I am a fisherman from Friendship. I am writing in support of the Pine Tree Amendment (L.D. 928), a bill in the Legislature that would enshrine into Maine’s constitution the right to clean air, clean water and a healthy environment for all people.

Even though the lobster industry serves as a prime example that conservation and protecting the environment go hand-in-hand with economic health, today it matters little if the speaker is a lobsterman, teacher, or even legislator. The issue at hand is so fundamentally basic and is shared between us as human beings — I am speaking about the air we breathe and the water we drink. Each of us is dependent on the life-sustaining environment and the natural resources around us on this planet.

This unquestionable relationship finds a bit of confusion when stated as a human right. We hear the calls for our “right to health care,” “good-paying jobs,” “paid time off,” and even, “basic housing.” As much as these calls are based on good concepts and intentions, some might wonder if people should ever have left the womb.

The Pine Tree Amendment has no association with the precepts of “all about me,” or “have it all now,” or with the politics of individual needs met by the efforts of others. On the contrary, it’s about sharing — sharing the resources of this planet with all and sustaining it for future generations. Not to inhibit economic health now, but to allow for its continued abundance.

The Pine Tree Amendment is about recognizing and protecting our symbiotic relationship with our environment — simply, we take care of it, it takes care of us. A lifetime of working on Maine’s waters has allowed me to witness this first hand.

Should not those blessings be shared with our grandchildren and beyond?

Richard Nelson

Friendship

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