Which statement is more compelling about the state of the Great Lakes, A or B?
A.
"There are a large number of problems still to be dealt with," Herb Gray, the Canadian co-chairman of the commission, said in a conference call with reporters. The U.S. co-chairman, Dennis Schornack, agreed but added that "things have progressively gotten better."
B.
Our magnificent Great Lakes are under siege. Containing over 90 per cent of America’s surface fresh water, the Lakes sustain millions of people and diverse wildlife. The Lakes are vital to the region’s economy and way of life. But we have contaminated the water, sediments, and fish; we have introduced alien invasive species that are destroying the Lakes’ natural ecology. To save our national treasure, governments, businesses, and citizens need to cooperate now in protecting and restoring the Great Lakes.
http://www.healingourwaters.org/pages/4/index.htm
If you answer A, go immediately to the back of the Great Lakes boat. "A" is from a wire story quoting the Canadian and U.S. chiefs of the International Joint Commission, a binational body that, despite diplomatic constraints, was remarkably outspoken and served as the conscience of the Great Lakes from the 70s until the early 90s. The quotes come on the occasion of the release of the IJC's biennial report on Great Lakes water quality today.
The full report is available at ijc.org.
"B" is the consensus statement of environmentalists, scientists, and others at the "Healing Our Waters" conference sonsored by the Wege Foundation in Grand Rapids last May.
If a government entity with the stature of the IJC could say it so well, we might see something actually happen to clean up and restore the Great Lakes.
Posted by Dave at September 13, 2004 10:01 PM