AND A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carrys a disgusting picture which clearly shows what mankind is doing to the largest freshwater lakes in the world. The article is titled "U.S., Canada urged to reduce harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie". The picture shows an aerial view of part of Lake Erie's shoreline. It is a huge mass of swirling green off the shore and it is truly disgusting. Lake Erie is the receiving body for all of waterloo region's wastes whether agricultural (phosphorus), industrial, residential or sewage. In 2011 the algae bloom spread more than 160 kilometres from Toledo, Ohio to Cleveland. Fish kills are becoming more common in the western basin on both sides (U.S./Canada) of the lake.

As serious as this is, we are missing the point. Algae blooms can kill but they are visible. P.C.B.s, dioxins, pesticides and solvents also kill but they are invisible. Persistent organic pollutants (POPS) move up the food chain and bioaccumulate in fish and other species. All of these chemicals legally (most of the time) leave Waterloo Region streams and tributaries and move into the Grand River where they eventually discharge into Lake Erie. We certainly aren't the only culprits but at the same time we contribute our share to the degradation of Lake Erie and the planet. All the surface water testing in the world showing chemicals below PWQG (provincial water quality guidelines) is so much accumulated bullshit. Tiny but ongoing amounts in the parts per billion and trillion are very deceptive. They are moving downstream 24/7 and they do add up. They are killing wildlife and they are killing us. Look at the end result. Look at Lake Erie. Look at cancer wards in your local hospitals. We are spending trillions of dollars on end of the line health care. Money only to a certain extent can beat cancer. We will continue to spend trillions as long as we continue to pollute the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. And our politicians at all levels will continue their mindless mantra of growth, growth and more growth. Our environment and planet are dying.