Not In My Back Yard You Don't!

I must have had my head in one of the chipmunk holes in the yard all this time because this is the first I've heard about this. And I'm going on record now, that this is going to stop! I won't stand for it! There must be a law!

I'm considering a membership in NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), a group of concerned citizens (Nimbies) that oppose something in their back yard so much they'd probably rather have it in yours. Then there is BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything... or Anyone) in Great Britain. I may ask to open a North American chapter. Or I've heard of a group called FRUIT (Fear of Revitalization Urban-Infill and Towers) who specialize their concerns. They're in British Columbia I hear. I'm on the fence as to which group most fits my outrage.

I'm not exactly sure of what I don't want in my back yard. But suffice to say there's lots to provoke dissent. We're not talking about silly garden sculptures, pink flamingos, gnomes or an infestation of nasty howling cats here. (Although, I'd probably have a problem there.) No, we're talking tall buildings, power plants, landfills, group homes and wind farms!

First of all, my back yard is not big enough for any of the above, and second of all, how much are we supposed to give up in the name of progress? I make good use of my small yard. I plant things. I mow. I swat at small flying gnats. The lifestyle of my dog would be compromised if he had to reveal his private doings in the front yard. Besides, other dogs wander by and leave their doings there. It isn't sanitary! 

I haven't heard of anything yet but if it can happen to others it can happen to me. One day you wake up, take a sip of your morning coffee and look out the kitchen window only to discover that BOOM: overnight someone has plunked a chemical factory over top of your perennials. And once it's done, try getting it undone. It's never too soon to prepare.

I wonder if NIMBY has membership cards. That would be cool.