Everyday, more than 42 million people rely on Great Lakes water for their daily needs. Yet our Great Lakes are threatened by pollution, invasive species, and irresponsible development.

This fall the governments of Canada and the U.S. have asked the International Joint Commission (IJC), the bi-national body responsible for monitoring and protecting the Great Lakes, for public opinions about how best to protect the Great Lakes for future generations.

Let the IJC know that you demand a strong and effective Water Quality Agreement so that our Great Lakes remain great forever. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.

To take action, click on the following link or paste it into your web browser:

pirg.org/alerts/route.asp


Background

Originally established in 1972 by the governments of Canada and the United States, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement set a precedent for resource protection of internationally shared waters. Over the past 33 years, the Agreement has driven important public health and water quality improvements for citizens of the Great Lakes, such as phosphorous reductions and cuts in toxic pollution. Today, experts point to the Agreement as critical in calling for the "zero discharge" of toxic pollutants that harm our families, fish, and wildlife.

The U.S. and Canada, and the International Joint Commission (IJC), which oversees transboundary environmental matters, are beginning to discuss the future of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). Full public outreach about the Agreement may take place in 2006. Clearly, to better ensure our region's waters are healthy and safe, significant changes to the Agreement are needed.

In the past 33 years since its inception, the Agreement has driven important public health and water quality improvements for citizens of the Great Lakes, such as phosphorous reductions and cuts in toxic pollution. Today, experts point to the Agreement as critical in calling for the "zero discharge" of toxic pollutants that harm our families, fish, and wildlife. Now your voice is needed to ensure that the Agreement will remain a vital force for the waters you rely on everyday.

We recommend that the Agreement set bi-national goals and objectives, with the U.S. and Canada determining how best to achieve those goals and objectives within their own policy processes. We recommend the revitalization of the Agreement within the context of achieving clean water for all. Whether the revitalization we recommend means full renegotiation will be determined by whether the Agreement meets the following principles:

The Agreement must
* Be preventative in eliminating emerging threats to the lakes.
* Compel ecological recovery and restore the Great Lakes.
* Provide for implementation with public accountability.
* Protect the lakes we love and depend on.

Now, more than anytime in recent memory, residents of the Great Lakes states and provinces have a chance to guarantee the long-term protection and sound management of our Great Lakes water, ensuring that these treasures are protected for generations to come. Let your governments know that you demand a strong and effective Water Quality Agreement. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.

To take action, click on the following link or paste it into your web browser:

pirg.org/alerts/route.asp

Sincerely,

Rebecca D. Stanfield
Illinois PIRG Environmental Attorney
RebeccaS (at) illinoispirg.org
www.IllinoisPIRG.org

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.