The Root Word: ForestEthics Blog

Dear Supporters,

Every day I see the flares and billowing smoke from the tar sands refinery near my home. I often wonder what that refinery is discharging into the air and water, especially since the recent BP refinery fire in February of this year. That explosion sent out huge columns of black smoke and bursts of fire. It scared me to death.

Most days I try not to worry too much about whether my three beautiful children—Caleb, 6; Simon, 4; and baby Lola, 1 year—will develop asthma, a rash or some other illness from refinery emissions. But, I’m a mom and I do worry. So, I take action to protect my children.

Please join me in sending an email to Lisa Jackson at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Tell her to develop rules NOW that limit refinery use of tar sands.

Last week, Aaron Sanger from ForestEthics told you about tar sands bitumen—the toxic stew of chemicals that refineries across the US are buying from Canada and then refining. He told you about the significant health risks that people living near these refineries face each day.

The Kalamazoo disaster is a sobering reminder of how tar sands can destroy a community’s wetlands, wildlife and drinking water. Two years ago, a corroded Enbridge pipeline leaked 850,000 gallons of tar sands bitumen into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River. It was the largest onshore pipeline disaster in our nation’s history.

That’s just not okay. It’s not okay for my children and it’s not okay for your family, either.

Lisa Jackson needs to hear from you today. Thousands have already emailed Ms. Jackson. If you haven’t yet, send her an email telling her to make our communities safe.

And please, for the sake of our children, share this message with your friends, neighbors and family. The tar sands refinery rules we desperately need must be drafted and approved by the EPA before its too late.

Thank you.

Lizzie
Mother of three and concerned citizen