Summer beach closings can spoil a family outing. Beaches are
often closed when high levels of E. coli bacteria are found in the
water.
The trouble is – current tests don’t show how much bacteria is in the
water until a day or two later. That’s too late for people who’ve
already been swimming in the polluted water. But now, as the
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mark Brush reports, researchers may
have found a way to get faster results:
Month: April 2001
COMMENTARY – THE SELLING OF THE SUMMIT
The barricades are going up and the police are being called
out as the Canadian government prepares for a major gathering of
world leaders later this month in Quebec. Heads of state from 34
countries are attending the Summit of the Americas. While there,
they hope to negotiate a free trade agreement that could effectively
expand NAFTA to cover the rest of the western hemisphere. The
police and barriers will be used to keep protesters far away from all
the
activity. But representatives of major international companies will be
able to walk right in – that is, if they have paid the right admission
price.
Great Lakes Radio Consortium commentator Suzanne Elston wonders
exactly whose interests are being protected:
High School Students on Roach Patrol
Most schools practice the three R’s – reading, writing and
‘rithmetic. But some schools, especially in urban areas, have
another ”R” to tackle as well. Roaches. Most schools around the
Great Lakes deal with such problems by calling an outside exterminator.
However, at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, it’s the students
themselves who are waging the war against cockroaches and other
pests in their school. As the Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Gina
Carrier reports, the students are winning the battle:
Troubled Waters for Sport Fish
Great Lakes states are reducing the number of large fish
they’re stocking in the waterways. Fewer salmon, trout, and bass
are being added to the lakes for recreational fishing because of
changes in the ecosystems that are making it harder for the fish
to survive. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl
reports… those changes may be symptoms of bigger problems
in the Great Lakes:
STUDY DETECTS POTENTIAL TOXIC LEAD SITES (Short Version)
Researchers have discovered more than 135 sites across the Great Lakes that could contain hazardous levels of lead. Many of the sites could pose a substantial risk to humans, because they are located near residential areas in some of the region’s largest cities. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Dale Willman reports:
Study Detects Potential Toxic Lead Sites
More than 135 sites possibly containing hazardous levels of lead
have been found across the Great Lakes. At least some of those sites
could pose a major health risk for humans. The discovery was announced
at the
annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego. The
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Dale Willman has more:
Big Emissions Cuts Needed to Curb Acid Rain
A new report says emission reductions at Midwestern coal-fired power plants alone won't be enough to reduce acid rain in the Northeastern U.S.
Some of the nation’s top acid rain researchers say we’ll have to
do more to save northeastern forests, streams, and lakes from further
harm. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
Legislation Targets Trash Exports
A bill in Congress would give states and local governments
authority to restrict imported garbage. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Lester Graham has more:
COMMENTARY – IS BUSH LISTENING?
President George Bush recently broke a campaign pledge when
he announced that his administration would not regulate carbon dioxide
emissions – the primary cause of global warming. In response, a
bipartisan group of congressmen has introduced The Clean Power Act
of 2001. If passed, this legislation will dramatically cut carbon
dioxide and three other emissions from U.S. power plants. Great Lakes
Radio Consortium commentator Suzanne Elston says that although this
new legislation sends a clear message to President Bush, she doubts
if he’s even listening:
Reviving the Detroit River
Many Great Lakes cities that find their home on the banks of
lakes and rivers are facing a similar challenge these days. How to
best balance the environment of the water with ongoing shoreline
development. In Detroit and the many cities that line the Detroit
River’s 32 mile shoreline, the situation is no different. Experts
recently
got together to discuss the health of the Detroit River. And as the
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Gina Carrier reports, cities are seeking
out ways to continue economic expansion without causing further
harm to the river: