Minnesotans March Backwards to Tell Bush Administration:
"We're Headed in the Wrong Direction"
August 4, 2004 - Mankato
Mankato — Over 100 local residents and environmental advocates convened at Jackson Square on Wednesday, August 4th at noon for "Stepping Backwards on the Environment," a rally to draw attention to the Bush administration's reversal of 30 years of environmental progress. The event was a response to President Bush's scheduled campaign visit to Mankato. Speakers representing local and statewide environmental groups highlighted the Bush administration's relentless attack on environmental protections and displayed a timeline of more than twenty significant efforts by the Bush administration to weaken clean water and clean air laws. Then, participants walked backwards to symbolize the environmental rollbacks that have happened over the past three years.
"Minnesotans have a strong tradition of cherishing clean air and clean water, and have worked hard to get these laws in place to protect these essential resources. We should not be reversing thirty years of work to protect our clean air, clean water, and public lands," said Scott Elkins, State Director of the North Star Chapter. "Despite the way the Bush administration names initiatives such as 'Clear Skies' and 'Healthy Forests,' the laws and rules enacted by the Bush administration constitute a broad and sweeping attack on environmental protection."
Among many efforts to weaken cornerstone protections for clean air, clean water, and public lands, the Bush administration has: 1) proposed a mercury reduction standard that falls far short of Clean Air Act requirements, allowing three times as much mercury to be emitted into the air, 2) issued new rules allowing increased logging in National Forests, including Superior and Chippewa National Forests in Minnesota, and 3) risked the loss of Clean Water Act protection for 20 million acres of America's wetlands.
Dr. Don Gordon
In eliminating the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a decision that puts previously protected forests at risk, "the Bush administration is completely ignoring public sentiment," said Lois Norrgard of American Lands Alliance. "There were over 600 public hearings held across the country, and more public comment letters than any other federal rulemaking in history — 95% supporting complete and even stronger protections for these forests. They are showing complete disregard for millions of people," said Norrgard.
Longtime staff at the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) charge that when drafting the aforementioned mercury reduction plan, the Bush administration ordered them to scrap the usual scientific and economic studies. The resulting proposal even copies language from a report written and presented to the EPA by West Associates, an industry organization representing 23 large Western utility companies.
"This administration has manipulated or ignored good, reliable science to satisfy its own agenda," said Dr. Don Gordon, Emeritus Professor of Biology at Minnesota State University, who spoke at Wednesday's rally. Sister Gladys Schmitz and Leigh Pomeroy of Mankato Area Environmentalists, and Charlie Schmidt, local farmer and Chair of South Central Sustainable Agricultural Association also spoke at the event.
Thanks to the Mankato Area Environmentalists, who helped with planning for the rally, and to all who participated!