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New York university adds voice against Jumbo
A few weeks ago, students at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York hosted a screening of Jumbo Wild, prompting a letter to B.C. Premier Christy Clark asking for Jumbo to be nixed.
âOn behalf of St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, I write to urge you to help preserve the pristine wilderness of the Jumbo Valley by saying ânoâ to any current or future development bids in that area,â starts the Dec. 15 letter.
âFor 400 generations, the people of the Ktunaxa Nation have lived in compassionate harmony among the valleyâs expansive mountains. Is it worth disturbing their spiritual relationship with the land just to add another mountain resort to the long list of ones that already exist in British Columbia? Is it worth vandalizing the awesome views of the Purcell Mountainsâ snow-capped peaks? Is it worth interrupting a crucial habitat of grizzly bears, a symbol of strength and leadership among the Ktunaxa people? Compiled in this letter are 61 signatures of St. Lawrence students who think not.
âWe may live 3,000 miles away and across an international border, but as shared residents of Earth we understand the environmental and social significance of preserving a place like this. Canada is seen globally as a beacon of hope in a darkening world: a developed nation unafraid to cast away potential profits for the long-term betterment of the planet and its people. (St. Lawrence itself offers several courses dedicated to Canadian environmentalism.) Will the same leadership be displayed in the decision-making regarding the preservation of the Jumbo Valley? From the other side of the continent, but standing on the same planet, the student body of St. Lawrence University pleads that you will help Keep Jumbo Wild,â concluded the letter forwarded by St. Lawrence Universityâs Clay Duclos.
Lead image: Students at St. Lawrence University gather for a statement photo following the screening of Jumbo Wild.
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