10

10 log in or sign up to start earning Butterfly Credits today!
learn more »
earn credits for web search

community & fun

groups

get together & make a difference

Groups > Agenda Earth Rescue > Discussions > Topic: Michigan and The Great Lakes Area
Topic: Michigan and The Great Lakes Area

powered by Care2.com • Care2 Home • E-cards & Fun • Shopping • Healthy Living • News Network • Petitions • Click to Donate


Jouni Y.	Michigan and The Great Lakes Area July 28, 2005 12:38 PM Dear Friends, Let's start learning some basics, this is all new to me... http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/ The Great Lakes - Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario - form the largest surface freshwater system on the Earth. More than 30 million people live in the Great Lakes basin, and the daily activities of these people, from the water consumed to the waste returned, directly affects the Great Lakes environment. In May 2004, President Bush signed a Presidential Executive Order recognizing the Great Lakes as a national treasure, calling for the creation of a "Regional Collaboration of National Significance," and a cabinet-level Interagency Task Force. The official launch of this collaborative effort was a Conveners Meeting held in Chicago on December 3, 2004. A Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes is the result of this collaborative process and is now released for public comment. This site provides information about efforts to keep the lakes clean for the people, animals, and plants that depend on them. wow!!! great information, i learned something entirely new... ...Shannon, Christina, members, have i understand correctly that it would be best that we invite to this group more people especially from The State of Michigan and areas residing The Great Lakes Area? also from Canada? that could create coherence and activity to this group that could radiate all over the world? what do you think? [ send green star]
Jouni Y.	hmmm July 28, 2005 1:12 PM ...may i introduce cohost Christina from Chicago, Illinois, and myself John/Jouni from Raisio, Finland. ...hmmm, i have been browsing and looking a bit who is who in this group and i see many very committed people, "cyberactivists" here from many places. who am i say anything about radiation, and where it should come from, lol, you are doing really great, hmmm, i don't know... ...how you/we would like to develop this group? [ send green star]
Andreas G.	July 29, 2005 12:57 AM Hi John. First of all: thanks for the invite! Yes, i think, it could be very helpful to have some members who are actually living in the area. That is still the best way to receive information in a reasonable time-ahead. We would then also have some contacts, who could perhaps talk directly to people, thus giving our efforts more weight. Looking forward to atking some action here. Cheers, Andy [ send green star] [ accepted]
Caroline M.	New member July 29, 2005 6:20 AM Hi all from beautiful South africa.Thanks for inviting me. Just to let you all know that I am one of those lucky people who got to see two of your lakes. I visited Michigan last September/October and spent a wonderful six weeks there. I've been to Lake Eerie and Huron. BEAUTIFUL is but only one word to describe it. You will definitely see a lot of me here... Jagchild [ send green star] [ accepted]
Christina E.	LAke July 30, 2005 9:35 AM I was at the beach Yesterday! I went with a friend, and it was really very beautiful. There is a large outcrop of rocks that goes way out into the lake, and we climbed on top of it, and looked over. It was sunset, and if you could listen really really carefully, you might have heard the music over the waves. I got a bruise from scrambling on the rocks, but it was still so beautiful. I waded in the water, and the waves were huge! And I could see brown and green and blue and gray in it. And orange and pink and blue from the sky. And whatever we're doing to save it--its a good thing to be saved. My friend and I went there to think. Well, she thought, I more played around in the water and got my clothes all wet. There's not a lot of places like it anymore. [ send green star]
Shannon F.	The look from the river August 02, 2005 9:55 AM The Great Lakes System is awesome and has some of most beautiful and breathe taking sights. Lake Huron empties into the St. Clair River is beautiful on a foggy morning, the water is quietly rushing by as freighters will slice through thickness. The sunrises and sets should be a wonder of the world. The waters are brimming with walleye, salmon,trout and numerous other sports fish, sadly numerous other non native species.The invaders are alewife, common carp, Eurasian ruffe, Eurasian water milfoil, purple loosestrife, quagga mussel, rainbow smelt, round goby, rusty crayfish, sea lamprey, spiny waterflea, and the zebra mussel. These invasive species have caused millions of dollars in damage to natural fauna, native species, municiplaties, and various industries. The control methods that were in place to stop invasive species from entering the Lake system failed miserably. The need to keep "cost down" allowed oceangoing freighters to not have to change ballast in the ocean, hence changing in this wonderful waterway. Not only has invaders taken away from this water wonderland, indsutries and munipalities from both Canada and the United States have used this system as a dumping grounds with no thoughts to any species that depends on thise life giving water. Thiry seven chemicals alone in St. Clair County are released in the air, Lake Huron, or the St. Clair River (2001 Toxic Chemical Release Inventory), this doesnt include spills or dumping from various other municiplaties or indsutries. By non action we are allowing this paradise to slowly die, and with it all its natural beauty.We have allowed industries to take without care or thought to the future of the Great Lake System. Each day we allow waffling on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and E.P.A chemical standards, we kill this sytem. Already we have dead zones in Lake Erie,dangerous blue green alge blooms, and bubbles of mercury along the Lakes bottom. Sadly little or no action is taken by either Goverments and the good people who love this state suffer. Shannon [ send green star]
April S.	Great Lakes and E. coli August 12, 2005 5:59 AM Michigan is a beatiful state, and what makes it so beatiful are the five great lakes. I live about 40 minutes from Grand Haven, which is a thriving tourist town with an amazing view - winter & summer. Lately, in the news, many reports have been focused on Lake Michigan and it's lake side beaches. Weekly the news reports another public beach is temporarliy closed due to E. coli. Our beaches are festering with bacteria due to seagulls and people waste. I want to be apart of the fix not the cause - how can I be involved in the solution? [ send green star] [ accepted]
Jenn B.	August 12, 2005 6:04 AM I grew up in Buffalo NY, in the 1970's. I was never allowed to swim in lake Erie due to all the contamination. I have lived in Grand Rapids MI, and Holland MI, and was able to enjoy Lake Michigan during the 80's & 90's. Now I am in Metro Detroit with only access to metropark beaches on Lake St. Clair, and you couldn't pay me to set one foot in there! I am saddened to see such destruction to our environment, and I am motivated to do SOMETHING. I took a job that makes a huge impact in regards to medical waste. You would be shocked to see how much I am able to capture for recycling. Less medical waste in our land fills is at least one step in the right direction! [ send green star] [ accepted]
Megan C.	great lakes tour August 12, 2005 6:17 AM Hi! I'm a Michigan Resident as well. And although Michigan is a BEAUTIFUL state, I live in one of the nation's most polluted areas- Detroit. Coming from New Jersey and her polluted water ways, I've always been active and intrigued with groups like NJ PURG and other Water Groups. A friend informed me there is a group to protect Michigan's water as well, does anyone have more information on that? On my way home from a recent vacation, I passed by three of the five great lakes- Erie, Ontario and Huron. A few months ago, I stood on the banks of Lake Michigan in Chicago. Growing up an ocean girl, I am awed and truly amazed at these lakes. So vast and powerful, something truly worth protecting. As for what to do, the smallest actions sometimes count the most. While at Lake Michigan in Chicago, i saw some trash floating in the surf, and then saw a plastic bag, so I began to go down the beach picking up trash on the sand and in the water. So many people smiled at me and a young man also began to pick up a few pieces- then there was nothing! My father always says to start with yourself when it comes to protecting our planet. While we are concurrently doing email activism here and abroad, I also recommend community involvment as well as personal action. Every action counts! Don't ever think differently- which is why I'm thrilled to have found C2C and am grateful to have been invited to this group. Namaste Megan [ send green star]
Shannon F.	Silents nights August 14, 2005 2:08 PM I grew up in a lil fishing/bar town called Fair Haven in Mi. Back then (and not so much now) I lived right in front of a canal and a little bay that was fed by Lake St. Clair, nighttime as I remember was a symphony of crickets, frogs, and bullfrogs from a little after first thaw till late Sept was always a nite filled with songs of nature ( a few bat squeaks thrown in as a reminder to keep the screens on the windows). During the spring the carp would come in and mate and make wonderful splashes in the water. Muskrats imhabited every so many feet, making their homes for their young ( hence the Algonac Fighting Muskrats.....live that down). Gardner snakes slithered all the time throughout my backyard and front, scaring the bejabbers out of my mom seems like every chance they get. Bees would flower hop from dandelions to the lilacs bushes to the flowerbeds. Mornings and late evenings would fill the air with a westery or northwesterly breeze bring the wonderful aroma of the Lake. The little cove behind the canal was home to mallards and canadian geese.It was something I remembered and always missed leaving my hometown.Memories when I could would sometimes bring the smell back and give me great comfort. Now, many years ( we wont go inot excatly how many) have passed and Ive returned as close to home as I can get. Everything has changed, rare is the sighting of the birds in that area, the carp splashing, and the frogs........where are the frogs? The water isnt the same aroma I held so dear as a child, no is the Lake the same. No clean up has yet to take place anywhere along the shores that I walk ( always carry gloves and a plastic bag). Debris from homes, cars and careless travelers dot and leave nature crying for help. Oily films run the length of many places and algea thrives where once I could almost see the bottom. I lay down at nite and wonder what we have down, as I ponder the Hawk I saw on Saturday that took a squirrel up for food. Thinking what a crime we have commited and how we have encroached on their habitats that they need to hunt in towns to eat. Then I listen for the sounds of my youth, I hear the crickets, bats ( sigh always bats), but no frogs. rogs are the barometer of our ecosystem when they deplete or mutate, its time to look around us and ask why Yours Shannon [ send green star]
Shannon F.	Um........ that would be Frogs August 14, 2005 2:10 PM I am a great reason for Care 2 to install spell check Shannon [ send green star]
anonymous	Amen! August 17, 2005 7:14 PM Michigan has been a great state to me. I grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan in Grand Haven. I now live on a small lake just out side of Kalamazoo and have enjoyed Michigan waters all of my life! I am more than happy to help out where I can so please keep me in the loop. [report anonymous abuse] [ accepted]
Kristin F.	Caring for our state August 24, 2005 8:24 AM I am SO inspired to find Michigan folks here and expressing their concerns for our state! There is a LOT to do, and I am so excited that many of you are interested in doing what you can. I am the new director of a local environmental organization in SE Michigan (East Michigan Environmental Action Council) and I would love to meet with, talk with, plan projects with, create an action agenda with, or do whatever needs to get done with any of you. If you're interested, especially those of you in the Detroit metro area, please drop me a line! Issues in our state are at a critical, pivotal point: Great Lakes endagerment (not only from pollution, but extraction for commercial purposes), inland lakes and stream systems, our beautiful and rapidly depleted wetlands, our shorelines, our native species, our particulate matter count, the list goes on and on, really... Many groups and organizations here in the state are pushing for better legislation. That can be a great move, but we need more "on-the-ground" support. Are you interested? THANK YOU to those of you who put your heads and hearts together to get MI folks on the same page. I would really love to hear from you, and put our words and concerns into action. Take good care, Kristin [ send green star] [ accepted]
Elspeth H.	Another Michigan-der August 24, 2005 5:09 PM I, like others it seems, grew up in smoggy Detroit...and for that matter, don't live far from it now. I'd love to have a cleaner state so I can go swimming at Cass Lake without getting a bacterial infection, drive by the Rouge River without choking down vomit from the stench, and play in Hines Park without having to steer my neice away from the beer cans. My neighborhood's current problem is: Our ash trees were chopped down by the city, due to disease, and it has been nearly a year, and they haven't removed the stumps so we can plant new trees and get our neighborhood looking green and leafy again. I miss the squirrels, rabbits, ducks and the groundhogs that played around those trees, and am worried about having seen more DEAD animals (mice, birds) recently. [ send green star] [ accepted]
Caitlin B.	August 26, 2005 5:22 PM I live quite close to Lake Michigan actually. It's about a 5 minute drive to Grand Traverse Bay, which flows into Lake Michigan. The water level in the bay is always down( you can usually see the sand and seagulls) and it takes forever to go out for a nice swim. The water level seems to be up this year. I would love to conserve these lakes. They are absolutely beautiful. People are always wanting to drill in them.... It makes me sad to hear that, yet seeing this thread brightened me up and made me join(this is my first post, so Hi!) [ send green star] [ accepted]
Shannon F.	Welcome caitlin and Nancy August 26, 2005 11:08 PM its wonderful to have you both here. Isnt this state gorgeous, the sites and treasure we enjoy are astounding. The awe of this state can be matched by the sadness of such a wonderous place. pleae post any ideas or concerns you might have and welcome Shannon [ send green star]
Jouni Y.	August 27, 2005 6:26 AM http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/active/2005/may05.html Significant Activities Report: May 2005 Toxics Reduction 2004 Toxics Reduction Report Online The 2004 Annual Report of the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBT, “A beyond compliance Strategy to virtually eliminate persistent toxic substances from the Great Lakes”, is now available on the web at http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/bns/index.html. 2004 saw continuing reductions in the twelve Level 1 priority pollutants (including mercury, PCBs, dioxins/furans, hexachlorobenzene, Benzo(a)Pyrene, octachlorostyrene, alkyl lead and cancelled pesticides) on both sides of the border. Of seventeen reduction goals set forth in the Strategy, ten have been met, three will be met by 2006, and the rest are well advanced toward their respective targets. The 2004 report presents the latest pollution prevention and toxics reduction activities taking place under the GLBTS across the basin. Some examples include: * The work of the American Dental Association, in partnership with the Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research, to develop and disseminate best management practices for dental mercury amalgam to dentists across the Great Lakes Basin; * Ford Motor Company achieving a 79% phase-out of their PCB transformers globally in 2004, and committing to 95% phase-out by the end of 2006; and * Activities of the Scrap Tire Pile Mitigation Support Project, led by USEPA, which has developed a scrap tire pile inventory, along with GIS mapping, and a training and outreach program to mitigate tire piles across the basin. Upcoming Events 2005 September 15th Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Integration Workgroup Chicago, Illinois November 2nd-4th State of Lake Michigan Conference Green Bay, Wisconsin What more we could do? is it all here? where we come to this positive development? [ send green star]
Jouni Y.	fine-particle emissions August 27, 2005 6:36 AM http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/collaboration/strategy.html A Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes Draft Action Plan July 2005 In December 2004, the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration of National Significance (GLRC) was launched, creating a unique partnership of key members from federal, state, and local governments, tribes, and other stakeholders for the purpose of developing a strategic action plan. This strategic plan was intended to build upon the extensive regional efforts to date, working together toward a common goal of restoring and protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem for this and future generations. A Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes An Executive Committee made up of senior elected and appointed officials from different levels of government has helped guide the GLRC over the past year as the strategic plan has been developed. Eight Strategy Teams, each focusing on a different issue affecting the Great Lakes basin, began work in January 2005 to develop recommendations for action. The strategic plan is the result of that collaborative process and it is now being released for public comment. It is important to note that as the plan is in its early stages, it has not yet been officially endorsed by any GLRC member agencies or partners. Access the strategic plan at: http://www.glrc.us As we officially release this plan today at Summit I, your comments and assistance are needed in order to inform the GLRC as it completes the strategy later this year. The public comment period will open on July 7, and close on September 9, 2005. We are particularly interested in knowing the public’s view of what are the highest priority issues. There are several ways to provide comments and to become involved in the process: * Commenting on-line. A web site at http://www.glrc.us has been developed to facilitate comments electronically. The site contains the strategic plan and instructions for submitting comments. * Providing written comments. If you wish to provide written comments, EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office will receive the comments on behalf of the GLRC. Please send them to USEPA-GLNPO, 77 W. Jackson Blvd. (G-17J), Chicago, IL 60604. * Public Meetings. A series of five public meetings will be held during the comment period which will provide the opportunity to meet with members of the GLRC, to hear more about the plan and to provide valuable input. Written comments will be accepted at these public meetings. Additional information on the dates, times and locations of the meetings can be found at http://www.glrc.us. All written comments will be reviewed and considered as the plan is revised later this year. The strategic plan will be finalized and released on December 12, 2005 at Summit II in Chicago, Illinois. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your interest in restoring and protecting the Great Lakes. Do you think traffic and fine-particle emissions are one of the most important problems/challenges? do you think this problem is recognized and included in the strategy plan? [ send green star]
Barbara S.	August 31, 2005 5:55 AM This is a very important thread. Fine particulate matter is very important and we receive a lot of it in Michigan. It may blow in from states outside of Michigan and some may be created right here. It is a health problem for all. With their large surface areas, the Great Lakes waters receive much of this fallout and it pollutes our waters. I have spoken out at meetings in my area and sent comments on pending programs via e mail. The time is now to solve many problems facing the Great Lakes and many on this thread have brought up problems in the areas they know. I have written a book that covers the five Great Lakes and their connecting waters: The Dynamic Great Lakes. I wrote the book as a resource for people who need information about the lakes, their fish, invasive species, their problems and what we might do to solve them. Some have called the book empowering because it shows environmental success stories. Grand Haven Michigan will have an all day event on Sept. 17, Salmon and Song Fest. I will be presenting a program in the afternoon about the Great Lakes to raise awareness. It will be in the railroad station museum on the waterfront. There will be many other events: a fishing tournament, fun programs for children, music etc. This is a free event. For more info, contact the Grand Haven chamber of commerce. The Dynamic Great Lakes website also has information about the greatest freshwater system on this planet. www.geocities.com/barbaraspring [ send green star] [ accepted]
Megan C.	to Kristin F. September 03, 2005 5:47 PM Kristin, I'd love to help you out in whatever way I can. I not only live near metro-detroit- but IN detroit proper-right in midtown. Every day looking out my windows is a grim reminder of how much work has to be done to clean up our beautiful, but blemished world. As for Fine Particles- Ah! I have asthma, but am blessed enough to forget that I do most of the time- that is until this summer- with the heat that has rocked detroit this summer, especially in june- trapping all kinds of pollution and particles in the treeless air within the city, I found myself having serious breathing difficulties and told by the "weather channel official air reports" not to go outside, to stay inside in the air conditioning. AH! So in any event, I would LOVE to help. Just let me know where and when. Lately, I've taken to apartment gardening- growing spider plants and other plants that eat up toxins in the air churning out sweet sweet O2. I'm hoping to do some planting on the actualy property of my apartment building, as well as find out about/or organize some tree planting efforts in the area. Tonight, my boyfriend, my friend Lisa and I stood on the banks of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe, and lamented that it was safer to go in the chlorinated pool only a few yards away more than the not very healthy or clean lake water.... Oh I wish this weren't so! Love to all, Megan [ send green star]
Barbara S.	September 05, 2005 6:59 AM To Kristen and all, I have used a wise quote in my book, The Dynamic Great Lakes: "Think globally, act locally." Local units of government can use your input where there is decision making. Kristen, what you said would make an impact at a meeting. It takes a lot of persistence to make good changes. We can help shape policies. If you join environmental groups such as Alliance for the Great Lakes or Great Lakes United, you will join with people who can help shape policies. Other groups such as the Sierra Club and the Michigan Land Use Institute will help you if you ask for their help. Barbara Spring, author The Dynamic Great Lakes www.geocities.com/barbaraspring [ send green star] [ accepted]
Barbara S.	Salmon and Song Fest in Grand Haven MI September 05, 2005 7:09 AM The salmon are running, the fishermen are catching, there is music, food and fun for all. I will present a program about the amazing Great Lakes at the old railroad station museum in the afternoon at 1p.m. and 3p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. In between there will some other speakers and lots of events for the whole family. Barbara Spring, author, The Dynamic Great Lakes www.geocities.com/barbaraspring [ send green star] [ accepted]
Sandra B.	Michigan September 27, 2005 1:18 PM Hi, all, Just checking in letting you all know I'm here and in Lansing, MI. I'm an outdoors person, but haven't made myself aware of local Michigan groups dedicated to making Michigan a better place to live.; more natural like it used to be. I am so surprised to see so many Michiganders here. Pleasant surprise. Sandra B. [ send green star] [ accepted]
Emily F.	Hello Sandra September 27, 2005 2:40 PM Hi- Glad to know we are getting more michigan members. It's a great state in which we live in, and what makes it even better is the people who are getting invloved in making our state a more earth friendly place to live. Don't know if you know about the event that will be taking place on Saturday, October 22- If you do- Yea! glad to have so many people working to reach the same goal. . .If not I would be ahppy to fill you in. Emily~ [ send green star] [ accepted]
Barbara S.	Beta 360 September 28, 2005 6:09 AM I have started a blog http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog/ It is nature/literary and I have included my nature blogs and my watercolors along with some photos and naturally, my two books: The Dynamic Great Lakes and The Wilderness Within This looks like it will be fun. I have created some blogs for Dave Dempsey who is starting a blog page related to Michigan natural resources and my blogs will be up on his site in November. Barbara Spring www.geocities.com/barbaraspring [ send green star] [ accepted]
Kristin F.	Great Lakes, Great Michigan September 28, 2005 12:30 PM I completely lost track of this thread, but I see it's got some great developments!! I am currently working with my organziation and a coalition of others on the "Great Lakes, Great Michigan" campaign. The primary focus (as of right now) is to establish legislation regarding water extraction from the Great Lakes basin. Michigan is the only state completely located within the basin, yet is also the only state without sound legislative supports in place. As I've said before, the organizations are working on policies and education, but I see a great need for more on-the-ground "people power" to get the word out, talk to decision-makers, etc. It is really great that so many people here in the state are interested in taking part in creating positive change. Let's harness that energy!!! There are myriad other campaigns going on in Michigan, and they could all use your voice as a welcome addition. Am I allowed to post email addresses here? I won't risk it, but I will say that I am working in concert with other organizations, some of which have been mentioned here and I would love to help you get involved. Please send me an message through Care2 directly if you can, and we can go from there! (if not, could a host let me know if it's okay to post an email address? Thanks!) Thanks again to everyone for posting such thoughtful, insightful, and helpful information. If you'd like more information on the "Great Lakes, Great Michigan" campaign, let me know and I will post the platform here, and maybe some target dates for hearings and public forums. Take good care, Kristin [ send green star] [ accepted]
Mishelle S.	October 21, 2005 8:52 PM Hi everyone. I received an e-mail invitation from John dated August 4. Sorry it took me so long to reply. I had diffilulties accessing my account, but I'm all set now. I live in central Michigan and am lining up to start college January 15, 2006. My goal is to get a career with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, working for the wildlife division. Throughout my time in college, I plan to participate in the DNR Student Internship Program. The DNR is part of the Michigan State government and it deals exactly in the areas this group values. You can view it's website at the following link: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr With this kind of inside connections, we should definately be able to make a difference. [ send green star] [ accepted]
Shannon F.	hey Michelle October 21, 2005 8:56 PM Thanks.......... glad to have you....... If ya got a bit of time........jopin us tomorrow in Michigan Matters. all it takes is 2 garbage bags and about 2 hours of time where you think needs to cleaned. one bag is for rcyclables.and the other is for garbage. if not theres next year........ welcome aboard [ send green star]
Jouni Y.	October 22, 2005 12:25 AM Michellle, Greetings, and welcome! Let's do "Save the World": Everybody can invite one to three or more nice and caring people from Michigan to this group either from this care2site or outside. think about resulting expanding environmental awareness when again these people invite people. “Each one of us has something to contribute. This really depends on each one doing their own thinking, but not following any kind of rule that I can give out, any command. We’re all on the frontier, we’re all in a great mystery.” --R. Buckminster Fuller p.s. let's give each other greenstars in different categories about people we invite here horsehugging collegegirl = 100 greenstars treehugging collegegirl = 100 greenstars horsehugging collegeboy = 100 greenstars treehugging collegeboy = 100 greenstars mournful sombre company director = 1 greenstar [ send green star]
Brennan D.	also belated November 05, 2005 11:19 AM For reasons unknown to me, it took me nearly two years to realize, hey? care2 is about communication with others. Maybe it took a topic that hits home to, well, hit home. Being born and raised in Michigan is a beautiful attribute to my life. Like Detroit, my hometown of Battle Creek is based on industry, mainly that of Kelloggs and what is now Kraft. It could be dwelled upon for pages the effects these companies have had on Battle Creek, but this is not the forum for that, so you shall be spared. the lakes in their majesty... few things can be spotted internationally from any map, used as a guidebook to the place of your home! like the hand-thing... (though less overdone). I wish I had been able to spend more time on their beaches before my recent move. But home is where the mom is, and soon enough I'll be swimming in the lake-effect snowfall of December, smiling in the slush. . your concern and spreading of this information is beautiful. thank you for sharing. (if you're there, kiss its beautiful grounds for me) divine wishes to you all. [ send green star] [ accepted]
Barbara S.	A good link November 06, 2005 8:47 AM http://www.davedempsey.org/davesblog/ Here is a link to what is happening in the Great Lakes. It is eye opening to say the least. I know Dave and he has worked in the state capitol for years and knows what is happening in government. He has written two books about environmental matters in Michigan. Check out Dave's blog. Barbara Spring The Dynamic Great Lakes www.geocities.com/barbaraspring [ send green star] [ accepted]
Jouni Y.	Nonpoint Source Pollution Cleanup Essential to Great Lakes Strategy December 18, 2005 9:48 AM Nonpoint Source Pollution Cleanup Essential to Great Lakes Strategy CHICAGO, Illinois, December 16, 2005 (EN - Actions to address nonpoint source pollution are high on the agenda in the final version of the $20 billion Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy released earlier this week in Chicago. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson joined other federal, state, local and tribal officials to unveil the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy that will serve as a blueprint for prioritizing future actions to restore and enhance the lakes.... http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2005/2005-12-16-04.asp [ send green star]
Stephanie G.	Hi December 22, 2005 6:05 AM Hi everyone! I live near and spend most of my time on the heart of the Great Lakes, Lake St Clair. Most of my childhood has been spent on this little lake and boating is my passion. It's sad that they have to close down the beaches because of our waters. Not like it used to be when I was growing up. I've spent many boating hours on Lake Erie, some time on Huron and ventured over to Lake Michigan last September. BEAUTIFUL!! Nice to see so many Michiganders here [ send green star] [ accepted]
Barbara S.	December 22, 2005 6:27 AM Stephanie, The Great Lakes are a treasure. There is a website you might like: www.greatlakestownhall.org I will have five blogs on this site beginning Jan. 2 The site is interactive. I have a website also: The Dynamic Great Lakes www.geocities.com/barbaraspring and there are lots of photos from the 5 Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair. [ send green star] [ accepted]
Shannon F.	Hope for the Lakes December 22, 2005 6:50 AM Legislators aim to keep Great Lakes water safe Agreement calls for protecting resource from outside interests By ANDREA MASON Times Herald The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin comprises 90% to 95% of the fresh surface water in the United States - and 20% of the world's. Yet levels are dropping, and only 1% of the water taken out of the lakes is returned via precipitation. Lawmakers are concerned because the lakes are the source of drinking water and recreation for millions and are vital to commerce. An agreement signed last week by the governors of the eight Great Lakes states and premiers of two Canadian provinces looks to prevent the lakes from being harmed by outside interests. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact would require each state to develop a protection plan and limit the removal of Great Lakes water. Some say, however, the compact doesn't do enough. Local environmental advocate Doug Martz said he and others aren't necessarily against the compact, but it gives states too much leeway. Martz is chairman of the watchdog group Macomb County Water Quality Board and the conservation group the St. Clair Channel Keepers. Before the compact becomes law, it has a long road of legislative red tape ahead. It was signed by the governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin. The same eight governors and the premiers of Ontario and Quebec signed a second, similar agreement. That agreement, however, is nonbinding. Long road The first step is done - all eight governors have agreed to the terms of the binding compact. Next, they will present it to their individual state legislatures. Presuming all eight legislatures approve the compact - which likely will take years, experts said - the next eyes on the document would be those of Congress. If Congress ratifies the compact, it becomes law. Although the compact's proponents hope public support will grease the wheels a bit, they acknowledge the process is a long one. "It's a challenge," said Ken Debeaussaert, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Great Lakes office. It will be worth it if it works, he said. After five years of negotiation, he said, the governors of eight states have developed an agreement that satisfies them all and moves forward in protecting the Great Lakes. Kim Krueger's family has lived in Port Huron for four generations; her great-grandfather was a freighter captain on the lakes. Krueger, like many, feels a connection to the water. "Water is a resource in itself. How is (allowing outside groups to remove water from the Great Lakes) going to be productive? Isn't that going backwards?" Krueger, 37, asked. "Sheesh, let's get the water levels back up." Teeth This agreement is different than other "handshake deals" of the past, said Molly Flanagan, a Great Lakes water-resource advocate for the National Wildlife Federation. This one has teeth. Past interstate accords simply were good-faith agreements. None were binding; most quickly were broken, experts said. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact sets out basic requirements. Each state must evaluate water withdrawal and its impact, implement water-conservation measures and regulate the removal of water from the basin. If they don't follow through, Debeaussaert said, states could find themselves in court. "The individual states and provinces will be forced to live up to the promises made," he said. Flanagan calls the compact "the most fundamental change in water-use laws in the region for the last century." The wildlife federation was part of the advisory panel negotiating the agreement. Water means fishing, tourism, people's livelihoods, Tony Zimmerman of Brown City said. "If they start (taking more water out of the lakes)," Zimmerman, 60, said, "it's just going to make everything worse." Several plants along the St. Clair River and Lake Huron draw water for communities from Detroit north. The compact accomplishes three primary tasks, Flanagan said: It closes the door on diversion to areas such as the Southwest, mandates the creation of water-management systems and allows the Great Lakes region to maintain control over Great Lakes water. Not everyone is equally convinced of the phenomenon of the compact. [ send green star]
Shannon F.	cont December 22, 2005 6:52 AM Not enough Many, such as Martz, fear as the legislative process continues, the boundaries of the Great Lakes watershed will be redefined in an artificial and political way. Each state is told it must develop conservation and water-management systems, but it isn't given more specifics than that. It's up to each state. "It's not going to be driven by the watershed," Martz said. "It's going to be pushed by political boundaries." The requirement that 5.7-gallon containers and larger cannot use water from the lakes does nothing to harm the bottled-water industry, he said. Most containers are much smaller. "Once the straws start going in, where is this going to stop?" Martz asked. "This is a resource that is owned by the public, not by Nestles or Ice Mountain." Nestle, which markets Michigan water under the brand Ice Mountain, was sued for removing water from a hunting preserve. Each state, proponents said, is allowed to make its own requirements more stringent. Numbers such as 5.7 are only a baseline. "Now we have to work on our states to make it stronger," Martz said. St. Clair Channel Keepers and other groups are planning a letter-writing campaign, letting lawmakers know they feel the baselines are too lax. "This is not the end of discussion," Debeaussaert said. "With the governors and premiers signing the agreement, this is really the start of discussion." [ send green star]
Barbara S.	Loophole in Annex December 22, 2005 11:51 AM This is part of an article from the Traverse City Record Eagle and a quote from lawyer Jim Olsen who worked on the issues. There is a loophole in the new agreement large enough to drive a fleet of mack trucks thorough. Barbara Spring - The Annex agreement makes water “diversions” outside the Great Lakes Basin illegal. But it also contains wording, added in just the past few months, that makes bottled water a product that can be bought and sold inside and outside the Great Lakes basin. Olsen says product label trumps diversion protections in the agreement. - Because trade in products (or articles of commerce, which includes everything from automobiles to bow ties) is protected under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution or trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Act, so is trade in bottled water. Just as importing trash from Canada can’t be blocked because of NAFTA, exporting water can’t be banned, either. - Once trade in bottled water outside the Great Lakes basin is established as something other than a “diversion,” it’s just a matter of time before someone simply makes a bigger bottle. Olson wrote that the threat of water exports “is about legal precedents that could make it difficult if not impossible to restrict exports in the future.” Given the growing thirst for fresh water around the globe, these aren’t Chicken Little warnings. Some have pooh-poohed the idea that Great Lakes water could be sold by the tanker; in fact, however, a firm got Canadian permission not long ago to do exactly that. Olsen is also concerned that Annex agreement wording gives out-of-basin users the same rights to the resource as those of us who live here. That means Nestle, the Swiss food giant which has at least two bottling plants in the state, has as much right to use - and that now means bottle and sell - Michigan water as any Michigan resident. That’s a recipe for disaster. He is also concerned, and rightly so, that it is unclear just who wrote and insterted the revised wording into the Annex agreement before it was signed. That issue alone should send up red flags and prompt a thorough examination of the agreement from a legal standpoint. State officials absolutely must put the Annex wording to the test and take Olson’s concerns seriously. He has a long track record in environmental law, and this one has him worried. That should make us worried, too. [ send green star] [ accepted]
Barbara S.	50 Ways to Leave Your Lover January 09, 2006 7:14 AM Paul Simon's song, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover makes me think there are thousands of ways to sustain the environment. The next generations will not forgive us if we do not work toward sustaining it. Something's got to give. We can't keep wasting resources, throwing things away, and not thinking about what we are doing to the environment. It starts at home in small things we do: turning off uneeded lights, turning off things that waste electricity. We can turn down the heat and wear a sweater indoors. We can walk in some cases rather than driving a car, or we can take public transportation. There are thousands of things we can do for the environment. We can see what our government is doing, especially on the local level and then speak out if it is not good for the environment. We can contact state and national representatives in government. The next generations deserve a healthy, sustainable environment. This website is a good start. [ send green star] [ accepted]
Barbara S.	Sustainable energy April 10, 2006 10:29 AM Here is a link to a petition for sustainable energy. http://www.nirs.org/petition/index.php I just signed it. The Palisades Nuclear Power plant in Covert, Michigan has had a troubled history. It should not be relicensed because its reactor is old and brittle. We need to protect our Great Lakes water, air and all living things. Barbara Spring www.geocities.com/barbaraspring [ send green star] [ accepted]
Barbara S.	The Dynamic Great Lakes November 20, 2006 6:55 AM I am the author of The Dynamic Great Lakes. I wrote the book for people to give them an understanding of how the lakes ecosystems work. I've been told it is an empowering book since it shows what people have done and can do for the Great Lakes. It's an easy and quick book to read and has been critically acclaimed. Available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and many other venues. Barbara Spring www.geocities.com/barbaraspring [ send green star] [ accepted]