Arlene and Hiroshi Kanno They refinanced their retirement home to fight the giant corporation

How could a small group of citizens with limited resources fight off one of the largest conglomerates in the world? Remember, Perrier also had the blessings of the governor and the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Arlene and Hiroshi Kanno were among the leaders and architects of the "No Way, Perrier" battle. Here they explain how the citizens' groups were able to defend themselves against the Perrier/Nestle invasion.

When the grassroots said no (way)

By Arlene Kanno and Hiroshi Kanno

In March 2000, our small rural community in Columbia County learned that a global conglomerate, Nestle SA, Perrier division, was proposing to take water from our local spring and build a bottling plant nearby. We quickly perceived, despite much corporate spin, that the proposed factory and the activity around it would shatter the peaceful, agricultural way of life so many of us cared about, and that the massive removal of water posed a serious threat to the natural and human ecosystems downstream.

When the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce arrived in person to tell us how lucky we were that such a fine corporation wanted to locate in our community, we knew we were in real trouble. We were taking on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the governor in addition to going up against a giant transnational corporation.

The springs and the plant site were planned for Adams County, and the impact of the plant would extend to Columbia County. Neighbors in both counties united to fight this proposal. We didn't know we would win. We just knew we had to try.

But we did win. In the three years since our fight began, we have inspired other groups of citizens to organize and resist the economic and political machines that threaten to overwhelm us as democratic citizens.

Perrier's proposal was to extract 720,000 gallons of water a day, every day, from Big Spring and the water sources it feeds. The proposed one million square-foot bottling plant would pave over 70 acres of farmland. The resulting accelerated runoff would cause severe damage to the wetlands and prairies south of the plant. No environmental impact statement for high capacity well drilling was required under state law because the site was in a rural area.

Energy and expertise poured in. From people near Mecan Springs in Waushara County, where Perrier had made an earlier, aborted attempt, came invaluable assistance in media relations and moral support. Waterkeepers of Wisconsin (WOW) formed and began soliciting contributions door to door and by mail. Money came in from every corner of the state. We organized fundraisers, chili dinners, auctions, and garage sales. We held rallies at the town hall and a candlelight vigil and demonstration when Perrier's drilling rigs arrived.

We gathered names on petitions opposing the Perrier project and sent them to the governor. We sent letters to lake and river associations, and hunting and fishing organizations, asking for support. We attended meetings, hearings and forums held by the state and Perrier. At these meetings we asked questions and presented testimony. We talked to our state legislators and DNR officials. We kept each other informed via storms of e-mail. We wore No Way Perrier and Waterkeepers of Wisconsin t-shirts.

We wrote letters to editors, issued news releases and worked with local and statewide radio, print and television media. We got the attention of Time magazine. Two towns passed advisory referenda overwhelmingly rejecting Perrier's plan. WOW members attended Adams County zoning board meetings and gained the board's support.

After the DNR issued two drilling permits and Perrier proceeded to sink test wells, the activists took legal action. WOW filed one lawsuit and hired a part-time lobbyist. To take different action, a group from Columbia County separated from WOW, took the name Concerned Citizens of Newport (CCN), and sued the DNR. Perrier hired six more lobbyists.

CCN published a newsletter to promote awareness and produced and distributed two videos explaining the issues. We joined the Wisconsin Stewardship Network, an alliance of more than 20 organizations interested in the environment, and received some funding and a great deal of moral support.

After about a year, a judge decided that the DNR had not gathered enough data to show there would be no significant impact on the environment. Apparently, Perrier did not want to invest any more time and effort in this particular fight, so they turned their efforts to invading the state of Michigan.

In September 2002 Perrier announced that it would not seek to renew its drilling permits in Wisconsin, and later that fall the test wells were abandoned. The CEO of Perrier was quoted as saying that his Wisconsin experience was the worst his company had ever had, and that the people of Wisconsin do not appreciate a good business.

There are many other citizen groups throughout the state struggling with local issues, and we have found that they all have at least two things in common with us: a just cause and a lack of political power. For us, organizing and community action trumped political power this time. Our hope is that our experience will help someone else, next time.

February 24, 2003

Editor’s Note: In addition to the Kannos, there were many, many people and organizations who made tremendous contributions in the Perrier battles at Adams and Waushara counties. They are listed in the Some of the "Davids" in the battle with Goliath section.