The Chicago Clean Power Ordinance is being heard before the City Council on Valentine's Day, beginning at 10:00 AM:

February 14, 10:00 am

City Hall, 2nd Floor Council Chambers

121 North LaSalle St., Chicago

Can you be there?  This ground-breaking ordinance, sponsored by 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore, was designed to clean up two of the oldest and dirtiest coal-burning plants in the nation. But its passage has been stalled by Mayor Daley and his administration! We need to PACK THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS to show our support for passing the ordinance and to tell our elected officials that politics as usual won't be tolerated.   

Emissions from these plants contribute to asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, acute bronchitis other respiratory illnesses and - premature death.  Click here to let us know you are coming and then here to sign up to testify.  

Need to know more? Visit the Chicago Clean Power Coalition's website for deatilas about the campaign, the ordinance's cosponsos and the coalition.  EJC is a founding member of what has grown to be nearly 55 organizations working together to clean up these plants.   

Lifestyles for a Sustainable Future

We're at it again ... and have a great group ready to explore topics around eco-justice, such as exponential growth and sustainability; food; water; and energy.  We'll determine our ecological footprint, discuss its social and environmental implications, and learn ways in which we can bring our lives more in harmony with what we believe. 

If you are interested ... we might be able to make space for one or two more!  Contact us at ejc@ecojusticecollaborative.org.  More...

Peacemaking in a Culture of Violence

Join EJC at this year's Congress on Urban Ministry that will be held March 1-3, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency, McCormick Place. This year's theme is "Peacemaking in a Culture of Violence". 

We will be leading a workshop on ecological peacemaking on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 10:30 am called:  "Asleep at the Switch: Violence to America's Heartland and a Wake Up Call to a Just Energy Future".  This interactive workshop will take a look at the consequences of our western lifestyles. The simple act of turning on a light switch, for example, sets in motion a chain of events that destroys farmland and forest; poisons drinking water; pollutes the air we breathe and displaces entire communities.   

What should our response be, as people of faith and conscience?  More... 

Heartland Coalfield Alliance

After our last delegation to central and southern Illinois, several organizations decided to come together to form the Heartland Coalfield Alliance.  We're working together to provide awareness of the impacts of a coal economy in America's heartland, and to provide a just transition to an economy based on clean, safe and sustainable practices.

We're gearing up for another spring delegation, so watch our website!  In the meantime, click here to learn more about coal mining in Illinois and the parallels with mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia.  Who are the players?  What are the impacts to land, water and communities?  Why should we care?   

Great Lakes Chapter, Chicago Bioneers 

We've got the seeds and our feet planted for a 2011 Chicago Bioneers Conference!  Bioneers (biological pioneers) visionaries already are creating the healthy, diverse, and equitable world we want to live in.  We're creating the framework and structure now, and just beginning to work on our program and theme:  "Showcasing sustainability that works in the city that works."

Bioneers is inspiring a shift to live on earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other and future generations.  This is a terrific way to get involved in an effort that is positive and looks at the interconnectedness of life, learning from and mimicking earth's ecosystems.   

Interested?  Contact us here!