate the restoration of Mono Lake to its former healthy condition.
Chronicle Environment Writer, Jane Kay, describes the circumstances that initiated the study, at the end of the article. Here was a group of interested and concerned students; who – although “pretty green” – at what they were doing, pooled their talents and embarked on a mission that one member would recall as “one of those moments from which you can trace in your life.” The details of the article are worth reading.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/29/MNGD5K7V581.DTL
It was one of those “collaboratory” type projects that “did good for the greatest number,” even though it took decades to see the results. Bottom line: It was worth it!
Twenty-first Century causes, process-wise, are not that much different than 20th Century endeavors (except, of course, for the newer technology). When we can come together around issues that generate a passionate response, it also creates a “sense of community” that lasts a lifetime. Don’t give up! It’s worth it!