Great Lakes plan raises diversion fears

[CHIMO]

TORONTO - A U.S.-Canada body that regulates water use in the Great Lakes has proposed new rules that could open the door to large diversions to the U.S., experts fear.

The Council of Great Lakes Governors, which represents eight states, Ontario and Quebec, said it has proposed rules that will:

Require any new or increased diversions from the lakes to improve the environment.
Use a "uniform, resource-based decision making standard" to assess proposals for new or increased water uses.
Make decisions collectively about new water uses in Great Lakes regions.
"This is a giant step toward protecting, conserving, restoring and improving the Great Lakes Basin and reflects the governors and premiers commitment to work together for the long-term benefit and protection of this precious natural resource," the council's website says.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/09/19/lakes040919.html

We really need those green golf courses in the desert.

[Massacure]

1. They totally fucked up the SouthWest, and now they want to do it again

to the Great Lakes.

[The Doctor.]

2. A guaranteed disaster...

Maybe not sooner, but certainly someday... this WILL be a disaster.

Local governments will be convinced that selling Great Lakes water will solve short - term deficits.

Here's the problem; Anytime a government body finds a new source of revenue - it's like a crack addict going to the next stage.
Once the money starts coming in - it will be spent years ahead of arrival. Then the problem starts all over.

Once the areas of the country begin recieving the water - there will be an economic boom there. They will be able to afford it, and will HAVE to have it for many years.

This kind of mutual parasitic dependency will mess with the ecosystem... period.

It will be years before we start to see the damage - but it will happen.

Humans have never been able to grasp the intricacies of nature's balance. The day we do will have come at the cost of many greivous errors.

[barb162]

4. you got this straight!

There should be no further enlargement of the agreement to additional uses (like providing water to other states). The Great Lakes CAN be drained dry.

[The Doctor.]

6. No... it is unrealistic to think they can be drained dry anytime in

the next 1000 years.

(I assume you employ hyberbole...)

But yes- there will be eventual problems our great-grandchildren will pay for.

[Bread and Circus]

3. If people want water, they should put up with the rain and snow.

[NervousRex]

5. They will drain our lakes over my dead body...

and I am not alone. As a 36 year resident of Wisconsin and Minnesota I can say that this will unite the entire region against the corporatists/fascists...and it's a well armed region. Those pupmping stations better be well protected, because they will be blown sky-high. Any politician supporting this should be and will be destroyed. They need to be outed..I don't care about party affiliation...they must go down!

[Moderator]

7. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=839623