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Fear Not-The
Odds Are on
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Derry Brownfield
May 13, 2003
NewsWithViews.com
Did you know the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) allows foreign countries to come into United States and buy our utility companies? Under these agreements, foreign companies now have rights and privileges to come into other countries and buy private utilities such as electric companies, water districts and other commodities that are necessary to a village or a community. Under these new trade agreements we now can have global commercial negotiations and foreign companies can get United States Small Business Administration loans with which to make the purchases. This comes under the heading of "GATTS-2000," which allows a foreign firm to purchase retail services normally owned by municipalities, such as electricity services or water works. GATTS even allows federal, state and local regulations to be challenged as barriers to trade.
This all seems impossible as no logical thinking city, county or municipality would sell its utilities to a foreign country. Guess Again! In an article written by Joyce Morrison titled, Germany Owns My Water, she states, "Can the people in the municipalities and rural areas depend on their water supply if it is foreign owned and controlled? More and more municipalities are selling their systems to privately owned companies which are now selling to foreign investors"
American Water Works Company (AWW -- now German owned) is the largest and most geographically diverse, investor owned utility enterprise in the United States. The company provides water, wastewater and other resource management services to more than 10 million people in 23 states. Peoria, Illinois and Charleston. West Virginia are customers of AWW and pay some of the highest water bills in the country. This past September RWE AG, a company from Essen, Germany paid $4.6 billion in cash and assumed a $3 billion debt to purchase American Water Works. RWE AG is a global conglomerate of 848 wholly owned companies , 300 of which are in Germany and 548 in other nations. Their goal is to expand in the United States by expanding in the utility related services of electricity, gas, water and wastewater and waste recycling. AWW, which is now German owned has been awarded a 50-year contract by the US Department of Defense for the privatization of utilities of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The contract will result in the acquisition, operation and maintenance of the water, wastewater and gas utilities at the Army base in Fayetteville, N.C.
Joyce Morrison lives in Jersey County, Illinois and tells me that new water lines are having laid in her community that will be serviced by AWW -- a subsidiary of Thomes of London which is a subsidiary of RWE of Germany. Her final comment, "the wonders of a global market -- but which country will have to be called when there is a problem?"
� 2003 Derry Brownfield - All Rights Reserved
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Derry Brownfield was born in 1932 and grew up during the depression. He is a farmer and a broadcaster. Derry attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees. He taught Vocational Agriculture several years before going to work as a Marketing Specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Derry served as Director of the Kansas City Livestock Market Foundation at the Kansas City Stockyard prior to establishing himself in farm broadcasting.
Derry started farming when he was 16 years old and received the Future Farmers of America State Farmer degree in 1949. Since that time the Brownfield Farm has grown to over 1000 acres maintaining a herd of 200 registered Charolias cows.
In 1972, Derry and his partner established the Brownfield Network which now serves 250 radio stations throughout the Midwest with news and market information.In 1994, Derry started his own syndicated radio talk show and he is one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in America. The Derry Brownfield Show can be heard on approximately 80 radio stations in 23 states. With his entertaining sense of humor and witty commentary he has captured audiences for over 30 years. His ability to present an informative talk show while being light and colorful is why he has a large loyal listening audience.
Derry Brownfield is a practical farmer, a practical
business man and a very entertaining speaker. He travels extensively throughout
the country speaking about his common-sense point of view. Web Site: www.derrybrownfield.com
"This all seems impossible as no logical thinking city, county or municipality would sell its utilities to a foreign country. Guess Again! In an article written by Joyce Morrison titled, Germany Owns My Water, she states, "Can the people in the municipalities and rural areas depend on their water supply if it is foreign owned and controlled?"