I don't usually request this, but due to the urgency of this initiative, can you please recommend this diary if you find the cause worthy? Thanks!
This past week, I've come to learn about the Environmental Integrity Project. The group has had success in holding Iowa CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations - in other words, factory farms) accountable for following the Clean Water Act. However, they are in a crunch for funding at the moment.
The short story is that they need $5000 from individual donors by Friday (yes, this Friday). If you don't have the money, don't worry - please recommend the diary and that is a wonderful contribution in itself. If you are looking for a nice place to donate this time of year, please keep reading. I think this is a great cause. You can donate at the website http://www.environmentalintegrity.org
A Little Background
By chance, I've spoken to an Iowa farmer in the past year about factory farms' impact on clean water in his state. He said that the factory farms often dump manure on frozen fields and they run into the water supply.
This is illegal, but the Department of Natural Resources lacks the ability to enforce the laws. Of course, under the Bush Crime Family, that is intentional. If you can't get rid of regulations entirely, just starve them of cash and ruin their ability to enforce laws.
No doubt this situation is NOT unique to Iowa. However, EIP is focusing on Iowa and the farmer I happened to speak to a few months ago was also from Iowa. Strange coincidence I suppose. But if you read the excellent pig shit diary by draftchrisheinz, you know that the same sort of thing happens all over, from sea to shining sea.
Lale, friend (and Kossack) put me in touch with EIP earlier this week. Lale is one of my heroes - a regular person who got involved in environmental issues locally and started really kicking butt to keep her local water supply clean.
After chatting some with a woman from EIP, I could see why Lale felt they were a worthy cause.
Who Is EIP and Where Will the Money Go?
The Environmental Integrity Project will use the donations to support their project to clean up Iowa CAFOs. Here is what they have already done (and are working to continue):
EIP and its local partners achieved one of their major goals by forcing the state agency to start issuing Clean Water Act permits to factory farms for the first time in 30 years! Now we have to make sure that these permits are strong and enforceable to protect Iowa waterways.
EIP and its local partners have also filed a lawsuit challenging EPA's Air Compliance Agreement. This agreement gave widespread immunity to over 13,000 factory farms from federal clean air laws in exchange for limited monitoring at just 17 facilities. Extra support will help us to stop this bad deal or to negotiate terms that are protective of public
health.
EIP and its local partners also worked hard in coalition to stop legislation that would exempt factory farms from federal laws that regulate hazardous releases from factory farms such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. Although we have successfully stopped this legislation for the past several years, industry intends to try again in the next Congress.
We need to continue to fight efforts to exempt factory farms from environmental laws intended to protect our health and environment.
Other EIP accomplishments, can be viewed on our website.
Why Now, and Why $5000 Within a Week?
Traditionally, all of EIPs funding has come from foundations. However, one foundation (who has previously been very supportive) is all of a sudden withholding $5000. The deal is, they will match any donations given by individuals up to $5000.
The idea of finding a base of individual donors isn't a bad idea, but it's a new thing to EIP and they've only got until THIS Friday to come up with the $5k.
I feel strongly that we Kossacks are not here to be used as a piggy bank to every progressive cause that comes along, but I understand the urgency in EIP's situation, and I also know that many people make a practice of giving to charity around this time of year. If you're not too tapped out from the elections and you are looking for a worthy place to donate, please check out the EIP website and donate there if you are able. http://www.environmentalintegrity.org
Thanks! I'll do my best to update this or post a follow-up diary reporting how much money EIP is able to raise.