By Meghan Riding
meghan@newsroom.byu.edu
Society must preserve the Earth and restore economic equality, said Green Party vice presidential candidate Winona LaDuke at the Glen Canyon Institute's annual conference Saturday, Oct. 28.
Richard Ingebretsen, founder of the Glen Canyon Institute, said the institute's goal is to restore the Colorado River through Glen Canyon and the Grand Canyon. The area was destroyed when Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell were constructed, he said.
LaDuke is a Native American environmentalist who has founded many grassroots organizations to protect the Earth, Ingebretsen said.
LaDuke said Americans have little knowledge of history and do not know where the world is going.
There are two divergent options that Americans have about the Earth and life in general, LaDuke said.
Americans can embrace land-based teaching that focuses on natural law or can embrace the industrial world's view of man's dominion over nature, she said.
LaDuke said people view technology as a way to solve environmental problems, like Glen Canyon, instead of dealing with decisions.
'These are issues that are fundamental to society,' LaDuke said. 'Our own public policies and institutions are destroying the Earth.'
LaDuke said people should not become political islands because every choice matters.
'It is not only what we do to the environment, but what we do to each other because everything has consequences,' she said.
LaDuke said America's problems are not limited to the environment but include the large disparity of wealth as well.
Economics must return to the local level and the legislature must limit privilege at the top to solve the vast disparity of income, LaDuke said.
'We cannot all be rich, and in the end we probably shouldn't all be rich because it has consequences,' she said.
LaDuke said there are solutions to these problems.
Citizens need to reengage in civic participation to accomplish reforms, LaDuke said.
There is a swell at the local level to do things that needs to be transferred to the national level, she said.
Cultural diversity is as essential to the country's survival as bio-diversity is, LaDuke said.
'The beauty of the country is diversity, and we need to value that,' she said.
Jessica Coleman, 19, a University of Utah student, said she was inspired by LaDuke's speech.
'I'm definitely voting for Nader, and I hope I can spread the word because sometimes people are so apathetic,' Coleman said.
Ingebretsen said after hearing LaDuke's speech, he hopes people will want to get involved in saving the environment.