Citizens of Toledo approve the Lake Erie Bill of Rights

[Madmallard]

LEBOR opens up the possibility of thousands of lawsuits against any entity that could be doing harm to Lake Erie. This includes agricultural operations.

“This is a proposed amendment to the Toledo City Charter that would essentially seek to give the Lake standing in court. It would allow citizens of Toledo the ability to bring cases on behalf of the Lake. It says the Lake should be free of pollution and things that could harm the Lake. It makes the Lake act as a person almost who can bring charges against people for harming it,” said Leah Curtis, director of agricultural law for Ohio Farm Bureau. “There is a concern that agriculture would be one of those industries that would be charged or sued with these lawsuits that could potentially come out of this charter amendment. It could really apply to anyone —not just agriculture — anyone who does something that might end up harming the Lake. It could be a leaky septic system or other industries that may have permits that put limitations on what they can and cannot do. The Lake Erie Bill of Rights also invalidates those permits if those permits allow for any harm to Lake Erie. It has wide reaching effects. It has issues for lots of areas.”

https://www.ocj.com/2019/02/citizen...FBifdl-m4YgIfoyoLelalyYYnx5trYLP6OYSya8gPVceI

 

[Jsmegs77]

It's really quite idiotic for a municipality that only borders PART of the lake to enact nonsensical bills like this. If it were completely within their borders, sure (though it's still stupid to attempt to give a water feature personhood), but what about Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York, to say nothing of Ontario? Toledo's a small fish here.

 

[Paxal]

It’s a start.

The Great Lakes are the best resource in the NE, bar none. If you Northeasterners are smart, you will protect them. Mark my words, us SWers are gonna come for your water. Consider this fair warning.

Why do I say that? Because the development that is going on in this part of the country is totally unsustainable. There is not enough water here, but, no one seems to care about that. There’s money to be made, and, once there is a great over supply of residents here, and a commensurate undersupply of water the political/emotional machine will take aim right at you. Get ready.

Protect the Great Lakes.

 

[MadScientist]

Not totally opposed to the idea but it’s kind of odd. Gotta protect the water but at the same time they use these sorts of laws to put onerous regulations on manufacturing and business. Balance always must be struck

 

[Podmonkey]

I'm a free market advocate but what I would approve of are things that would block hairbrained schemes like the one from year ago of piping water from the Great Lakes to Nevada and parts of California. Need water? Fucking move to where water is, don't steal water from others! Look what's happening to Lake Mead. To many people living in arid regions.
"Unnngg, rust belt sucks yadda yadda"
Fucking die in your desert then.

 

[MilesTeg]

I think there is validity to trying to move water from the great lakes to the west. Their water supplies are dwindling so is the giant aquifer. The surplus water should be used to replenish these and provide current residents. The problem is that we all know the government can fuck up a wet dream. So if we let the cat out of the bag soon they will abuse their power and ruin a critical natural resource.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Awesome! Another thing I can identify as.

 

[Podmonkey]

I think there is validity to trying to move water from the great lakes to the west. Their water supplies are dwindling so is the giant aquifer. The surplus water should be used to replenish these and provide current residents. The problem is that we all know the government can fuck up a wet dream. So if we let the cat out of the bag soon they will abuse their power and ruin a critical natural resource.

No, no, no, no, NO! Live where the resources are, do not move the resources to where you live. Why should the Great Lakes Basin be drained because a bunch of dumb ass people want to live in a fucking desert.
Let them move to the Great Lakes region, those states could use the population influx. If they don't want to move then fuck em.

 

[MilesTeg]

Nope not drained not at all what I said. We will loose our grain belt very soon if something isnt done. The whole grain belt is tapped into 1 aquifer and it's going to run out very soon. When that happens we won't be able to produce the food need for our population. China will step up and we will be really screwed. This fact alone is why they haven't done anything. They cant wait to see America fall.

 

[MadScientist]

Nope not drained not at all what I said. We will loose our grain belt very soon if something isnt done. The whole grain belt is tapped into 1 aquifer and it's going to run out very soon. When that happens we won't be able to produce the food need for our population. China will step up and we will be really screwed. This fact alone is why they haven't done anything. They cant wait to see America fall.

Man if that’s true I gotta get the fuck off the grid

 

[Acer-m14]

I'm all for sending fresh water to certain spot in the west and other places far away .. just use lead pipes .. they last longer .. LOL ..

 

[MilesTeg]

Man if that’s true I gotta get the fuck off the grid

Use Wikipedia with a grain of salt but it's a pretty complete breakdown. I did a paper on it in college. The water level was so high in the pioneer days they used the windmill pumps. Now the are having to go deeper yearly. It's a huge looming problem that no one is addressing. With falling behind on the infrastructure development we will loose our place as a world power.

Ogallala Aquifer - Wikipedia

 

[Podmonkey]

Use Wikipedia with a grain of salt but it's a pretty complete breakdown. I did a paper on it in college. The water level was so high in the pioneer days they used the windmill pumps. Now the are having to go deeper yearly. It's a huge looming problem that no one is addressing. With falling behind on the infrastructure development we will loose our place as a world power.

Ogallala Aquifer - Wikipedia

Too many humans. Kill every other human in the world, that will fix many problems.

 

[Jmac00]

I'm a free market advocate but what I would approve of are things that would block hairbrained schemes like the one from year ago of piping water from the Great Lakes to Nevada and parts of California. Need water? Fucking move to where water is, don't steal water from others! Look what's happening to Lake Mead. To many people living in arid regions.
"Unnngg, rust belt sucks yadda yadda"
Fucking die in your desert then.

you mean the states were you have to ask government permission to collect your own rain water, where cisterns are illegal? those states.