(Released August 2007)

City of St. Paul

Since its founding in 1972, making democracy work has been central to Clean Water Action's mission and strategy. The cornerstone of this strategic focus is holding elected officials accountable to voters. A crucial problem underlying many pollution problems, we believe, is an imbalance of political power that distorts our political system and hampers good policy.

Arsenic and rocket fuel in our water. Gender-altering hormones and medications in our rivers and streams. PCBs, dioxins and pesticides in breast milk. Lead in children's toys and women's lipstick. Hazardous ingredients in air fresheners, development disrupting chemicals in plastic baby bottles and dangerous fumes from vinyl shower curtains. Our world is awash in chemicals and pollutants that pose health risks to our families, our communities and our environment.

Water is a necessity of life. Some would argue water is the necessity of life. Every living thing relies on water to survive—from humans and dogs to California's giant redwoods, Antarctica's tuxedoed penguins and Africa's majestic elephants. Earth, robbed of its natural water supply, would be a lonely place devoid of life.

Clean water should not be a luxury, but it is treated as one.