History
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Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, is the oldest and largest state group dedicated to the defense of Wisconsin's natural heritage. It is an aggressive and effective advocate working on three main fronts: lobbying, litigation, and citizen action and education.
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Clean Wisconsin was founded as Wisconsin's Environmental Decade on Earth Day, 1970, by Peter Anderson and Douglas LaFollette (now Secretary of State). Peter read that Doug LaFollette, a progressive, was running for Congress and came to Wisconsin to work for him. Doug's loss in that election allowed time for him and Peter to found Wisconsin's Environmental Decade. | |
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With the belief that the 1970's would be the start of a new environmental era, the duo named their organization Wisconsin's Environmental Decade. The first office was located in Racine, but only for a short time. They moved to Madison in order to be on top of the political action, state agencies, legislature and the courts. The early days of the organization were tough. Peter earned only $20/week, had no office, and often slept in the Capitol. | |
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In 1973, to further develop the organization, a mailing to 2000 known environmentalists raised about $10,000 and created 500 loyal members. On a meager budget, additional staff were added, including attorney Kathleen Falk (now Dane County Executive), and later Spencer Black (now a Wisconsin State Representative). |
The organization's name outlasted the decade. In 2003, after much review, Wisconsin's Environmental Decade changed its name to Clean Wisconsin and continues its mission. Representing its thousands of members, Clean Wisconsin continues as an aggressive advocate of important environmental issues and is noted for its effectiveness in three areas: lobbying, litigation and citizen action.
Legislation. The most important rule in our
political system is "do what the people back home want you to do." Creating
tough environmental laws means working closely with state government. Day
in and day out, the Clean Wisconsin staff makes it a point to be in the
Capitol; to know the legislators; and to know every wrinkle of a particular
environmental issue. - Litigation. When state agencies don't follow environmental laws critical to the economic health of our state, litigation is an effective catalyst to turn on "political heat".
- Citizen Action and Education. Clean Wisconsin has developed an Action Network across Wisconsin. When an environmental law is overturned or weakened, there has to be a quick response from phones, mailboxes, faxes and emails from across the state. Join Our Network Here...
Due in part to Clean Wisconsin's activities, Wisconsin has a strong grassroots environmental ethic. Our state is noted for its national prominence in environmental protection and as a policy pioneer. Wisconsin's continued strength depends on people who believe its environment is worth fighting for.
"[Clean Wisconsin] has had a voice no regulatory agency could ignore in every major environmental decision since 1970."
— Milwaukee Sentinel"I can't imagine Wisconsin without [Clean Wisconsin]! It has been an effective, respected defender of our state's natural heritage."
— Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive