Together we have made one small step in sending a message to BP and keeping our waters clean! Thank you Eric Hughes for keeping me up to date on the issue! Eric sent me a link to Prarie Mod Blog which reports that BP Americas has announced they will not increase dumping into Lake Michigan and that they are going to maintain dumping levels where they have always operated.
Below is a portion of an email sent from Rebecca D. Stanfield, Environment Illinois State Director dated Aug 15, 2007:
Meanwhile, we've had over 70,000 people from across the Great Lakes and beyond
sign our petition to BP and the EPA, and I want to see our 'No BP Gas Pledge' be
just as successful.
Right now, please take action by joining the over 12,000 people around the
region and signing the 'No BP Gas Pledge.' Tell BP that as long as they're
planning to increase toxic dumping in our lake, you're planning on buying your
gas elsewhere.
To sign the pledge by clicking on the link below or copying and pasting it into
your browser:
https://www.environmentillinois.org/action/protect-lake-michigan/no-bp-gas?id4=ES
Then help spread the word by forwarding this message to your family and friends!
WOW! Over 70,000 petitions signed at that point! Thank you all my Active Rain Friends who made this happen!
This is a great demonstration of what we can do when we use grassroots organizations to band together. One of our basic rights is to speak up in our democratic process. Please take every opportunity to write to your representatives regarding issues at hand. We have elected these people and feedback from the us is the only way they will know what our views are. Remember, they are being paid with our hard earned dollars!
Thanks again for participating in our campaign! This is a great start!
Lake Michigan Sunset
**Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayoticblue/111133173/ ckay
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The entire Great Lakes region needs this kind of activism..thanks for posting!
ERIC - You are correct! Why is this type of information not on the front page of every newspaper in place of the daily references to housing doom and gloom. There are so many more important issues out there that will help band people together rather than beating to death our industry!
Mary,
I signed the petition, and low and behold, yesterday I got the treat of an email telling me that BP had actually heard and done something positive in this regard.
Now I have quite a skeptical streak, so bare with me.
I have worked with many groups trying to make changes in government and big businesses, very rarely does anything change this quick. Now, it could be that I was just right at the tail end of an action that was already going strong, or it could be that this sort of pressure is starting to work on some of these companies, but the skeptic in me can't help but think "Wow this made BP look like they really care" Now, from my point of view BP and it's brethren do really care, about the bottom line.
If I see this used as add fodder for how much they care, It will piss me off! I would not go so far as to say that I think that this was set up by them, but they do use this sort of thing for PR. We should not let these companies get away with this sort of thing, but how do we stop it?
After all they tried to get the permit to do the dumping. Don't forget that one big fact. This could be a "no loose scenario" by BP that we played into. Don't take your eyes off of them. They are tricky!
Michael - I only have a quick second to respond before I have an engagement I have to leave for.
I am in agreement with you. Notice they are not doing anything to DECREASE the toxins they are currently dumping into the lake, only agreeing to not increase the amounts. Additionally, they are threatening to pull their project.
You are correct - I hope they don't stand behind this and to demonstrate what a "good neighbor" they are.
Thank you for your comments!
Hi Mary, I was glad when I received that email...but like you I noticed immediately that they did not agree to reduce...just not increase.
Hey, it's a start!
Stephanie - Yes it is a good start and at least it gives time to pursue further action as well as highlight BP for their unfriendly practices. Thanks for the comments!
Mary, I think their Beyond Petroleum motto will eventually get them in more trouble. Reduction of TSS is very difficult, I don't expect too much unless they route their effluent to an alternate location. Perhaps a constructed wetland before the lake.
Gary - good idea. They have enough land. I wonder if this is one of the options they would look into? (tss -- does that mean total suspended solids?) Help me here! Every time I see those letters together I think of something else!