Rights and Respect for Lake Erie

Lake Erie Algae Bloom

 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
    they flow between the hills,
giving drink to every wild animal;
    the wild asses quench their thirst.
By the streams^[e] the birds of the air have their habitation;
    they sing among the branches.
 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
    the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

Psalm 104: 10-13

I have often drawn attention to Psalm 104 because it praises God as Creator, then barely mentions humans as it celebrates all creatures great and small. The psalmist also includes the solar system, mountains, and bodies of water as worthy of our respect, because God has brought them into being.

There is no mention of "rights" for these entities in the psalm, a relatively modern concept which is never mentioned in the bible. Yet respect and the accompanying dignity for all that exists is foundational to any rights, human or otherwise.

You may not have noticed that yesterday voters in Toledo Ohio voted in favour of adopting "Lake Erie Bill of Rights." This bill will be formally adopted into the city's charter which will mean that, as far as the City of Toledo is concerned, the entire Lake Erie ecosystem, which includes the watershed, possesses "the right to exist, flourish, and naturally evolve."

Not surprisingly the Toledoans for Safe Water are thrilled, and they should be. Not to rain on their parade, but it should be noted that while 61.37 per cent of voters were in favour of the measure, only 16,258 residents cast a ballot, a turnout rate of 8.9 per cent.



Deer Swimming in Lake Erie

 It's hard to know what the outcome of this decision will be. Toledo has a population of 275,000 and when I checked I discovered that it is the 71st largest city in the U.S. Who pays attention to Toledo? There is nothing to compel other Lake Erie cities on either side of the border to follow suit, and no one really knows what this will mean in practical terms for Toledo.

Still, this is a landmark decision on a continent which has traditionally treated bodies of water with contempt, and while the Great Lakes are the largest fresh water system in the world all of them have health issues. Lake Erie provides water for 12 million Americans and Canadians yet it is probably the sickest of the bunch with large dead zones because of massive algae blooms.

Hey, good for the people of Toledo to appreciate what is at stake here. The city may be relatively small, but lets pray it's influence will be mighty. I figure the Creator approves!



Great Lakes Ice Coverage January 2019