Flint River - Georgia, U.S.A.

Admittedly this Blog entry does not involve the World Situation. I, the Flower Child have been following a situation that appears to be developing and even gathering momentum here in Middle and even Southwest Georgia.

Way back on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 "The Citizen Georgian," the legal organ for Macon County, City of Montezuma, City Of Oglethorpe, City of Ideal and City of Marshallville published a front page story about as the headline read: "Paddlers celebrate trip's end at Oglethorpe gym." The subheading for this was "Organization forms to protect Flint" and it was written by Roger Ann Davis, Editor, Oglethorpe. Additional articles on the front page were: "Paddle Georgia 'a great trip' for 81-year-old" and "People need to be educated about the river" as well as "Preparing dinner for 400 people and a former president."

I developed the impression that a grass roots organization was being formulated to protect the Flint River.

Then on Monday, July 28, 2008 "The Telegraph" of Macon, Georgia featured an article on the Local & State Page with this heading: "Carter's fight against dams a familiar one." The article was written by Greg Bluestein of the Associated Press. The article discussed that there is a current movement to build several dams on the Flint to provide water for drought-striken Georgia. The article went on to explain that this concept was broached many years ago and that again there would be a fight to "Save the Flint."

The Flower Child is of the opinion that our 2009 Georgia General Assembly will again discuss this project which also appears to fall under the control of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is not my purpose today to encourage the dam building or even hinder the dam building, but to simply point out that the overall needs of Georgia's Citizens need to be considered as this project again is broached by respective Government Agencies and our Georgia Lawmakers.

It is my personal opinion that if the dams are build that they should be configured to also generate hydro-electric power. No matter who wins out in this situation there will be those who will be unhappy. Some will say we need the dams to provide water for the farmers and future urban development in this region of Georgia. Yet others will say that we should let the Flint River run free because they fear that the Flint River will cease to exist, it will simply become a ditch.

Let us sincerely hope that cool heads prevail as this project becomes an issue. Georgia and the entire population of this State need to be considered. Farmers need water to grow our food. We all enjoy eating fresh produce and it is also far more healthful than consuming produce that is imported from countries where there is no control or even asssurance that the proper health safeguards are even implemented.

While we the People think Green, we also need to remember that we also think hungry and also healthy.