Published in June 19, 2008
The Pembina Institute celebrates the life and mourns the death of our friend and colleague, Martha Kostuch, who passed away on April 23, 2008. No one worked as hard or as effectively as Martha on behalf of present and future Albertans to contain the most environmentally destructive aspects of industrial development and energy production, to drive progress towards cleaner air and water, and to protect wild spaces.
A memorial service was held on May 31st on the Kootenay Plains, a very special place that Martha was instrumental in protecting. However, the formal tributes began earlier this year with special events by the Alberta Wilderness Association, the Parkland Airshed Management Zone and the Clean Air Strategic Alliance; the recent announcement by Alberta's Environment Minister on behalf of the Alberta Government of a training scholarship in her name; and, most recently, the Special Achievement Award from the Alberta Emerald Foundation, accepted by her family on June 3rd.
This recognition is well deserved and these awards are important. Most of us knew that Martha had little time left and her friends and colleagues rallied to provide this recognition before she died. She appreciated this, but none of it measures up to what we owe her.
Her efforts to ensure that environmental laws were improved and enforced, to push industry to use the best available technology to reduce pollution, to collaboratively develop better policies, and to stop destructive and inappropriate developments were huge and often successful. However, the sheer scale of environmental assault from energy development in Alberta, humanity's core flaw of short-term thinking, the danger of communications spin, and the prevalence of greed over stewardship leave us with an even greater challenge. If we are serious about honouring Martha for her lifetime of work, we all have to take up the challenges that motivated her.
Martha's greatest legacy is probably the example she set through the life she led, and the many lessons she taught us through her example:
- Laws matter, and sometimes we have to make sure they are enforced. Her triumphant Supreme Court decision in 1992 on environmental assessment was a landmark decision that was incorporated into Canada's legislation.
- Become informed - do your homework, listen to the science, seek the truth, and never compromise on your principles.
- Focus on the important things - your family, your friends, and the wonder of nature - and take strength from their love and beauty.
- Have fun, really live.
- Quality of life doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
- Don't let people get confused about what's motivating your work. Everything Martha did was on a voluntary basis, as she refused any form of compensation for her time and participation.
- Walk the talk and lead by example. Martha's footprint on the planet was as light as she could make it, while still being involved and effective. She was delighted with her new off-grid house and the fact that most of it was built by volunteers from many walks of life.
- Concentrate on the issue, not the person. Martha understood that many people with good intentions could disagree. She focused on resolving the sticking points to improve the environment, not on attacking someone for their views.
- Take a stand and don't quit. Martha's persistence and determination were legendary. She believed that tomorrow we would have opportunities to improve on the good we get today.
- One person can make big difference, but you can't do it all by yourself. Martha was the ultimate coach and mentor, spending much of her time supporting individuals and groups of volunteers to take action and make a difference.
We all have much to be thankful for. We all have much to learn from her. And, Martha would agree, we have much more left to do. All of us.
