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The
Mississippi River as Community
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River
Currents Newsletter - October 2008 |
Webster's
Dictionary defines community in several
ways. The first definition - a unified body
of individuals - wouldn't fit for the
Mississippi River right now. But it's
amazing how the next three definitions apply
directly. Webster's definitions b.), c.) and
d.) -- people with common interests…; an
interacting population…; and a group of
people with a common characteristic or
interest living together within a larger
society - all describe the Mississippi River
community to a tee. Perhaps if these three
definitions can be self-realized, the first
one - a unified body - can come into being
as well.
America's Waterway is attempting to unify
the Mississippi River community using the
internet and social networking to overcome
geographic and cost barriers that have
limited its unification in the past. It's
our belief - and that of the National
Science Council - that unified approaches
are better able to address a whole-River
system than the disjointed approaches that
have predominated throughout its history.
We're going to see if that isn't possible in
this era of internet engagement and
mobilization.
We're looking for people up and down the
Mississippi River to join us in this effort
by sharing their visions of the Mississippi
River. In particular, we'd like to see what
you see as the common characteristics. How
are the events in your community
representative of the Mississippi River? How
are the community-development issues and the
water-quality-protection issues the same for
you as they would be for other River
communities? Do you have photos or videos?
How is your organization addressing the
development of whole-River approaches? How
do you see the character, condition and
possible future of the Mississippi River
impacting your life?
It's time the Mississippi River community
started to come together. If we start to
share ideas today, maybe we can share
solutions in the future. We hope you'll join
us and send your photos and thoughts to
America's Waterway at alewis@americaswaterway.org.
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For more information please email:
www.americaswaterway.org |
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