Saturday, April 22, 2006

Tackling Another Source of Mercury


Governor Blagojevich marked Earth Day today by signing legislation to require the recycling of car parts that contain mercury before the cars are scrapped. The legislation will go a long way toward eliminating the second largest source of mercury pollution in Illinois. Currently, old car parts are either landfilled or melted down for recycling, and if the mercury-containing parts aren't taken out, the mercury goes up in smoke when the metal is melted, or can leach from a landfill into groundwater.

Congratulations to State Rep. Karen May, who made this her top priority for three legislative sessions, and the Illinois Environmental Council, which led the environmental community's efforts to pass the legislation.

Originally posted at Illinois Sierra Club

8 comments:

Anonymous,  9:14 AM  

If the Sierra Club has their way, they will destroy jobs and economic growth.
Darin and his hypocritical liberals and racist anti-immigration agenda are against Hispanics in this country and have no African American involvement.

Anonymous,  7:02 AM  

Yes, the average Sierra Club member has little in common with blacks and latinos. And Sierra Club hasn't made inner-city pollution issues a very high priority. But, if you were to poll blacks and latinos, you'd find that most want clean air and water for their communities. The mercury switch recovery law will help clean up the environment and make the fish we eat safer for consumption.

Anonymous,  8:05 AM  

There is no doubt that everyone, specifically inner city African Americans and Latinos want clean or cleaner air. It is also true that the Sierra Club and the environmentalist politicos do not include minorities which was proven this last election and have racist immigration policies. It is a rich white country club playground that is not based in reality.

Anonymous,  10:18 AM  

Does anyone care about the mercury derivative thimerosal which is in most government-mandated vaccines?

Why aren't we hearing outrage about that? We inject it right into our babies' bodies!

Anonymous,  3:49 PM  

Unions and working men and wome should be very afraid of the Sierra Club and Darin. They will stop jobs and growth and think your child is the equivalent of a baby seal.

Anonymous,  5:51 PM  

Solar and wind power are part of the future we should pursue with everybody not just the wine and cheese set or only white people.

Jack Darin 8:59 PM  

My guess is that these commentors calling Sierra Club anti-minority or anti-union are probably not minorities or union members.

If you were, you might know about the impacts of asthma in the African-American community, and that asthma is the #1 cause of abseentism in the Chicago Public Schools.

You might know about the Latinos in Pilsen and Little Village who are tired of living next to a coal plant that refuses to put on modern pollution controls.

And, you might know about our work in neighborhoods that need help to make them healthier.

If you are active in the labor movement, then you probably know about our work with the Apollo project to promote new jobs in clean energy, or with AFSCME to protect environmental protection jobs in state government.

We're doing a lot, and there's more to do. If you can help, we need you. Let me know.

If you don't want to help, then just keep being anonymous.

Bill Baar 7:09 AM  

I'm not anonymous. My wife is sierra club member. I think your posts have been pretty partisan overlook real issues of jobs.

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