Actions You Can Take

If You Aren’t Part of the Solution…

Tomorrow is the last day that the Great Lakes Senators can sign onto the Great Lakes Legacy Act as original co-sponsors. It is time for reauthorization of the law that is the best tool in our carpenter’s box to clean up the toxic legacy of the industrial age. US Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and George Voinovich (R-OH) are actively seeking co-sponsors and will introduce the bill this week.

Cosponsors send a strong signal to the guys with the money on the Hill, according to Joy Mulinex, the Great Lakes Task Force Director. “If only a couple of Members sign onto Read More » »

That Smelly Rat Isn’t In Denmark Anymore

Remember that “alarming” Center for Disease Control report that hit the news only because a watch dog group exposed that it had been suppressed from publication for more than half-a-year? Well, now that Congress has called for an inquiry the Canadian Press reports that the head of research at the CDC is claiming the report was not hidden from public view but held because of questions regarding the methodology. The CDC has also admitted to deleting (key?) data from the report.

Dr. Henry Falk oversees CDC research on environmental health hazards and he told the Canadian Press that Read More » »

Sign a Petition to Congress on the Great Lakes

Freshwater Future (formerly Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund) has initiated an online petition urging Members of Congress to act this year to pass and fully fund legislation to protect and restore the Great Lakes. Healing Our Waters Coalition staff worked closely with Freshwater Future on the development of this petition, and we encourage one and all to sign it and forward to colleagues, friends, and family. Freshwater Future and the HOW Coalition will work to tally signatures from constituents of particular members of Congress in the Great Lakes and deliver the petitions at in-district events during the Read More » »

URGE GREAT LAKES SENATORS NOT TO CUT BACK FARM BILL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Farm Bill conservation programs are critical to restoring the Great Lakes. They help farmers put marginal cropland to work for the health of the Great Lakes. However many more Great Lakes farm families want to participate in the Farm Bill conservation programs than can be accommodated because of insufficient federal funding. Conservation programs are woefully under-funded. Two out of three farmers willing to take actions to help the environment are turned down due to lack of funds.

Now, the United States Senate may cut conservation programs even further as it rewrites a new Farm Bill within the next few weeks.

You can Read More » »

Stand Up for Clean Water Today!

In the wake of recent Supreme Court rulings that have rolled back clean water protections, a national coalition of conservation organizations is urging Great Lakes citizens to call their representatives today, Wednesday, September 26, urging them to support the Clean Water Restoration Act.

The bipartisan water bill would ensure that the Great Lakes, along with other streams, tributaries and wetlands are protected from further pollution under the Clean Water Act. We know, you thought that was already the case. Well, surprise, according to the group, it will take this act of Congress to reinstate the scope of the Clean Water Act Read More » »

An Open Letter to the 2008 Presidential Candidates

Dear Candidate:

The past two presidential elections have made one thing abundantly clear – the Midwest, particularly the eight states surrounding the Great Lakes are needed to win the White House.

“The Great Lakes area is key to anyone winning the Presidency,” said Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) when he addressed the Healing Our Waters Coalition at their annual conference in Chicago last week.

As you know, this campaign is historically significant – it has been more than half-a-century since there was not an incumbent, nor a vice president running for the highest office in the United States. While there isn’t an incumbent politician, Read More » »

What Would Romney Do?

Wonder what it is like to be Mitt Romney today? Well, for starters,  Iowa put the “WAHOO” back in his cheerios when they handed him the straw poll victory. The win provides Romney with additional momentum as he strives to win the Republican nomination and then the Presidency in 2008. Romney, former Massachusetts Governor and Brigham Young graduate, is a native of Michigan. His father, George Romney was Michigan’s governor (1963-1969), ran for President in ’68 and his mother ran unsuccessfully for a Senate seat. That amounts to a Michigan political dynasty of sorts – Read More » »

Coalition Turns up Heat on Congress to Confront Threat of Invasive Species

As a deadly non-native fish virus spreads throughout the Great Lakes threatening the region’s sport fishery and small businesses, the Healing Our Waters Coalition is turning up the heat on Congress to pass laws to stop the onslaught of aquatic invasive species.

Today, more than 75 organizations from the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition are sending letters to the U.S. House of Representative and Senate urging them to respond to the urgent threat that invasive species pose to the Great Lakes, our health, our economy, and our way of life.

Here’s an excerpt:

“The Great Lakes region and our nation need a comprehensive Read More » »

Tell Congress to Pass Invasive Species Legislation Now

You can help in the fight against invasive species.

The Problem
Invasive species are the most pressing issues facing the Great Lakes region. They pose an unrelenting threat to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy. There are 185 known invasive species already in the Great Lakes, and a new one arrives on average every 28 weeks. Once a new species establishes itself, it is almost impossible to remove and incredibly difficult to contain. In instances where an invasive species is controlled, efforts must be sustained over the long-term in order to keep it from making a comeback. Immediate Read More » »

Call Your Elected Officials, Tell Them to Stand Up for the Great Lakes

One phone call from you can make a great difference in the effort to restore the Great Lakes.

Comprehensive federal legislation to stop invasive species and sewage contamination has been sitting dormant in Congress. It’s time to change that.

Let Congress know that delaying action to protect the Great Lakes, our economy and our way of life is not acceptable.

Pick up the phone and call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Ask to be connected to your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators.

Then, let us know what you hear by emailing our field director, Chris Grubb, at Grubbc@nwf.org.

Better yet, post an entry Read More » »