Sustainable Maryland

At the Transition Website for President-Elect Obama, change.gov, there is a spot for each of us to share our vision for the future. I used this site to outline my thoughts for a sustainable Maryland and a sustainable nation. The basic tenants that we as a state and nation should work toward include:

1. Clean Air and Clean Water - enforcing and strengthening our existing laws to insure that we all live in safe and healthy environment.
   
2. Abundant, Clean, Renewable Energy - striving to achieve the goals defined by WeCanSolveIt.org to shift our economy to a efficient use of energy.
   
3. Liveable, Green Communities - creating communities that use Smart Growth practices and are wisely planned around transportation networks, that are walkable, and that incorporate trees and natural areas.
   
4. Sustainable Consumption of Resource - fostering the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Compost
   
5. Network of Parks and Greenways - maintaining places for nature to flourish and people to enjoy
6. Robust, Sustainable Economy - supporting a economy that ranges from local shops and restaurants that meet our daily needs and wishes; to competitive, green industries that provide safe and reliable products; to a well educated workforce of knowledge workers who provide the backbone to business and government enterprises locally - and thru telepresence - globally.
7. Healthy Agriculture and Fisheries Sector - using best practices to grow and harvest the highest quality foods; when appropriate, foods that are locally grown and locally purchased through farmers' markets and green grocers throughout the region.
   

The hope is to achieve a Virtuous Circle: A healthy environment gives us a better quality of life which gives us the resources to protect our environment.