Speaker urges students, teachers to become Lake Superior activists Middle school and high school students from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario listen to the keynote speech by Thomas Baldini, chair of the International Joint Commission (IJC), at the opening of the Lake Superior Youth Symposium in the Fisher Hall auditorium on the Michigan Tech campus May 17. (Photo by Fred Young) HOUGHTON ’Äì Students and teachers attending the fourth Biennial Lake Superior Youth Symposium, held on the Michigan Tech University campus from May 17-20, enjoyed a variety of activities and presentations designed to motivate them to become stewards of Lake Superior. The event drew about 350 middle school and high school students in Grades 8 ’Äì12, and their teacher chaperons, from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario. Their weekend began with a challenge from a Great Lakes expert. Thomas Baldini, chair of the International Joint Commission, or IJC, opened the Symposium on Thursday evening, May 17, with a keynote address on the current state of the Great Lakes. Baldini’Äôs talk followed the welcome address given by Michigan Tech President Curt Tompkins, and the performance of a symphonic piece, "Superior Suite," by the White Pine High School Orchestra of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Thomas Baldini, chair of the International Joint Commission, fielded questions from the audience and challenged students to become stewards of the Great Lakes at the opening of the Lake Superior Youth Symposium held May 17-20 on the MTU campus. (Photo by Fred Young) Baldini discussed the uniqueness of the Great Lakes as well as the many threats that face them ’Äì such as areas of concern, airborne and waterborne pollution, urban sprawl and the constant threat of water diversions. He briefly described efforts that have been to protect the Great Lakes since the Boundary Waters Treaty was initiated early in the 20th century. These efforts, by the United States and Canada, include bi-national legislation such as the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the 1978 Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxics Agreement. Baldini continued his discussion of the role of the IJC in protecting and preserving the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada. He told the students that they must be part of the solution by becoming politically active and making legislators on both sides of the border aware that the following issues must be addressed: Fish Advisories must be stated plainly to the public. Persistent toxic chemical must be reduced. Urban sprawl that causes run-off to the Great Lakes must be halted. A standardized database of invasive alien species must be compiled. Most importantly: Governments must invest money for monitoring the health of the Great Lakes. Baldini told the students that they must contact their elected officials and demand that the governments be vigilant in opposing exports of Great Lakes water. He cited wasteful practices in the arid West such as growing alfalfa and the pressure to deliver Great Lakes water for such purposes. Baldini noted the IJC so far has not taken an official position on directional drilling of oil under the Great Lakes ’Äì an issue concerning many Michigan residents and some of their legislators, including U.S. Representative Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, and State Representative Rich Brown, D-Bessemer. "The IJC issued a position paper in 1972 condemning the practice of vertical drilling for oil and gas in the Great Lakes, but presently the IJC is taking no position on the matter," Baldini said. "Currently, the IJC is acting in an advisory position to the two governments regarding the matter, and it is up to the governments of the U.S. and Canada to take appropriate steps to protect the Great Lakes." Baldini posed the question to the students "How can we keep the Great Lakes great?" His answer to this rhetorical question was to insist that the students become knowledgeable on the issues and act upon them by becoming involved in the political process. "Students must take it upon themselves to become educated about the problems of the Great Lakes to assure that their voices are heard," Baldini said. He advised the students to start their educational process by reading the numerous documents that are available free to anyone at the IJC website. Events and workshops conducted over the four days of the symposium were designed to increase understanding of the unique ecosystem here as well as instill an appreciation of the diverse cultural, historical and natural resources of the Lake Superior region. ’Äì Fred Young May 21, 2001 Editor’Äôs note: Guest reporter Fred Young is a doctoral candidate in the Humanities Department at Michigan Technological University. Keweenaw Today regrets that technical difficulties caused a delay in publishing this article. Watch for photos of the Lake Superior Youth Symposium coming soon.