Growing up in southern Illinois, I wouldn’t think twice about jumping into any one of the local lakes and ponds for a swim. My parents would never have dreamed that eating the local fish could harm my health.

Today, parents have to worry about the toxic mercury content of fish from Illinois’ lakes and rivers. They have to worry about the smog and soot in our air causing asthma attacks or making it unhealthy for their kids to go outside on a hot summer day. And we all have reason to worry about the toxic pollution and overdevelopment that threaten even our biggest natural resource: Lake Michigan.

And what about the future? As the Earth’s temperature rises, scientists are predicting a bleak one: increasing drought and hunger, rising sea levels flooding our coastal areas, and massive loss of species worldwide.

Fortunately, there are solutions to these problems. We can both reduce air pollution and reverse global warming trends by investing in energy efficiency and in non-polluting energy sources like wind and solar power.

If our leaders commit to new protections and funding to restore Lake Michigan, we can preserve it for future generations. If we adopt meaningful rules to guide development, we can save critical farmland, wetlands and open spaces that make Illinois a great place to live.

We’ve started Environment Illinois to advance common-sense solutions to these problems. As the new home of Illinois PIRG’s environmental work, we will redouble our efforts with a sharper focus on environmental goals: reducing air and water pollution, combating global warming, and preserving our special places for ourselves and future generations.

As an Illinois PIRG supporter, you have made many of our key accomplishments possible. Your continued support for our work at Environment Illinois will be the most important ingredient in achieving the goals that lie ahead. Thank you, and welcome to Environment Illinois!

Rebecca Stanfield
State Director