GLIN==> RELEASE: The Race to Save the Lakes to Arrive in Bay City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release

July 14, 2010

 

Great Lakes United *** Shedd Aquarium

Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network

 

The Race to Save the Lakes to Arrive in Bay City

As tall ships sail into town, threats to the Great Lakes such as the Asian
carp take centre stage

 

As a fleet of tall ships prepare to arrive at the Bay City Tall Ships
Celebration, Great Lakes United, Shedd Aquarium, and the Saginaw Bay
Watershed Initiative Network will be at the festival talking to the public
about critical issues facing the lakes like water use, and the threat of the
Asian carp. 

 

"The recent discovery of a live Asian carp within 6 miles of Lake Michigan
means we need immediate action from the federal government," said Derek
Stack, Executive Director of Great Lakes United. "In Bay City we'll be
urging citizens to speak out to President Obama and demand that he address
this crisis immediately."

 

As part of Great Lakes United's exhibit, two mounted Asian carp will be on
display, as well as other samples of invasive species. Great Lakes United
will be encouraging citizens to sign postcards to President Obama demanding
that he pursue the physical separation of the Great Lakes basin from the
Mississippi basin, as it is the entry point the carp will use to invade the
Great Lakes.

 

Bay City is the third stop in the Great Lakes United TALL SHIPS CHALLENGER
2010, a port-to-port race sailing across the world's largest source of fresh
surface water.  As the vessels race from port to port, they will help carry
a message of water conservation and preservation to the millions of people
who will travel to see the tall ships. 

 

"The Great Lakes are amazing bodies of water that deserve to be celebrated
and protected," said Melanie Napoleon, director of Great Lakes conservation
at Shedd Aquarium.  "Each person who visits the festival will learn
something new about the largest freshwater sailing vessels, the majestic
Great Lakes and what they can do at home to make a difference."

 

One of the highlights of the festival will be the Great Lakes United Green
Village presented by the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network. The Green
Village brings together a host of environmental and conservation groups,
green businesses, and others, to showcase the importance of water to our way
of being, and how people can make choices that offer a lighter footprint on
our natural world and resources. From interactive displays to presentations,
the village focuses on sparking the imagination and showing people how they
can help ensure a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem.

 

"The Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) is delighted to be the
local sponsor of the Great Lakes United Green Village at the Tall Ship
Celebration in Bay City beginning this week.  Clearly, the objective of the
Green Village - promoting responsible stewardship of the Great Lakes - fits
perfectly with our goals regionally.  Promoting a healthy economy, while
also supporting wise use of our resources is a win-win for all of us," said
Michael Kelly, Great Lakes Director of The Conservation Fund, which
administers the WIN program. 

The fleet of visiting ships will be open for dockside deck tours daily,
starting July 15th and running through the 18th. Boarding Passes must be
purchased to gain access to the festival and to the ship decks. For more
information about the festival and purchasing tickets, please visit
http://tallshipcelebration.com <http://tallshipcelebration.com/> .

More information on the Tall Ships festivals can be obtained at
www.glu.org/tallships. 

Contacts:

 

Brent Gibson

Great Lakes United

613-482-1324 x509

bgibson at glu.org

 

Elizabeth Latenser

Shedd Aquarium

312-692-3364

elatenser at sheddaquarium.org

 

Michael Kelly
The Conservation Fund, Great Lakes Office
989-892-9171

kellym at conservationfund.org



 

 

_________________________________________________________
Brent Gibson
Director, Communications
Great Lakes United
613-482-1324 x509
 <mailto:bgibson at glu.org> bgibson at glu.org |  <http://www.glu.org>
www.glu.org

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www.glu.org/en/mailinglist   
Racing to protect the Great Lakes:  <http://www.glu.org/en/tallships>
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Represented by UAW Local 55

 

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