MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This group meets every other Thursday alternating between morning and afternoon times. Locations and topics will change each time.
Diane Hofstede is the conversation leader for this program and has invited Doug Niemala, National Director of Save the Boundary Waters, to speak. It is expected that the presentation will be informative, interesting and prompt considerable discussion. Diane is a native of Northeast Minneapolis, Diane comes from a family of community activists – Dad (Minneapolis Park Board Member), father in law Albert Senior, a member of the Minneapolis strike of 1934); brother in law, Al (Third Ward Minneapolis Council Member, Mayor of Minneapolis). Diane appointed by the Minneapolis City Council, and elected City wide to the Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees, and Minneapolis City Council Member for the Third Ward.
Diane’s parents purchased property in Ely, MN. They respected and instilled in Diane an appreciation, respect and passion for the natural environment and the people whose land was entrusted to their care. Frequent visits to their Ely property, and the careful selection of Ely rocks have resulted in the creation of their gardens at their NE Minneapolis home.
All are welcome when you visit, for the program, or when strolling by, to take a walk through the gardens and see the many rocks that Diane and Tony have brought back from their property in Ely, the rock formations from the excavation, when building their home, and other local, and interesting sources.
Save the Boundary Waters Description:
The current controversy had its origins dating back to 1966 when federal mining leases were executed on lands close to Superior National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) renewed these leases on a regular basis; however, in 2012 when another renewal was sought, a new owner of the leases was revealed.
Twin Metals and its parent, the giant mining enterprise, Antofagasta from Chile, emerged as proponents of a large Sulfide-ore copper mine.
In April, 2013, this caught the attention of local residents in and around Ely who organized the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters - the mission was to create a national movement to protect the clean water, clean air, and forest landscape of the BWCA and its watershed from toxic pollution.
Under the leadership of Doug Niemela (Diane’s guest), (and Becky Roam, an Ely native), the Campaign has grown to include 24 non-profits and 8 full time staff.
Copper-nickel metal mining extracts trace amounts of metals from large volumes of rock.
Opponents of the mine point out that exposing sulfide minerals in ore,waste rock, and mine pit walls to air and water generates acid mine drainage (AMD). And AMD contains bad stuff like sulfuric acid and heavy metals (Mercury, Zinc).
There's fear of leaks, spills, seepage from mine sites and that acidic waters from mine runoff will impact fish and aquatic plants like wild rice. Opponents also see mining to be athreat to the outdoor recreation economy and tourism. Further, the mine infrastructure which includes roads, processing plants, pipelines, and transmission lines could harm wildlife.
To learn more about the organization, click here.