"That majority (of living inhabitants), then, has a right to depute representatives to a convention, and to make the constitution that they think will be the best for themselves."

--Thomas Jefferson 1816.

The Vermont Alliance for Locally Initiated Democracy

Protecting Groundwater: Promoting Democracy

Monday, August 13th 2007 6:15 pm

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Hayes Room

Montpelier Springs Water Company proposes to withdraw public groundwater in East Montpelier, bottle it for profit and remove it from the aquifer forever. This is part of a global movement toward the corporatization of water which turns a commonly held resource necessary for the life of the many into the private property of the few. Concerned citizens who believe water can not be owned are typically presented with a single option to voice their concerns. They are told that to stop it, they must challenge the permits before the Agency of Natural Resources and through the Act 250 process. We believe that this process is undemocratic and disempowering. 98% of permits are granted and citizen input is limited to trying to make the project less bad rather than getting the chance to decide if corporate water withdrawal is part of their vision for their community at all. We present an alternative strategy as demonstrated by the citizens of Barnstead, NH who passed local law to prohibit corporate water withdrawal. We invite any citizen who believes that no one has the right to take what belongs to all to join us!

The next Democracy School training is September 28-30! Location to be determined.

For more information on Democracy School, contact Steve Kowal or Ellen Hayes at the Advocates for Community Empowerment. www.acene.org

For information on the history and principles of Democracy School, check out the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund at www.celdf.org