In the face of an alarming trend toward discrediting scientific consensus and restricting scientific discovery, we might ask: Can we afford not to speak out in its defense? We face a possible future where people not only ignore scientific evidence but also seek to eliminate it entirely. This weakens the authority of science and everything science stands for, including environmental conservation. Staying silent is a luxury that we can no longer afford. We must stand together and support science.
As per the mission statement of the national organizers, “the March for Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good, and for political leaders and policymakers to enact evidence-based policies in the public interest.”
One issue of concern which affects our community specifically is that of the chemical burn chamber at Camp Minden. Should Explosive Services International Inc. (ESI) continue with their plans, North Louisiana is at risk for becoming one of the largest hazardous waste disposal sites in the nation, potentially releasing unknown amounts of cancer-causing chemicals into our local environment. It is now time to stand up for our community to preserve our land and protect our citizens from this potential harm.
This march is only the beginning of organized action we plan to take against ESI, but we need your help to do so. We'll discuss our next steps immediately after the March for Science.