PRESS RELEASE
December 16, 2003
Contact:
Terry Swier, President Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation
231-972-8856
Jim Olson, Attorney for Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation
231-946 0044
Mecosta, Michigan, December 16, 2003 – The Appeals Court has issued a stay of Judge Roots Injunctive Order in favor of Nestle. "This of course is no indication on the merits of the case, nor does it impact Judge Lawrence Root’s November 25 decision, we have won the case and will pursuer this in the Appeals Court," said Jim Olson, council for Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation.
Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation has been in a three year epic struggle to protect the integrity of riparian rights and Michigan water law, and to protect the riparian rights invaded and reduced by Nestlé's pumping from the Sanctuary well field, as determined by the trial court after an extensive trial and consideration of the company's selfish desire to pump only spring water that feeds the lakes and streams. The company diverts and sells the water, but has wormed its way into the government with the help of the employees whose jobs it is terminating because of the harm and invasion of water rights and the environment, and the help of the unwitting business community. MDEQ with the DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, filed a motion and brief as amicus curiae this afternoon with the Court of Appeals, IN SUPPORT OF NESTLÉ'S UNFOUNDED REQUEST FOR STAY OF TWO DECISIONS BY THE TRIAL COURT TO UPHOLD AN INJUNCTION BASED ON THE ENTIRE RECORD OF THE TRIAL.
The stay in Nestlé’s favor, engineered by Nestlé’s and the Chamber of Commerce, is an insult to the rights and hope of the majority of citizens of Michigan, the judicial process, and those who have sacrificed thousands of hours and thousands of dollars to bring this struggle this far. Terry Swier, President of Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation said, "At a time when the MDEQ and Administration should have jumped in and rolled-up their sleeves to help MCWC, it sat on the sidelines while ordinary citizens and their attorneys, without resources other than commitment to what is right, pursued the matter to a positive, sound result, one that the Administration and MDEQ should be proud of, thankful for, and support from here forward."
We need a call for justice, integrity, and unity for the environmental community and citizens of Michigan. Everyone must give and do what they can, and we must meet and articulate for the public and, hopefully, an open minded Administration what is best and right for Michigan water and its citizens and businesses. Everyone needs to write, email, call the administration and anyone you can think of to join in this unified effort. Those of you who lead organizations, take charge of what you can do, leave the past commitments behind; it is time to rally, speak out independently, firmly, cooperatively, but without compromise of basic principles and integrity. This we owe to our children and future generations. Governor Granholm, the MDEQ and the legislature must be urged to join citizens and help lead, and not join or support the special interests of international food giants who seek only to profit off Michigan’s water in exchange for a few jobs.