Mon. 7/3 @ 10AM-12:30PM
Earlier this spring Michigan resident Kimberly Simon was disgusted to learn the Trump administration’s budget called for the elimination of funding for the clean-up and restoration of the Great Lakes.
Aside from living on Lake Michigan, Simon wasn’t really a water activist. Still, she felt compelled to come out of her comfort zone and do something to protect the waterways that so many people not only cherish but rely on for fresh drinking water.
“I thought, let’s take advantage of this because whether we have the money or not from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the water has issues,” Simon said. “After the election, I just basically learned that, forget the finger-pointing. None of us have been working at protecting those things we value the most in our society.
“That’s why people are so upset. Everybody is afraid of something being taken from them. I just thought the water is really important to me, and I’m afraid something is going to happen to it, so I need to be fighting for it.”
At that point, Simon went on social media and invited groups from all around the Great Lakes region to get involved. It didn’t take long before she found herself leading more than a thousand people in a discussion room chat.
The idea was to create awareness campaign All Hands on Deck, which is billed as a hand-holding event where people from all over the Great Lakes will be organizing in different cities to come together in support of clean water and protection of the Great Lakes.
“We’re consistent from area to area with the same goals,” Simon said. “That’s to get people to the water, talk about their local issues and then how they can be helpful in their community after the event so they can still remain involved.”
The Cleveland portion of the All Hands on Deck event takes place Mon 7/3 at Whiskey Island’s Wendy Park. A clean-up is scheduled to take place after the awareness affair, which will be hosted by the Green Ribbon Coalition, The Sierra Club and other nonprofit organizations.
Cleveland’s Green Ribbon Coalition founder Dick Clough said he can’t wait for communities all along Great Lakes shores to link hands and boats and raise awareness of the need to protect the waters.
“Green Ribbon Coalition is involved with All Hands on Deck because of our interest in green-connected public access to the lake,” said Clough, who noted the first 100 people arriving at the event get free T-shirt. “I founded the Coalition with the idea in mind that we could be doing much, much more with our lakefront in the Cleveland area and across Ohio’s Erie Shore.
“It is totally amazing to me that federal funding would be withdrawn from initiatives to continue improving lake water quality and addressing challenges to the same, such as algae growth, invasive species, industrial runoff and sewage overflows. Federal funding priorities are totally misplaced.”
As far as All Hands on Deck, participants can check in and sign advocacy petitions about creating water policy based on unbiased science. Each location will be unique with Simon saying some sites will have activities and even live music.
Overall, she’s amazed at how this truly grassroots effort has blossomed into something much bigger. However, she feels this is just a drop in the bucket.
“I see this as a success, but honestly it’s only in the thousands,” Simon said. “My goal really is tens of thousands. The Great Lakes basin has 40 million people drinking this water that’s 20 percent of the world’s fresh water and 98 percent of our fresh water.
“It’s a life-and-death issue going into the future with the problems with water on Earth. I really believe there needs to be tens of thousands, that’s what we’re shooting for next year. We’re starting the planning right away, and we’ll go from there.”
Considering the political climate, Simon said the biggest hurdle is bringing people from both sides of the aisle into the fold. She stressed that if All Hands on Deck is tied to a political agenda, the effort will ultimately fail.
“There are people who are suspicious,” Simon said. “I haven’t been able to get as many conservatives onboard as I would like. They think it might be a political agenda. I keep saying we all have political beliefs, but we’re choosing to put those aside for the sake of the water for one hour on one day and unite because we really need to make this a united effort.
“People are loving that idea. They’re really tired of so much division. Everything is angry and so much protesting. However you feel about it, they’re liking an opportunity to do something positive that isn’t divisive and they really feel like they’re making a difference.”
Cleveland, OH 44102
One Response to ““All Hands on Deck” Great Lakes Awareness Event Takes Place at Whiskey Island’s Wendy Park”
Tom Lawrence Jr.
We have to do something to keep the Asian Carp out of Lake Erie, as well as to keep the algae blooms out of the lake to keep the water 💦 drinkable