It’s been nearly four years since the start of the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. But still, families have toxic water flowing from their taps that they can’t use for drinking, cooking or even bathing. While Flint residents are still being denied their basic human right to clean water, the White House wants to gut federal regulations that protect water supplies.

What’s in Our Fracking water?? – Environmental Action

A lack of clean, affordable water is not just Flint’s problem. One in three households are expected to have unaffordable water rates in the next five years. That’s why we need to take immediate action and urge our legislators to protect our water.

Last week, the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability (WATER) Act was re-introduced by representatives Keith Ellison from Minnesota, and Ro Khanna from California. The WATER Act would authorize the EPA to fund rural and small municipalities and tribal governments with grants to provide technical assistance regarding sanitation infrastructure and drinking water systems.

This piece of water justice legislation has gained support from thousands of individuals like you and me who shared with our friends, family, and called our representatives, ultimately earning this bill 37 original co-sponsors! The Food and Water Watch also strongly endorses the WATER Act, helping to “ensure affordable and clean water for all — with an achievable vision and plan to create more jobs, and prevent more water tragedies.” 

STILL, more of our elected officials need to support the WATER Act and take action to fix the countless, long-standing water issues across the country. Send a message to your Representative today: Support the WATER Act! 

Five Things You Can Do to Reduce Plastic Pollution

1. Clean your shoreline on Saturday, May 5. Sign up here with Riverkeeper to join your neighbors at one of 100+ projects happening along the shorelines of New York City and the Hudson Valley.

2. Help ban plastic bags in New York. Urge your state representatives to support Senate bill S7760 and Assembly bill A9953. Write a letter, give Cuomo a call, make your voice heard!

3. Skip straws. Or buy one that you can reuse!

4. Bottle your own water. There are many reasons why plastic bottles are not good, so considering ways of avoiding the harmful affects begin today!

5. Mind your microfibers. Just as microbeads were discovered to be harmful and degrading to our waterways and public health, microfibers which are found in clothes and other consumer products can also cause negative impacts (check out the Cora ball, designed to catch fibers in the laundry). You can read more about this research here.  In fact, researchers from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory confirmed using water samples from the Hudson River that “many appeared to be eroded bits and fibers of larger items—remains of carpets, clothing, food packaging, paints — but among them were also apparent microbeads. Plastics from Newtown Creek carried heavy doses of atlenol, a drug used to treat high blood pressure.”

Recently published SLOActive Guide, Plastic Pollution: Single Use Plastic Impact On Our Oceans Available here.

Boot Scott Pruitt: From the EPA

“The Department of Agriculture is considering whether hog plant inspections should be done by private companies — and we’re running out of time to stop them. Tell the USDA: don’t privatize pork inspections. The proposed rule would get rid of USDA inspectors from hog plants and replace them with company employees. In addition, it would allow plants to increase their line speed. Every piece of this rule is bad enough on its own…Our food safety regulations are meant to protect every step of the process that brings food to our tables: consumers making meals for their families, workers who process the food, and the food itself. This rule puts every one of those groups at risk.” – Food and Water Watch

Sign these petitions and share widely with others. Add your voice to the People’s Movement today!

Protect Communities from Toxic Coal Ash by adding your name to Earthjustice Petition here. 

Help Save Monarch Butterflies; sign your name here!