Go OBAMA!

“Go Obama”.
That’s the way a friend ended her email to me today. I say lets take Obama fishing.

History was made last night and much will be made of this historic event in the weeks, months and years ahead. Good for Mr. O. Too bad for Ms. H. As they hoisted their exaggerated American values in victory speeches perched on CNN prime time, particularly from Mr. O, I was kind of hoping I would hear him slip into, "And were it not for the historic work of Native Americans who carved out one of the most beautiful places on earth, America would never have been. In the winds of change sweeping this historic night I plan to correct the historical injustices heaped upon the first Americans". Nope that’s not what I heard. I did hear him say, "I want to thank my brothers and sisters." Now, is that cool? I wonder what he is like fishing the deep seas?

I confess that I was swept away by the drama. CNN's coverage of the American democratic election has been nothing short of some of the greatest drama available on television. Wolf Blitzer and the guy who sounds like an accounting firm on Wall Street, have not one panel, but panels that ripple across the screen in flashes of red white and blue, clothes racks of political views, the demographic of America displayed in all their glorious punditry. They have maps, instantly updated by a staff of hundreds across the country. Ms. H dancing to BETTER THAN ALL THE REST. This American political convention is best described as, Broadway meets Disneyland.

In many ways the entire story is a drama with the potential to have tragic proportions. The protagonist faces the ornery task of coming through with his change agenda. That means many things to many people. Once elected then the rhetoric faces its most difficult and challenging times. America may never be able to change.

On one front the UN pushes for more food and this increases pressures upon the US farmers to increase their agricultural activity. There will be a domino effect of increases. This means that the Grand Coulee dam, and other water management systems will be stressed, oversubscribed. Add that up with the increasing demand for more oil for which prices have exploded into the stratosphere. Where does all this lead? It leads us to the shore. Or at least it ought to.

At the shoreline the waters levels are rising. The temperature of water is changing. Nowhere is this more urgently noticeable then in the story of salmon. After the World War 2 came to an end there was an increase in the building of Hydro dams. There are 76,000 dams in America! This of course stopped all salmon in their annual return to spawning grounds. There are too many waterways across the continent to point out one, but 100 yards away from where I write this sits the mouth of Fraser River where she empties into the Pacific Ocean. For the last three years we have had no Sockeye runs. In Washington state, Oregon and California there are plans for a moratorium on Chinook (alternatively called Spring or King) salmon.

Change. Spare change is more like it. Everybody is pushing for change. Change this change that. I don’t really care how Washington operates, other than the fact that one of cherished dishes in a State Dinner happens to be wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest and I would hope that they might like to consider going fishing with us this summer. Come and see with us, wait with us to see if the salmon will come back. For all its worth I am for change too. Dismantle a few dams. Change the relentless desire to harness the power of water. Let her free. Go Obama.