Minnesota Currents - Summer 2014

Great Lakes Lobby Day in DC

In early March, the Great Lakes came to the Nation’s Capital. The Annual Great Lakes Day is a gathering of Great Lakes advocates from across the region, who bring their love and passion for the Great Lakes to Members of Congress. Clean Water Action helped recruit and organize the Minnesota delegation of nearly a dozen community members, local government officials, and business owners. Read more

Challenging Walgreen's

Concerned consumers, health and environmental leaders converged on a Minneapolis Walgreens to urge the national chain to reduce its sale of products containing toxic chemicals. Organized by Clean Water Action and the Healthy Legacy Coalition, the April 16 event was part of a national “Mind the Store” day of action on toxic chemicals in consumer products, with similar events at more than 45 Walgreens branches around the country.  Read more

Clean Water, Energy, and Jobs!

Clean Water Action members and staff joined more than 500 people in the capitol rotunda on April 22, Earth Day 2014, to hear from clean energy leaders, including Gov. Mark Dayton and others. Speakers urged participants to keep fighting to increase Minnesota’s Renewable Energy Standard and invest in energy efficiency programs that work.

Pthalates Found in all Tested Homes 

Pthalates, identified as priority toxic chemicals by the Minnesota Department of Health are typically found in body products, vinyl plastics, cleaners and other consumer products. Phthalates have been shown to cause lowered testosterone, reduced sperm count, asthma and other health problems, and recent federal research found that phthalates are more likely to cause fertility problems in men than in women. Pthaltes are also known to pose children’s health risks and could also impact boys’ future fertility. Read more

Protect Clean Water

For far too long, more than half of Minnesota’s stream miles have been without Clean Water Act protection and at risk from pollution or destruction. Bad policy decisions in the past decade got us into this mess. And it is a mess. Those streams feed the drinking water for 979,000 Minnesotans and should be fully protected under the law, but that is no longer the case. Read more

Giving Toxics the Boot

Chemical flame retardants used in furniture, electronics and other household products migrate into household dust and air and eventually into people’s bodies. The chemicals have proven ineffective at slowing or preventing fires, and exposure in homes and via toxic smoke during fires puts both homeowners’ and firefighters’ health at risk. Read more

Posted on June 17, 2014
States/Regions

Related Publications

Factsheet - Bag the Plastic Bag Ban in Minnesota!

Minnesota plastic bag recycling is estimated to be less than 10%. Clean Water Action is working to remove the plastic bag ban preemption in Minnesota statute, which will return local control around this issue back to where it belongs — with each city and town in Minnesota.

Factsheet - Protecting Our Waters from Plastic Pollution: Boat Shrink-Wrapping in Minnesota

Minnesota leads the nation in boats per capita, and 80,000 to 300,000 of these boats are shrink-wrapped every year over the winter with millions of pounds of plastic used. Clean Water Action is supporting legislation in the 2024 Minnesota Legislature to encourage the collection, recycling, and tracking of boat shrink-wrap plastic.

Minnesota Currents | Winter 2023

In This Issue: Cumulative Impacts Rulemaking: How People Can Engage | Progress On PFAS | Welcome Our New Minnesota Deputy Director | Brunch For Better Success | Taking On Toxics For Safer Communities: Healthy Legacy | Reducing Waste And Saving Money With Rethink Disposable! & National News: Urge Your Elected Officials To Protect ALL Of Our Water! | The Clean Water Act of 2023 | We Can Get The Lead Out Of Drinking Water | Federal Budget Update
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