Listening to Terrie's lecture on Friday proliferated a sentiment that's been kind of floating around the class for a bit, one that was articulated by Hallie a few months ago. A sort of environmental depression about the state of the Park. The problem that Terrie's lecture encapsulated made conservation efforts seem like a temporary fix to the encroaching industrial developments. At one point, when Terrie was talking about his conservation group versus the new development projects, he explicitly mentioned, "You never win. You just tie." You can simply only prevent a project for the time being. They can resubmit for a different place the next year, or appeal your decision.
I think it really highlights an important part of our perception of being conservationalists in a contested region. Good land practices are something you can lose very easily, and by consequence that's why people hold a lot of importance in it. I had thought that the fact that the Adirondacks were constantly being defended against bad practices was kind of an exciting battle, but now it just seems like a burden.
I reacted in a similar way to Terrie's sentiment about 'never being able to win.' While I see glimpses of hope in what seems to be pretty steadfast voter contingent in support of the park's conservation, I can't help but be a little cynical. The influence of big money is impossible to ignore, and if more and more companies take interest in the resources the park has to offer, I wonder if activists like Phil Terrie will be able to keep them out. Still, I recognize that such a defeatist attitude is no help at all. While we may sometimes only tie in legal battles such as the one with NYCO, I think the fight is well worth it.
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