State Debate: Close the St. Lawrence Seaway to cut dangers to Great Lakes
a 7/3 roundup of editorials in state papers
Close the St. Lawrence Seaway to cut dangers to Great Lakes, say the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The dangers posed by future invaders of the Great Lakes and the failure of Congress to do anything effective leads to only one conclusion: It's time to close the St. Lawrence Seaway to oceangoing freighters until those ships prove they won't continue to bring in strange new species in their ballast waters.
This doesn't necessarily mean closing Great Lakes ports to international cargoes. Those cargoes could be transferred to lake freighters or trains. Yes, that would cost more, but given the cost of invasive species, the price is worth it.
Preliminary results from a federally funded study under way at the University of Notre Dame estimate that the economic loss tied directly to 57 exotic species scientists believe were delivered to the lakes by overseas vessels is about $300 million a year. And there are a lot more than 57 invasive species in the lakes now.
On the other side is the economic benefit of the seaway: about $55 million a year in terms of transportation savings, according to a 2005 Joyce Foundation-funded analysis. In a strict cost-benefit analysis, the seaway loses, big time.
Lead in dental crowns made in China a concern, says the Appleton Post-Crescent.
On the heels of the discovery of lead in toys and other products imported from China comes a new concern: lead in dental crowns and bridges.
An Ohio television station's report that lead has been found in dental implants from China has drawn reaction from the American Dental Association and other groups. Dental implants made in China can cost one-tenth as much as U.S.-made implants.
The levels of lead found so far aren't an immediate health risk, but the ADA offers questions for consumers to ask of their dentist:
Do you make your own crowns, bridges and other dental materials or purchase them from a dental laboratory? Where is the dental lab located? Does the laboratory outsource crowns or bridges to a foreign country? What materials are going to be used in my restoration? What other options do I have?
They're common-sense questions -- and it appears that they're worth asking.
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/APC0602/807030472/1531/APC06
Three simple rules for a fun Fourth from the Sheboyan Press.
No. 1: Don't drink and drive. Drunken driving is far too common in Wisconsin, and so are the tragedies that take away mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. If you are going to drink alcohol, drink responsibly, and toss the keys to a designated driver.
No. 2: Don't play with fireworks. Yes, they look like fun, but every year on July 5 we read stories about people who lost their fingers, their eyesight, and in some cases their lives, playing with illegal fireworks.
No. 3: Respect your fellow Americans. As we celebrate the Declaration of Independence, let's remember our fellow citizens as we try to enjoy the holiday. For example, if you are stuck in traffic trying to get to the perfect spot for the fireworks display, or if you are stuck in traffic trying to leave afterward, sit back and relax and lay off the horn.
If you follow these three rules, and remember the sunscreen and bug spray, you will have a great holiday.
http://www.sheboyganpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/SHE06/807030431/1109
File photo
The St. Lawrence Seaway should be closed to large freighters like the one pictured in the port of Superior and Duluth, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
