I would hope that
there might be a relatively robust discussion on enviromich of alex’s
suggestion . . .
I don’t think the
situation is as clear as alex and james seem to feel it is . . . indeed, I
think that strong arguments can be made on both sides of the question . . .
all movement
organizations have to deal with questions concerning what temporary
coalitions are supportable and which one’s not . . .
to my mind, the
question seems to turn, at least in part, on the extent to which different
interests are benefited by the temporary coalition . . .
I think people
would agree that the health of the environment is benefited by a deposit on
water bottles . . .
I understand the
argument that the environmental benefit is not as great if large water
bottles are not included, but I also wonder if the discarding of large water
bottles is much of a problem . . .
I think the
reputation of various environmental organizations would be enhanced by
association with the expanded bottle bill, and I don’t think their
reputation would be significantly diminished by temporary coalition with
mucc . . .
I think that the
reputation of mucc will be enhanced by association with the expanded bottle
bill, and my sense is that some environmental persons would like to diminish
the benefit that mucc can gain from the expanded bottle bill effort . . .
I understand the
tactical argument that it is more important to keep the spotlight on the
negative impacts of mucc/muchmore on the public trust including water, than
to obtain the benefit of passage of a partially expanded bottle bill . . .
three questions
occur to me . . .
is it not possible
to form a temporary coalition with mucc for the partially expanded bottle
bill and at the same time keep the negative spotlight on the
mucc/muchmore/tahylor impacts on the public trust doctrine . . .
if many
environmentalists and environmental organizations boycott the mucc initiated
expanded bottle bill effort, will that significantly diminish the benefit
that mucc gets from its association with the effort . . .
if many
environmentalists and environmental organizations boycott the mucc initiated
expanded bottle bill effort, is that likely to lead mucc to suspend the
effort . . .
if the answer to
the first question is yes, and the answers to the second two questions are
no, then it seems to me that the costs of a boycott outweigh the benefits .
. .
cheers,
craig
craig k
harris
department of
sociology
michigan state
university
east
lansing
michigan 48824-1111
usa
From:
owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net [mailto:owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net]
On Behalf Of James
Lang
Sent: Tuesday, June
24, 2008 11:24 AM
To:
Alexander J. Sagady; enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
Subject: RE: E-M:/ NEWS RELEASE: MUCC
launches online petition to expand Bottle Bill, schedules
legislative
You've
got my vote, Alex! The Michigan Constitution and our environment are
being subverted. -- J. Lang
> Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008
14:05:08 -0400
> To: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
> From:
ajs@sagady.com
> Subject: Re: E-M:/ NEWS RELEASE: MUCC launches online
petition to expand Bottle Bill, schedules legislative day for Thursday in
Lansing
>
>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
Enviro-Mich message from "Alexander J. Sagady"
<ajs@sagady.com>
>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I'd suggest that all Michigan citizens environmentalists
BOYCOTT
> ALL MUCC CAMPAIGNS of this nature until this organization
> comes to its senses on the public trust groundwater issue.
>
> In 1963, the people of the state of Michigan enacted the
following
> provision (Article IV, Section 52) in the revised state
constitution:
>
> "Natural resources; conservation, pollution,
impairment, destruction.
> Sec. 52. The conservation and development
of the natural resources of the state are hereby
> declared to be of
paramount public concern in the interest of the health, safety and
general
> welfare of the people. The legislature shall provide for the
protection of the air, water and
> other natural resources of the
state from pollution, impairment and destruction."
>
> This is
where the public trust doctrine in the state's management of
>
groundwater comes from. MUCC is presently trying to remove Michigan
>
groundwater from this protection by allowing a public trust resource to
> essentially be privatized. Why do MUCC and Michigan Farm Bureau
> hate the Michigan Constitution protections of natural
resources?
>
> Why is MUCC's Executive Director supporting a
Michigan judge who
> illegitimately trashed the Michigan
Environmental Protection Act?
>
> MUCC wants to placate
groundwater privatizers, federalist
> society judges (complete with
Dennis Muchmore's fundraising pandering to
> Michigan Supreme Court
Judge Cliff Taylor) and turn Michigan
> groundwater resources over to
a privatized elite.
>
> If MUCC wants grassroots troops to
help with its campaigns,
> let them recruit them from their buddies
at the Farm Bureau,
> Michigan State Chamber of Commerce, Sportsmen
for Bush,
> Public Sector Consultants and Nestle and Ice
Mountain.
>
> Michigan citizens must ensure that Great Lakes
watershed waters
> are not for sale as the commodities that MUCC and
Nestle
> want them to be.
>
> Alex Sagady
>
>
> At 11:16 AM 06/23/2008, you wrote:
> >For
Immediate Release
> >
> >Contact: Dennis Muchmore, MUCC
Executive Director (517) 346-6455
> >
> > Donna Stine,
MUCC Deputy Director for Policy (517) 346-6487
> >
> >
Dave Nyberg, MUCC Resource Policy Specialist (517) 346-6462
>
>
> >MUCC LAUNCHES ONLINE PETITION TO EXPAND BOTTLE BILL
>
>
> >Signatures to be presented at grassroots push in Lansing on
Thursday
> >
> >LANSING—The Michigan United Conservation
Clubs (MUCC) today announced an online petition to expand the state's
32-year-old Bottle Bill to include water and other non-carbonated beverage
containers. The effort was started to allow all of Michigan citizen's the
opportunity to inform the legislature of the broad public support for the
measure. The petition will also supplement a grassroots legislative day
slated for Thursday, June 26 in Lansing.
> >
> > "MUCC and
Michigan residents need to step up to the plate as one united voice on this
issue," said MUCC Executive Director Dennis Muchmore.
> >
>
> According to MUCC poll data, 76 percent of Michigan voters support
expanding the state's famous bottle law – outside data shows this support
above 80 percent. However, Muchmore said that the legislature must hear
Michigan's demand for this measure beyond poll data with an old-fashioned
grassroots push.
> >
> > "Last week we got the
legislature's attention but now it's time to act," Muchmore said. "MUCC is
calling on the 80 percent majority of Michigan voters who support improving
Michigan's Bottle Bill to take a small step in making their voice heard,
whether its signing this petition, attending our legislative day, or
contacting their state legislators."
> >
> > Michigan
residents may visit
<http://www.mucc.org/policy/bottlebillexpansion.php>http://www.mucc.org/policy/bottlebillexpansion.php
to sign the petition and access other valuable information on the Bottle
Bill expansion, including a sample letter to the editor, background facts,
and more information on the legislative day on June 26. Facebook and MySpace
users are also encouraged to join MUCC's "Support a Bigger, Better Bottle
Bill for Michigan!" groups that will provide real-time updates on the
initiative's progress.
> >
> >###
> >
>
>Media Note: For Background Information and more details, go to
<http://www.mucc.org/>www.mucc.org.
> >
> >--
> >David Nyberg
> >Resource Policy Specialist
>
>Michigan United Conservation Clubs
> >2101 Wood Street
>
>Lansing, MI 48912
> >517-346-6462
>
><http://www.mucc.org>www.mucc.org
> >
> >MUCC
has been Michigan's first voice for Michigan's out-of-doors since 1937. MUCC
clubs and members strive to Unite Citizens to Conserve, Protect, and Enhance
Michigan's Natural Resources and Outdoor Heritage.
> >
>
> ==========================================
> Alex J. Sagady
& Associates http://www.sagady.com
>
> Environmental
Enforcement, Permit/Technical Review, Public Policy,
> Expert Witness
Review and Litigation Investigation on Air, Water and
>
Waste/Community Environmental and Resource Protection
> Prospectus at:
http://www.sagady.com/sagady.pdf
>
> 657 Spartan Avenue, East
Lansing, MI 48823
> (517) 332-6971; ajs@sagady.com
>
==========================================
>
>
>
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