Current Campaigns
Problem: Our water is being threatened by neglectful state policies, unchecked air and water pollution, destruction of wetlands, and large-scale exports. Michigan is defined by its waters and the Great Lakes, Great Michigan (GLGM) campaign is working to strengthen water use laws in the state and pass the Great Lakes Compact.
Objectives of Campaign: This year, the state legislature is expected to review and debate passage of The Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (the Compact), part of the Great Lakes Charter Annex 2001. We advocate passage of the Compact with strong implementing legislation and believe it presents a critical opportunity to improve our current state laws. We have proposed a platform to accomplish two important things: 1) Bring Michigan into compliance with the Compact; and 2) Improve implementation of the Compact in Michigan by strengthening our state laws.
Combining passage of the Compact with these changes to Michigan law will result in strong protections for the Great Lakes and our valuable inland lakes, streams, ground water, and wetlands. This not only benefits the citizens of Michigan and the Great Lakes Basin, it also demonstrates our willingness to work with other states in this region and do our part to aggressively protect the waters that are so crucial to our livelihood and lifestyle.
The six points of our platform are:
· Affirm the Public Trust nature of all waters: Clearly state that all waters are held in trust for the public. That includes surface water, wetlands, streams and groundwater; all of which are vital to the health of our economy, drinking water supply, recreation and ecosystems.
· Prevent damage to water and wetlands: Protection for water resources must acknowledge that ecosystems function as a unit; their health depends on the interrelationship of streams, lakes, wetlands and groundwater. Therefore, state laws must ensure protection of the system as a whole.
· Conservation: Large water users should be required to use water efficiently and evaluate conservation measures to protect water resources from the uncertainties of drought, climate change and overuse.
· Permitting: Large-scale water users must be carefully examined to assess their impact on a river or stream. Any new water bottling plant should also be carefully examined, and the impacts on its neighbors studied and approved only if the public is truly protected. Lastly, our water resources need to be carefully monitored and permits modified if unexpected impacts begin to occur.
· Community Involvement: Public participation and input into water use decisions must be elevated. Local actions and voices must figure prominently into decisions.
· Restoration: The Great Lakes will only truly be protected when all users join in efforts to protect it and restore degraded waterways. Permit holders must take part in restoration efforts with quantifiable outcomes.
What you can do: EMEAC is co-sponsoring a Town Hall on the GLGM Campaign with Mike Bishop on Monday, November 5th from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. The Town Hall will be at the St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills (3665 E. Walton Blvd.). Please come out and participate to the Town Hall and show your support for protecting the Great Lakes!
Campaign website: www.mecprotects.org/WATER.html
EMEAC's partners: The 2007 GLGM Coalition is an amazing collection of citizens concerned about Michigan’s greatest natural asset – our fresh water - composed of a wide range of interests, including business, agriculture, religious, environmental, and community groups.
Children's Environmental Health
In a landmark act last October, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed the nation's first Green Chemistry Executive Directive. The Directive elevated Michigan as a leader among states working to advance cutting edge efforts in the design of safer, cleaner chemicals and materials that are “benign by design.”
The Executive Directive is non-regulatory and would require the state to set up a program to advance research and implementation of green chemistry in Michigan. The Directive has garnered widespread support from green chemists, and environmental and public health activists. Michigan is one of the first states to initiate a program like this.
Green Chemistry offers Michigan enormous opportunities:
- To protect public health and the natural resources of our state;
- To save money by reducing the need for costly environmental litigation and clean-ups;
- To save money by lowering the costs of healthcare and lost work time due to illnesses caused by toxic chemicals;
- To significantly enhance economic growth with new, sustainable businesses.
What you can do: Tell Governor Granholm to move Michigan Forward with Green Chemistry by clicking here.
EMEAC's partners: The Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health (MNCEH) is a collaboration of individuals and organizations from medical, public health, environmental, and education fields.
Problem: In Detroit thousands of residents have had their water shut off and in Highland Park, tens of thousands of residents are not only experience home water shut-offs, but many have lost their homes when the sky rocking water rates are attached to their property taxes
Objective of Campaign: The Water for Life Campaign is designed to educate and discuss the Detroit and surrounding area communities concerns about water and environmental justice. Water rights, rates and access in low income and minority communities was the focus of this series of events sponsored by southeast Michigan environmental and social justice groups that kicked off during EMEAC's annual event May 9 featuring a trailer for the upcoming documentary Water Warriors - documenting Highland Park's water crisis. A collaboration of environmental and social organizations across the Southeast Michigan area felt the need for this series because of the many communities across Michigan confronting water pollution, shortage, diversion and rate issues: in addition to the thousands in Detroit and Highland Park that have had their water shut off and lost their homes when the sky rocking water rates are attached to their property taxes, Mecosta County's ground water is being freely siphoned and sold by Nestle and in Monroe County residents must ship in water because their water supply has been contaminated by quarry operations.
EMEAC's partners: Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, Campaign for Statewide Action on Environmental Justice, Detroit Green Party, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, Ecology Center, Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances, Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, Sweetwater Alliance, Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development.
What you can do: Host a screening and discussion of The Water Front documentary in your community, school or University. Contact the EMEAC office to find out how and to get a discussion guide.
Campaign website: www.mwro.org
Problem: Right now, there is no effective legal remedy for the problem of environmental racism. We need to apply civil rights and justice to environmental protection. Michigan is especially vulnerable to environmental racism. A variety of examples exist throughout the state in both rural and urban areas. For example, Detroit, our largest city is 80% African American, 5% Hispanic/Latino, part of the most segregated metropolitan area of the nation, and suffers from high unemployment. These factors and dependence on heavy industry make Detroit and similar communities vulnerable to environmental dangers. Factories provide employment but can also be sources of pollution. Rural areas suffer as well. Many low-income rural communities become dumping groun sites for landfills. Additionally there are the health and safety risks for farm workers who are mostly low-income and Latino. The nature of their work demands great exposure to toxic pesticides and other chemicals exacerbated by poor living conditions. People in both rural and urban communities are often forced to make choices between jobs and health. They have the right to both.
Campaign Objectives: We expect laws and regulations that protect public health and quality of life to be applied fairly to all people. No one should have a greater risk of being poisoned because of the color of his or her skin or because of his or her income. But research studies support the findings of the US Environmental Protection Agency. As US EPA Office of Environmental Justice Director Barry Hill has said, "There's no question that minority and low-income communities have suffered disproportionately".
We seek an end to environmental racism. A crucial step in that struggle will be made when the Governor of Michigan signs an executive order supporting environmental justice. The executive order will:
- Have the state gather information and data on those communities and report that information to the Governor.
- Make Environmental Justice a priority of all state agencies where these issues arise from the DEQ to the DOT.
- Give those residents more of a say in the types of facilities that go into their communities if those facilities affect their health. There will be a mechanism for petition of grievances to any and all relevant state agencies.
- Sanction the Precautionary Principle: Guide decision-making when considering a new technology or facility that is being proposed by prioritizing public health and the environment for any area of the state.
The executive order will result in fair application of law and policy. The government of Michigan will serve all the people by providing equal protection and ensuring economic opportunity without endangering health. It will effectively establish that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity or income have the right to clean land, air and water.
What you can do: Encourage Governor Granholm to sign the Environmental Justice Executive Order.
Campaign website: www.dwej.org/csaej.htm
EMEAC's partners: Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, and Ecology Center