Cecil the lion remembered — with action

 
To the Editor:
Like many others worldwide, I have been angered and saddened during the last week by reports of the illegal killing of Cecil the lion in East Africa by a dentist from Minnesota.
Cecil was a well-known and beloved animal, popular with tourists and part of a research study. All the facts are not in yet, but what is known is disturbing.
While Cecil's plight has been headline news, there are many other stories, big and small, that are concerning. The fragile environmental framework that has kept our world balanced and healthy is becoming disassembled.
Last year I saw only a few butterflies and bees in my garden. This year I have seen no butterflies and perhaps two or three bees.
Minnesota has been a beautiful place to live, "the land of sky blue waters." Yet there are clouds on the horizon. I read of waters becoming polluted, the clear-cutting of forest trees for short-term profit rather than the responsible land management practices that has been a trademark of our state's “Minnesota nice” through the years.
Like many people, I have become frustrated and saddened by these developments. Many feel powerless and wonder what we can do. What we can do is talk to other people, and in so doing we may find others who share these concerns. Taking action moves our energy out of despair. It has been said that every movement for change has begun with a small number of dedicated people linking arms with one another for support and strength.
It is not likely we can change what goes on in Africa, but we can take action to protect our own “land of sky blue waters.” For change to happen, we have to believe it is possible and take that first step.
Larry Green
Luverne