Great Lakes Discussion Tonight

From Clean Wisconsin:

This upcoming Tuesday, March 13, veteran investigative reporter and author of The Great Lakes Water Wars, Peter Annin, will discuss the struggle over use of our Great Lakes.

Annin will be at the First Unitarian Society in Madison, Wisconsin, discussing the Great Lakes from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

In his book, Annin analyzes the local, state, federal, and international battled to preserve the world's largest container for surface freshwater on earth - the Great Lakes. The author compares the future battle over freshwater to the current oil crisis. Drawing from real-life situations like Central Asia's Aral Sea, which lost 90 percent of its surface area and 75 percent of its volume since 1960, Annin paints a vivid picture of the impact water diversion can have if not properly monitored.

Annin's book comes at a crucial time for the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes states are currently discussing a compact that would establish tighter standards for withdrawing water from the lakes. In February, Minnesota took the first step in making that a reality, when its state senate gave preliminary approval to the compact. In order to be binding, all eight states bordering the lakes would have to adopt the compact and have Congress endorse it.