Maine Town Passes Ordinance Asserting Local Self-Governance and Stripping Corporate Personhood (Wells: 2010, how much)

[elston]

I wasnt going to "wade in"....but I totally agree with tcracky.....the draining of the aquifer is the same type of degredation as the sludge spill in Kentucky that destroyed private property and poisoned wells.....sometimes the "common good" is just that.....to protect the wholesomeness of the enviornment for all the people...especially when the assault on the community is from an international corporation attempting to overrule the will of the people of the community.

[tcrackly]

We New Englanders are lucky and take for granted all our natural resources, especially water , that occur in such abundance here. Notwithstanding environmental conditions could change and we could be in a "water war" like North Carolina, Georgia ans South Carolina. I say better to insure residents access to vital needs in law before the resource is compromised by something unforeseen.

[retiredtinbender]

I don't think we take anything for granted in Maine. At least theat's the general concensus in Wash. Cty. IMO. I think there are people on both sides (industry v. ecology) that have a hidden agenda. Up this way we're a bit warey of both of them. Neither is a very trustworthy bunch.

Industry and business on the whole want profits which is the idea of the whole thing and eco-extremists want nothing but themselves and all things natural. I remember during the "Great Salmon Wars" in '97-'99 at a hearing in Ellsworth a guy stood at the podium proclaiming that he3'd rather see one salmon in the Maine rivers than any people in teh entire state. Even the Sierra Club rep took in a deep gulp of breath. There has to be a middle ground.

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by truthseeker2012

Today the citizens of Shapleigh, Maine voted at a special town meeting to pass a groundbreaking Rights-Based Ordinance, 114 for and 66 against. This revolutionary ordinance give its citizens the right to local self-governance and gives rights to ecosystems but denies the rights of personhood to corporations. This ordinance allows the citizens to protect their groundwater resources, putting it in a common trust to be used for the benefit of its residents. Shapleigh is the first community in Maine to pass such an ordinance, which extends rights to nature, however, the Ordinance Review Committee in Wells, Maine is considering passing one in their town.

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this is all well n good but whats stoping the big corporations from moving to the next town over.if it uses the same aquifer they can still suck the water out.this should be a state wide ban.sure every one likes bttl water but at what cost.just my 2 cents

[tankratt]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

this is all well n good but whats stoping the big corporations from moving to the next town over.if it uses the same aquifer they can still suck the water out.this should be a state wide ban.sure every one likes bttl water but at what cost.just my 2 cents

Hey Ranger, I always like to get your two cents worth, and I agree with you on this one. From what I have researched Nestle has made itself a royal pain in the petunia around there. The home owner should be able to drink water from a well on there land without wondering if it will be there in the morning.

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by tankratt

Hey Ranger, I always like to get your two cents worth, and I agree with you on this one. From what I have researched Nestle has made itself a royal pain in the petunia around there. The home owner should be able to drink water from a well on there land without wondering if it will be there in the morning.

dont make sence to me the state will regulate the he!! out of the company's that keep maine people working. but will do nothing about the ones sucking it dry.

[tcrackly]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

this is all well n good but whats stoping the big corporations from moving to the next town over.if it uses the same aquifer they can still suck the water out.this should be a state wide ban.sure every one likes bttl water but at what cost.just my 2 cents

Personally, since water is vital for life, I think there should br law that all fresh water belongs to the resident people of the state, whereby voter referendums would be required for outside groups to have wholesale access to it.

[tcrackly]

I just saw that Newfield residents are publicly voicing the same concerns. They brought up an interesting point that Maine residents, especially in forested areas need to have ample water supplies in the event of a major regional forest fire as in 1947.

[shadowfax1997]

anyone know how many people would lose their jobs if poland spring water closed down? And how many others jobs would then be affected?

As with most things, there needs to be a balance. Nothing wrong with companies trying to make money off the land. Farmers? Lumber? Or should those evil companies also be banned?

[msina]

With growing world populations, water is the "new oil". Water rights are going to become much more important in coming years.