Cold, Clear and Deadly

It's not often that a book comes along that can make some Great Lakes industries and environmentalists both uncomfortable. But it's good when one does! Michigan author Mel Visser, a longtime environmental manager at what used to be known as the Upjohn Company, has written a powerful book about the threat posed by global use of persistent organic chemicals. This week we'll interview him about the reception his book has received from interest groups and policymakers.

The book is a fascinating journey through one Great Lakes Basin resident's life, career and conscience. To read more on the book or order a copy:  http://msupress.msu.edu/bookTemplate.php?bookID=3156

 
How much progress are you making in getting the Great Lakes community to listen to your case for POPs elimination? Are you satisfied with that progress? Why or why not?

I've been able to engage IJC commissioners, key EPA and Environment Canada scientists, and a good sampling of noted academic researchers, students, faculty, and activists. I find most people eager to listen and completely shocked to find our Great Lakes infested with foreign  POPs (persistent organic pollutants).

Progress is slow because the message is so counterintuitive. I’m saying that “Thinking Globally and Acting Locally,” dredging sediments, and strict adherence to the Water Quality Agreement will not have any effect upon the horrendous toxaphene contamination of Lake Superior, our most POPs contaminated Great Lake. Progress is satisfying in that my conclusions have been embraced by scientific experts, and several individuals and groups have stepped forward to help me spread the word. It feels good to be on a right track with positive support.

It strikes me that your thesis conflicts with the dogma of both the industrial and environmental sectors. Is that true, and are any people within either sector listening?

By following industrial dogma, we produced POP after POP in the 50s and 60s and exported them to Asia to save millions from certain starvation. We banned POPs in the 70s and 80s after Rachel Carson’s wake up call without realizing that we live in a hemispheric ecosystem and that POPs travel through the air. When our lakes remained contaminated, we dogmatically and mistakenly attempted to protect them by banning chlorine use within the basin, Zero Discharge, Virtual Elimination, “Toxics Reduction” and sediment dredging. The lakes are still toxic. Nobody’s dogma works.

I do get scary responses from non listening dogmatic conservatives and environmentalists. “Look what happened when DDT was banned, millions of people died,” and “I believe in solving problems by acting locally.” Fortunately, I’m finding people realizing that we have had decades without progress, that we are on a mistaken path, and we must work together.