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I am very pleased to see the support provided here, and I
certainly include mine as well.
A year ago, London Aggregates chose to terminate operations
with a lot of hoopla regarding the loss of employment, loss of tax
base , etc.
But, some of the affected employees joined the company after
the lawsuit was filed, just as in the Nestle case.
In actuality, I have been told by third parties that all but
two employment positions were relocated to other quarries operated by the
company. But that's another story.
Nevertheless, you should have seen the Christmas cards that my
wife and I received last year. I won't elaborate here other than to say it
was the kind of thing that many advised turning over to the State Police.
It was just the "cream" added to the top of similar events over the
previous five years, ..., for daring to pursue justice in a court of law.
Wendy and I chose to do nothing out of consideration for the pain being felt by
the employees of London Aggregates.
This is just more bullying actions against innocent
victims that have become the norm today.
As I posted a month ago, we are now struggling against a new
"proposed" Agreement between London Aggregates and the London Township Board,
which the Board admits that they were pursuing for the past three years while
telling the citizens monthly that nothing was happening.
----- Original Message -----
From: Michele Scarborough
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 3:58 PM
Subject: E-M:/ Press Release: Environmental Groups Criticize Nestle
Corporation's Job Extortion December 18, 2003 Contacts: Environmental Groups Criticize Nestle Corporation’s Job
Extortion, Environmental groups across the state expressed disappointment that the Nestle Corporation cynically exploited Michigan’s economic situation this week by threatening layoffs and that state officials filed an amicus brief in an historic case over Nestle’s water bottling facility in Mecosta County. The groups also said they were disappointed about a Michigan Court of Appeals stay of a decision ordering the multinational corporation to shut down its shallow aquifer pumping. But they said they are hopeful that Governor Jennifer Granholm and state DEQ Director Steve Chester will now demonstrate leadership in protecting Michigan and the Great Lakes from water raids. “In a discussion with the Governor today, I was pleased to hear of her personal commitment to passing comprehensive water protection legislation,” said Michigan Environmental Council President Lana Pollack. “We look forward to helping her make this happen.” Nestle Corporation did not seriously consider complying with the Court order by switching to deep wells that might avoid damaging wetlands and stream flow in the affected watershed. Instead, the multinational corporation chose to use the specter of layoff notices over the holidays as a tactic for pressuring the state to support the stay. The environmental groups stressed that even the deep well option raises serious concerns, as export of Michigan water can threaten Michigan’s resources for current and future generations. The Administration’s response may have been prompted by rumors that following the Circuit Court decision to shut down pumping operations at the Ice Mountain "Sanctuary Site,” industry groups threatened to use the legislature to gut Michigan's most important environmental laws, including the Michigan Environmental Protection Act and the Inland Lakes & Streams Act. According to Michigan Environmental Council President Pollack, "Environmental groups support high-paying jobs in sustainable companies, but strongly oppose the idea that the export of water from the Great Lakes Basin should be a growth industry. Heavy-handed threats against Michigan’s environmental laws by multinational corporations should neither be tolerated nor encouraged. ” Nestle was warned at least twice by Mecosta County Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Root that they were proceeding at their own risk in building the water bottling factory while the court proceedings took place. While commending Governor Granholm and DEQ Director Chester for their commitment to providing a comprehensive water withdrawal and water use statute by early 2004, the groups said the Governor and Chester should have taken a strong leadership stance by supporting the court's decision to shut down water pumping within 21 days. Since getting any kind of statute through the current legislature will be a long, arduous process, such a deadline might have produced enough pressure to push the process along. “We regret that the Administration did not consult with environmental
organizations before filing the brief,” said Anne Woiwode, director of the
Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club. “We would have pointed out the reasons why
Nestle’s arguments were simply inaccurate.” - 30 - -- |