Southern Illinois residents outside of IL Rep. John Bradley's office, May 2014.
This article was written by Janet Donoghue and Brent Ritzel
Who: Illinois citizens who support a clean & sustainable energy future, and demand an honest government that serves the people and protects our water, air and soil!
What: Statewide day of actions to demand renewables and say NO to fracking. Get attention: plan a direct action or meet with your legislators, write letters, give interviews, hang banners, educate the public! Any action that shows we believe a better future for Illinois is possible and we will not be divided! [see OneIllinois.org for Illinois media contact list, and http://openstates.org/... to contact your state legislators]
When: A one hour action during the day on Monday, June 16th, 2014.
Where: Throughout the State of Illinois. Chicago, Springfield, Normal, Decatur, Marion, Mount Vernon.... you get the picture! Where ever you are!
Why: Because we must tell politicians and industry that deception is not a valid point of view. Illinois is and shall remain united, as one Illinois, we will not be divided by political expediency or industry greed. Our future is as a bright as we want it to be, if we are able to stand together!
Southern Illinois residents outside of IL Rep. John Bradley's office, May 2014.
In 2014, these same words echo as a rebuke of Rep. John Bradley’s recently failed effort to hoist second-class status upon all the people of Southern Illinois. He attempted to do this by labeling this region a fracking sacrifice zone, open to unmitigated fracking, while attempting to protect Northern Illinois with a two-year fracking moratorium, thus acknowledging its inherent danger to humans.
Just as Lincoln took a stand against injustice during his historic June 16th speech, the people of Illinois now find themselves at a similar crossroads where we must stand together and be united to demand a renewable energy future while calling for a statewide ban on fracking. From Cairo to Chicago, we need you!
June 16th was the date of an important appointment. Five constituents were promised a meeting with their Illinois Representative John Bradley in Marion, Illinois. The meeting was to discuss the transformational potential of renewable energy and share some concerns over confirmed water contamination and health risks associated with fracking. But Rep. Bradley cancelled, and indicated he would not be taking meetings over the summer.
The appointment was set for June 16th at 11:00am. John Bradley has decided not to keep his appointment with the people he claims to represent. In fact, it sounds like he won’t be available all summer. Doesn’t he work for the people?
Why wouldn’t a representative that touts the empty “jobs” promise to justify fracking Illinois be interested in ways that other states are outdoing oil and gas with jobs in renewables and efficiency/conservation measures?
Let’s all stand. A house divided cannot stand. A state divided cannot stand. If we can stand together we can thrive together. Please, take one hour out of your day on Monday, June 16th at 11am or perhaps the lunch hour. You can start an action or find one near you. Let whatever action you take be visible and send a clear message that we have a better future without fracking. Illinois will not be divided. Illinois can be a leader.
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