Is citizen action necessary to protect our environment?

[tango]

My understanding is that development was proposed to go on top of the gravel moraine in north Waterloo. However, citizen action has delayed the process due to the concern that the moraine filters and cleans over 25% of the water in the Grand River, affecting water quality downstream.

It appears to me in cases like this that local builders and governments propose and approve developments without any attention to the environmental impacts, beyond the rudimentary, development-friendly provincial environment assessment.

Is it the case that citizens must always be on the alert for such threats to the environment? Is that our responsibility?

In example:

http://www.waterlooians.ca/

The Region of Waterloo is in a tough place. As a result of provincial mandates in the Places to Grow Act, Waterloo Region is being forced to allow urban sprawl that is destroying important groundwater recharge and natural heritage areas. These areas are need to ensure the success of future generations in the Grand River Watershed ... [and] ... to protect sensitive source water (surface and subsurface) areas, natural heritage areas, threatened species habitats, and agricultural lands for future generations.

[August1991]

Canada has lots of lakes and rivers.

Why doesn't Waterloo get its water elsewhere?

[tango]

Canada has lots of lakes and rivers.

Why doesn't Waterloo get its water elsewhere?

Where would you suggest?

http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cf...=55&Sub2=24

[Zachary Young]

"Is it the case that citizens must always be on the alert for such threats to the environment? Is that our responsibility?"

Development of the morraine is not a threat to the environment and I am not scared by your scare tactics. How is my life going to be worse if someone builds something there? More likely it will be better, as I will benefit from the added production in our economy.