For 125 years, National Geographic has travelled the world to visit and understand the most amazing places.
They have just published a book entitled “100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life”. The author, Keith Bellows, writes in the forward that he wrote the book for his children; “I wrote this book for them. Because they’ll inherit the world. And I want them to understand it. To know it. To experience it.” Included in the book are Antarctica, Tasmania, and China’s Great Wall. And Galápagos, Machu Picchu, the Hawaiian Volcanoes, Loch Ness, Athens, Tuscany, Paris, and Venice.
And Muskoka. Yes, out of all the “competition” in the entire world, Muskoka is one of the 100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life.
In fact, this is the third time in three years that National Geographic has recognized that Muskoka is world-class special (see here).
Here’s what the book says about Muskoka (which is the only place in all of Ontario selected):
- The section begins “If you’re looking for an unplugged place that’s a world away from powerhouse Toronto … head two hours north … to Muskoka”. And it continues “Families have gathered here for generations to revel in true wilderness that has somehow resisted the blandishments of modern times.” We’d like to point out that:
- People don’t come to Muskoka to look at the side of a 100′-long reinforced concrete building beside dry rocks that used to be the Bala falls – yet this is what the proponent plans.
- People don’t come to Muskoka to stand on a concrete look-out, beside a huge steel gate hoist mechanism, and surrounded by an architectural fence, to read an interpretive plaque explaining how beautiful it used to be – yet this is what the proponent offers.
- For Muskoka, the book mentions the waterfalls, the scenery, and the “Loons and Lakes”. It continues “Muskoka is a throwback to an earlier time when families just hung out with no agenda and didn’t rely on man-made amusements to distract them or their children.” That is, we need to protect some places from development, and Bala is one of those places.
The back cover says the book “… sends you and your children globetrotting for life-changing experiences that will expand their horizons and shape their perspectives.”
The proposed hydro-electric generating station at the Bala Falls would ruin all this for Bala.
Save the Bala Falls. Save the world. For our children. Stop the proposed generating station at the Bala Falls.