Upon thinking about our trip to Vermont this weekend for a show at our alma mater, I remembered one of the many great charms of the state. It's a simple yet startling example of what environmental stewardship looks like. There are no billboards anywhere in Vermont.
No billboards?!
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the legislation which outlawed roadside billboards across Vermont. Although it's hard to imagine today, many people at the time were strongly opposed to this ban, particularly the farmers who leased their land to advertisers and the businesses who utilized and/or profited from advertising. Fortunately, one man tenaciously spearheaded the effort to rid the state of billboards, one Ted Riehle. Mr. Riehle passed away a few weeks ago on New Year's Eve at the age of 83. I hope his legacy remains forever untarnished.
http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/78949/
No comments:
Post a Comment