Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 10, Number 5 • Winter 2002/2003
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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Craig Minowa
National Geographic is writing a comprehensive story on the debate over privatization of Great Lakes water, and they recently sent reporters to Duluth's Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE) to get the scoop.
Lake Superior water may presently be public domain, but the bottling companies are pushing hard to privatize it and sell it. Lake Superior holds nearly half of the U.S. surface freshwater.
Although the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) mandates that all Great Lakes Governors must approve water exports out of the Great Lakes watershed, Perrier bottling company (now owned by Nestle) has successfully established a bottling plant in the state of Michigan. The plant will initially extract about 80 million gallons of Great Lakes ground water per year. It is evident from this example that WRDA legislation does not necessarily guarantee the protection of this resource.
Duluth's Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE) has been preparing to launch a massive binational public education and citizen's mobilization campaign around the entire Great Lakes, with the hopes of proactively fending off the impending privatization of this incredible freshwater resource. Petitioning and rallies will be held in cities all around the basin. To learn how you can get involved, go to www.eagle-ecosource.org or call the EAGLE office toll-free at (877)-264-4440.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released an intense climate change report that says the Greenhouse Effect is already producing "dire consequences". President Bush scoffed at the report, calling it the product of "bureaucrats".The report specifically states:"For the Great Lakes region, the next century could bring one of the greatest environmental transformations since the end of the last Ice Age." The study goes on to say that the bulk of the catastrophe is already beginning now and will continue to worsen through the next few decades. This comes as no surprise, as nearly half of the U.S. underwent severe drought conditions during the summer of 2002. Despite these warnings, the City of Duluth recently made major cuts in its "Cities for Climate Change Protection Program."
In the spring of 2002, the Duluth City Council passed resolutions stating that Lake Superior's future is being jeopardized by climate change. The resolution went on to say that the City of Duluth has a responsibility to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, a city government greenhouse gas emissions inventory was held, and a staff person was hired to focus on this issue. Due to a tight city budget, that position has now been cut. Whether the program is permanently discontinued or temporarily stalled will be determined at future City Council meetings.
The Ojibwe Division of Resource Management has officially denounced the proposed development of a golf course and hotel on Spirit Mountain. Gerald White, the Director of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Division of Resource Management sent a reprimanding letter to the Duluth City Council.
Spirit Mountain overlooks the mouth of the St. Louis River, the largest US tributary to Lake Superior. It holds the largest tract of old growth forest of its kind left in Minnesota and is sacred Anishinabe land. Environmentalists are concerned the development will increase pollutant runoff into the St. Louis River.
In the letter, White pointed out that his national Ojibwe office has been approved by the National Park Service and is authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act, a federal law. "Under this law, all agencies must consult with Indian Tribes when an undertaking affects Historic properties."wrote White.
White's letter to the council goes on to say,"Since we have an interest in this area, your city government should have notified our office and the other Ojibwe Bands in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Canada and you have failed to do so. It appears to me that capitalism is the driving force here and it also appears that the minority views are being pushed aside in the name of progress."
Despite much controversy, the Spirit Mountain golf course work permits have been approved. A state Land and Water Conservation complication is currently the only thing stalling the construction.
| Craig Minowa Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE) Serving as Hub for Minnesota 394 Lake Avenue South, #222 Duluth, MN 55802 (218)-726-1828 (586)-816-1974(fax) E-mail: craig@earthology.net Website: www.EAGLE-EcoSource.org |