Environmental Action

Campaigns

• Tell Scott Walker to stop strip mining Wisconsin land!

  Scott Walker is allowing a 22 mile-long, 1000 foot-deep strip mine to proceed in Northern Wisconsin's Penokee Hills region, which contains the headwaters of the Bad River and Lake Superior. The mine could cause asbestos dust and sulfuric acid leeching that would destroy the Bad River reservation, as well as many other downstream ecosystems. The mining company isn't earning our trust either - they've used private paramilitary groups for security, and Walker's DNR has pressured an educational camp be criminally prosecuted for studying the mine. We have a cabin nearby and grew up taking our kids to this beautiful, special, and sacred place. Please help us save it. --Betsy Bacon, Cornucopia, WI

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  Created by Betsy Bacon
• Protect the Boundary Waters

  There are many risks associated with potential copper, nickel and other sulfide mining operations within that watershed, including possible contamination from acid mine drainage and tailings basin failures. The U.S. Forest Service announced it is "deeply concerned" by potential mining near the Boundary Waters, and may withhold consent to renew two mining leases within the same watershed as the wilderness area. The agency announced a 30-day public comment period "to better understand public views" on the proposed renewal of the two leases. The Boundary Waters are too important to put at risk of this dangerous mining pollution. We can protect this natural treasure by not allowing toxic sulfide mines near the Boundary Waters, but the mining companies are using their political influence and deep pockets to try to fast-track mine proposals. Together we can make the Boundary Waters watershed off-limits to toxic mining.

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  Created by Drew Hudson
• Save the Red Knot!

  The Red Knot is a small, plump, reddish shorebird - and a true wonder of nature. With a wing span of only 20 inches, these tiny explorers migrate almost 20,000 miles each and every year. But the Red Knot population has declined almost 90% since 1989. It went from being among North America’s most abundant bird species to the brink of extinction in less than 20 years. Climate change, overfishing of horse shoe crabs (their key food source) and other factors are to blame - but now it's up to us to save them. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to protect the Red Knot rufa under the Endangered Species Act. Doing so would not only benefit the Red Knot, but other shorebirds since many other species have similar long migrations and are declining due to habitat pressures. But in order for The FWS to follow through on this recommendation to turn into a real listing your help is needed. The 90-day public comment period closes soon and before it does we need as many people as possible to support strong protections for these miraculous fliers. The Red Knot is just one of many species threatened with extinction in our country. From beetles to birds to bats hundreds, if not thousands of animals are disappearing. The Red Knot rufa could easily become one of them if action is not taken today. Do your part to keep another species from disappearing. Extinct means forever. You can learn more about the Red Knot at our Facebook page facebook.com/FriendsoftheRedKnot Or our website: http://www.friendsoftheredknot.org/

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  Created by Drew Hudson
• Protect the Boundary Waters

  There are many risks associated with potential copper, nickel and other sulfide mining operations within that watershed, including possible contamination from acid mine drainage and tailings basin failures. The U.S. Forest Service announced it is "deeply concerned" by potential mining near the Boundary Waters, and may withhold consent to renew two mining leases within the same watershed as the wilderness area. The agency announced a 30-day public comment period "to better understand public views" on the proposed renewal of the two leases. The Boundary Waters are too important to put at risk of this dangerous mining pollution. We can protect this natural treasure by not allowing toxic sulfide mines near the Boundary Waters, but the mining companies are using their political influence and deep pockets to try to fast-track mine proposals. Together we can make the Boundary Waters watershed off-limits to toxic mining.

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  Created by Drew Hudson
• Stop Shell's Disastrous Arctic Drilling plan (again)

  Neither risk of an oil spill nor global climate change nor the falling price of oil will keep Shell from exploiting the Arctic’s oil. But you can. In 2012, Shell oil embarked on a dangerous plan to drill for oil in the frigid and unforgiving waters of the Arctic. It was a disaster. As documented in popular press reports and a recent retrospective “the Wreck of the Kullig” Shell’s mission was plagued by failure after failure1: Their vessels couldn’t meet basic air quality standards, were deemed unfit for the voyage by the coast guard, and unable to drill for oil at all by experts. Their experimental containment dome - the critical piece of equipment that’s supposed to protect the fragile ecosystem in the event of a well blowout - was “crushed like a beer can” in a simulation. Shell never even made it to their destination, or drilled a single well - despite spending millions of (taxpayer subsidized) dollars on the attempt. Then, in an attempt to dodge local alaskan taxes, Shell finally gave up and tried to tow it’s rig out of the arctic. Only to lose control of the massive structure and see it run aground (fortunately with no oil aboard). Two short years later, Shell’s back to try again, and it’s still a bad idea2. If Big Oil companies can’t even drill safely in the calm and warm water of the gulf of Mexico, how can we possibly expect them to get it right in the dangers, icy, waters of the Arctic? And if anything does go wrong, it will be nearly impossible to contain or clean up a spill in the Arctic - as the wreck of the Kullig clearly illustrates.3 But none of that seems to matter to Shell, which has already invested $1 billion in their plan to drill the Arctic - not to mention millions more in lobbying fees and political donations to our elected leaders.4 President Obama has been talking tough on climate change in the last few months. And under his direction, the Department of Interior and EPA have moved to protect critical arctic ecosystems like Bristol bay from mining, drilling and other disasters. But there’s still no law or policy that stops Shell from drilling the Arctic. Sign here to tell President Obama and his team that it’s time to shut the door on Arctic drilling for good - and block Shell’s plans. 1 - http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/magazine/the-wreck-of-the-kulluk.html?_r=0 2 - http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/29/shell-arctic-idUSL6N0V846B20150129 3 - http://www.salon.com/2015/01/11/why_arctic_drilling_is_a_disaster_waiting_to_happen/ 4 - http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/29/shell-arctic-idUSL6N0V846B20150129 --

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  Created by Drew_Hudson
• Looking at you, Gov. Brown

  In a HUGE win for the planet and fractivists everywhere, Gov. Cuomo and his Health Department moved to ban fracking.* Fracking is a seriously dirty drilling practice that involves blasting a toxic mixture of sand, chemicals and water deep underground to shatter the bedrock, and extract tiny particles of methane gas. The practice has been linked to flamable faucets, polluted drinking water, climate chaos and even earthquakes.** Despite historic drought, California continues to waste what little water the state has on fracking. With the state's water running dry, tell Jerry Brown to stop fracking and protect California water. So it should have come as no surprise that when asked whether he would allow HIS family to live next to a fracking site, NY state Department of Health Deputy Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker replied simple "no."*** If fracking isn't safe for New Yorkers, why is it still allowed in most California Counties? Sign here to ask Governor Jerry Brown to step up and BAN fracking in California for good. ---------- * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mubbXS0-qf4 ** http://www.environmental-action.org/tags/fracking?page=1 *** http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/nyregion/cuomo-to-ban-fracking-in-new-york-state-citing-health-risks.html?_r=0

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  Created by Drew Hudson
• Governor McAuliffe: Uphold Private Property Rights

  Dominion Resources is suing private property owners for refusing to allow the onto their property to survey a new gas pipeline that would stretch through West Virginia to North Carolina. Under Section 56-49.01 of the Virginia Code, gas companies like Dominion do not even require the permission of property owners to come onto their land. This is nothing short of an attack on the constitutional rights of Virginia property owners. It's bad enough that fracking and natural gas exploration poisons our water, land and air and we cannot allow Big Oil to have even more license to be above the law. Governor McAuliffe must classify Section 56-49.01 as unconstitutional and scrap it immediately in an effort to protect our environment and rights as citizens and property owners.

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  Created by Drew Hudson
• Governor Scott: Lift the Ban on Using The Phrases "Climate Change" and "Global Warming"

  1. The 2014 national climate assessment for the US found an “imminent threat of increased inland flooding” in Florida due to climate change and called the state “uniquely vulnerable to sea level rise.” 2. Officials with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the agency in charge of setting conservation policy and enforcing environmental laws in the state, issued directives in 2011 barring thousands of employees from using the phrases “climate change” and “global warming.” 3. A report ties the alleged policy, which is described as “unwritten”, to the election of Republican governor Rick Scott and his appointment of a new department director that year. Scott, who was re-elected last November, has declined to say whether he believes in climate change caused by human activity. 4. According to employees’ accounts, the ban left damaging holes in everything from educational material published by the agency to training programs to annual reports on the environment that could be used to set energy and business policy.

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  Created by Drew_Hudson
• Governor Christie: Clean Up New Jersey

  1. A long-fought legal battle to recover $8.9 billion in damages from Exxon Mobil Corporation for the contamination and loss of use of more than 1,500 acres of wetlands, marshes, meadows and waters in northern New Jersey has been quietly settled by the state for around $250 million. 2. This was no small contamination – we’re talking about 7 million gallons of oil, ranging in thickness from 7 feet to 17 feet. It’s no wonder New Jersey sought $8.9 billion in damages when its Democratic governor first filed suit in 2004. By all estimates, it would cost billions just to repair some of the obvious environmental damage. 3. A debate over New Jersey’s proposed $250 million settlement of what had been an $8.9 billion pollution lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corporation has highlighted an obscure provision of a state law that would appear to allow Gov. Chris Christie to apply most if not all of the settlement toward balancing the state budget. 4. The current state appropriations law, as proposed by Mr. Christie last year, says that any funds beyond the first $50 million collected in damages or other environmental recoveries shall go to the state’s general fund. When state lawmakers tried to amend the proposal to steer more money back toward environmental restoration, Mr. Christie vetoed the effort.

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  Created by Drew_Hudson
• Don't allow Grays Harbor to be Big Oil's sacrifice zone!

  Oil companies are trying to expand their Northwest operations, putting our communities at risk from explosive oil train derailments, huge increases in rail traffic, and oil spills from trains, tankers, and barges. And with each additional project, they add to climate disruption. Dangerous types of oil – volatile Bakken crude from the Midwest and toxic tar sands oil from Canada – pose unique dangers to public health and the environment. Unchecked, the oil industry will turn our region into a thoroughfare for crude oil with terminal proposals that impact the Northwest, the country and the world. We remember the disaster in Lac Megantic Canada —a derailment and explosion that killed 47 people. We also remember the Exxon Valdez, the BP Horizon, and the ominous warning of the 1989 Nestucca oil barge spill off Grays Harbor that fouled beaches from Oregon to Vancouver Island, and killed 56,000 sea birds. But we have an opportunity to say no to the oil industry’s proposed expansion through our region: A public comment period is now underway to evaluate the risks of two of the terminals in Grays Harbor, Washington – the Westway and Imperium terminal proposals. Our job is to let the Department of Ecology and the City of Hoquiam know that the risks outweigh the benefits of these projects.

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  Created by Drew Hudson