Environmental justice groups fight pollution problems on Southeast Side

SETF has joined forces with People for Community Recovery, Sierra Club, the New 10ward Community Service Organization, Juan Deigo Community Center, and Eastside United Methodist Church, to form the Environmental Justice Alliance of Greater Southeast Chicago in order to combat a rising tide of environmental injustices coming to the community.

Environmental justice groups fight pollution problems on Southeast Side

NEW TOXICS TO TREASURES BOAT TOUR - CRUISE THE CALUMET

JOIN SETF FOR THIS END-OF-THE-SUMMER BOAT CRUISE ALONG "CHICAGO'S OTHER RIVER". THE 2 1/2 HOUR CRUISE WILL TAKE YOU DOWN THE THE CALUMET AS IT WINDS PAST GRITTY INDUSTRIAL SITES TO THE MOUTH OF LAKE MICHIGAN. WE'LL GLIDE PAST HISTORICAL BRIDGES AND SEE OLD MILL SITES WHERE ONCE TONS OF STEEL WAS PRODUCED. ON THE WAY BACK WE'LL TAKE A QUICK JAUNT INTO LAKE CALUMET, THE LAKE THAT FEW CHICAGOANS GET TO SEE.

THE TOUR DEPARTS FROM WINDJAMMER'S, A LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT THAT OFFERS A TASTE OF RIVERFRONT LIFE.

SOLD OUT!!!  NO LONGER ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS.

New Industry to Bring Jobs, Soot to Southeast Side - Chicago News Cooperative

New Industry to Bring Jobs, Soot to Southeast Side - Chicago News Cooperative

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE COAL GASIFICATION PLANT...

REPRESENTATIVES FROM LUECADIA WILL BE ON HAND TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THEIR COAL GASIFICATION PROJECT AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
ST. SIMEON SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
3737 E 114TH STREET
CHICAGO, IL 60617

A Road Runs Through It

The Hegewisch Marsh, an oasis of nature on the Southeast side of Chicago, is home to endangered species, beavers, and a host of other flora and fauna. Since being identified in the Calumet Open Space Reserve Plan as an important natural area to preserve as well as the targeted home for the proposed Ford Calumet Environmental Center, the city has been working hard on its restoration. Much has been accomplished in the past few years in an effort to return this green gem to as natural a state as possible.  And much more remains to be done as  evidenced by Walmart's recent donation  of $100,00.00 (see video above) to help fund restoration work.

But now, due to the planned reconfiguration of nearby Torrence Ave and 130th Street, an access road will be built through the Marsh, parallel to Torrence Avenue, for the purpose of transferring Ford's new vehicles from their plant to their parking lot on the opposite side of the street. Acres of wetland, as well as newly established wildlife habitat, will be filled in and lost because of this construction.

In 2001, when the city recognized the value of the remenant natural areas scattered among the many abandoned brown fields on the Southeast side, it developed the Chicago Land Use Plan for the Calumet area, declaring that nature and industry could coexist side-by-side and that good business development benefited the environment. Perhaps that holds true in a more perfect world, but it has been our experience more often then not, that business trumps nature.

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Woo-hoo! Earnshaws Raise 425.50 for SETF

Because the Earnshaws completed the 13.1 course in the Walk Wisconsin walkathon, they were able to collect $425.50 in pleges for SETF. We appreciate all the time and effort they put in this fundraising campaign. We hope they will consider doing it again next year.

Walking for SETF

Jim and Julia Earnshaw, members of SETF, completed the 13 mile Walk for Wisconsin marathon last weekend in Stevens Point, Wisconsin - and they did it all for SETF! The Earnshaws generously donated weekends of their time, working hard to build up their stamina and to collect pledges.  They were determined to complete the course and they did.

It's not too late to support their efforts.  Please consider making a donation to SETF.

Click below to see them in action.

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