FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendi Onuki
269-363-1741 or wendi.onuki@gmail.com
SOUTH HAVEN WILL PARTICIPATE IN 45-CITY EVENT FOR LOVE OF GREAT LAKES
All Hands On Deck event aims to call attention to need for legislation, regulations, funding to sustain health of world’s largest surface fresh water resource
SOUTH HAVEN, MI: South Haven will be among more than 50 communities in five Great Lakes-bordering states and Ontario, Canada, committed to taking part in All Hands On Deck, a non-partisan event on July 3 at 10 a.m. EDT. Participants will link hands or hoist boat flags along the shores to raise awareness of the need to protect our beloved, essential bodies of water.
“The idea resonates with people across a very broad region because they all realize the Great Lakes are precious resources that are essential for our environment, our economies, and our way of life, ” AHOD founder Kimberly Simon said.
More than 1400 people have joined the All Hands On Deck discussion group on Facebook, with many actively involved in organizing participating events in their local area.
The nonpartisan, all-volunteer event transcends geopolitical boundaries. Coordinated events will take place at public beaches and other public-accessible sites in local communities, with people linking hands and boats hoisting flags on water.
“We all want to care for our Great Lakes,” Simon said. “They’re facing so many threats – invasive species, pipeline leaks, waste disposal and many other types of pollution, diversion, erosion, possible funding cuts for research and maintenance programs and staff – the list goes on and on. Whether people are residents of the Great Lakes Basin, or business owners, leaders and policymakers, visitors or vacationers, everyone has a stake in sustaining the vitality of our Great Lakes.”
The South Haven event is organized by the Progressives United of South Haven.
###
About All Hands On Deck
Launched March 2, 2017 by Kimberly Simon of Charlevoix, MI, the idea was prompted by the announcement of proposed funding cuts that would eliminate the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. However evolved to reflect ongoing water issues centered around the desire for water policy to be based on unbiased science.
A groundswell of interest quickly followed; within two weeks, hundreds of volunteers in more than a dozen communities had begun planning local events, and on day 13 Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council became the first of many groups to support and publicize All Hands On Deck. A complete list of participating communities and supporters can be found at allhandsondeckgreatlakes.org
Mission
All Hands on Deck builds nonpartisan support for legislation, regulations, funding based on unbiased science to sustain the health of world’s water resource by providing an annual event and actions to celebrate our waters and unite new advocates to the cause until water is non-politicized or monetized.
Goals
• Unite communities in a nonpartisan way around the Great Lakes to raise awareness for the need for unbiased policy based on science to fund, regulate, and research water challenges.
• Coordinate a pledge from Federal and State MOC and Senators to sign that promises that they will write and support policies new and old that are/were created on unbiased science.
• Coordinate a petition online and at handhold events that is signed on behalf of citizens that will agree to remain vigilant in raising awareness in recognizing whether decisions have and are being created about water from unbiased science.
• Provide a platform for communities to educate themselves about the science needed to understand water issues and to increase awareness about local threats and concerns related to water via the community handhold groups formed.
Values
Water should be available and affordable for all. Money should never come between the availability to healthy water.
Water is life. It is a reflection of a sacred contract that we hold with the earth. Safe water, healthy citizens.
Every person can help with individual habits, awareness of the science behind potential threats, and staying actively involved in voting, running for office, and communicating with decision makers.
Protecting water is something that all political sides can support We are inclusive and believe that respect for clean water is something that unites us all—nationally, internationally, tribes, First Nations, religions, cultures, communities, and individuals.
By unifying: water organizations, water issues, water activists, water sports enthusiasts, and business owners we visually show a united front and amplify the volume therefore increase awareness and actions to protect water.
About the Great Lakes
Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario together are the largest surface freshwater system on Earth; only the Polar icecaps contain more water. The Great Lakes contain 84% of North America’s surface fresh water, and 21% of all the surface fresh water in the world. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Great Lakes are “a dominant part of the physical and cultural heritage of North America.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendi Onuki
269-363-1741 or wendi.onuki@gmail.com
SOUTH HAVEN WILL PARTICIPATE IN 45-CITY EVENT FOR LOVE OF GREAT LAKES
All Hands On Deck event aims to call attention to need for legislation, regulations, funding to sustain health of world’s largest surface fresh water resource
SOUTH HAVEN, MI: South Haven will be among more than 50 communities in five Great Lakes-bordering states and Ontario, Canada, committed to taking part in All Hands On Deck, a non-partisan event on July 3 at 10 a.m. EDT. Participants will link hands or hoist boat flags along the shores to raise awareness of the need to protect our beloved, essential bodies of water.
“The idea resonates with people across a very broad region because they all realize the Great Lakes are precious resources that are essential for our environment, our economies, and our way of life, ” AHOD founder Kimberly Simon said.
More than 1400 people have joined the All Hands On Deck discussion group on Facebook, with many actively involved in organizing participating events in their local area.
The nonpartisan, all-volunteer event transcends geopolitical boundaries. Coordinated events will take place at public beaches and other public-accessible sites in local communities, with people linking hands and boats hoisting flags on water.
“We all want to care for our Great Lakes,” Simon said. “They’re facing so many threats – invasive species, pipeline leaks, waste disposal and many other types of pollution, diversion, erosion, possible funding cuts for research and maintenance programs and staff – the list goes on and on. Whether people are residents of the Great Lakes Basin, or business owners, leaders and policymakers, visitors or vacationers, everyone has a stake in sustaining the vitality of our Great Lakes.”
The South Haven event is organized by the Progressives United of South Haven.
###
About All Hands On Deck
Launched March 2, 2017 by Kimberly Simon of Charlevoix, MI, the idea was prompted by the announcement of proposed funding cuts that would eliminate the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. However evolved to reflect ongoing water issues centered around the desire for water policy to be based on unbiased science.
A groundswell of interest quickly followed; within two weeks, hundreds of volunteers in more than a dozen communities had begun planning local events, and on day 13 Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council became the first of many groups to support and publicize All Hands On Deck. A complete list of participating communities and supporters can be found at allhandsondeckgreatlakes.org
Mission
All Hands on Deck builds nonpartisan support for legislation, regulations, funding based on unbiased science to sustain the health of world’s water resource by providing an annual event and actions to celebrate our waters and unite new advocates to the cause until water is non-politicized or monetized.
Goals
• Unite communities in a nonpartisan way around the Great Lakes to raise awareness for the need for unbiased policy based on science to fund, regulate, and research water challenges.
• Coordinate a pledge from Federal and State MOC and Senators to sign that promises that they will write and support policies new and old that are/were created on unbiased science.
• Coordinate a petition online and at handhold events that is signed on behalf of citizens that will agree to remain vigilant in raising awareness in recognizing whether decisions have and are being created about water from unbiased science.
• Provide a platform for communities to educate themselves about the science needed to understand water issues and to increase awareness about local threats and concerns related to water via the community handhold groups formed.
Values
Water should be available and affordable for all. Money should never come between the availability to healthy water.
Water is life. It is a reflection of a sacred contract that we hold with the earth. Safe water, healthy citizens.
Every person can help with individual habits, awareness of the science behind potential threats, and staying actively involved in voting, running for office, and communicating with decision makers.
Protecting water is something that all political sides can support We are inclusive and believe that respect for clean water is something that unites us all—nationally, internationally, tribes, First Nations, religions, cultures, communities, and individuals.
By unifying: water organizations, water issues, water activists, water sports enthusiasts, and business owners we visually show a united front and amplify the volume therefore increase awareness and actions to protect water.
About the Great Lakes
Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario together are the largest surface freshwater system on Earth; only the Polar icecaps contain more water. The Great Lakes contain 84% of North America’s surface fresh water, and 21% of all the surface fresh water in the world. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Great Lakes are “a dominant part of the physical and cultural heritage of North America.”
