A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper
It has been a year this July since the greatest Canada-U.S. group dedicated to speaking out for the Great Lakes had to give it up for lack of support, and what a void they have left.
Our Great Lakes from a photo from outer space
Great Lakes United, known as GLU to many during its three some decades of existence, was an almost miracle of existence – a coalition of diverse groups of environmentalists, Native people, recreational groups, and governments on both the Canada and U.S sides of the Great Lakes that gave a shit about the future health of lakes that served as sinks for the largest supply of fresh water in the world.
There has been nothing to replace this improbable coalition called Great Lakes United until this time and perhaps, given the lack of interest most contemporaries have for protecting these waterbodies, there never will. After all, if all you now give a shit about is replacing your social media ipod or whatever it is for the latest gadget, why would you give a flying fig about the quality of water you are drinking in the Great Lakes.
It is a sorry situation and the death of Great Lakes United a year ago amplifies that. It is good to know, however, for anyone who still cares, that Ontario’s Environment Commissioner, Gord Miller cares enough about the legacy of GLU to feature a history it on his website.
If you are interested in checking out the OEC piece on the history of Great Lakes United and its contribution to protecting these precious waters, click on http://environmentalbeginnings.ca/great-lakes-united/ .
(Share your views on this post below. Please know that we only post comments by people who are willing to go on the line and share their real name.)
Niagara At Large 
Hi Doug, I too lament the passing of Great Lakes United, as would Margherita if she were alive . I also know she wouldn’t mind the swearing, but I guess I am a bit different . There will never be another group like GLU ( a treasure) , but they always had to be aware that politicians on both sides of the border were involved-or not, and this time the dice rolled the wrong way.
I do know though that Council of Canadians has a good person onto the Great Lakes , Emma Liu . I’ll see if I can find the e mail I received about their latest endeavour. For my part I have been working on the nuclear component –just sent a brief to the EA Panel hearing the OPG application to bury low and intermediate nuclear waste near Lake Huron, and Local Council of Women will be having Anna Tilman here in November to talk about the transport of highly dangerous liquid nuclear waste with some HEU on board, which will at some point in the new year be moving through this area and over the border, on its 2000 km trip from Chalk river to South Carolina.
I also am part of the cross-lake group of US and Canadian teleconference each month re the latter issue and a variety of nuclear and alternative fuel issues. Cheers, Gracia .
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I think the Great Lakes faced a greater pollution threat in the 1960’s than they do now. Lake Erie was always rotten with algae and dead fish, and a lot of that was due to too many people “giving a shit” while the water treatment plants were sub-standard in their attempts at purification. Domestic and industrial waste, though no doubt increasing in volume with population growth, is subjected to strict regulations and more efficient processing. Responsibility starts at home, and new generations have to be taught that raw dumping in our lakes, rivers, and oceans is an immoral act which affects us all. One shouldn’t be deceived by the size of a water body. If there’s enough contaminant coming in, it can be catastrophically detrimental.
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