Wisconsin
Clean, Green and Gold
Agenda 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
                                                                                                                  January 21, 1997
 
CONTACT: 
 
CONSERVATION GROUPS TO GOVERNOR--RESTORE WISCONSIN'S GREATNESS, PROTECT OUR FAMILIES FROM POLLUTION
 
Madison, WI--Wisconsin's conservation, citizens, and environmental groups representing over 500,000 state residents today released the Wisconsin Clean, Green, and Gold Agenda to protect our families, our neighborhoods, our air and water, and our government.
 
"As the Packers return to greatness, we are calling on Governor Thompson and the legislature to return Wisconsin to environmental greatness," said Susan Mudd, state director for Citizens for a Better Environment.  "The last two years have seen an unprecedented weakening of our family protection and environmental safeguards.  The Clean, Green and Gold report calls on Governor Thompson, the public, and the legislature to reverse course."
 
The report focused on taking concrete steps to protect our families to give us clean neighborhoods, clean water, clean air, and clean government.
 
"We need laws that protect our kids' health and our homes from polluters," said Lisa Hustad, a Oregon, WI mother of an asthma victim.  "My son Jacob's health is threatened by a strip mine quarry only a few hundreds yards from our house.  We need land use laws that protect our health and families."
 
The Clean, Green, and Gold report also called on the Governor and Legislature to restore the integrity of the Public Intervenor, DNR, and insure adequate conservation program funding.
 
"Wisconsin has been a leader in all aspects of resource management for the last century," said Bob Ellingson, head of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. "We don't want to lose that due to meager funding, political intervention, and inadequate protection of natural resources."
 
The groups also called on the DNR to tell Wisconsin fisherman and families about toxic air and water pollution that threatens their health.  "Most anglers don't know that 1/3 of WI lakes have fish contaminated with mercury," said Keith Reopelle, Assistant Director of Wisconsins Environmental Decade. "We need to reduce mercury pollution from utilities and make our catch safe to eat by placing a mercury pollution cap on emissions." 
 
"The number one threat to our clean rivers and water is the proposed Exxon mine in northern Wisconsin," said Brett Hulsey, Midwest Representative for the Sierra Club. "Exxon and other polluters spent millions last year to trash our rivers and pro-environment candidates.  We need to keep the pollution out of the rivers and clean up the big money that pollutes our political system."
 
The Wisconsin Clean, Green and Gold Agenda was support by The Sierra Club, Wisconsins Environmental Decade, Citizens for a Better Environment, Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation , Wisconsin Audubon Council, Wisconsin Rivers Alliance, Wisconsin Citizen Action, Wisconsin Bow Hunters, Wisconsin Bear Hunters, and Wisconsin Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.
 
For a copy of the report, call the Sierra Club at 608-257-4994.