Lake Ontario Basin Update
Why A Good Story Is Your Secret Weapon
Members of the grassroots, ultimately,
have the most powerful tool for affecting
change in their communities:
riveting, unique stories.
The foundation of a fascinating story
is one single, central fact. Case in point
is the recent Kingston sewage
scandal. In April 2005, millions of litres (14-million gallons) of
raw sewage washed up on the shores of Wolfe Island, at the
eastern tip of Lake Ontario.
Fifty-two million litres of raw sewage dumped condoms
by the dozen, hypodermic needles, and feminine hygiene products
onto the normally pristine beaches. Fourteen million gallons
of raw sewage rushing past the island, downstream
to the St. Lawrence River, meant Kingston’s sewage was on display
for all the world to see.
Since the 1970s, the City of Kingston has admitted to the
Province of Ontario that it has a “problem”with its sewage system.
But since admitting its problem a generation ago,
Kingston has made little real progress in cleaning up its waterways
and revamping the century-old system.
So what makes the recent sewage spill so “scandalous”? Why
are area residents confident that this time, things will be
different? The answer: One set of facts and a powerful story.
On April 4, 2005, Wolfe Island resident Colin Mosier noticed
condoms and needles lapping ashore on his property. Colin,
with no specialized training in environmental work, but as a
long-time volunteer with Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, knew that
the nearby City of Kingston regularly dumps its raw sewage in
the spring and worried that there might be a
connection. Because Colin was informed and aware, he
spotted a potential problem instantly.
Colin immediately contacted Waterkeeper, who was three
hours away in Toronto, and then telephoned a live call-in radio
show. His concern rallied the community, who took turns
notifying the appropriate government officials and local
leaders. While he waited for the government and press to
arrive, Colin and his family and friends documented the
sewage spill, taking numerous photographs and videotape
recordings. His father-in-law, Christopher Mattson, offered
to take water samples for Waterkeeper, collecting them from
the river and the shore well, and delivering them to our local
laboratory.
Quick-thinking volunteers proved what scientists and activists
have not had the opportunity to prove before: sewage spills
have a real impact in the Kingston area.
It sounds silly. Who doesn’t know that sewage spills are bad?
But in a historically polluted area like Lake Ontario, evidence to
support common sense is often hard to come by. Let’s see what
Colin’s actions proved:
1) Because he called the authorities right away, Colin
proved when the spill had occurred.
2) Because Colin and his friends documented the
contamination extensively, they proved the
magnitude of the spill.
3) Because Colin invited the media, he gave the world
the images it needed to understand the impacts of
sewage dumping.
4) By taking water samples right away, Colin’s family
also proved that the river and his drinking water well
were contaminated with E. coli. (A second set of
samples taken after the spill was cleaned up
confirmed that the river and shore well were
once again clean.)
Those are the facts. But what makes them so powerful?
Why did Colin’s quick-thinking prompt a series of front-page
news stories, province-wide editorials, and an investigation
by Ontario’s environmental police force?
The simplest answer is that, because Colin documented
everything he could, his story is indisputable. Colin’s story
resonated with government, media, and community
members because he’s a regular guy who let the facts tell his
story. Colin’s plight could be anyone’s plight, a truism that gives
his experience a unique power. It’s common enough among
the grassroots and it’s our greatest strength as a movement.
Volunteers and other individuals who speak out about personal,
factual experiences of pollution in their communities offer
one thing that no PR firm can manufacture and no
spin-doctor can conjure up: credibility. Their stories, like Colin’s,
are straightforward and poignant. Even the most jaded observer
can sympathize and decide they never want it to happen in
their community again. And that is a powerful step to winning
back our waterways.
Disclaimer:
The interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. They in no way represent the views of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, the C.S. Mott Foundation, subscribers, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.
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