People from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan will be focusing on a number of water related problems for "World Water Day" on March 22.
Among our primary concerns are:
1.)the intent to mine peat in Minnesota's Big Bog which is one of the world's largest and most pure freshwater aquifers;
2.) the intent of United States Steel's Minntac operation in Mt. Iron, Minnesota to purge billions of gallons of contaminated water from its "Clear Water Reservoir" into the St. Louis River watershed which will end up in Lake Superior... at present Minntac is allowing this highly contaminated water to flow north through the Dark River System contaminating the streams, rivers, and lakes of northern Minnesota;
3.) we are opposed to the Nestle Corporation's intent to pump billions of gallons of water from the headwaters of the White River in Michigan for the purpose of bottling and selling the water;
4.) Oppose building coal-fired power plants and insist that existing plants be fitted with adequate devices to safe guard our air and water;
5.) We will focus on keeping the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant open because it is one of the most environmentally clean manufacturing facilities in the world and an example of the type of manufacturing we need to be encouraging, not eliminating.
It is ironic that politicians talk about creating a few jobs by destroying the environment but will not lift a finger to save thousands of good paying jobs where workers are protected under a union contract where environmentally friendly methods of production have been a centerpiece of labor's collective bargaining efforts with the company.
By joining together in grassroots efforts like this in activities for "World Water Day" on March 22 we hope to create greater public awareness and real grassroots involvement in a way that empowers working people who have a right to live in healthy environments with the right to clean, healthy water resources.
Both the Dark River in Minnesota and the White River in Michigan are designated trout streams in addition to primary freshwater aquifers.
We find it unconscionable that water has been turned into just one more capitalist commodity to be bought and sold; and our streams, rivers, and lakes turned into sewers for the corporations to get rid of their wastes by the cheapest means possible without any regard to nature, or the working people who live in these communities.
The corporations are contaminating our fresh water aquifers and then selling us bottled water to drink. The corporations profit both ways; we pay, and Mother Nature suffers.
Corrupt corporate politicians continue to put forward the lie that workers want jobs at any price. In fact, workers want jobs working in healthy environments at the place of employment, and workers want their communities to be free from contamination so they and their families can live healthy and happy lives.
Please consider taking some form of action with your family, friends, neighbors, and fellow workers for "World Water Day" on March 22... Focus on a water resource in your community that is threatened.
*Don't buy any bottled water on World Water Day... insist that politicians act to protect our freshwater resources and aquifers. It is immoral that we would have to purchase bottled water to drink because politicians have allowed our freshwater aquifers to become contaminated. Existing freshwater aquifers like the Big Bog in northern Minnesota and the headwaters of the White River in Michigan should be protected for the freshwater resources that they are.
Research.
Write letters.
Petition.
Leaflet.
Protest.
Boycott bottled water and peat products... send the greedy, multi-national, capitalist corporations a strong message that water is one of our vital resources needed for survival; not a commodity to be bought and sold, or used to carry away pollutants.
Air and water pollution are closely related and often linked.
Organize a group in your community to focus on water related issues for World Water Day.
Be creative in voicing your concerns on World Water Day - March 22
The Roseau County DFL convention passed a resolution calling for the permit to mine peat in the Big Bog to be revoked and that United States Steel’s Minntac operation be prohibited from contaminating the streams, rivers, and lakes of northern Minnesota. The Minnesota DFL “leadership” has prevented a discussion of these issues… most recently at its “Business Meeting” on Saturday in North Branch, Minnesota. Obviously, to move state legislatures on these water related issues is going to take tremendous grassroots efforts… if we can’t have a voice in water related issues that are so vital to our quality of life, democracy is a rather shallow and hollow concept.
Many people are suffering from illnesses related to problems with drinking water, including deadly cancers… yet, these same politicians who refuse to allow any discussion on water issues are stonewalling similar grassroots efforts to achieve single-payer, universal health care. Greedy profit gouging corporations have spun a dangerous web; everything from water to health care has become a scam and a racket under capitalism… working people and our communities are their prey as these capitalist parasites search out maximum profits… something we are not supposed to talk about, lest we get labeled as “controversial.” It is amazing that what these capitalists are doing is not seen as the source of “controversy.”
The next time you pass through the grocery store isle lined with bottled water for sale, ask yourself why water is being sold.
Boycott all Nestle Corporation bottled water.
Boycott all Scott and Miracle Grow peat products. The Canadian multi-national, Berger Corporation, is the major supplier of peat to each company... this company is being allowed to mine the peat in the Big Bog and truck away the profits on a road built with tax dollars.