Dec 1: The Council of Great Lakes Governors announced that the December 2009 edition of its newsletter, The Compass, is now available. Highlights in this issue include: A Message from Council Chair Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle; Asian Carp Breach Barrier; Congress Fully Funds Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; Council Staff Testify before Federal Leaders; Joint Trade Mission announced for Brazil, Chile and Peru; and Great Lakes of North America holds annual German/Swiss Sales Mission.
Access links to the latest issue and past issues (click here).
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If President Obama was serious about going green he would instruct congress to deal with ballast water legislation that was held up in the senate in 2008. One Senator from a state that imports consumer goods and moves oil along its coast objected because she did not want it to over ride the time line for stricter regulations in her state. Now as time has passed her objections have less relevance, but the president is content to let our military purpose a couple decade plan.
With a strong national goal and policy to quickly fix the ballast water problem, the obvious carbon foot prints and polluted water left by old ships as they deliver fossil fuels and foreign consumer goods would be slowed dramatically. New green technology geared toward energy independence should become more cost effective to develop. The political will may not be in Congress to protect America because this is not a republican, democrat issue. If the Coast Guard will not do it, the only option will be a president who puts America before globalization. This is oil and consumer goods being internationally and domestically transported by ships and an American issue of security and freedom, unfortunately the money lobby can remain silent as they are on the same side. Maybe if we were not dependent on China to buy our treasury notes, or Saudi Arabia really wanted their waters kept clean we could afford the strong protections the Coast Guards needs for the ability to complete this mission. The impact that implementation of a strong policy, with a fast time line for cleaned water disposal only, will have on shipping, may change the economic dynamics of world trade and also protect our countries environment and health for future generations.
New technologies required for environmental friendly shipping should cost those wishing to bring goods into our country more money, not those who wish to protect our country from ecological destruction resulting from economic globalization to help foreign economies. Sincerely, Don Mitchel
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