Water plan is good, but it can be even better
A proposed agreement to protect the Great Lakes from water exports and diversions needs our support -- but it also needs to be strengthened.
We take issue with a comment by a Wisconsin official in an Aug. 19 News Tribune, "Northland comments on Great Lakes plan," defending a loophole in the agreement that would allow exports of Great Lakes water in bottles. The official said, "We have to draw the line somewhere," and compared water in bottles to water used to make soda pop, beer and automobiles.
But there's a big difference. Companies that make soda pop, beer and automobiles don't claim to own that water. They use it as an ingredient or process material and such use is protected by centuries of common law.
Companies that take water essentially in its natural state and put it in bottles and sell it are claiming to own the water and are making a public resource into a source of private profit.
It's self-defeating for the agreement to ban the export of large amounts of water in freighters or pipelines, then to allow the same amount of water to leave the Great Lakes in small bottles. We do have to draw the line somewhere -- and it should be drawn to defend the Great Lakes from virtually all exports and diversions no matter what the container size.
We also want to commend reporter John Myers for his continuing excellent coverage of important Great Lakes issues that have great meaning for Duluth, Superior and the entire Lake Superior watershed.
CONNIE MINOWA
DULUTH
The writer is the Executive Director of the Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE).
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/editorial/12511840.htm