Join the Madison Environmental Justice Organization to discuss this topic:
Ever wonder about that “most studied lakes in the world” tag you hear about Madison lakes?
So do we. Come hear about what’s known and what’s unknown about toxins in Madison lakes.Ever wonder about just who “uses” the lakes.
Come hear from people who experience the lakes in ways usually not reported.Environmental justice involves what is usually ignored: first you have to identify it, then you have to do something about it. Come help us do both.
“Environmental justice, fishing and the problem with our lakes”
A Public Forum sponsored by the Madison Environmental Justice OrganizationMonday, May 5
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Madison Central Library
201 W. Mifflin St. (1 block from Capitol Square)Fishing is part of every cultural heritage. Here in Wisconsin ice fishing, trout fishing in streams and fishing from boats on one of the state’s 14,000 lakes are common images. Less common to many people is the image of someone fishing from the railroad tracks that cross Monona Bay, along the bike path wall at Monona Terrace, and at the Tenney Park lagoon or Warner Beach.
Yet shoreline fishing in the Madison area is a great, inexpensive pastime for many people, especially people of color and the poor. And the fish–panfish, white bass, catfish, carp–are a welcome and often much-needed fresh food source on many people’s plates.
Herein lays a problem.
Due to toxins in the lakes, locally caught fish contain mercury, PCBs, PAHs, lead, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other poisons. Anyone who eats fish needs to be aware of these concerns and make smart decisions regarding how many and which kinds of fish to eat.
And all of us need to think of “cleaning up the lakes” as addressing the toxins that are in the sediment, water, fish and other aquatic life.
Join us at our Forum as we look at the situation and discuss ideas how to make the lakes cleaner and eating fish an always healthy food choice.
Info: www.mejo.us; 608.240.1485
