Introduction

My name is Tori, I have lived in Bend since 1997. Previously from both Western and Eastern Washington. 

I would say that the top three natural resource issues today would be:

• Climate change
• Deforestation
• Pollution

Climate change is a controversial subject. Our glaciers are melting. The ocean is warming up. Greenhouse gases from travel are trapping heat and pollution. Some people believe and others don't. 

Deforestation happens as we clear areas to produce more money making crops such as coffee or palm oil. Taking away wide swaths of trees takes away our natural air filters and contributes to climate change. 

Pollution: just because we have the EPA and have improved our practices, decreasing the amount our country produces, doesn't mean that we haven't moved or sold those operations to other countries who are now in the business of taking care of our waste. There are swirls of trash that are larger than France out in the ocean. Out of sight, out of mind. Mining is an operation that creates waste water and nasty pollution, as well. That's a game changer and leveler for poorer countries, but they are having to make the same sacrifice of their poor people to mine and deal with the health issues related to mining.