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NEWS: Barlow to bring Great Lakes commons message to Rochester this week

City News notes that Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow will speak in Rochester, New York on Thursday April 25 as part of the Rochester chapter of the Sierra Club’s annual environmental forum.

“This year’s event features keynote speaker Maude Barlow, a Canadian activist who’s well-known for advancing the concept of water as a human right. The forum, titled ‘Protecting Our Great Lakes Forever’, will span two days. Thursday’s session … will be held at Monroe Community College’s theater in Building 4. Barlow’s keynote address starts at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion with Barlow; the Sierra Club’s state Conservation Director Roger Downs; and David Klein, who leads Lake Ontario conservation efforts for the Nature Conservancy of Central and Western New York. Last year’s keynote speaker, Jim Olson, a Michigan attorney known for his legal work to protect Great Lakes water, will also participate on the panel.”

In an interview with City, Barlow says, “I think we should see (the Great Lakes) as a common heritage; it’s a public trust that must be guarded by law and by local communities. And if there’s a commercial taking (of) the water — if somebody wants to use the waters for some commercial purpose — they have to convince the owners of the lake, the people, that they’re not going to hurt it.” The full interview can be read here.

For more, please read:
NEWS: Barlow to speak about the Great Lakes in Rochester, NY on April 25
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Barlow’s tour to tackle critical Great Lakes issues