Our Great Lakes Commons
A People's Plan to Protect the Great Lakes Forever

http://www.greatlakescommons.org/
Publisher:  The Council of Canadians
Year Published:  2012
Pages:  38pp   Resource Type:  Pamphlet
Cx Number:  CX23032

A booklet on the proposal to designate the Great Lakes and its tributary waters as a lived 'Commons' that will be protected by a robust legal and political framework.

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

This paper is intended to serve as a background, a call to understanding and a call to action on an exciting new proposal to designate the Great Lakes and its tributary waters as a lived Com- mons, to be shared, protected, carefully managed and enjoyed by all who live around them. The Great Lakes Basin Commons would need to be protected by a legal and political frame- work based on Public Trust Doctrine, underpinning in law that the Great Lakes are central to the very existence of those people, plants and animals living on or near them and therefore must be protected for the common good from generation to generation. This means that the Lakes could not be appropriated or subordinated for private gain. It is also our determination that the Great Lakes will be designated as a Protected Bioregion, recognizing that while there are many political jurisdictions governing the Great Lakes Basin, it is, in fact, one integrated watershed and needs to be seen and governed as such.