Share your story — Fish for the Future

Water is the Earth's lifeblood. It connects us all. But if that lifeblood gets poisoned by human greed, we will all get sick. šaakwiteehiaani - I have a broken heart. For the life already hurt and lost by the oil pipeline poison. But it is not too late, for those living downstream. newee, - Ray

At our church in Massachusetts, we set up a table for fish folding at social hour. We care about clean water and know how important the Great Lakes are! We were glad to send 150 origami fish to help publicize the dangers of Line 5. - Polly

Because I drink water, because all of us drink water, because wildlife drinks water. Because common sense says we should convert our energy source to wind and solar and stop using oil/coal/carbon. - Patrick

Children in First Day School at the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting (Quaker) learned about the dangers Line 5 poses to our precious Great Lakes water and then had fun folding fish. Thank you for organizing this! - Peggy

"Line 5 is old and will inevitably break, polluting our waterways and land. Stop Line 5!" - Paulette

Environmental justice is human justice. -Michi

"I love the Great Lakes. Their beauty and all the life they support. I have lived in Michigan most of my life and visited all the lakes during many vacations. My drinking water comes from Lake Huron too. Many millions of people, animals, plants, and ecosystem depends on them." - Susan

"Growing up in Door County, I cannot imagine the devastation a leak in Line 5 would cause to nature. It was built in a time long gone by and must be retired." -Sandra

"We made 176 origami fish here at Pierrefonds Community High School, (in Montreal, Quebec)to show that we believe that pipelines should never be anywhere near fresh water! Our health and the health of all the beings that live in and depend on healthy water is reason enough to stop this old, unacceptable pipeline." - Sue

We hope we can save the fish from becoming like the gray fish and turn them into happy little fish by shutting down Line 5. We need to protect all of our waterways big and small. Enbridge is endangering the safety of the waters by putting their wants before the consideration of their impact on the environment. Line 5 needs to be decommissioned before it damages the animals and humans alike who use the water resources. - Michelle

"I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. According to the EPA in 2010, 843,000 gallons of oil from Enbridge Line 6B entered Talmadge Creek and flowed into the Kalamazoo River, a Lake Michigan tributary. Heavy rains carried oil at least 35 miles downstream. Hundreds of homes and businesses had to be evacuated. About 150 families moved away permanently. Imagine that impact on Copper Falls State Park. Imagine the impact such a break could have on the people who reside in the Bad River reservation?" - Steve

"Ghostly islands barely seen through the thick fog. A loon’s mournful cry. The setting sun sets the water ablaze. A red-necked grebe surfaces with a silver fish." - Kathy

"Care for Creation is our Sunday morning series this month, and I'm so grateful for a very hands-on way of helping the kids to realize that they can make a collective difference in the world. Thank you! "- Jeanne

"I want my grand children and their children to have clean water. Water is life!" - Mary

"So many communities, current and future, call the Great Lakes home. We need to protect them so they are here for generations to come." - Kris

"I care about niibi (water- Anishinaabemowin) bc it is Life, belonging to all beings, destroying her is suicide, a great insult to the Creator." - Deisha

"We always went to the Great Lakes camping and enjoyed the water when we were kids. Are whole Family decided to do this together! 234 Fish folded! Yeah! " - Diane

"The kids at our local trout release helped decorate these fish because they are sending baby trout into the great lakes water shed and they dearly want the fish to be protected from the threat of line 5 aging out." - Violet

"The Great Lakes are precious. We have to stop all fossil fuels and repair our relationships with all other species." - Lissa

"Water is precious and we must do all we can to protect it!" - Dee and Meredith

"Although many seem to take fresh, clean water for granted, the reality is that life as we know it would not exist without it. How can we NOT care about protecting water?!" - Valerie

"Our lakes are part of the Wisconsin way of life. People from all over come to kayak around the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior and spend their summers in Door County on the shores of Lake Michigan. Every day that Line 5 continues to operate, the Wisconsin way of life is in jeopardy. We've got to come together to protect it." - Megan

"Safe and clean water is essential for life to thrive on earth. The Great Lakes are one of most valuable resources and should be fiercely protected to keep them thriving, healthy, and safe from antiquated energy transportation infrastructure." - David

"I enjoy Lake Michigan in my back yard every day. My hopes are that we can keep our Great Lakes clean and healthy for many generations to come, which include not only humans, but all animals, birds and fish who depend on these lakes!!" - Lynn

"Folding an origami fish as a quick and easy way to get involved while advocating for the protection of our Great Lakes. You can fold and send out your fish right from home in less than 10 minutes! The instructional video on the website made it simple to complete on my very first try. Grab some junk mail and express both your creative and activist side!" - Erica

"I grew up near Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes are home for me! I hope we can continue to enjoy healthy drinking water and clean, beautiful lakeshores here for many generations to come." - Devon

"Fish for the Future Start with a square. Corners begin to flow Each crease underlines Our intention: clean water. Middles move to edges, Sides become centers. Seems simple and yet As you fold for the future Two dimensions transform Into life with your fingers. You now understand How a school of fish Protects from predators. United in our mission Action ripples into change While creating community And hope for the future." - Liz

"WATER IS LIFE!" - Jessica

"I live nearby the latest oil spill—70,000 gallons spilled is 70,000 gallons too many. I’m folding fish for healthy water and a renewable future." - Abby

"Dear Wisconsin from your neighbor on the Michigan side of precious Lake Michigan, Here’s my 1st (of many more to come) virtual origami fish—leaping over marble filled fancy fishbowl. REAL fish and animals and ALL people require REAL water that is available and clear and healthy. THE GREAT LAKES are too critical to our survival for us to allow dangers such as Line5 to continue. Plans are afoot to bring this activity into our local Earth Day celebrations." - Sylvia

"Carbon dioxide increases rapidly due to oil, which actually affects sea level rise. As sea temperature increases rapidly (ozone layer destruction, etc.), green tide or red tide is discovered. If pipelines malfunction or break, oil spill accidents increase rapidly." - Kim

"Living along the Lakeshore in Michigan, Lake Michigan brings me a deep sense of peace, joy, and connection. In a time when so many of us are growing more distant from the natural world, I feel a strong responsibility to protect it for myself, for the people I love, and for generations to come. The experience of folding origami fish has been a quiet, meaningful, and intentional way to slow down and reflect on what matters most, like safeguarding the Great Lakes." - Laura