Maine Chapter
565 Congress St. Ste. 206B, Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 761-5616
To: Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
From: Zak Ringelstein, Sierra Club Maine
Date: April 10, 2019
Re: Testimony in Support of LD 1474: An Act To Ensure Water Equity And Accountability for the People of the State
Senator Carson, Representative Tucker, and the distinguished members of this committee. My name is Zak Ringelstein and I am a chair of Sierra Club Maine’s legislative team. I am here in support of LD 1474, An Act To Ensure Water Equity And Accountability for the People of the State, and LD 1121, An Act To Acknowledge Potable Water as a Necessity.
The mission of the Sierra Club is: To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. I am here representing Sierra Club Maine’s 18,000 members and supporters.
I lived in Uganda in 2007 and Tanzania in 2011, both developing countries suffering from the effects of neo-colonialism. Richer countries and big business continue to see these nations as places to take advantage of for profit. Whether it’s for access to the mines or waters, outside investors give a little to get a whole lot. When I was there, I watched as China made minor infrastructure investments in bridges and roads in exchange for big profit extraction opportunities. I have studied economic development at Columbia University and this is a classic case of exploitation.
My wife, Leah, and I grew up in the Rangeley Lakes and White Mountains regions respectively and it is quite clear that Maine is suffering from the same effects of neo-colonialism. Big companies, like the European corporation Nestle, throw out carrots for Mainers who are craving jobs and economic growth and make unfair trades that end up hurting the long-term health and prosperity of the community. Remember when we let HoltraChem dump Methylmercury in exchange for some jobs and centuries of contamination to our waters, people, fish, and wildlife. It’s classic colonial behavior and this must end right now.
Rangeley, where Leah grew up, is a town that Nestle keeps seducing with carrots. Nestle intentionally targets towns like Rangeley, which is in the middle of a recession and in great need of economic growth. Teachers in the region tell stories of Nestle employees coming in to the school to do water projects with the kids and family. Sounds fun and educational, right? Then they leave as soon as they get what they want, the ability to drive dozens of water trucks per day through that small village. For the price of next to nothing, the water trucks get to decimate the roads, the environment, housing prices, and long-term water supply of Rangeley.
It’s great business for them. It’s a terrible for our citizens, our economy, and our way of life. It’s exploitation. Period. Big business outside of the state will win and Mainers will lose if we fail to pass LD 1474.