Democratic Party Ninth District
Tom Lambis

I grew up in rural Alabama only 26 miles outside of Birmingham. We drank water from the creeks, wandered the forests, collected fossilized ferns from the old coal mine tailings, caught bream from the creeks. Those were slower times in less crowded places. But it was only fifty years ago and not far from a major city. The natural environment was an integral part of my world, and is one of the reasons that my wife and I settled in Lumpkin County four years ago.

The north Georgia mountains are still in a profoundly unspoiled state. We who live here appreciate the natural wonders about us on a daily basis. Our mountain economies are driven by those who visit from the less unspoiled, crowded urban areas surrounding us. Preservation of our natural world makes good business sense!

Democrats understand that the destruction of the natural balance creates an unstable future. Environmentalism became a bad word in the 1980s when political operatives found that labels, slogans, and gross exaggeration could be used as political weapons. Anyone who wanted to preserve what precious little natural world there was were labeled with the derogatory term "tree hugger." Where some say there is no proof that destructive practices are actually harmful in the long term, many of us say "why take a chance?"

There are two basic sides to the issue. The other side says use up our natural resources, pollute the air and water, and wipe out the flora and fauna because it doesn't really matter. Either scientists

whom they detest otherwise) will save us from destruction with some magic bullet or God put it here for man to use and anyway, it will all be over soon, so why do we need it?

We Democrats err on the side of caution and preserve what we can so that it doesn't disappear altogether. What has been lost if one protects something that in the end didn't need protecting? Nothing. The only consequence is that one didn't get to run rampant over all for their selfish desires. We ENVIRONMENTALISTS and CONSERVATIONISTS, like Teddy Roosevelt did, can see past our greed and our selfishness to the beauty that is our natural world.

And it isn't all about beauty. Keeping our water and air clean and our earth covered with natural indigenous plants is good for all humanity, present and future. Leaving green space scattered amongst rampant development makes sense.

The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is wiping out our majestic mountain forests in north Georgia, a key reason for our tourist economy. A pest brought from overseas, it has decimated hemlock forests all along the Appalachians. We in Georgia have the chance to stem the spread of these destructive insects. Information on how you can help at hemlockfest. org.

In our own backyard we are losing precious land to rampant development. Our pristine rivers and streams are threatened with siltation and pollution from development. We are not anti-development, we are pro-planned, controlled development so that our children may know nature as we know it with clean air to breath and clean water to drink.

Democrats proudly stand up for all aspects of our environment. It has long been a key part of our beliefs. And we will continue to champion that which sustains us.

Tom Lamb is a teacher in Forsyth County and a resident of Lumpkin County. He was active for many years in the Alabama Conservancy, Alabama Trails Association, and the Vulcan Trail Association.