Statewide Actions Unite Illinois in Support of Renewables and Against Fracking
This article was written by Janet Donoghue and Brent Ritzel
Springfield, Chicago & Marion — Monday, June 16th is the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech in Springfield, Illinois where he proclaimed,
“A house divided cannot stand.” For too long politicians and the oil and gas industry have been working to divide Illinois.
Just weeks ago, in an underhanded move,
IL Representative John Bradley tried to rush through a bill on Memorial Day weekend that disregarded tens of thousands of Illinois citizens concerns and would have blatantly divided the state by providing a moratorium on fracking for Chicago, while creating a fracking sacrifice zone for those south of Chicago.
Citizens of Illinois know the political promise of fracking is hollow at best. Fracking endangers our health and our precious natural resources: air, water and soil. Natural gas is not at “bridge.” It is a dead end. Fracking accelerates climate change and makes our precious potable water even more scarce.
Now is the time for bold action. Politicians must serve their constituents and not their financiers. Rep. John Bradley takes industry money and refuses to even meet with citizens concerned about fracking and those who are working on renewable solutions for the state. He canceled an appointment for Monday, June 16th to discuss renewable energy options for southern Illinois.
In northern Illinois citizens have seen the future of fracking as they were informed that farmers were being driven from their land while facing the health hazards of mining frack sand. Monday, July 16th citizens throughout Illinois will be gathering across the state to show that we will not be divided or fracked. Join us on Monday in Marion, Springfield and Chicago.
Marion, Illinois Springfield, Illinois Chicago, Illinois
Rep. John Bradley’s Office Old State Capitol Plaza Daley Plaza
1301 Enterprise Hwy. 5th & Adams 50 W. Washington Street
11am-noon noon-1pm noon-1pm
Annette McMichael Will Reynolds Nina Laseau
am@greenmediaservice.com willinois@gmail.com claseau@gmail.com
For more information and other actions to take see www.OneIllinois.org.
Southern Illinois residents outside of IL Rep. John Bradley's office, May 2014.