Christine Leuenberger

Senior Lecturer

Christine A. Leuenberger is a senior lecturer in science and technology studies who looks at the social impact of borders and barriers, and the social studies of cartography.

Leuenberger says:

“The proposal to unilaterally rename Lake Ontario is detrimental to water diplomacy that is crucial for effective cooperation over vital natural resources. Lake Ontario is a shared resource jointly managed by the two countries and subject to numerous international agreements, to help maintain water quality and resolve water disputes.

“Naming and renaming territories and bodies of water have always been political and have historically been a precondition for attempts to transfer the management and control of them. However, should Trump rename Lake Ontario via executive order to Lake America it can be easily overturned, especially in light of the international and local opposition to such top-down renaming practices.

“Moreover, a potential executive order renaming Lake Ontario would only impact cartographic naming practice within the U.S.; it would not impact long-established practices by foreign governments, international organizations (such as the International Hydrographic organization), and locally preferred naming practices. 

“International cooperation over maintaining such resources is important. Over 9 million people (approximately 3 million Americans and over 6 million Canadians) rely on Lake Ontario for drinking water.  Unilaterally renaming such bodies of water threatens the up-to-now effective environmental cross-border partnerships managing natural resources between the U.S. and its neighbors.”