Latest News
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05.07.04 |
Judge
Root orders Nestle to pay MCWC over $100,000 for expert and
non-expert legal fees.
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more...
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03.19.04 |
After
scouting Emmet County for possible spring water sources for its
Stanwood plant, Nestle has announced it has no plans to pursue
new sites.
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more... |
Background
Four
the past three years, citizens from across Michigan have battled Nestle (the largest food company and
water bottler in the world) over its plans to take hundreds of
millions of gallons of spring water from a site in Mecosta County,
Michigan. While comparatively small in terms of gallons withdrawn,
the Nestle/Ice Mountain project, if allowed to go forward, could have sweeping
implications for how water is defined in the public and legal
spheres. Also at stake is Michigan's ability to manage future
withdrawals, since international trade agreements like NAFTA and WTO/GATT
prevent discrimination against corporations for already-sanctioned
activities. If Nestle can gain a foothold, a literal "liquid gold
rush" is not far behind.
Leading
the charge against Nestle have been
Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC) and Sweetwater
Alliance. Though strategically divergent (MCWC has
spearheaded a legal fight against Nestle; Sweetwater, direct actions
and boycotts), the groups are increasingly united by a common critique: Water,
as a resource essential to life, must be considered a right of all living things
and protected for the benefit thereof. Any efforts to
commodity water—whether by water bottlers or private water firms—
must be opposed. Our mantra is "Water for life, not profit!" Our
struggle is a shared affirmation of life.
In
November 2003, Judge Lawrence Root issued a ruling in MCWC's suit
against Nestle, ordering the company to halt all spring water
withdrawals by December 16, 2003. Before the ruling could be carried
out, however, the Michigan Court of Appeals, pressured by Governor
Granholm and the MDEQ, granted an emergency stay of Judge Root's
order, allowing Nestle to continue pumping until the appeals process
is complete. Though the stay does not overturn the Root's
ruling, the Governor's betrayal was a crushing blow. Citizens have
since mobilized to hold the Governor to account. Preventing Nestle
from developing future sites is also a top priority for the groups.
More Background
Sweetwater Backgrounder: The Ice Mountain Proposal at a Glance.
A little outdated, but a still a good introduction to the issue.
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