To: Illinois Gubernatorial Candidates, J.B. Pritzker, and Chris Kennedy
Tell Candidates for Illinois Governor to Divest From Fossil Fuels
We call upon J.B. Pritzker, Chris Kennedy and all other Illinois gubernatorial candidates to divest their personal investments from all fossil fuel companies. Beyond their personal assets, each candidate must commit to transition the state of Illinois to 100% renewable energy once elected.
Why is this important?
On November 29th, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on billionaire J.B. Pritzker and millionaire Chris Kennedy’s myriad investments in fossil fuels. Furthermore, candidate Pritzker maintains a partnership interest in Energy Transfer Partners LP, the builder, operator and part-owner of the Dakota Access Pipeline. J.B. Pritzker owning a financial interest in Energy Transfer Partners LP is particularly disturbing given the widely publicized abuse of Native American Water Protectors by Energy Transfer private security forces at Standing Rock!
The Dakota Access Pipeline project has sparked protests, hundreds of arrests and still faces a legal challenge. In January, President Trump signed an executive order to advance the pipeline. Construction had been delayed amid protests due to opposition from Native Americans concerning tribal sacred ground and fears of oil spills contaminating tribal drinking water. The pipeline carries crude underground from the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota, through South Dakota and Iowa to an oil tank farm near Patoka, IL, passing beside or under major rivers and waterways.
Climate scientists agree society must move beyond fossil fuels for electricity, transportation and heating. Moreover, an ever-increasing number of economists and business professionals assert a shift from oil, coal and gas to renewable energy sources is not only necessary to prevent climatic disaster, but is economically advantageous as well. The state of Illinois should not stand on the sidelines as the world, including nearly 7500 cities and local governments, race toward a renewable future. Now is the time for Illinoisans to act! Now is the time to limit climate change and the resultant catastrophic weather events on the health and welfare of Illinoisans!
PLAN OF ACTION:
We plan to deliver this petition to all Illinois gubernatorial candidates at least one month prior to the Illinois Primary on March 20, 2018. Additionally, we will ask each candidate to sign a pledge to divest from fossil fuels and abstain from investing in oil, coal and gas assets in the future.
View Sun-Times Report : https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/smoking-out-investment-gambles-of-chris-kennedy-and-j-b-pritzker/
The Dakota Access Pipeline project has sparked protests, hundreds of arrests and still faces a legal challenge. In January, President Trump signed an executive order to advance the pipeline. Construction had been delayed amid protests due to opposition from Native Americans concerning tribal sacred ground and fears of oil spills contaminating tribal drinking water. The pipeline carries crude underground from the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota, through South Dakota and Iowa to an oil tank farm near Patoka, IL, passing beside or under major rivers and waterways.
Climate scientists agree society must move beyond fossil fuels for electricity, transportation and heating. Moreover, an ever-increasing number of economists and business professionals assert a shift from oil, coal and gas to renewable energy sources is not only necessary to prevent climatic disaster, but is economically advantageous as well. The state of Illinois should not stand on the sidelines as the world, including nearly 7500 cities and local governments, race toward a renewable future. Now is the time for Illinoisans to act! Now is the time to limit climate change and the resultant catastrophic weather events on the health and welfare of Illinoisans!
PLAN OF ACTION:
We plan to deliver this petition to all Illinois gubernatorial candidates at least one month prior to the Illinois Primary on March 20, 2018. Additionally, we will ask each candidate to sign a pledge to divest from fossil fuels and abstain from investing in oil, coal and gas assets in the future.
View Sun-Times Report : https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/smoking-out-investment-gambles-of-chris-kennedy-and-j-b-pritzker/