Sierra Club TV Spots Tell Bush
"Clean Air, Not Polluted Power
Milwaukee—The Sierra Club is running TV ads in Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay that highlight efforts by the Bush Administration to weaken pollution standards for old dirty power plants, called New Source Review. The ad title “Just a breath” highlights a Wauwatosa 5th grader, Samantha Hermsen.
"I have asthma and when the air is dirty, I have to worry," said Samantha Hermsen. "You should worry too. Power plant pollution makes my asthma worse and we need to clean it up."
Coal power plant pollution currently causes 448 premature deaths a year in Wisconsin and 163 deaths in Milwaukee. More than 30,000 Americans die prematurely from asthma, heart attacks and other health problems each year, according to a study from Clear the Air, www.cleartheair.org.
“We know that coal power pollution puts our safety and families at risk,” said Gary Werner, Sierra Club Wisconsin Conservation Chair. “We need President Bush to give us clean energy, not just rake in money from big business and polluters.”
The ad highlights the link between campaign money and Bush efforts to weaken clean air safety standards. The Club released the ad before a Bush presidential visit on Friday attempting to raise a record $1.2 million. The Bush Campaign has taken already $69 million from big polluters and business so far, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org.
“Polluters gave President Bush millions and we get stuck with dirty air,” said Rosemary Wehnes, Sierra Club Southeast Wisconsin Organizer. The ad also highlights a better way for clean energy such as windmills and public transportation.
“There is a better way that includes cleaner technology like windmills and commuter trains,” said Brett Hulsey, Sierra Club Senior Midwest Representative. “These technologies can save us money, reduce air pollution, and decrease our reliance on risky foreign oil and polluting coal.”
People can view the ad, the documentation, and clean energy action kit at wisconsin.sierraclub.org or call 414-453-3127 or 608-257-4994. The Sierra Club is the nation’s oldest grassroots conservation organization founded by Wisconsinite John Muir.
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