Abstract
This is a personal account of three occasions in which the author played crucial roles in transferring ecological concepts into political operations in the Great Lakes Basin of North America. These were: phosphorus and the control of eutrophication; introduction of the ecosystem approach to management of water quality into the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1978; and the need to reduce the harm to human and ecosystem health by controlling industrial production and uses of chlorine. In each case, several years were required to draw attention to the issue, a ‘third party’ independent of governments was involved, timing was important, a person was needed to make necessary connections at various levels of government, and controversy was stimulated by public interest. An important role is that used by the International Joint Commission: persons involved in resolving major issues are obligated to act in their personal and professional capacities, and not as representatives of the organizations that employ them.
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