All life depends on the cooperation of nature’s unified web for survival.

It may be more commonly accepted that the pollution-heavy atmosphere of the Northeastern United States poses a cascading public health risk – particularly for Maine, which has one of the highest lung disease rates in the country – and acknowledged that world supplies of fossil fuels are being drained at unprecedented rates for out-of-control energy demands.

But, are we taking seriously such environmental realities relating to greenhouse effects and global warming that disrupt weather patterns, average record temperatures and seasonal growing cycles? How long can we continue to respond compassionately with economic aid to those affected by torrential rains, violent thunderstorms, widespread flooding, ice storms and forest fires?

While opponent and proponent testimonies and rebuttals are now being expressed at public hearings about the wind farm project proposed by Maine Mountain Power and Yarmouth-based Endless Energy for the unique topography found only in the Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble parcels in Franklin County, interested individuals may still file written statements with Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission until Aug. 14.

The ultimate critical decision to rezone these parcels will then rest with LURC, which must responsibly and conscientiously exercise the most expanded viewpoint and balance what is for the greatest common good – acting on nature’s intelligence that offers a source of natural energy that can be captured and utilized without compromising public health, or further contaminating the life-sustaining air we all breathe.

Caro Poirier, Gilead