Less than an hour’s drive from the etee factory, a small, but incredibly deep lake holds answers Scientists had previously searched for in the Antarctic ice sheets, coral reefs, mountain peak and even the depths of the Ocean.
Yup.
The ‘golden spike’ they sought, was actually at the bottom of a lake, just a few minutes from a Tim Horton’s drive through and the local beer store here in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
For a variety of reasons, Crawford Lake (a thousands year old sink hole in the limestone cliffs of Milton Ontario) holds almost pristine evidence of the greatest change wrought by any species in the Billions year history of our planet.
Buried deep in the murky depths, is a rare chemical composition that accurately displays a near perfect record of how humans have transformed our planet's chemistry and climate at a rate never seen before.
“These changes are so fundamental, many scientists believe they mark a new chapter in geologic time: The Anthropocene.” And Crawford Lake’s sediments are the location many have chosen as the golden spike (similar to the exposed Tunisian cliff face that bears traces of the ancient asteroid that collided with the earth and brought an end to the age of the Dinosaurs) that will mark humanity's own collision with our earth. (The Washington Post)
While this much regretted, lower back tattoo on our planet is obviously devastating, there is a silver lining that I had not expected, because Crawford Lake reveals both our ability to both destroy - including the 1950s era sediment that contains traces of radioactive polutonium, the result of nuclear weapon testing from thousands of miles away, acid rain and greenhouse gas pollution - but also heal.
In 1963, when nations agreed to ban nuclear weapons testing… plutonium concentrations in Crawford Lake began to diminish. Fly ash counts fell after the US and Canada required new pollution controls at power plants, and there was a revitalization of the lake’s distinctive calcite bands in the 1980s when we successfully battled acid rain. (The Washington Post)
And so while it is easy and obvious to point to our failings, I think Crawford Lake should also be a mirror to the goodness that lies within our ability to become aware and make a change.
Because now, more than ever, I think we need to envision a path toward more healing, understanding and positive change.
And I think it’s sort of fitting that Crawford lake, in southern Ontario Canada, will be there to record every milestone we achieve on our road to recovery.
So let’s take a moment to say thanks for telling our story Crawford Lake!
And thanks to you, for taking some time out of your day to read and reflect with me.
And if you’re so inclined, you can VISIT THE SHOP where we hope to help you on our journey of healing.
Steve and the whole etee crew.
