The Summer of Loss

It’s been a crazy summer for so many reasons but particularly for the planet. We have seen massive heatwaves, wild fires, sand clouds and flash floods. These natural disasters have disrupted life and sadly caused tragic loss of life.

Instead of being on the forefront of positive change, the federal government is doing everything in its power to roll back environmental protections, stunt if not eliminate any progressive programs and gut all environmental support to the states.

But we should not be deterred. Where there is life, there is still hope. We need to keep speaking up, speaking out, speaking loudly and speaking often in defence of our one and only planet.

So what is LWV Chicago’s Environmental Action Committee doing?

  • Members attended the mayor’s budget roundtables and to tell the city to take environmental protections seriously

  • Members are attending coalition partner IEC’s issue area meetings to strategize good policy for clean water, clean energy, clean buildings, clean transportation and zero waste

  • Members are participating with our coalition partner CPR to ensure the ban on polystyrene foam foodware is passed this legislative session

  • Members are participating in ICJC’s push for clean buildings in Chicago

  • Members are meeting with alders to make Chicago city free of single-use plastic

What can you do?

  • Bring your bag, bring your bottle

  • Support local farms by shopping at your local farmer’s market

  • Eat more veggies and fruit and limit your beef and dairy

  • Only buy what you need, and use fully what you buy

  • Compost! Drop your scraps for free at one of 20 sites

  • Plant milkweed for the monarchs

  • Limit your waste water during storms: Sign up for WMRD’s overflow action alerts 

  • Join Open Lands Tree Keeper’s program and help care for trees in your neighborhood

  • Pick up trash wherever you are, or join Chicago Environmentalists for a local clean up

Want more? Please join the EAC at our meetings on the second Monday of each month at 4:30 pm. Email environment@lwvchicago.org for the Zoom link.

Claudia Jackson and Julia Utset

Claudia Jackson and Julia Utset are the chairs of LWV Chicago's Environmental Action Committee.

Previous
Previous

Ethics Reform in City Government

Next
Next

Catherine Mardikes Receives 2025 Greensfelder-Elam Award