News and Events

	2008
August 7	The Department of Public Health - Madison and Dane County report on fish consumption advisories is due to the Dane County Board of Supervisors at its 7:00 pm meeting at the City-County Building, Room 201, 210 MLK Jr Blvd, Downtown Madison.
July 21	Local report about shoreline fishing released Focus on fishing habits and concerns of low-income and minority anglers (MADISON, Wis.)–Fishing is important to many Wisconsinites and to the state economy, and state tourism and natural resources managers promote fishing quite extensively. Fishing is also big business in Dane County, but not much information is available about urban shoreline fishing (as opposed to boat fishing in lakes and rivers). This report aims to shed a little light on those who fish from shorelines and who eat locally-caught fish, focusing on people of color and low-income families. Key finding in The State of Shoreline Fishing in Dane County: A report on fishing, fish consumption and public health advisories include: People who catch locally-caught fish eat about three fish meals per week. Some families eat many more fish meals per week than this, with many eating fish every day. Shoreline anglers catch a wide variety of fish, not just panfish. Bass, catfish and walleye are especially popular. These fish typically contain higher levels of toxins than panfish. Lake Monona, Lake Mendota, Tenney Park, Cherokee Marsh and Lake Wingra are very popular for shoreline fishermen of color. Most people are unaware of fish consumption advisories that are designed to protect public health. (For most people, one meal per week or month of certain fish is recommended.) For many people, the amounts of locally-caught fish they eat are greater than recommended in state fish consumption advisories. Due to mercury and PCB levels in fish, the State of Wisconsin has issued fish advisory warnings for anglers and those who eat locally caught fish from inland Wisconsin waters. Yet many anglers are not aware of these advisories.Levels of mercury, PCBs and other toxins that concentrate in fish are a known public health hazard. Shoreline anglers catch and consume many pan fish that may have lower toxin levels than larger fish, but when consumed in high quantities they may exceed levels recommended to avoid negative health effects; they also frequently catch and consume larger fish, which tend to have higher concentrations of toxins. Through our investigations, we have learned that public agencies have very little data about local fish consumption habits and toxin levels in locally caught fish. Levels of mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, and other toxins are high enough in Dane County lake sediments and waters to raise concerns that people may need to limit their consumption of fish caught in these waters because these compounds build up in fish tissue, which humans consume. To partially address this data gap, MEJO has gathered data about fish consumption habits by interviewing more than 125 local fishermen and families who eat fish (published in the report) Women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children are especially at risk for developmental, neurological and long term health problems from exposure to toxins present in locally caught fish. The environmental impacts of pollution on low-income and minority citizens are often unknown or underestimated because of a lack of data collection, and lack of consideration of these populations in determining public policy. This reality is a key component of environmental justice. The common good and sound public health policy is served by informing anglers and others of potential risks associated with consuming many kinds of locally caught fish. This report has been submitted to the Department of Public Health for the City of Madison and Dane County for use in compilation of its report to the Dane County Board of Supervisors, as directed by Sub. 1 to Resolution 238, 07-08 Posting of Fish Advisory Notices along Dane County Waters. We ask that the Public Health Department include in its report a recommendation that fish consumption advisory information be better disseminated, especially to low-income and minority communities, through permanent, laminated metal signs at popular publicly-accessible shoreline fishing locations, in Hmong, Spanish and English. The Madison Environmental Justice Organization (MEJO) was founded in 2006, with a mission to educate the community about environmental justice issues, work to address them, and support environmental justice for the benefit of the general public. We have been working with people of color and low-income residents for more than two years discussing toxins in locally-caught fish, and learning about cultural practices regarding fishing and preparing and eating fish. The full report can be found on the MEJO website at: http://www.mejo.us/downloads/MEJO%20State%20of%20Shoreline%20Fishing%20in%20Dane%20County.pdf and also by contacting MEJO directly at info@mejo.us.
June 20	MEJO delivers a report on its local fish consumption and fishing habits of shoreline anglers to the Department of Public Health - Madison and Dane County. Click on "Download" on the menu tab to the left for the report.
May 5	"Environmental justice, fishing and the problem with our lakes" *A Public Forum* Monday, May 5 7:00 - 8:30 pm Madison Central Library 201 W. Mifflin St. (1 block from Capitol Square) See more Forum info here
April 22	"Let's Talk Fish" at Northport Community Learning Center MEJO educational meeting
April 19	MEJO intern Cathy Collentine organized an environmental justice forum at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. MEJO vice president Benito Olivas gave a presentation of our local work; other speakers addressed national and international issues..
April 17	"Let's Talk Fish" at Kennedy Heights Community Center MEJO educational meeting
April 10	Supv. Ashok Kumar's resolution to better communicate fish consumption advisories to local shoreline angling populations passes the Dane County Board. A Dept of Public Health resport with recommendations is due in three months.
April 9	Executive director Maria Powell, outreach specialist Ly Xiong and vice president Benito Olivas talk about local environmental justice at Edgewood College.
March 8	MEJO conducts an environmental justice training workshop with 13 participants
March 8	We are happy to welcome Ly V. Xiong to our staff as our Hmong outreach specialist.. He will work with us to to better understand fishing and fish consumption practices, to identify social, communication, cultural, economic, and environmental factors that affect fish consumption in these communities; to build collaborative and effective partnerships among minority and poor anglers, neighborhood associations, community centers, non-profit organizations, university scientists, and government agencies that can effectively address fish consumption and water quality issues on Madison’s Northside and throughout the Madison area; and to empower citizens and build community capacity to educate the community about fish consumption and water quality issues and work to improve these issues in the long-term.
January 17	Fish advisory signs needed to protect public health (MADISON, WIS.)—“Pollution in Dane County lakes and waterways make it risky to catch and eat some fish; yet there are no fish consumption advisory signs posted where shoreline anglers can read them and make informed decisions,” said Madison Environmental Justice Organization Executive Director Maria Powell. “This is why we support County Supervisor Ashok Kumar’s resolution that the County post advisory signs,” she continued. Supv. Kumar will introduce the resolution at the January 17 County Board of Supervisors meeting. The resolution will be referred to various committees for discussion and action. Last September, about 60 MEJO members, anglers and others gathered at Brittingham Park to post their own fish advisory signs around Monona Bay, demonstrating the need for public institutions to acknowledge and address the problems with toxin levels in locally-caught fish. “While MEJO generally encourages consumption of fish from Madison lakes—which are free local, natural foods--unfortunately, mercury, PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides and other toxins make it necessary for people to limit their consumption of many of the fish caught in Dane County waters. Yet there are no signs posted anywhere along the shoreline to notify anglers of the risks,” said Powell. “This is important since shoreline anglers are often low-income and minority people who are not aware of the fish advisories,” she continued. “Posted signs, in Hmong, Spanish, and English, at least would provide information to help them make safer decisions about consuming fish,” she continued. MEJO has been asking state and county officials to install translated advisory signs since August 2006. MEJO has been working with the Northside Hmong community and others for the past two years discussing and addressing concerns related to catching and eating fish from Madison lakes. MEJO aims to build collaborative partnerships, to identify the local environmental and/or public health issues, and to envision solutions and empower the community through education, training, and outreach.

	2007
September 20	Fish advisory signs installed to highlight need for official action Environmental justice activists and anglers place signs around Monona Bay (MADISON, WIS.)—Sixty people gathered at Brittingham Park on Thursday, Sept. 20, to make and install fish consumption advisory signs to help shoreline anglers learn about the toxins in fish caught in Monona Bay. “Mercury, PCBs, PAHs, heavy metals, and other toxin levels in Monona Bay make it necessary for people to limit their consumption of many of the fish caught there, yet there are no signs posted anywhere along the bay shoreline to notify anglers of the risks,” said Madison Environmental Justice Organization Executive Director Maria Powell. “This is important because Monona Bay is one of the most heavily fished spots in the county, and most of the shoreline, often low-income anglers are not aware of the fish advisories,” she continued. “Signs posted around the bay at least would provide information to shoreline anglers as they fish and may lead them to make safer decisions about consuming fish.” MEJO has been asking state and county officials to install advisory signs to for the past year. The state often post fish consumption advisory signs at public boat ramps, but has not placed any around Monona Bay, where most anglers fish from shore. MEJO posted their own unofficial signs to draw attention to the need for the state and county to do so. MEJO members Cynthia Lin, Kazoua Moua, VamMeej Yang, Benito Juarez Olivas, Jody Schmitz and Sierra Powell welcomed a large crowd at the Brittingham Park fish fry where they learned about the pollution problems in the bay.

July 26	"Let's Talk Fish" at Kennedy Heights Community Center (Northport Dr at Kennedy Rd). MEJO educational meeting. Info: 240-1485

July 22	"Water, Fish and You" at Northside Farmers Market (Northside TownCenter, N Sherman Av and Northport Dr), 8:00 am - 12:30 pm

June 25	"Let's Talk Fish" at Warner Park Center MEJO educational meeting

April 23	"Let's Talk Fish" at Vera Court Neighborhood Center MEJO educational meeting

March 26	MEJO workshop session "Fish: A Fresh Look at a Local Food Source" at the Dane County Food Council's "Planting Seeds for our Future" Conference. See http://www.countyofdane.com/foodcouncil/conference.asp

	2006
September 14	Do you fish in Monona Bay? Did you know that the State of Wisconsin has identified Monona Bay as a “toxic hotspot” for mercury and PCB pollution? Learn about the status of fish and sediment contamination in Monona Bay from state and county officials at the upcoming Lakes & Watershed Commission meeting Dane County Lakes & Watershed Commission Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 5:15 p.m. City County Building, Room 309 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Madison, WI. (MEJO questions for the Commission can be found on our "Downloads" page.) The Commission took testimony from MEJO, state public health and and natural resources officials, and created a Fish Consumption Advisory Group that unfortunately, never met.

August 24	"Fishing, Madison Lakes and You" MEJO educational meeting at Kennedy Heights Community Center (Northport Dr and Kennedy Rd).

August 9	10 am at the Madison Hilton Hotel. MEJO panel discussion on "Reducing Mercury Exposure & Seeking Environmental Justice". See "Download - Press Releases: Media Advisory 8-7-06" for more info.

August 8	Fifty people attended the August 8th MEJO event at Brittingham Park . Scientists and academics from the international mercury conference at the Monona Terrace joined local MEJO members for a traditional Hmong dinner and discussion about fish consumption by shoreline anglers. See The Capital Times news coverage (Aug 9, 2006) at: http://www.madison.com/tct/

August 8	Join us on Tuesday, August 8, 6:00 pm at Brittingham Park on Monona Bay as we host a special Hmong potluck dinner for area residents, participants at the two mercury pollution conferences going on at the nearby Monona Terrace and Hilton Hotel, and MEJO members. Contact us at info@mejo.us or 608-240-1485 for more information. From the Mercury 2006 Conference website: http://www.mercury2006.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1563 Minority Angling in Urban America: *Subsistence Anglers’ Perspectives on Fishing, Fish Consumption, and Fish Advisories* Date/Time: Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7-8pm Location: Brittingham Park Shelter, 617 North Shore Dr., Madison, WI. Madison is a highly urbanized area that also includes a chain of four lakes (the Yahara Lakes) that are intensively fished by both recreational and subsistence anglers. Like all Wisconsin lakes, the Yahara lakes are on mercury advisories. Alongside a large number of mostly white sport-anglers (who primarily fish from boats), several minority groups, including Southeast Asians, African Americans, and Latinos, fish regularly along the shores of these lakes for food. Yet the perspectives of these anglers are rarely heard in government and academic discussions about fishing, fish consumption, and health risks. In this interactive workshop, minority subsistence anglers will share their perspectives about fish consumption and fish advisories in their communities. This workshop will give minority subsistence anglers a chance to voice their concerns and viewpoints on fish consumption and mercury advisories to scientists, academics, policymakers, and media, and to engage in interactive discussions with these audiences about these issues. Several minority anglers will share their perspectives, followed by an interactive “question-answer” discussion. Pre-Workshop Hmong Dinner: Before the subsistence angler workshop, all conference attendees are invited to join us between 6-7pm for a free Hmong picnic dinner at the Brittingham Park Shelter, 617 North Shore Dr, within easy walking distance from Monona Terrace. Members of the Madison Hmong community will prepare traditional Hmong dishes, including fish dishes, to share with everyone. Please join us for good food and conversation! Walking Directions to Brittingham Park Shelter from Monona Terrace: Go south along the lakeshore bike/walking path that runs in front of Monona Terrace. Take a right at the lights on North Shore Dr. and cross John Nolen Dr. into Brittingham Park. Follow the bike/walking path to the western end of the park, where you will see the Brittingham Park Shelter. If you are interested in participating in this workshop and/or the pre-workshop dinner, please email your name and contact information to urg@mercury2006.org. Please indicate whether you will attend the dinner only, the workshop only, or both. MEJO is presenting at this conference

August 7-10	The Global "Zero Mercury Working Group, EEB, NRDC, NWF, Toxics Link, Clean Wisconsin, Madison Environmental Justice Organization, MPP and several other health and environmental NGO groups are hosting an international meeting on mercury in Madison, Wisconsin, Aug.7-10, 2006 . Also, during nearly the same time, the 8th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant will be held directly adjacent to our meeting location. The ICMGP is a conference that mainly attracts scientists and researchers. While traditionally this meeting has focused on science, it increasingly is expanding into "socio-economic" issues. Our aim is to host a parallel meeting on mercury intended to complement the ICMGP and also include issues that may not be on the agenda, or presented from the NGO perspective, and will focus on a solutions-oriented agenda. To the extent possible, "cross pollination" is being encouraged between the two meetings. We welcome and support such interactions and invite ICMGP steering committee and other ICMGP planning committees (and their colleagues) to attend our opening plenary on Monday night where we will have an opportunity to reflect on the 50 anniversary of Minimata. MEJO is presenting at and co-sponsoring this conference

August 3	"Eating fish is good for you, right? Maybe not - For subsistence anglers, mercury is a threat. Do they understand the possible dangers?" Isthmus cover story, August 3, 2006 See http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=1984

July 27	"Fishing, Madison Lakes and You" at at Kennedy Heights Community Center MEJO educational meeting

July 20	MEJO presentation to the Triangle Neighborhood Resource Team at Brittingham Apartments

April 17	"Let's Talk Fish" at Kennedy Heights Community Center MEJO educational meeting

January 13	MEJO members successfully petition the Wisconsin Dept of Natural resources to install a continuous PM2.5 air quality monitor in Madison. The monitor was installed in June 2006 near East High School. Until this monitor was put into operation, the State determined Madison and Dane County air quality by estimated pollution based on monitor readings in adjacent counties.

Fish advisory signs needed to protect public health

From the Mercury 2006 Conference website: http://www.mercury2006.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1563

Minority Angling in Urban America:

Subsistence Anglers’ Perspectives on Fishing, Fish Consumption, and Fish Advisories Date/Time: Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7-8pmLocation: Brittingham Park Shelter, 617 North Shore Dr., Madison, WI.

Subsistence Anglers’ Perspectives on Fishing, Fish Consumption, and Fish Advisories

Date/Time: Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7-8pm
Location: Brittingham Park Shelter, 617 North Shore Dr., Madison, WI.