Spread the Word

In His Own Words

In the last weeks of the 2008 Presidential Election, Barack Obama released a 5-point plan to restore the Great Lakes including investing $5 billion federal dollars. Of course, some people called it pandering to possible swing state voters, but it turns out the latest Obama plan was consistent with his past actions.

Obama was the only presidential candidate to respond to HOW’s invitation to speak at our annual conference in 2007. Obama sent emissary Debra Shore – a local Chicago politician – to deliver a statement he wrote sharing his concerns about the Lakes with us.

He said Read More » »

Promise Keepers

It seems safe to assume we won’t be the only ones who will be holding President Elect Barack Obama to his promise to restore the Great Lakes, now that Great Lakes advocate Rahm Emanuel is to be White House Chief of Staff.

With great ferocity, Rahm Emanuel addressed the HOW conference in 2007, imploring us to make sure any candidate for President not only pledged to restore the Great Lakes to win our precious swing votes, but also to hold the winner to it when they took office. Lets hope Mr. Emanuel doesn’t rue the day he lit that fire under Read More » »

We Want a Committment to Save the Lakes and We Want it Now!

Dear Delegates:

The Great Lakes states harbor 141 electoral votes and five potential swing states as well as an unquenched desire to see our Great Lakes restored and our regional economy revived. Both of these goals are achievable if we fully fund and implement legislation fulfilling the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy.

Now, let us remind you of the power you hold at your convention - 53 percent of the Democrat Party delegates are from Great Lakes states and 35 percent of the Republican Party delegates are from Great Lakes states - over one half and one third respectively - that Read More » »

The Day The Great Lakes Drained Away

Charles F. Barker, who grew up on the Great Lakes, wrote and illustrated The Day the Great Lakes Drained Away – a fantastic children’s book that seems to combine the art work of Hans Rey’s Curious George illustrations and the pros of Dr. Seuss. Mr. Barker, a geology enthusiast, was enthralled with the topography of the lake floors and was inspired by their beauty to write a book that has a conservationist message for children and parents. “It is my sincere wish that you and your children and your children’s children continue to be filled with that same sense Read More » »

Promote the Great Lakes Restoration Presidential Candidate Letter Campaign

Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives is proud to host a letter campaign to encourage the Presidential candidates to support the Great Lakes Restoration Strategy. Please consider including the campaign on your Web site, in emails, in newsletters, on your blog or any other way you can get the word out.

To make this easier we offer a few ideas.

1) You can link to the survey hosted on the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives Web site:

http://www.healthylakes.org/presidential-candidate-petition/

2) You can place the petition to appear under your Web site design with the following code:

<iframe src="https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?id=524&pagename=homepage" width="710" height="1100" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" name="Great Lakes Presidential Candidate Read More » »

Location, Location, Location

Unfortunately, the dating term geographically undesirable (GU) also appears to apply to Congress Members attitude toward the Great Lakes and the issues we have fervently been working on. Usually an explanation of why a budding romantic relationship failed to flower, GU also defines a lack of leadership and perhaps interest in the Great Lakes for lawmakers representing the more far flung districts in our eight states.

After reviewing comments made by those who took part in Great Lakes Day 2008, it becomes clear rather quickly that geography had a lot to do with the kind of experience HOW members had when 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 » »

Spread the Word! Get Your Family and Friends Involved

The effort to restore the Great Lakes begins with you. But it doesn’t end with you.

Tell your friends and family about the effort to restore the Great Lakes and the growing number of citizens who are demanding that elected officials protect our lakes, our economy, our public health, our economy and our way of life.

Get them involved! By working together, we can make a difference.

Encourage them to sign a petition to restore the Great Lakes.
Ask them to sign up for our mailing list and newsletter.
Encourage them to take action by calling their elected officials.
Tell them to Read More » »