as a young girl I spent much of my summers in and along the shores of a
summers in and along the shores of a
summers in and along the shores of a springfed pond I’ll never forget these
springfed pond I’ll never forget these
springfed pond I’ll never forget these experiences and I’ll not forget the
experiences and I’ll not forget the
experiences and I’ll not forget the first time that a drank from a spring
first time that a drank from a spring
first time that a drank from a spring coming up from the ground for the first
coming up from the ground for the first
coming up from the ground for the first time it was a cool temperatures that
time it was a cool temperatures that
time it was a cool temperatures that earthy mineral content that brought a
earthy mineral content that brought a
earthy mineral content that brought a sense of refreshness and renewal that
sense of refreshness and renewal that
sense of refreshness and renewal that had previously been unknown to me I
had previously been unknown to me I
had previously been unknown to me I remember discovering my favorites
remember discovering my favorites
remember discovering my favorites pampering in 100-mile wilderness as a
pampering in 100-mile wilderness as a
pampering in 100-mile wilderness as a young teen on one of my first
young teen on one of my first
young teen on one of my first backpacking trips I disclosed a little
backpacking trips I disclosed a little
backpacking trips I disclosed a little bit more about this but as people tend
bit more about this but as people tend
bit more about this but as people tend to covet their favorite fishing holes
to covet their favorite fishing holes
to covet their favorite fishing holes I’ll leave that up to your own discovery
I’ll leave that up to your own discovery
I’ll leave that up to your own discovery and in the years following after having
and in the years following after having
and in the years following after having backpacked more than seven thousand
backpacked more than seven thousand
backpacked more than seven thousand miles across the mountain ranges of the
miles across the mountain ranges of the
miles across the mountain ranges of the United States
United States
United States I came to depend on similar sources not
I came to depend on similar sources not
I came to depend on similar sources not only for my survival but also as a
only for my survival but also as a
only for my survival but also as a relative reminder of how precious
relative reminder of how precious
relative reminder of how precious Maine’s groundwater is and that few
Maine’s groundwater is and that few
Maine’s groundwater is and that few other places compared I had a vision I
other places compared I had a vision I
other places compared I had a vision I had a vision that my son and following
had a vision that my son and following
had a vision that my son and following generations would grow up and enjoy the
generations would grow up and enjoy the
generations would grow up and enjoy the same Mane that I grew to love I now hike
same Mane that I grew to love I now hike
same Mane that I grew to love I now hike with my son I work with my son and I
with my son I work with my son and I
with my son I work with my son and I enjoy water with my son and we do about
enjoy water with my son and we do about
enjoy water with my son and we do about everything together but this vision was
everything together but this vision was
everything together but this vision was challenged my ideas of what water
challenged my ideas of what water
challenged my ideas of what water security meant to me came into sharp
security meant to me came into sharp
security meant to me came into sharp focus in 2012 when Nestle the most
focus in 2012 when Nestle the most
focus in 2012 when Nestle the most powerful food and beverage corporation
powerful food and beverage corporation
powerful food and beverage corporation on the planet came forth negotiating a
on the planet came forth negotiating a
on the planet came forth negotiating a u.s. precedent-setting contract with our
u.s. precedent-setting contract with our
u.s. precedent-setting contract with our private
private
private municipal water supplier that would give
municipal water supplier that would give
municipal water supplier that would give them an upper hand of control over local
them an upper hand of control over local
them an upper hand of control over local citizens for decades to come
citizens for decades to come
citizens for decades to come a citizens had little voice in the
a citizens had little voice in the
a citizens had little voice in the matter so we managed to get a public
matter so we managed to get a public
matter so we managed to get a public hearing in our town so our voices could
hearing in our town so our voices could
hearing in our town so our voices could be heard we set out and put a message in
be heard we set out and put a message in
be heard we set out and put a message in a bottle on every residence doorstep in
a bottle on every residence doorstep in
a bottle on every residence doorstep in town to educate them and encourage them
town to educate them and encourage them
town to educate them and encourage them to come out of their homes and testify
to come out of their homes and testify
to come out of their homes and testify we managed to overflow the hearing sight
we managed to overflow the hearing sight
we managed to overflow the hearing sight on that day and here is one of the
on that day and here is one of the
on that day and here is one of the testimonies that was given hello
testimonies that was given hello
testimonies that was given hello I live in Freiburg and I trained well
I live in Freiburg and I trained well
I live in Freiburg and I trained well actually I apologize there’s a little
actually I apologize there’s a little
actually I apologize there’s a little bit of noise in the room but speak as
bit of noise in the room but speak as
bit of noise in the room but speak as loud as you can
loud as you can
loud as you can my name is I live in Freiburg and I
my name is I live in Freiburg and I
my name is I live in Freiburg and I drink my water from the Freiburg Water
drink my water from the Freiburg Water
drink my water from the Freiburg Water Company I do not feel that the 45 year
Company I do not feel that the 45 year
Company I do not feel that the 45 year contract is a good idea for several
contract is a good idea for several
contract is a good idea for several reasons one’s a nestle multinational
reasons one’s a nestle multinational
reasons one’s a nestle multinational corporation has caused read in many
corporation has caused read in many
corporation has caused read in many other countries and I am afraid they
other countries and I am afraid they
other countries and I am afraid they have already caused everything our
have already caused everything our
have already caused everything our community to Nestle’s water brand Poland
community to Nestle’s water brand Poland
community to Nestle’s water brand Poland Springs claims to be a good neighbor but
Springs claims to be a good neighbor but
Springs claims to be a good neighbor but I think when they sued the town and its
I think when they sued the town and its
I think when they sued the town and its people for saying no to them that is not
people for saying no to them that is not
people for saying no to them that is not a good neighbor in school we learn a lot
a good neighbor in school we learn a lot
a good neighbor in school we learn a lot about not bullying and this seems like
about not bullying and this seems like
about not bullying and this seems like bully behavior to me we do not want to
bully behavior to me we do not want to
bully behavior to me we do not want to be bullied for the next 45 years I think
be bullied for the next 45 years I think
be bullied for the next 45 years I think we could have a reward system and have
we could have a reward system and have
we could have a reward system and have them as neighbors for the five years at
them as neighbors for the five years at
them as neighbors for the five years at a time to help them with a good neighbor
a time to help them with a good neighbor
a time to help them with a good neighbor behavior and to make sure our aquifer
behavior and to make sure our aquifer
behavior and to make sure our aquifer stays agreeably healthy 3 first of all I
stays agreeably healthy 3 first of all I
stays agreeably healthy 3 first of all I must say thank you for letting me speak
must say thank you for letting me speak
must say thank you for letting me speak on this matter now because I may not be
on this matter now because I may not be
on this matter now because I may not be allowed to speak again until I’m 54
allowed to speak again until I’m 54
allowed to speak again until I’m 54 years of old about this
I spoke an important truth to power in
I spoke an important truth to power in this video though I didn’t fully realize
this video though I didn’t fully realize
this video though I didn’t fully realize its significance at the time I was a
its significance at the time I was a
its significance at the time I was a nine year old kid who is trying to find
nine year old kid who is trying to find
nine year old kid who is trying to find my own voice and confidence in it though
my own voice and confidence in it though
my own voice and confidence in it though I was intimidated by speaking into a
I was intimidated by speaking into a
I was intimidated by speaking into a microphone for the first time and
microphone for the first time and
microphone for the first time and hesitant after being interrupted I
hesitant after being interrupted I
hesitant after being interrupted I anxiously continued and though I was the
anxiously continued and though I was the
anxiously continued and though I was the only child to speak at that hearing I
only child to speak at that hearing I
only child to speak at that hearing I realize it is us youth that are the
realize it is us youth that are the
realize it is us youth that are the biggest stakeholders of our futures as
biggest stakeholders of our futures as
biggest stakeholders of our futures as my older generation engages in either
my older generation engages in either
my older generation engages in either the risky business
the risky business
the risky business of gambling away our water legacy or
of gambling away our water legacy or
of gambling away our water legacy or protecting it
protecting it
protecting it since the commissioners I testified
since the commissioners I testified
since the commissioners I testified before on that day all had ties to
before on that day all had ties to
before on that day all had ties to Nestle I helped create an online
Nestle I helped create an online
Nestle I helped create an online petition and delivered over a hundred
petition and delivered over a hundred
petition and delivered over a hundred thirty-five thousand signatures to our
thirty-five thousand signatures to our
thirty-five thousand signatures to our Statehouse which were rebuffed fire
I remember feeling frustrated and angry
I remember feeling frustrated and angry that he wouldn’t even engage with me
that he wouldn’t even engage with me
that he wouldn’t even engage with me about my concerns nor did he ever
about my concerns nor did he ever
about my concerns nor did he ever respond to the personal letter I left
respond to the personal letter I left
respond to the personal letter I left him I now wonder what if we had the
him I now wonder what if we had the
him I now wonder what if we had the governor’s support especially after
governor’s support especially after
governor’s support especially after having taken the case all the way to the
having taken the case all the way to the
having taken the case all the way to the Maine State Supreme Court where after a
Maine State Supreme Court where after a
Maine State Supreme Court where after a three year long battle we lost to
three year long battle we lost to
three year long battle we lost to private interests we lost because our
private interests we lost because our
private interests we lost because our current ground water protection laws are
current ground water protection laws are
current ground water protection laws are not strong enough for the legal and
not strong enough for the legal and
not strong enough for the legal and financial pursuits of Nestle or for Wall
financial pursuits of Nestle or for Wall
financial pursuits of Nestle or for Wall Street banks that are selling water
Street banks that are selling water
Street banks that are selling water futures to wealthy investors our
futures to wealthy investors our
futures to wealthy investors our groundwater if not protected will be
groundwater if not protected will be
groundwater if not protected will be sold to the highest bidder so if you’re
sold to the highest bidder so if you’re
sold to the highest bidder so if you’re unaware of what’s going on with our
unaware of what’s going on with our
unaware of what’s going on with our groundwater you may be responsible for
groundwater you may be responsible for
groundwater you may be responsible for the selling of our Commons our life
the selling of our Commons our life
the selling of our Commons our life legacy out from underneath us I ask that
legacy out from underneath us I ask that
legacy out from underneath us I ask that you please not ignore my generation
you please not ignore my generation
you please not ignore my generation think of us include us the way my mom
think of us include us the way my mom
think of us include us the way my mom does invest in us and the environment
does invest in us and the environment
does invest in us and the environment we’ll be living in and if Nestle markets
we’ll be living in and if Nestle markets
we’ll be living in and if Nestle markets Maine in a bottle few of its consumers
Maine in a bottle few of its consumers
Maine in a bottle few of its consumers question about its freshness its purity
question about its freshness its purity
question about its freshness its purity its content nor do they often question
its content nor do they often question
its content nor do they often question how it is sourced or the environmental
how it is sourced or the environmental
how it is sourced or the environmental and social impact so that has water
and social impact so that has water
and social impact so that has water privatizes would have us believe that
privatizes would have us believe that
privatizes would have us believe that water is an infinite resource and that
water is an infinite resource and that
water is an infinite resource and that it will always be replenished and
it will always be replenished and
it will always be replenished and available to us so as to prove what they
available to us so as to prove what they
available to us so as to prove what they might take or control is inconsequential
might take or control is inconsequential
might take or control is inconsequential in 2016 Nestle topped all Opel inspring
in 2016 Nestle topped all Opel inspring
in 2016 Nestle topped all Opel inspring brand bottle
brand bottle
brand bottle topped all sales combined of coca-cola
topped all sales combined of coca-cola
topped all sales combined of coca-cola in New York City metropolitan area by
in New York City metropolitan area by
in New York City metropolitan area by more than 113 million dollars
more than 113 million dollars
more than 113 million dollars they’re fierce marketing campaigns try
they’re fierce marketing campaigns try
they’re fierce marketing campaigns try to convince us that what comes from
to convince us that what comes from
to convince us that what comes from their bottle is superior to our tap
their bottle is superior to our tap
their bottle is superior to our tap water which moves us away from drinking
water which moves us away from drinking
water which moves us away from drinking from our own homes and it has catapulted
from our own homes and it has catapulted
from our own homes and it has catapulted them to be the number one selling spring
them to be the number one selling spring
them to be the number one selling spring water in the United States and the
water in the United States and the
water in the United States and the number one selling scanned item in New
number one selling scanned item in New
number one selling scanned item in New York City that said 15% of Poland spring
York City that said 15% of Poland spring
York City that said 15% of Poland spring sales happened right here in our own
sales happened right here in our own
sales happened right here in our own state of Maine which informs us how
state of Maine which informs us how
state of Maine which informs us how willing we are to buy back our own
willing we are to buy back our own
willing we are to buy back our own groundwater from them at more than a two
groundwater from them at more than a two
groundwater from them at more than a two thousand percent markup
thousand percent markup
thousand percent markup ouch and with each passing tanker truck
ouch and with each passing tanker truck
ouch and with each passing tanker truck that goes by our home on Main Street we
that goes by our home on Main Street we
that goes by our home on Main Street we have a steady stream of reminders 24
have a steady stream of reminders 24
have a steady stream of reminders 24 hours a day and seven days a week that
hours a day and seven days a week that
hours a day and seven days a week that one of the fastest growing industries
one of the fastest growing industries
one of the fastest growing industries and most profitable ones are going by
and most profitable ones are going by
and most profitable ones are going by our home every day Maine will soon
our home every day Maine will soon
our home every day Maine will soon surpass the 1 billion gallon per year
surpass the 1 billion gallon per year
surpass the 1 billion gallon per year mark which roughly equates to 770
mark which roughly equates to 770
mark which roughly equates to 770 gallons per person per year in the state
gallons per person per year in the state
gallons per person per year in the state of Maine with no dignified return our
of Maine with no dignified return our
of Maine with no dignified return our state lacks a long-term vision that will
state lacks a long-term vision that will
state lacks a long-term vision that will ensure our water security for the long
ensure our water security for the long
ensure our water security for the long term and this is why I now organize with
term and this is why I now organize with
term and this is why I now organize with my son because what we choose to do we
my son because what we choose to do we
my son because what we choose to do we choose to do it together Maine is one of
choose to do it together Maine is one of
choose to do it together Maine is one of only three states with an antiquated
only three states with an antiquated
only three states with an antiquated absolute dominion groundwater law which
absolute dominion groundwater law which
absolute dominion groundwater law which makes us vulnerable to exploitation our
makes us vulnerable to exploitation our
makes us vulnerable to exploitation our surface waters lakes rivers streams
surface waters lakes rivers streams
surface waters lakes rivers streams I’ll have protection under a public
I’ll have protection under a public
I’ll have protection under a public trust in doing the same for our
trust in doing the same for our
trust in doing the same for our groundwater could preserve it for the
groundwater could preserve it for the
groundwater could preserve it for the benefit of all the original stewards of
benefit of all the original stewards of
benefit of all the original stewards of the land we occupy the Wabanaki still
the land we occupy the Wabanaki still
the land we occupy the Wabanaki still have it right water is life and when we
have it right water is life and when we
have it right water is life and when we disrespect our water sources we break an
disrespect our water sources we break an
disrespect our water sources we break an important social contract with each
important social contract with each
important social contract with each other in a direct affront to our lives
other in a direct affront to our lives
other in a direct affront to our lives and all life that depends upon it
and all life that depends upon it
and all life that depends upon it these are deep-rooted truths that we
these are deep-rooted truths that we
these are deep-rooted truths that we recognize and understand whether
recognize and understand whether
recognize and understand whether consciously or subconsciously there is a
consciously or subconsciously there is a
consciously or subconsciously there is a way forward even more so if adults give
way forward even more so if adults give
way forward even more so if adults give the children in their lives an
the children in their lives an
the children in their lives an opportunity to find their voice in
opportunity to find their voice in
opportunity to find their voice in important public matters early on as we
important public matters early on as we
important public matters early on as we discover truths that are bigger than
discover truths that are bigger than
discover truths that are bigger than ourselves together we really can’t
ourselves together we really can’t
ourselves together we really can’t afford to not involve our youth
afford to not involve our youth
afford to not involve our youth especially if we are to carry on a
especially if we are to carry on a
especially if we are to carry on a compassionate legacy of justice forward
compassionate legacy of justice forward
compassionate legacy of justice forward for the next generation and in each
for the next generation and in each
for the next generation and in each other as in water we trust what are your
other as in water we trust what are your
other as in water we trust what are your families common values or passions it’s
families common values or passions it’s
families common values or passions it’s not enough to say that you value the
not enough to say that you value the
not enough to say that you value the children in your lives so include us in
children in your lives so include us in
children in your lives so include us in solving the root problems that we are
solving the root problems that we are
solving the root problems that we are confronted with and by doing it together
confronted with and by doing it together
confronted with and by doing it together we will build our compassionate way
we will build our compassionate way
we will build our compassionate way forward and renew our social contracts
forward and renew our social contracts
forward and renew our social contracts with each other thank you
”
Be First to Comment