Bottled-water effect is the same
The News Tribune's support of a Great Lakes Compact allowing exports of Great Lakes water by shipping it out in plastic bottles is off base ("Bottled water not a major factor in lakes diversion," Oct. 14).
Bottled water is the most familiar form of privatizing and exporting water in bulk. Yet there is no meaningful difference between bulk exports of water using plastic bottles or using tankers or pipelines. The effect is the same: a complete taking of water out of the Great Lakes, most of which will not be returned.
This stands in contrast to the water Duluth and its industries use. That water, although larger in quantity than current bottled water exports from Lake Superior, is largely returned back to the Great Lakes.
A handful of multinational corporations are amassing control of water resources in what is now a more than $1 trillion industry. They are doing this by taking water free of charge out of its natural state and shipping it (via plastic bottles, tankers, pipelines, and water bags) to sell in other places.
We should send a strong message to the negotiators of the Great Lakes Compact that they need to sign an agreement that protects rather than exports Great Lakes water wealth.
MELISSA K. SCANLAN
MADISON, WIS.
The writer is executive director of Midwest Environmental Advocates, Inc.
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/editorial/12930613.htm
Posted by Dave at October 18, 2005 01:00 PM