Beloit International Film Festival
On Friday February 20th Blue Gold will be screened at the Beloit International Film Festival starting at 7:30pm.
Blue Gold is an internationally-acclaimed documentary that follows the worldwide fight for the right to clean water. The international cast includes River Alliance dam expert Helen Sarakinos and a group of Wisconsin homegrown water rights heroes. Meet the filmmaker, and the Wisconsin cast at the reception which starts at 6pm.
Details: (map)
- Blue Gold Screening Friday February 20th, 2009 7:30pm (Wilson Theatre 700 College Street Beloit WI)
- Cost: $7.00 (General Admission)/$5.00 (Student w/ID)
- Reception: Pleasant Street Coffeehouse 6:00pm (604 Pleasant Street Beloit, WI)
A reminder that Conservation Lobby Day is coming up on Wednesday February 25th. We will join citizens and other conservation groups to advocate the four following items:
- Preserve Groundwater
- Stop Global Warming in Wisconsin
- Restore Conservation Integrity
- Protect Wisconsin's Drinking Water
One important step to Restoring Conservation Integrity has been made with the introduction of LRB 0132/2 that restores the appointment authority of the DNR Secretary to the Natural Resources Board. It is currently being circulated to all state representatives and senators to sign on as cosponsors. Please contact your state representative and senator by either email, phone or regular mail and ask that they become cosponsors of LRB 0132/2.
Wisconsin Closer to Being Wilder!
Brunsweiler and Totogatic Wild River proposals advance in the Legislature
Last week, the natural resources committees of both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature heard from citizens and legislators about protecting the Brunsweiler River, a northward flowing stream in Ashland County, as Wisconsin’s fourth Wild River designated as such, and its first in 44 years.The Brunsweiler got special attention because it was the last big conservation project of beloved conservationist and political activist Martin Hanson, who died last fall. Hanson’s family property along the Brunsweiler was the scene of many “legendary pontoon trips,” as described by Sen. Bob Jauch, the measure’s co-sponsor, and others testifying last week.
Someone who knew well Martin Hanson’s pontoon trips was Tia Nelson. As Gaylord Nelson’s daughter, she witnessed a lot of memorable hi-jinks at the Hanson compound. Tia credited Hanson with helping generate the concepts of many of the conservation programs her father championed, including the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The day had to be especially gratifying for Dave Martin, a good friend of the River Alliance and original champion of the state Wild Rivers Act, in 1965. He reminded legislators that “every single member of both houses of the legislature” voted to support his initiative in the day, and that “absolutely no complaints in 44 years” have been leveled at the three existing Wild Rivers, in northeastern Wisconsin.
River Alliance board member Bill Schultheis said it simply and eloquently that day: “We have an obligation to protect rivers like these.”
Next up: approval from the Senate Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources Committee of the Totogatic River as a state Wild River, which the River Alliance has championed for years.
Challenging Times, Championing Rivers
Economic downturn. Recession. Depression. These words batter us on a daily basis. Store fronts are emptying, corporations are laying off folks …it’s almost as if nothing is succeeding lately. But know that at your favorite statewide river conservation organization, we're not slacking a bit on our championing of Wisconsin's rivers. You continue to support our work, at a time we know it might be hard for you to do that. (See our annual report in the current issue of Wisconsin Rivers.)
Our good stewardship with your money directly translated into positive impact in Wisconsin and the region. We completed the removal of Big Spring dam, allowing the stream to run free for the first time in 100 years. We helped shepherd the passage of the Great Lakes Compact. We worked with the DNR to create Project RED, a bold initiative to train citizens across the state on how to identify, and even eradicate, aquatic invasive species in rivers. We worked with the city of Racine to create a sustainable and economically beneficial urban redevelopment plan focused on the Root River. We could go on….but we don’t want to make our larger corporate brethren feel too badly.
The smart investment of members and donors like you made these successes possible. Unlike many options today in the marketplace, when you invest your $250, $100 or even $50 dollars in the River Alliance, you know you’ll get a return on that investment. You’ll get restored trout streams, cleaner rivers, more and cleaner groundwater, beautiful and economically stimulating urban river renewal efforts, and a voice for the state’s flowing waters in the state legislature. You’ll know you’ve invested your money wisely. Invest in the River Alliance today and help us continue to succeed.
In This Issue
Finding Blue Gold
Citizens, Start Lobbying
Wild Rivers Advance
Challenging Times, Championing Rivers
Thanks to all of the attendees and sponsors for the Wild and Scenic Film Festival. Click here to view images from the night.
