Pirates of Devils Lake

[Oscar]

June 12, 2007

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
President George Bush
Premier Gary Doer, Manitoba
Governor John Hoeven, North Dakota
Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota

Dear Messieurs,

Just as the blue-green algae is exploding in Lake Winnipeg, North Dakota has opened its gates at the Devils Lake outlet, cementing the death sentence on the sixth Great Lake, Lake Winnipeg. Friends of the Earth considers that at two o'clock on June 11, 2007, North Dakota committed a hostile act against Canadians by commencing operation of the outlet. (Pictures at www.foecanada.org)

Friends of the Earth has worked with citizens across Canada and the United States to express our concerns over this water conflict and to look for the necessary means to resolve it to mutual satisfaction. Almost two years ago, you jointly announced a "layered system of environmental safeguards at the Devils Lake outlet and a cooperative approach to monitoring throughout the Red River Basin".

We are now calling you to account for those commitments, in particular 1) to make public the first year of IJC testing results, and 2) to report on installation of the advanced filter or disinfection system.

At this point, we are not aware of any action on the ground to replace the dump truck full of gravel (the so called filter) that is supposed to protect Lake Winnipeg from foreign organisms.

You are acting like the Pirates of Devils Lake since you are operating the outlet in defiance of your own safeguard agreement. Friends of the Earth urges you to issue the required orders to turn off the tap immediately and until the sophisticated filter is in place.

Sincerely yours,


Beatrice Olivastri
Chief Executive Officer


c.c
Members of Parliament
Relevant Media

[Oscar]

June 27, 2007

Dear Beatrice,

Thank you for providing me with a copy of your open letter on Devil's Lake.

The federal NDP supports the Friends of the Earth in protesting the escalating actions of the State of North Dakota and the devastating consequences for Lake Winnipeg and the surrounding environment. As you know, Manitoba NDP MPs consistently have raised this matter in Parliament and have worked with Premier Gary Doer in a united voice of dissent.

On June 14th, Winnipeg North NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis was successful in winning an emergency Parliamentary debate on the crisis of Devil's Lake and North Dakota water contamination of Canadian waterways. Please see the following link regarding this matter: http://www.ndp.ca/page/5453

Once again, I appreciate knowing of Friends of the Earth's efforts to push for accountability on the environmental commitments regarding the Devil's Lake project.

Sincerely,


Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats