Tuesday, October 25, 2005

New York Rivers United: Action Alert -- Great Lakes Action Needed

Our Great Lakes Basin Needs Your Help NOW – Please Act

New York Rivers United urges you to contact your U.S. Representative and Senators. Tell them to restore and protect the Great Lakes by:
(1) fully implementing and funding the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration’s Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes and
(2) contact the President to tell him to keep the promise he made to restore this national treasure.

Background

Last year, the Bush Administration issued an Executive Order to bring federal agencies, the Great Lakes states, Tribes, cities, and others together to design a restoration and protection strategy for the Great Lakes. On July 7, 2005, this group released a draft plan. The final plan is due December 12.

The draft action plan includes strong recommendations that will help restore the Great Lakes by cleaning up toxic pollution, ending sewage dumping into the lakes, and restoring wetlands and other vital wildlife habitat. This plan is a good first step and, if fully funded, will create a cleaner, safer, and healthier Great Lakes environment for generations to come.

Now is not the time to back away from all the work that has gone into creating this blueprint for restoring the Great Lakes. News reports suggest that federal agencies could be softening their commitment to this process. We need a strong plan to help build momentum for an increased investment in our region’s waterways. We need a strong plan so we can leave the Great Lakes in better shape than the way we found them. It’s not right to pass our problems to our children and grandchildren.

Contact Your Member of Congress and Senators Now. Tell Them to Protect the Great Lakes!

Step One: Please locate your Representative and Senators by typing your state and zip code at http://www.house.gov and http://www.senate.gov. It’ll direct you to your congressional official’s website, including their address for letters.

Step Two: Please send a hand-written note (it doesn’t have to be longer than a paragraph) to your Representative and Senators. Tell them in your own words:

1) That you love the Great Lakes (tell a personal story to support why you love the Great Lakes)

2) That they must implement and fund the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration’s Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes

3) That they must contact the President and tell him to keep the promise he made to restore this national treasure

4) Ask that they write back explaining what steps they will take to increase funding and implement the GLRC strategy. Send us your response.

Great Lakes restoration must start today. The Great Lakes are a gift of nature, whose beauty and bounty enrich our lives and identify our region. We have a responsibility to protect and restore the Lakes, not for a single interest, but for our families, wildlife, and the future. You can make a difference if you take action now.