Since before the Industrial Revolution our human activities have been leaving a mark on the natural world. From clearing forest for farms to mining coal for industry, we’ve been fundamentally altering the planet, often with consequences as harmful to ourselves as to plants and wildlife. Many indigenous peoples have recognized this cause-and-effect relationship. The maxim of the Iroquois Confederacy, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations," best describes the realization that the changes we make now can have a lasting impact.

Sustainability has become the watchword to describe a new approach to solving problems that considers these future impacts and tries to avoid them. Applied to existing environmental challenges, sustainable solutions offer both elimination of the problem and the assurance that the ‘fix’ won’t cause further problems down the road.

Listen for more 7th Generation stories on these and other topics:
Global Warming; Alternative Energy; Exotic Species; Recycling Waste


March 15, 2004
We’ve all been to places that really know their local history - whether cultural or natural history - and that do a wonderful job of interpreting that story. Communities in New England come to mind, and obvious places like Jamestown, Monticello, and Harper’s Ferry, all places that have played a singular role in U.S. history. But there are places like that in our own backyard, places where local events have played a major role in shaping the course of our nation. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry fought and won the naval War of 1812 just off the coast of Lake Erie. The cities of Cleveland, Sandusky, Hudson, and Oberlin - among others - played a signature role during our nation’s struggle for the abolition of slavery and civil rights. And Lake Erie itself continues to be a focal point for issues of transportation, energy, unique natural resources, and environmental rights. But how can we turn our stories into something that will attract visitors -- local people or outsiders who will spend money to see, hear, taste, and experience what we have to offer? Is this something only big cities can do or can it also be made to happen in neighborhoods and smaller communities? What does it cost to entice visitors and what’s the payback? Is what’s nowadays being called “heritage tourism” really a viable option for economic development?
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Windows Media: One | Two | Three | Four


July 9, 2004
We've all seen them - those folks in orange vests who come out four times a year to pick up litter along the highway. Ohio is rich in these volunteers. More than 1,700 groups - at least one in each county - give their time to keep our roads and roadside ditches cleaner, saving millions of taxpayer dollars a year. But across the country, some organizations are finding it hard to be accepted into the Adopt-a-Highway program. In some states officials say they won't allow groups with a policy of discrimination or advocacy to put their names on an adopt-a-highway sign. Ohio isn't one of these, even though some signs here are turning heads. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports. [More]


July 22, 2004
The state of Ohio has undertaken a project that's rarely attempted: take an island that's been used mostly for agriculture and turn it back into the natural place it once was. Right now they're ripping up the vineyards on North Bass Island to create a state park and nature preserve that will forestall development and recreate the habitat of a hundred years ago. Officials say it will offer visitors an island experience distinctly different from that found on the other Lake Erie Islands. But just how much tourism can a tiny island take? ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports. [More]


September 7, 2004
Going to the beach may be America's favorite pastime. The EPA estimates that Americans hit the beach 910 million times each year and spend about $44 billion in the process. But chances are good that your favorite beach was closed or posted with a swimming advisory sometime this summer. Last year a record 18,000 beach advisories were issued due to concerns about waterborne illnesses. The EPA requires states like Ohio to monitor and report beach pollution. But critics charge that doesn't solve the problem. One Ohio Lake Erie community may provide some answers. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports from Port Clinton. [More]


November 9, 2004
With rising natural gas prices and new improvements in technology, experts say using wind power to generate electricity is looking more attractive. But does Ohio have what it takes? A new municipal wind farm near Bowling Green is showing that wind can be a cost-effective alternative to creating new generation. A wind monitoring project about to be launched on Lake Erie could demonstrate the potential for large-scale development of off-shore wind farms. And a new economic study shows that Ohio has many of the key elements needed to become a manufacturing center for wind turbine technology. It could all add up to a new focus on renewable energy for the state. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports. [More]


November 10 , 2004
The rising cost of natural gas, along with new developments in technology, is making wind power more attractive to investors looking to create new generation of electricity. Wind farm projects are going up in states throughout the Great Lakes region. Now it's Ohio's turn. A small utility-scale wind farm at Bowling Green in Northwest Ohio is about to celebrate its first annivery generating green energy for its customers. There's also a project to monitor wind on Lake Erie just off the Cleveland shoreline with an eye to one day enticing development of large-scale wind farms there. Today in Cleveland, wind power supporters from across Ohio are wrapping up a 2-day conference on expanding the state's wind power generation. They argue that electricity produced by wind turbines is competitively-priced and relatively easy on the environment. They say the possibilities for wind power projects range from small wind to power homes to rural cooperatives to large-scale utility operations.
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December 28, 2004
The National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count is underway this week in Northeast Ohio. Worldwide similar counts are showing that hundreds of species of birds are in trouble. In North America alone nearly a third of native bird populations are showing significant declines. Scientists say loss of habitat is the biggest factor, followed closely by global climate change. But scientists wouldn't know about these losses if it weren't for the thousands of ordinary citizens who take part in annual events like the Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count. For 105 years, bird lovers have been keeping records of the species and numbers of birds they see over the first three weeks of winter. As ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports, these citizen scientists are gathering data that could help protect our feathered friends. [More]


February 13, 2006
Two down and four to go. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has been taking down dams on the Cuyahoga River. The goal is to improve water quality and upgrade habitat for fish and other wildlife. But communities are discovering there are other benefits as well, from economic development to eco-tourism. ideastream's Karen Schaefer reports. [More]