GLIN==> Coalition Applauds Decision to Renegotiate Great Lakes Agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Release

June 13, 2009

 

 

Coalition Applauds Decision to Renegotiate Great Lakes Agreement

Governments can now take Great Lakes water quality protection into the 21st
century

 

June 13, 2009 - NIAGARA FALLS, NY & ON - Great Lakes United is applauding
this morning's announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon that the United States
and Canada will renegotiate the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

 

"Citizens and organizations from across the region have been calling on the
Canadian and United States governments to truly commit to the binational
protection of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River," said John Jackson,
Director of Clean Production and Toxics at Great Lakes United. "With this
announcement I'm more optimistic than ever that our governments will
reinvigorate their dedication to shared responsibility and stewardship over
these vital waters."

 

The announcement to renegotiate the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was
during a special ceremony on the Rainbow Bridge, celebrating the 100th
anniversary of the signing of the Boundary Waters Treaty. This treaty set
the stage for significant progress in protecting border waters and so it is
fitting that the pact made possible under the treaty be announced at this
time.

 

"Over these past few months the federal governments, as well as state,
provincial  and municipal governments have really sunk their teeth into the
Great Lakes, dusting away the complacency that has marked the past decade,"
said Derek Stack, executive director of Great Lakes United. "Now we need to
ensure the revitalized agreement improves on the past and reflects today's
most serious threats to Great Lakes health, such as  invasive species,
climate change, emerging chemicals, and of course the region's legacy of
toxic hotspots and contamination."

 

Great Lakes United has been working with its allies to give voice to the
public's desire for a reinvigorated agreement. In 2007, the coalition
identified 13 principles to guide renegotiation and they are now working to
further detail these and ensure that they are included in the Agreement. 

 

"Any renegotiation must involve the public, and it must build a framework
for addressing the issues that the Great Lakes will face over the coming
years and decades," said Jackson. "Making the announcement is the easy part.
The real work has only just begun." 

 

Contacts:

 

John Jackson

Director of Clean Production and Toxics

Great Lakes United

519-744-7503

519-591-7503 (cell)

 

Derek Stack

Executive Director

Great Lakes United

613-797-9532

 

 

____________________________________
Brent Gibson
Director, Communications
(613) 867-9861

 <mailto:bgibson at glu.org> bgibson at glu.org |  <http://www.glu.org/>
www.glu.org

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