Bobcats do not need to be removed from the ecological circle as most hunters would argue. Their diet consists mainly of squirrels, rabbits, and other rodents, which helps control those populations. Humans and feral cats are the worst enemies our wildlife faces and we should continue to protect this species to prevent it from being added to the Illinois Threatened List again. By signing this petition you will let the House know that you oppose the approval of HB4226.

Decaying vegetation (biomass) puts many times more carbon dioxide into the air than all of human activity. If we adapt coal-fired power stations to pyrolyze (heat without oxygen) biomass, we can economically REDUCE the amount or carbon dioxide in the air (rather than merely slow down the increase). Also see: www.awesomelibrary.org/Climate_Change_Balance.html

Did you know that there might be over 20 fracking wells already operating in Illinois? Even though the IL Dept. of Natural Resources has not even published their final rules on fracking yet -- so much for the Frackers, the Governor and the IDNR playing by the rules here in Illinois! There has been a report of the 2nd well being approved by Gov Quinn in Clay County, and we have reports of up to 20 others already being drilled in White County. Gov. Quinn and many IL lawmakers are chomping at the bit to FRACK ILLINOIS! Please sign and pass this petition in support of the "Green Dozen" fracking bills in the IL General Assembly this spring.

There is no issue more profound or more basic than the food that we put into our bodies. While more research needs to be done on the full impact of GMOs, they are not without risks. For example, some GMOs are designed for increased pesticides, which have been linked to serious health and environmental impacts. Consumers have a right to know when GMOs are in their foods and to make purchasing choices for themselves. Eleven months ago, Whole Foods committed to labeling their store-brand products in response to consumer demand. GMO companies like Monsanto and their Big Ag allies have spent millions to defeat efforts to win labeling laws. However, Whole Foods has shown that if enough of their customers demand it, grocery stores will label their products. Kroger already offers Simple Truth, an organic store-brand, which labels if a product is GMO free. However, those who do not purchase the more expensive organic brand every time are left in the dark. With widespread customer support, we can get Kroger to label all of their store-brand products. People power is what will win this effort – please sign the petition, send it to other Kroger shoppers you may know, and get involved in the local movement.

Approval of Dow's herbicide-resistant corn and soybean seeds will drive a massive increase in use of the toxic and drift-prone 2,4-D herbicide, a main ingredient in "Agent Orange." This toxic chemical causes severe damage to vulnerable crops, drives farms out of business, harming rural families’ health, and contributing to even more herbicide-resistant superweeds.

Facebook, like Google and Exxon, is now funding ALEC's extremist attacks on our democracy and environment. ALEC is a right-wing legislation factory that pushes climate denial in public schools and helped spread the infamous "stand your ground" laws. While Facebook has committed to using only clean energy, that won't mean a thing if it helps pass ALEC's anti-clean energy agenda. Tell Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg: No more attacks on our environment! Quit ALEC now!

Right now we are in the middle of the last official public comment period for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. This project is a climate disaster, bringing 830,000 barrels per day of tar sands oil from Canada across the US to be refined and burned. The State Department is accepting comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement -- this is the last chance to comment on the project before President Obama makes his decision about the pipeline.

On Feb. 2nd, a coal ash pond belonging to Duke Energy spilled 30,000 to 40,000 tons of toxin-laced ash into the Dan River, coating 70 miles of riverbed with toxic sludge. Yet Duke Energy may be able to evade responsibility for the disaster and for cleaning up its coal ash lagoons because of their cozy relationship with high-ranking McCrory appointees and employees within NC's environmental regulatory agency.

Colorado succeeded in a fight to not let corporate industry pollute our air while developing our state's natural resources. Our experience can serve as a model for other states.

Our valley and entire state have long been ruled by the funds of environmentally destructive industries that have no regard for the people of this state. It is time to take a stand and protect our safety and the best interest of the people who live here.

NYC tap water is world renowned for its taste and quality. Bottled water of any ilk is less tested and it uses up unnecessary resources from oil to make and distribute the plastic bottles to the oil and work needed to dispose of them. Only one in 5 bottles is actually recycled. While the label on bottled water usually has pastoral scenes of nature including streams and forests, as much as 1 in 4 bottles of bottled water is actually just PLAIN OLD TAP WATER. Some filtered and some unfiltered. How would we even know if it was filtered or unfiltered? I just think of the foreign oil needed to make, distribute, and either recycle or send to landfills for a thousand years when I even SEE anyone drink ANY bottled water. I think as NYC local elected officials, all NYC City Councilmembers AND staff should each CARRY their own BPA free water bottles and shun the tiny 8 oz. bottles of Whatever Springs Water that they are offered daily. 10 REASONS to AVOID BOTTLED WATER 1. It is 1000 times more expensive than tap water. 2. It undergoes LESS regulation than TAP WATER. (Tap water IS FAR MORE REGULATED as it undergoes FDA AND EPA standards) 3. Since it is packaged in a PLASTIC or GLASS bottles, I think of the WORK and ENERGY and FOSSIL FUEL required to package and distribute that bottle worldwide. 4. It tastes like PLASTIC. (tap water out performs bottled water on tests after tests, nationwide) 5. Anywhere from 33% - 60% of all bottled water is JUST tap water. (some filtered and some straight from the tap) 6. Fossil fuel is used to make and distribute the finished bottled water. 7. Each year, the amount of oil used required to make the bottles of bottled water, is enough to FUEL 1 million cars. 8. 80% of bottles end up in landfills where they will litter the earth for 1000’s of years. 9. If you choose to recycle the bottle, think of the work, energy, and fossil fuel needed to ready that bottle for recycling. And even then, while those plastic bottles are not yet in landfills, many are DOWNCYCLED, or turned into lesser plastic parts which will eventually end up in a landfill where it will litter the earth for 1000’s of years. 10. I don’t want to appear like an uneducated consumer of foreign fossil fuel products. I’d rather purchase a reusable BPA free bottle and go exclusively for tap water 100% of the time.

Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina and Louisiana top the USA in Cancer Deaths and Asthma because of lightly regulated pollution from dirty fossil fuels ... especially natural gas fracking, coal & petroleum diesel. Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina and Louisiana are not alone. This is a national problem. We need leaders at National Public Radio who firmly debate, with utmost honesty and integrity, issues including natural gas fracking and today's poorly built, poorly maintained and lobbyist-friendly Toxic Coal Ash Dumps. Diane Rehm: Toxic Front Groups Should Not Be Given A Hall-Pass on National Public Radio.