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| GPMI Backs Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation. |
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Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence May 4, 2003 Circuit Court Opens Hearing Monday in Big Rapids in MCWC Lawsuit against Nestlé/Perrier/Ice Mountain Greens Call on Granholm to Stop "Theft" of Michigan Water. The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) is renewing its support for Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC) as that group takes its fight to keep Michigan water from being extracted and bottled by the Nestle/Perrier conglomerate to a long-delayed court hearing tomorrow in Big Rapids. GPMI is also calling on Governor Jennifer Granholm to act immediately on her campaign promises -- and the legal position she took as Attorney General -- and stop the theft of Michigan water by Perrier. Mecosta County Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Root will hold the opening court date for MCWC's suit against Nestlé/Perrier/Ice Mountain on Monday, May 5 in Room 101 of the county courthouse (at 400 Elm Street in Big Rapids. Ice Mountain -- a subsidiary of Nestlé, and formerly in the conglomerate's Perrier Group until Nestlé Waters North America was reorganized into domestic and international divisions -- is diverting water from the Great Lakes and selling it for profit. The state has allowed this abduction of our natural resources -- and it gets no monetary return. Meanwhile, the surrounding Mecosta County community is being forced to cope with the aftereffects of groundwater/aquifer loss. Former Governor John Engler granted the corporation a state permit to pilfer the water for its own use. As Attorney General, Granholm described this theft as "export and diversion" of Great Lakes water and subject to wider approval than a state permit. However, as governor, Granholm has failed to take any action on this subject. She could, literally with one stroke of her pen, end the thievery and return the Great Lakes drinking water to its rightful owners -- the people of the state of Michigan. "The privatization of water is a growing problem in the world -- a threat -- and one that Greens are determined to point out and oppose," said GPMI chair Marc Reichardt. "Nestlé/Perrier's taking of water from the Lake Michigan aquifer will likely cause severe environmental harm to wetlands and streams and the loss of private and public wells -- as has been noted in other states victimized by the corporation, such as Texas and Florida. "But even if there were no environmental impact, the fact is that Nestlé/Perrier/Ice Mountain is receiving tax abatements and savings which essentially mean the people of Michigan are paying the company to take our water. This -- at a time when Michigan is in the midst of a severe budget crisis -- is a crime in and of itself." Many voters voted for Granholm because of her strong campaign statements that promised to protect the Great Lakes. Added Green Party member and attorney Patricia L. Smith, "While a favorable court decision will ultimately be helpful, an executive order is a must due to the urgency of the situation. Governor Granholm must keep her campaign promises and stop this larceny now." GPMI (http://www.migreens.org) is working with MCWC (www.savemiwater.org) and the Sweetwater Alliance (www.waterissweet.org) on the campaign to stop Nestlé/Perrier/Ice Mountain from pumping profits out of the Great Lakes at its Mecosta County bottling plant. The party has also been consulting with Save Our Springs (www.saveourspringsinc.org), a national organization that has helped communities mobilize to resist the theft of water by multinational corporations like Nestlé. NOTE: In addition to the Internet references listed above, you can also find
a statement on the broad issue of water privatization on the Web site of the national Green Party of the United States: Green Party of Michigan * 548 S. Main Street * |
