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EVENTS HOSTED BY
GREAT LAKES UNITED
As part of the centennial celebrations, Great Lakes United is hosting
several events during Boundary Waters Week:
Workshop: "Addressing Great Lakes
Toxic Hotspots: A Workshop for Activists Working in the Areas of
Concern"
Tour: Environmental hotspots along the Niagara River
Coalition Meeting: A chance for
members of the Great Lakes United coalition to learn about how they can
participate in upcoming campaigns
Watch for more information on all of these events
in the coming weeks!
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On
January 11, 1909, the United States and Canada entered into the first
environmental treaty in the world: the Boundary Waters Treaty. Sunday
marks the centennial anniversary of the signing of this historic
agreement.
To commemorate the signing —and the hundred years of water cooperation
it ushered—the Consulate General of Canada, the United States Consulate
General, and the International Joint Commission are hosting Boundary
Waters Week from June 5 to 14 in Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario.
With the anniversary of the signing this weekend, they have launched
the official website of the centennial celebrations at www.oursharedwaters.com.
During the week in June, communities along the Niagara River and the
Boundary Waters Treaty Centennial Committee will host a series of
water-themed conferences, festivals, exhibits and events featuring
distinguished environmental speakers and dignitaries. Highlights
include a special ceremony on the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls on
Saturday, June 13.
To help mark the event, Great Lakes United is hosting several
activities during the Boundary Waters Week, including a workshop for
activists working on cleaning up toxic hotspots, a tour of
environmental hotspots along the Niagara River, and a meeting of the
coalition to discuss campaigns for 2009.
In a release, Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter, Honorary Chair of the
Boundary Waters Treaty Centennial Committee said, "This summer we will
celebrate the 100th anniversary of the world's first environmental
agreement, the Boundary Waters Treaty. To this day, this historic
accord remains a model of binational governance and a guide for two
countries working to protect their shared natural resources for future
generations."
Her comments were supported by Niagara Falls, Ontario, Mayor Ted Salci,
who is also an honourary chair of the committee: “Municipalities along
the Niagara are pleased to honour this treaty by seeking new ways to
protect, preserve and celebrate ‘our shared waters.' ”
A
full press release detailing the launch of the website, as well as
background information is available at www.glu.org.
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