Door County Environmental Council Column

Eleven-year veteran reporter at Newsweek magazine and author of the award-winning book, The Great Lakes Water Wars, Peter Annin will be the keynote speaker at the Door County Environmental Council’s (DCEC) Annual Summer Program, Wednesday, August 20, 7 pm, at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall.

Annin, a frequent guest expert on network television news shows, will be presenting a program entitled "Great Lakes Water Diversions: The Threat Continues." He is considered by many to be the world’s leading expert on water diversions of the Great Lakes.

Annin’s book focuses on the threats of water diversions of the Great Lakes: past, present and future. He places significant importance on the disastrous history of water diversions of the Aral Sea, which have, for all intents and purposes, made it almost completely disappear.

While at Newsweek, Annin covered domestic terrorism and environmental issues. He was Newsweek’s chief roving correspondent for the Oklahoma City bombing, the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, the Unabomber and the Freeman confrontation in Montana.

At Newsweek’s Houston bureau, he covered environmental stories ranging from droughts in the Southwest to hurricanes in the Southeast, from ecological recovery efforts on the Great Lakes to wind power stations on the Great Plains and forest fires in the far West. Annin also received wide notice for his in-depth coverage of the causes and consequences of the dead-zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Annin received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin, and his master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University. Currently he is associate director of the Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources. His book, The Great Lakes Water Wars, was published in 2006.

"Peter couldn’t be coming here at a better time," said Jerry Viste, executive director of DCEC. "The Great Lakes Compact, now approved by the eight states and two Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes, is pending before the U.S. Congress. If passed here, and approved by Canada’s parliament, it will become a treaty between the two countries."

According to Viste, passage is anything but certain, as droughts and diminishing aquifers in the American West may provide incentives for western lawmakers to oppose the compact.

"Our Great Lakes are one of the wonders of the world: dwarfing the Grand Canyon, they are absolutely vital to the health and economy of our region. We need to vigorously protect them," said Viste. "Now, as never before, we need the help of people who love Door County, but vote in other states, to encourage their legislators to vote in favor of the Compact."

"Peter Annin’s presentation will illustrate how vital an issue this is for us, here and now," said Viste.

The DCEC Annual Summer Program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the program

Attendees are reminded that DCEC provides free compact-fluorescent light bulb disposal at each of its events. Those bringing bulbs are asked to securely wrap them to prevent breakage.

For further information on DCEC or its compact-fluorescent disposal program, contact them by phone at 920.743.6003 or email [email protected].

The Door County Environmental Council is a 38-year-old not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving Door County’s environment for the generations to come. Visit DCEC at http://www.dcec-wi.com on the web.