Citizen Voices Matter - Sustainable Economic Alternatives to Open-Pit Mining

People in northern Wisconsin have worked to create a sustainable economy in the state's iconic Northwoods. But their livelihoods could be threatened by environmental damage caused by a proposed open-pit iron mine. This is the story of Hermit Creek, Landis and Steven Spickerman's organic, family farm, which is located near the proposed mine site. In 2013, public officials ignored the community's objections when they passed a law deregulating iron mining in the state, but you can help to make these voices be heard. At the center of the debate over the use or protection of our natural resources is a coveted, 21-mile iron ore deposit that lies in Wisconsin's Penokee Hills. The Gogebic Iron Range stretches between the community of Upson and Mineral Lake, and includes the headwaters of the Bad River, a beautiful, pristine and sacred river that supplies the ground and surface waters of a watershed that reaches across Ashland and Iron counties, the Bad River Tribe of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians' reservation and Lake Superior's largest wild rice beds in the Kakagon Sloughs. Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake. The wooded hills and complex watershed not only supply the drinking water for private wells, but also are the basis for the agricultural, forestry and tourism industries. Those who are working for a sustainable economic future and to protect the Bad River watershed see an open-pit iron mine as something that may bring short-term jobs, but will cause long-term damage to the region. A mine is not a done deal, however. Please share this film and help others learn about this vision for a future economy that can sustain this and future generations. Learn more about the proposed iron mine in Wisconsin's Penokee Hills: http://midwestadvocates.org/issues-actions/actions/mining_in_the_penokees/ Visit Hermit Creek Farm on the web at hermitcreekfarm.com Please donate to Midwest Environmental Advocate's legal effort and support the work of our attorneys who are a part of the legal team for the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians who are using the power of the law to save the Penokee Hills. We provide technical and legal support that informs permit reviews and future litigation.