Issue 1: Cleaning Up The Androscoggin River
Grandfathered Pollution
For most of my life, I’ve lived very close to the Androscoggin River, and for the same amount of time it has always been horribly polluted. If a large amount of the pollution that is currently causing the river ecosystem harm is being caused by the Verso Mill in Jay, then I think it would be in our best interest to raise public awareness.
I think this could be done by highlighting the differences between the upstream and downstream environments of the river. By bringing attention to the disparity I think it will place social pressure on the Verso Mill to adopt more responsible ecological practices. I think you could use a variety of different strategies, you could ask people for first hand accounts of the river, and the massive differences between upstream and downstream of the mill. Secondly, I think you could create some sort of tool that would make it easy to visualize the differences at different points of the river.
Issue 2: Clean, Renewable Energy: Wind, Solar, Hydro, Biomass
House Hold Energy Independence
In regards to clean, independent energy for the state of Maine, I think that the best strategy here is to engage people on the household level. Nearby where I live several of my neighbors live entirely “off the grid” through the use of solar energy, and smart building design (heating via sun from intelligently positioned windows, efficient insulation, as well as smaller than average building sizes.). There are also numerous people I know, my own family included that heat their homes exclusively through the burning of wood. While wood burning could be done in an inefficient and destructive way, well engineered wood burning stoves and other technologies greatly improve the amount of the heat produced and greatly reduce the emissions and increase burn times ( for example my family uses a single rather small wood stove with a catalytic converter to heat an entire 2 story house effectively).
In terms of new media strategies, we could compile and make available stories of individual energy independence (or reduced dependence), and find a way to show people that being more energy conscious and efficient doesn’t mean a decrease is quality of life, and in many mundane practical (excluding the positive ecological impacts) ways it is the superior choice. I think there could also be a means to undermine big power here, at least in terms of economic expenditure.
