Publications
Minnesota Currents | Winter 2011
state leaders prepare for 2012 session
Contentious debate on Minnesota’s current environmental protection standards filled the 2011 State Legislative Session. Legislative leaders used the state’s deficit situation and “government reform” rhetoric in attempts to weaken environmental regulations, showing disappointing parallels to actions underway in Congress. Although Clean Water Action and allies stopped some of the most extreme, destructive anti-environmental initiatives put forth in 2011, special interests and corporate polluters clearly found much support in both the State House and Senate. With help from Gov. Mark Dayton, bills to weaken water protections, lift the nuclear moratorium, and remove restrictions on new coal plants were all turned back. However, polluters were successful in exploiting loopholes to weaken environmental review laws and circumvent the permitting process. There is every reason to expect these attacks to continue in 2012.
Minnesota Currents, Fall 2010, Election Special Issue
In this issue:
- Vote For a Healthy Environment On November 2!
- Critical Issues For Minnesota
- Key Races in the Minnesota Election
- Clean Water Action Endorsements
Download the complete issue (pdf, 1.25MB)
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Minnesota Currents|online, Summer 2010
In this issue of Minnesota Currents|online:
The 2010 legislative session ended in the early morning hours of May 17 after a brief special session was called by the Governor. Fights over the state budget and funding for health care and education dominated the atmosphere at the Capitol, making it a tough year to pass meaningful environmental legislation. However, once again Clean Water Action was able to celebrate several legislative victories this session. In addition to passing another bill to keep toxins out of our environment, we were able to stop attempts to weaken current environment laws and move Minnesota towards dirty energy options.
Campaign Updates, Summer, 2010
Federal Climate and Energy Legislation
Clean Water Action and all of the other activists and allies working for strong, comprehensive climate and energy legislation are still waiting for the introduction of new climate and energy legislation by US Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lieberman (I-CT). These senators have been working with Senator Graham (R-SC) to craft a bill capable of passing the Senate since earlier efforts stalled. A draft was released during the middle of May.
Earth Day Birthday Bash Highlights
Minnesota Currents|Online, Summer 2010
The 40th anniversary of Earth Day meant time for a celebration at Clean Water Action.
Clean Water Action members, volunteers, allies and staff celebrated Earth Day’s 40th Birthday with food, fun and activism!
One of the main activities featured at this year’s Earth Day celebration was having consumer products tested by an XRF analyzer, a device used by the Food and Drug Administration, which uses X-ray fluorescence to detect the presence of heavy metals in products. We tested numerous toys and household items to find out whether they were healthy or sick. Fortunately, the majority of the products we tested were safe but we did find a few sick ones.
Other Publications
California Currents | Winter 2011
Inside
getting to the source of plastics and trash in our waterways
Clean Water Action wanted to know where all the plastics and trash in the world’s oceans and inland waterways, such as the San Francisco Bay, are coming from. Research has long held that 80% of ocean debris is generated from land-based sources. It enters waterways through the storm drain system or gets blown into waterways from open garbage dumps and trash containers. But where is all that trash originating? There research just wasn’t there.Florida Currents | Winter 2011
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Colorado Currents | Winter 2011
Inside
frack attack across colorado's front range!
Northern Colorado, home base to Colorado Clean Water Action in Fort Collins, is in the midst of the biggest fracking boom in the United States. Weld County, just east of Fort Collins, has more active oil and gas wells than any county in the U.S, with nearly 18,000 wells. As a geologic formation called the “Niobrara Shale” is drilled for oil and gas, 10,000 to 20,000 more wells could be added. The Niobrara is a deep shale rock layer that requires hydraulic fracking to get out the oil and gas. As is the case with shale gas fracking across the U.S., the issue is extremely controversial in northern Colorado. Recently, cities and counties up and down the Front Range have been dealing with the consequences of drilling and fracking.Clean Water Currents | Fall 2011
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But sometimes, the people we elect seem to forget that. They’ve been
forgetting it a lot lately in Washington, DC and in too many of our
state capitols. But with your support, we keep reminding them how
important clean water is… to our health, to our quality of life, to our
economy and to our jobs!
This fall marked the 39th anniversary of the Clean Water Act — one of
our most successful environmental laws ever! The Clean Water Act has
restored lakes, rivers and streams around the country to health.
Because of this law, the Cuyahoga River doesn’t catch on fire, our Great
Lakes have come back to life, and thousands of rivers and streams are
healthier now than they’ve been in fifty years! But instead of
celebrating our progress, those of us who care about our water find
ourselves defending against an all-out assault.
Chesapeake Currents - Fall 2011
Inside
- We Can't Live Without Clean Water
- Uranium Mining
- Virginia Endorsements
- Winning in Baltimore
- DC - Leading on Stormwater
- Delaware's Senator Takes on Diesel
we can’t live without clean water
It’s that simple. But sometimes, the people we elect seem to forget that. And they’ve been forgetting it a lot lately in Washington, DC and in too many of our state capitals.