The Detroit Free Press carries the Associated Press story on the Great Lakes quality report issued by the International Joint Commission yesterday. The IJC probably needs a message consultant.
http://www.freep.com/news/mich/lakes14e_20040914.htm
The problems of the Lakes ARE complex, and not easily reduced to soundbites. Fortunately, reporter John Flesher is able to boil down the complicated to the understandable: The Great Lakes remain a dumping ground.
But from there the commissioners go off-message. The lakes have gotten "progressively better"? That not only conflicts with the lead, but also contradicts evidence of sharply rising levels of chemical fire retardants in the Great Lakes food web.
Maybe the IJC should issue a report annually, not biennially, and focus on the top three threats to the Lakes with specific solutions. Instead, it wants to spend months and months reviewing the goals and language of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement -- whose goals are fine. "Chemical, physical and biological integrity" are laudable. So tell us how to get there -- in language everyone can understand.
Posted by Dave at September 14, 2004 07:19 PM