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Clean Water Action's national campaigns work on Federal laws and policy. State offices campaign on the same issues locally. Get more information about our work in each state and around the country.
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Spotlight
2010 Election Endorsements
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Turning Out the Environmental Vote in 2010
Clean Water Action builds grassroots strength in key states and communities to change politics and environmental policy in states, local communities and Washington, DC. We run muscular and effective grassroots campaigns to defeat anti-environment candidates, and support candidates who are committed to protecting our waters, our health, and our future. Our political program is non partisan.
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News
Victory on Rock Mining in Palm Beach County!
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Clean Water Action, its members and allies had a major victory on August 26th when the Palm Beach County Commission voted to enact a one-year moratorium on new rocking mining in the County.
Clean Water Action Member, Business Owner To Donate 15% From Sales Of Eco-Friendly Furniture, Fabrics, Photo Art and More
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Blugirl Art owner/founder and Clean Water Action member Suzanne Meyer Pistorius pledges to donate 15% of online sales at Blugirlart.com to Clean Water Action. Suzanne's vibrant, eye-catching and eco-friendly sensibility is reflected in the site's offerings of brightly renewed and fanciful furniture pieces, dramatic designer fabrics, jewelry and photographic images specially selected for this cause.
Clean Water Action & Partners Launch MyGulfAction Energy Tools
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Clean Water Action has teamed up with other environmental and conservation groups to launch the new MyGulfAction.org web site to our members and the public.
The site offers visitors a range of actions they can take to help offset the damage caused by BP's Gulf oil spill disaster. All of the action pledges documented by the site are tallied up and presented as "gallons of oil" offset by fossil fuel savings. There is a simple 4-step process, and anyone may participate:
Citizens Discuss Their Role In The Fight Against Natural Gas Drilling
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Four Pennsylvania citizens discuss their knowledge of natural gas drilling, stake in the issue and motivation to protect Pennsylvania from the dangers of natural gas drilling.
San Francisco Considers Banning Plastic Bottles
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San Francisco (KGO) - First it was plastic bags, now San Francisco city leaders are considering banning plastic water bottles. The idea to kick the bottle is still in the early stages, but it appears to be gaining traction at City Hall.
Whether it is a music concert at Golden Gate Park or a street festival in North Beach, changes could be coming. If environmental leaders in San Francisco get their way, people would no longer be able to buy a bottle of water at a public event on city property. Instead, people would be encouraged to bring one of their own.
Miriam Gordon of Clean Water Action addressed San Francisco's Policy Committee of the Commission on the Environment Monday evening. She explained how she was able to pull off a plastic bottle-free event at last year's Maccabi Games -- a youth athletic event. Instead of being handed bottled water, some 3,000 participants filled their reusable bottle at several water stations. Gordon believes, the same kind of thing can be done at even bigger events.
"Tickets can say 'bring your own bottle' on them," said Gordon. "When you go online to buy your tickets, there can be all kinds of information online about what to expect when you get to the event."
Read the complete article on KGO-TV's web site.
Published Date:08/09/2010News Source:
Tell your U.S. Senators: Reject dirty bioenergy and subsidies for corn ethanol!
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Tell them to support clean energy
The U.S. Senate needs to hear from you that dirty bioenergy sources, like corn ethanol, are not the answer to our energy and climate crises. Right now, the Senate is deciding what to about these pressing issues. Some negative impacts of corn ethanol production:
- Uses large quantities of water and causes pollution and dead zones with its pesticides and fertilizers;
- Major soil erosion and depletion of nutrients in our soil, jeopardizing our ability to produce food and raising food prices;
- Requires large amounts of land which has led to the destruction of forests, causing biodiversity loss and massive impacts on water resources while actually worsening global warming;
- Has needed $20 billion subsidies and government handouts over the last five years, taking away from investment in actual clean energy sources;
- Uses a massive amount of energy, increasing coal and natural gas use.
Ask Your Legislators to Pass the Safe Cosmetics Act
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What are all those chemicals in your shampoo? Your lipstick? your aftershave? And what do they have to do with asthma, breast cancer and learning disabilities?
Learn, share and help change this toxic mess: Watch The Story of Cosmetics, a 8-minute film exposing the ugly truth about personal care products - brought to you by Clean Water Action, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Annie Leonard's Story of Stuff Project and Free Range Studios, and take action to help pass the Safe Cosmetics Act.
Tell your Representative to pass America's Commitment to Clean Water Act!
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For three decades, the Clean Water Act protected America's waters from industrial pollution, oil spills, sewage and outright destruction. Recent interpretations of the law have put drinking water sources for 110 million Americans in jeopardy of losing protections.
Diesel: the Black Soot Menace
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Today’s guest blogger is Emma Shlaes, Clean Water Action National Campaigns Associate.
Summer is winding down. When you put your child on the bus for school, or take that one last road trip of the season, you expect that everyone will stay safe and healthy, as long as there are no accidents. But there is a hidden danger lurking around most school buses, highways and too many residential neighborhoods and schools. Dangerous and preventable diesel pollution from buses, trucks and construction vehicles is placing families in harm's way.
Dirty diesel engines emit a mixture of particles, metals and gases called "particulate matter" which include over 40 "hazardous air pollutants" as classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. This mixture can cause a range of health problems. From increased rates of asthma, to lung cancer, stroke and heart attack, diesel pollution contributes to countless illnesses and 21,000 early deaths a year.
In addition to being a serious public health problem, diesel pollution contributes to climate change by emitting a pollutant that’s aptly named “black carbon”. Black carbon soot is approximately 2,000 times more potent as a global warming agent than an equal amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). Over half the black carbon emissions in the U.S. come from diesel engines. Fortunately, black carbon is a short-lived pollutant and does not remain in the atmosphere, so this is one aspect of climate change we can do something about right now.
How do you ask? Available retrofits can reduce diesel particulate matter and black carbon emissions by at least 90% from the 11 million old, dirty diesel engines that are currently used in the U.S. This means an instant reduction of black soot in our atmosphere. Additionally, studies indicate that for every dollar spent on reducing particulate matter pollution from diesel engines, $12 would be avoided in monetized health damages. That translates to improved health for you and your family.
Since 2005, the federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) has been funding retrofits for existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines in every state in the U.S. DERA has enjoyed support by: members of both parties in Congress, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and industry, labor, environmental and health groups. This important act is set to expire in 2011 and Congress must reauthorize it at the same level of funding if we are to see continued reduction in diesel pollution and the health effects it causes.
Clean Water Action works nationally and in the states to pass policies that will clean up diesel pollution and protect communities. Some states haven’t waited for government protections and funding to take action. For example, Clean Water Action recently helped Rhode Island pass the Clean Construction Law, which requires diesel-burning construction equipment on federally funded projects to be retrofitted to reduce emissions by 2013. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey have also taken action at the state and local level. Find out more.
Clean Water Action works as part of the Diesel Clean-Up Campaign, a nationwide collaboration of organizations committed to reducing diesel emissions 40 percent by the year 2012, 55 percent by 2015 and 70 percent by 2020. You can visit their website at www.dieselcleanup.org