One way to help the Cree people, and ourselves, is to endorse and elect
public servants who fight aggressively for environmental protection and
energy-efficient policy. We need truly renewable energy sources, strict
controls on environmentally-devatasting practices, and politicians who are
savvy about such issues--politicians willing to lead us in ways that might
hurt us economically in the short-term but will benefit us and our kids
with far greater rewards in the long-term.
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Here's an example of a resolution which you can adapt to fit a particular
organization. This was written for Minnesota's state Democratic Farm Labor
party caucuses in March 2000.
Whereas:
Energy conservation could reduce anticipated future demand for
electricity,
and other sources of power are available besides Manitoba Hydro;
Purchase of Manitoba Hydro's power links the state firmly to the
continuing destruction of the culture and economic base of the Cree; and
Dependence upon Manitoba's hydropower removes incentives to develop
truly renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, in Minnesota;
and
Manitoba hydropower is a false "renewable", involving release of
greenhouse gasses comparable to burning fossil fuels, and environmental
destruction on a vast scale; and
Dollars sent north do not create jobs in the utility industry here, nor
in a restructured industry; and
The destruction of boreal forest and uplands has undocumented
consequences for Minnesota's migratory species; and
The destruction of North American habitat, fish and wildlife that
occurs when large quantities of water, laden with methyl mercury and
silt, are released into frozen waterways and Hudson Bay cannot be in
our best interest (caribou, beluga, polar bears, and seals are among
the animals at risk); and
Part of Minnesota is in the Nelson River watershed, and may suffer
direct adverse effects due to damages to the ecosystem of the watershed.
Therefore be it resolved that:
The (YOUR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT #) commends Senator Ellen Anderson and
Representative Carlos Mariani for introducing the Hydro Review Bill
(Senate File 2453 and House File 3499), which requires that
out-of-state hydroelectric facilities meet the same environmental
reporting requirements as in-state facilities; and
The (DISTRICT #) commends Senator Jane Krenz, Senator John Marty,
Representative Alice Hausman, Representative Phyllis Kahn, and
Representative Karen Clark for sponsoring the Hydro Review Bill; and
The (DISTRICT #) encourages our own legislators to support the Hydro
Review Bill; and
The (DISTRICT #) encourages all District DFLers to voice their support
of this bill to legislators named above, and to our own state
legislators; and
The (DISTRICT #) will send a letter to the Minnesota Public Utilities
Commission expressing our desire that NSP not be allowed to buy
electricity from Manitoba Hydro; and
The (DISTRICT #) encourages all District DFLers to contact the Public
Utilities Commission expressing their desire that NSP not be allowed to
buy electricity from Manitoba Hydro; and
The (DISTRICT #) encourages all District DFLers to spread this message
further, by way of their own connections to faith communities and
social justice, environmental, minority, tribal government, and
neighborhood organizations.
Background Information
NSP currently buys about 5% of the power it supplies to its customers
from Manitoba Hydro. Manitoba Hydro generates this power by dams that
flood vast areas of boreal forest and wetlands in northern Manitoba
along rivers that drain into Hudson Bay. The land is the traditional
home of the Cree who live primarily by hunting and fishing. The water
level fluctuates rapidly, depending on the demand for power. Game and
fish populations have declined dramatically, destroying the livelihood
of the Cree. Several
people have died when they have been caught by rapidly changing water
levels. Vegetative material in flooded areas decays, releasing carbon
dioxide in a quantity comparable to that caused by burning fossil fuels
for power generation. Methyl mercury is also released into the water,
making the fish downstream unsafe for consumption by humans or animals.
The dams are a social, economic and environmental disaster.
Similar hydroelectric projects have been executed and planned by Hydro
Quebec and Manitoba Hydro since the early 1970s. In both Quebec and
Manitoba, native rights have been ignored, residents have learned of
projects only when construction was already underway, and lawsuits have
resulted in offers of monetary compensation for the destruction of the
land and livelihood of the Cree and Inuit. The Pimicikamak Cree Nation
of Manitoba has refused the proffered payments and has sent
representatives to Minnesota to ask for our help in resisting Manitoba
Hydro's marketing more electricity to NSP. Vocal public opposition to
Hydro Quebec in New York significantly cut into Hydro Quebec's sales of
power to the U.S. With your help, Minnesota can do the same with
Manitoba Hydro.
NSP is currently seeking permission from the Public Utilities
Commission to purchase additional power in coming years from Manitoba
Hydro. Electricity from Manitoba Hydro is priced very cheaply, which
makes it attractive to NSP. NSP is Manitoba Hydro's largest customer
outside Canada. Manitoba Hydro intends to build additional dams to
supply this demand. Manitoba Hydro does not have to file environmental
impact statements for its projects, as Minnesota power producers do.
Contact Information:
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
121 7th Place East, Suite 350
St Paul, MN 55101-2147
651-296-0621
Commissioner Edward Garvey
Commissioner R. Marshall Johnson
Commissioner LeRoy Koppendrayer
Commissioner Gregory Scott, Chairman
Executive Secretary Burl Haar
In your correspondence, reference Docket Number E-002/M-99-888.
Questions may be referred to MN Public Utilities Commission staff
members Bret Eknes at 651-296-8667 or Susan Mackenzie at 651-296-8994
Legislators:
Senator Ellen Anderson: 651-296-5537;
sen.ellen.anderson@senate.leg.state.mn.us
Senator Jane Krentz: 651-296-7061; sen.jane.krentz@senate.leg.state.mn.us
Senator John Marty: 651-296-5645; sen.john.marty@senate.leg.state.mn.us
Rep. Carlos Mariani: 651-296-9714;
rep.carlos.mariani@house.leg.state.mn.us
Rep. Alice Hausman: 651-296-3824;
rep.alice.hauseman@house.leg.state.mn.us
Rep. Phyllis Kahn: 651-296- 4257; rep.phyllis.khan.@house.leg.state.mn.us
Rep. Karen Clark:651-296- 0294; rep.karen.clark@house.leg.state.mn.us
For a copy of the bill see Sustainable Minnesota's Legislative Watch at
http://www.me3.org/leg/legwatch00.html
For information on ways we could conserve energy and generate renewable
energy, see: Minnesotans for an Energy Efficient Economy at
http://www.me3.org/
For grassroots organizing about this issue, see:
http://stcloudstate.tripod.com/plugin/
For some background on Hydro Quebec, see
http://www.american.edu/projects/mandala/TED/JAMES.htm
For more information:
Ann Stewart, (Information Officer, Pimicikamak Cree Nation)
121 West Grant Street/Suite 116, Minneapolis MN 55403-2340 USA
voice 612.871.8404 fax 612.871.7922 E-mail stewartship@visi.com
This document was prepared by: Janet Anderson 1514 Laurel Ave. St.
Paul, MN 55104 651-642-1371 nosredna725@hotmail.com
