The Beacon

Issue date: 2/3/08 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Gino Troiani Winona LaDuke, Native American and environmental activist, spoke at Barnes and Noble and Wilkes University last week as part of the Focus the Nation.

Since her teen years, Winona LaDuke fought for the rights of her Native American people and lobbied for reform of environmental regulations. She wrote numerous books and organized countless protests on these issues.

But she still balks at being called an activist.

"I'm considered to be an activist, but I consider myself to be more of a responsible parent and a responsible human," she said. "We live in the richest and most powerful country in the world, and that should have certain responsibilities along with all those rights."

LaDuke visited Wilkes University from January 29-31 as part of Focus the Nation, a nationwide program aimed at teaching students the information, civic responsibility, and leadership needed to fight global warming. Along with a formal lecture to the community, LaDuke also met with students in their classrooms and hosted an informal question and answer session with students, faculty, and community members.

At her informal discussion, LaDuke talked about civil responsibility, and the need for Americans to become active participants in their own lives. She said the duty of responsible citizens is to learn what they can about where their water, food, and resources come from and how that can affect their well-being.

Peter Bush, a freshman pharmaceutical science major, decided to attend LaDuke's discussion session after seeing video clips of her past lectures online. Interested in both her cultural and environmental work, Bush thought her take-charge, no-nonsense approach to these issues reflected his own beliefs.

"For me it's a moral issue, and it should be common sense," he said. "We have to take an active part in it because it affects our lives and who we are."

Bush was hooked right from LaDuke's opening when she likened personal responsibility for environmental issues to being a good parent. Just like parents want to know what additives are included in their children's cereal, they should also question what chemicals are in their drinking water or their food.

Continued...

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