MONEY (& INDUSTRY) CORRUPTS

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys the following story titled "U of G to conduct groundwater research". The story focuses on a corporate donation ($460,000) from Nestle Waters Canada. Yes this is the same Nestle long known for chocolate milk and who have been mining groundwater from the Guelph-Aberfoyle area for many years. Concerns including protests and marches have been held in regards to their continued high volume pumping from aquifers even during prolonged droughts. I do believe that the comment by Nestle's natural resources manager when he says water sustainability is the company's No. 1 priority. Why wouldn't it be considering bottled water is their No. 1 money maker.

While perhaps a little less famous than the University of Waterloo's Groundwater Research Institute nevertheless U. of Guelph are well known for their groundwater research. Dr. Beth Parker has been a well published, peer reviewed expert in a number of areas of groundwater study for a considerable length of time. Formerly she worked with world renowned Dr. John Cherry at the University of Waterloo. I have met her once and received from her numerous publications that either she or Dr. Cherry together had published in regards to DNAPLS.

I also am not the least surprised that governments are encouraging universities to seek out and obtain research money from industry and business. What is worrying is the motivation of governments and big business. Far too often their interests entwine and rarely is it in the public interest. Money rarely comes without strings attached. The potential for conflicts of interest are huge. While respecting the individual researchers involved I hope their departments and the universities themselves examine this corporate funding aspect very carefully.