Volume 20, Issue 1, 1995 March/April 1995

Features Collingwood Harbour Leads the Way Join the Commission on the Shores of Lake Superior Invitation à se joindre à la Comission sur les rives du lac Supérieur Exotic Species Update: Are Ballast Water Regulations Working? Using Market Forces to Eliminate Toxic Substances Des maires canadiens et américains au service d'une ressource qu'ils partagent Canadian and U.S. Mayors Work to Preserve a Shared Resource My Life With an Electric Car How Clean are Electric Cars Columns Briefs RapSheet Bookshelf Perspectives Events

How Clean is Clean? Having posed the question, this issue of Focus presents articles illustrating that the job of restoring and maintaining ecosystem health is never done. We applaud the Collingwood Harbour community, not only for being first to clean up a Great Lakes Area of Concern, but for continuing its efforts to keep the watershed healthy. The exotic species update points out that additional steps are also needed just to reduce the influx of exotic species to the Great Lakes ecosystem. But preventive action is justified, because such organisms cannot be eradicated once they become established, and reactionary measures are costly and largely ineffective. Two perspectives on the zero discharge philosophy raise strategic questions, and our closing article proposes that cleaner automobiles may help move us toward a sustainable economy. This issue of Focus also introduces what the staff hope is a more inviting and readable format. In response to suggestions made in last year's reader survey, we will strive to include more specific information on cleanup activities and trends, and focus on Remedial Action Plans, new scientific findings and environmental education. Your suggestions for articles are welcome and your feedback would be highly valued.

Revised: April 8, 1997
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle, mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net