I’m dimly aware of an issue before Congress that some of you are working on: The Clean Water Restoration Act. A story in the Washington Post yesterday reminded me of it. If you’re involved in any issue advocacy, this post is for you. Here’s the key quote from the Post story:

In the past five years, 44 percent of Americans — about 100 million people — have contacted their elected representatives in Washington. Most of them did so at the prompting of a third party — often a lobbying group — according to surveys done for the Congressional Management Foundation.

However, other social research (admittedly using different methodologies) usually pegs the number of Americans who recall contacting elected officials about nature protection and pollution control at only 10% to 20%. Yikes!

Why is that? I think the key phrase here is that most citizens who write Congress “did so at the prompting of a third party.” That means somebody like you called them on the phone, mailed them a letter, or sent them an email saying “please write your Senator” about this important issue.

Which is exactly what the good folks at Clean Water Action are up to right now, trying to close a loophole in the Clean Water Act. Let’s check out their pitch to their members:

The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 to protect all the nation’s waters. However, the Bush Administration, at the urging of special interests, has interpreted the law to apply only to some bodies of water. This is not what the law intended or what the American people want…Many waters are at risk. Some of these waters and wetlands are homes for birds, fish and waterfowl, filter pollutants and/or reduce flooding. Now is no time to abandon three decades of progress restoring and protecting America’s waters.

Source: Clean Water Action petition

I won’t mince my words here: that’s as about as motivating as an abstract in the Journal of American Limnology. Let’s try that again with some punch — using water words that work:

The Bush presidency has always been accountable to polluters, and recently they gave their corporate sponsors a handsome present — a giant loophole in the clean water and nature protection laws that help keep you and your family safe from pollution and floods. But it’s not too late for you to make a difference about this. Tens of thousands of Americans are working together to stand up for strong, fair laws that protect citizens like you. Won’t you please join us? Write your Senator today and tell them that you want future generations of Americans to enjoy clean water, healthy wildlife populations, and natural areas they can enjoy with their families. Ask your Senator to support pending legislation (S.1870) that would reverse the Bush administration’s irresponsible actions.

Now… my rewrite may make you lobbyists out there wince, but here’s the key question — which of those two approaches will get more people to actually write Congress?

Here’s a video that delivers a stern warning against dumping household hazardous waste down the toilet or in the stormdrain. It’s a great message for those who are paying close attention, but some people will see the commercial while sitting in a bar, or in the airport, or while their kids are yelling in their ear, or in some other distracting situation. Those folks won’t hear the narrator saying it’s bad to dump oil down the storm drain — they’ll just see a guy dumping oil down the drain and his wife doesn’t seem to mind.

Monkey see, monkey do. Under certain circumstances, this video could accidentally send the message that it’s ok to dump oil down the storm drain. The video should show the guy’s wife hitting him with a frying pan. That’s a message that would come through even if the sound was off.

Oh, yes indeed. Here’s a very nice piece. It doesn’t actually use the water words that work, but it hits all the right buttons. Watch this piece and watch how hard the producers are working to prove to viewers that their $1 donation makes a difference, and that if a lot of people work together to make a $1 dollar donation, it will make a big difference to help all those children stay healthy! Terrific work from The Tap Project!

Tip of the hat to Julie at the Water Resources Education Network for sharing this fine work.

This time it’s in Montana, where the Department of Environmental Quality is seeking:

… applicants for mini-grants of EXACTLY $1,500 to fund local education and outreach efforts that address water quality and nonpoint source pollution issues,” according to the email announcement….Focusing on education and outreach, the grants provide a mechanism to increase awareness of local nonpoint source pollution issues and to improve water quality through educational activities.

The agency envisions that those seeking grants will be:

• Local watershed groups
• Conservation districts
• County extension services
• Schools

Etc… and must have the ability to manage federal funding.

To read the call for mini grants, click here.
To download the mini-grant application, click here