Eight fight to sustain Southold
Seek contributors to sustainable Southold blog
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They're mad as hell and they're not going to take it any more. That paraphrase from Paddy Chayefsky's screenplay for "Network" might be the mantra for newly organized Sustainable Southold.
A core group of eight local residents believes that "human behavior has substantially compromised the ability of future generations to meet their needs," according to the group's blog, accessible at sustainablesouthold.blogspot.com. They have combined their energies to create the blog and sponsor various events to motivate the community to reverse the current trends.
To those who question why, with North Fork Environmental Council and Group for the East End focusing on similar issues, there's a need for another organization, their answer is simple: Sustainable Southold has none of the hierarchy of other groups that can sometimes slow action, according to founding member Anne Murray. What's more, the environment is only one component of their concern about sustainability, she said.
The organization is looking at such issues of social justice, jobs and the local economy that go beyond just environmentalism, she said.
To get an opinion posted to the group's blog, it takes agreement from any three of the founding eight members. And it can be posted almost immediately, Ms. Murray said.
"I think we're at a crossroads where we need to do something and do something fast," founding member Gwynn Schroeder said.
What they like about the blog is that residents unable to make regular meetings can access the site at any time and contribute their ideas to the wider community.
"It's going back to the idea of people relying on each other," said Debbie O'Kane, a former NFEC executive director. The group already has reached out to the NFEC, the Long Island Farm Bureau, Southold Town, Greenport Village and others they hope will support and contribute ideas to the blog.
A visit to the site on Friday revealed an interview with Orient-based architect Glynis Berry, written by founding member Hazel Kahan, about incorporating green concepts in building; an update on the debate within the Suffolk County Legislature on a proposed bill to ban use of plastic bags in stores; and an essay by former NFEC president Howard Meinke about the comprehensive plan needed to make Southold a sustainable community.
There's also a section enabling residents to swap goods and services with one another.
"You don't have to exchange money that you don't have," Ms. Murray said.
The concept for Sustainable Southold emerged a few months ago in conversations among the founding members and grew into a reality through a few meetings and ongoing e-mails, according to Ms. Murray.
To enlarge the group, Sustainable Southold started with two film events -- one at Peconic Landing in Greenport last Thursday and the second Saturday night at Mattituck Presbyterian Church. At both venues, they screened the film "Escape From Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream."
Following both screenings, Ms. Kahan led a discussion and members solicited e-mail addresses of audience members interested in working with them.
"We really see this as a meeting room," Ms. Schroeder said about the blog.
"It's a virtual meeting room," Ms. Murray agreed, describing it as "a collaborative, cooperative effort where all opinions are respected."
There are no membership fees involved, but the founders are looking for more writers to contribute their thoughts about ways to sustain the community.
"We really need contributors to assure a diversity of opinions," Ms. Schroeder said.
"Sustainability is erupting all over the country," she said.
jlane@timesreview.com
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