Blog Archive

This blog is now an archive of posts prior to September 2020. New posts will be published at https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/blog Thanks!

Twists and Turns in the Campaign to Defeat the Dakota Access Pipeline, Two Other Victories Against Pipelines Nationally

Last week, we celebrated three major movement victories in the nation-wide organizing challenging fossil fuel infrastructure. One major pipeline project was canceled, and two were shut-down–including the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) which runs through parts of Illinois. Since then a court has ordered a temporary stay to allow DAPL to continue to operate, until a…

ICYMI: Tribune Op-Ed argues that graduated income tax would help the environment

In times of crisis, we count on government to protect us. This year, amid a respiratory health pandemic and urgent calls for racial justice, we have seen the importance of government agencies charged with combating threats to our health and lifting up communities that have been harmed most by pollution, economic inequality and racism. We’ve…

Water Safety Tips for the 4th of July Holiday

With warm weather predicted for the 4th of July weekend, we know a refreshing dip in a lake or a river paddle will be on the top of many of your to-do lists. But unfortunately, we must warn you to be on the lookout for harmful algal blooms in order to keep your families and…

Why Sierra Club and All of Us Must Confront Racism

In the past week, our country and state have been gripped by protests fighting for justice, against structural racism, and against police violence that has killed countless human beings, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Now more than ever, we need our government to protect us all from threats like COVID-19 and climate…

During this crisis, support your neighbors across the state

The latest jobs report paints a startling picture of the U.S. economy, with millions of Americans unemployed. The last few months have been difficult for many Americans, and I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. If you are fortunate enough to be in good health and financially stable during this…

From Earth Day to May Day: Show Solidarity with Workers, Immigrants, Tenants, Prisoners by Joining a May Day Action

This post written by Caroline Wooten, Organizing Director of the Illinois Sierra Club. May 1st is a time when we usually gather to celebrate the transformative and dramatic changes that organized workers have won throughout the decades: from ending child labor, to winning a 40 hour work week, to winning safety protections through the Occupational…

Upper Mississippi River named America’s Most Endangered River for 2020

The Upper Mississippi River needs a Water Management Plan. This post written by Christine Favilla, Three Rivers Project Co-coordinator for the Sierra Club’s Piasa Palisades Group headquartered out of Alton, Illinois. American Rivers named the Upper Mississippi River America’s Most Endangered River® of 2020, citing the grave threat that climate change and poor river and…

Earth Day at 50, And A World In Crisis: What We Must Do Now

This week marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, but missing are the large rallies, marches, cleanup days, educational fairs, and other gatherings that have annually celebrated the role we can each play in protecting the planet.  These moments to show our support for our common home are of course cancelled by COVID19, as are…

Federal Court Decision Raises Questions about a Permit Issued for Pond Creek Mine’s Wastewater Pipeline to the Big Muddy River in Southern Illinois

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2020 Contact: Amanda Pankau, Prairie Rivers Network, 217-840-3057, apankau@prairierivers.org Cindy Skrukrud, Sierra Club, 312-229-4694, cindy.skrukrud@sierraclub.org Williamson Energy, owner of the Pond Creek Mine in Franklin and Williamson County, Illinois, has applied for or received several permits needed to construct a proposed 12-mile pipeline to pump mine wastewater into the Big…