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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.
Help Stop The Dirty Energy Proposition!
In 2001, Texas energy companies created an energy crisis in California for their own financial gain. In 2010, they're doing it again. Now they've paid to place an initiative, Proposition 23, on the November ballot that threatens the implementation of our landmark climate change law (AB 32, passed in 2006). Don't let them do it - tell your friends to vote no on Proposition 23!!!
California has long been a national leader in promoting energy efficiency and clean air. The state is also a leader in the fight against climate change, thanks to 2006 legislation, AB 32, that set goals for reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions. With the support for renewable energy that AB 32 provides, California attracts more investment capital for clean energy than all other 49 states combined.
That will all change if Proposition 23 passes this November. Sponsored by a group of Texas-based oil companies, this proposition would indefinitely delay implementation of AB 32.
San Francisco Considers Banning Plastic Bottles
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.
You have the right to know about toxic chemicals!
What's in the products you use every day? The lining in a can of food? The mattress you slept on last night? Your children's toys? Or even the computer you're reading this on? In fact, the public has very little information about the chemicals in the products we use or their potential impact on our health or our environment.
More often than not, even the companies that made these products don't have this information because their suppliers won't tell them!
One of the major reasons for this is that chemical manufacturers have abused legitimate legal protections by claiming that this basic information is a trade secret or confidential business information.
Ask Your Legislators to Pass the Safe Cosmetics Act
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.
Call Rep. Pelosi: Ask Her to Strengthen The Toxics Chemical Safety Act of 2010
Call Nancy Pelosi today!
Ask her to vote to strengthen the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010. Call Speaker Pelosi at 415-556-4862.
Shrek glasses with cadmium?! Canned food contaminated with the sex hormone bisphenol A?! Cancer-causing formaldehyde in furniture?! This week we ask you to join us in a nation-wide call in campaign to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House to make sure that manufacturers stop using toxic chemicals in the products we use everyday.
The Toxics Chemical Safety Act was just introduced in Congress. It aims to protect families from harmful chemicals by overhauling outdated chemical laws. The current draft of the bill is a good first step, but it's missing some key provisions, like phasing out the worst chemicals first and ensuring that chemicals are tested for safety before they are allowed on the market.
The reasons to support a stronger Toxic Chemicals Safety Act keep mounting. Research shows that chemicals found in everyday products are linked to negative health effects including cancer, early puberty, learning disabilities, and sexual dysfunction. A few weeks ago, the President's Cancer Panel released a damning report underlining the acute need for stronger toxics laws. The report specifically recommends removing cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins from our food, water, and air that "needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation's productivity and devastate American lives."
A critical committee vote on the bill could happen any day and Speaker Pelosi needs to hear from you. Please call her today and tell her to put health first by getting rid of the worst chemicals first!
Clean water? Tell the legislature not to "bag it!"
When you get a "free" plastic grocery bag at the check-out stand, it's not really free. The retailer is passing 3 cents per plastic bag and 10 cents per paper bag on to you in the bill!
In addition, California's government spends billions of taxpayer dollars each year cleaning litter from streets, beaches, parks and storm drain systems. Since plastic bags are a huge part of the litter problem, you pay for them twice - at the store and in your taxes. Take action now: Ask your State Senator to support a state-wide ban on plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience food stores.
Rocket Fuel in California Drinking Water? Take action now!
The drinking water of between 15 and 20 million Californians is contaminated with perchlorate, a salt that is used as the primary component of solid rocket fuel.
Perchlorate poses a health threat by impacting the thyroid's ability to take up iodide and produce thyroid hormone. Even a short term reduction in thyroid hormone can irreparably impair brain development in fetuses and infants, and impact iodide deficient individuals and those already with thyroid problems.
Despite these serious health impacts, there is no federal drinking water standard for perchlorate thanks to pressure from the White House and polluters such as the Department of Defense.
Take action now: Tell Governor Schwarzenegger that we do not want rocket fuel in our drinking water and that we support lowering the perchlorate public health goal.
Chemical Policy Reform
Manufacturing products with less toxic materials and promoting the development of "green chemistry" can not only protect our communities, workers, and ecosystems, but can actually save businesses money, increase efficiency, reduce liability, and give them a competitive advantage as other parts of the world regulate the use of toxic materials.
Reduce Mercury in the Central Valley
This summer, the Central Valley Regional Water Board will decide on adopting a draft clean-up plan, known as a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load), to address mercury pollution in the Delta. Clean Water Action supports the methylmercury focus of the clean-up plan and urges the Board to set clean-up goals that are in line with actual fishing practices in the Delta and to do away with the 8-year delay currently in the plan. Read more to find out how to help.
The Three Rs of Water Conservation: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
As California enters its third consecutive dry year, water conservation is a popular topic - television, newspapers, billboards, and radio messages are telling us to conserve water because of the drought.
Clean Water Action agrees that we should practice additional conservation during times of drought. But California's is a dry climate that is expected to become dryer still as the impacts of climate change intensify. This drought gives us an opportunity to rethink our attitudes about and our overall use of water.