Will Democrats truly take to heart the statements made in the 2002 platform regarding the environment and natural resources.

I live in area known for its rich farming history and prime farmland with a combination of exemplary soils, topography and climate.  Our homes, quality of life, health, financial security, and general well-being are being threatened by the invasion of multiple CAFOs.  The Illinois Livestock Management Facilities Act is so biased in favor of these corporate giants that under the guise of a “family farm” they are being allowed to destroy communities and drive-out the real family farmer.
 
This writer has joined a group opposed to a CAFO in a residential area and the weak laws that allow corporations to destroy sustainable family farming.

We are opposed to a hog facility that could sit in the middle of a populated area with 3,100,000 gallons of unregulated manure.  This equals the amount of sewage a large city produces.   Our Republican Representative, Dave Wirsing, looked me straight in the eye and said “You can pour all the manure you want all day long on the ground and it won’t seep in.”  With this republican attitude and only 9 EPA officers to police the entire state, Illinois has a poor history of enforcing the weak laws that are currently in place to protect our environment.

A CAFO is allowed to double in size every two years without any further regulations.   This is probably the biggest loophole in the current Illinois Livestock Management Facilities Act that favors corporate farming.  The act blatantly discriminates against the small farmer by not counting them as a resident.  They virtually have no voice when a CAFO decides to move in next door.

Setbacks are insufficient.  Currently CAFOs are only required to be setback from the nearest residence.  This means they can literally build adjacent to their neighbors’ property using his land as a buffer zone, limiting the land use.   Studies have repeatedly shown that land value within 1.5 miles will drop 30% with an inverse relationship of homes located closer to a CAFO loosing much more up to a total loss.  I recently spoke with a farmer downstate where a CAFO moved in about 1 mile away and he has been unable to sell his home.  To this writer that is a 100% loss.   CAFOs depress the economy and growth of communities where they are located while communities with sustainable family farms continue economic growth.  Despite this fact, the State of Illinois, under its republican regime, gives away thousands of dollars in grant money to build these huge corporate confinement factories.

Studies have clearly shown wide-spread pollution around CAFOs.  As ground water becomes polluted with manure spills and the land becomes over saturated with fertilizer, there is an associated risk not just to rural wells, but, to cities who regularly chlorinate their water supply.  Birth defects and miscarriages are linked to chemicals that are produced when chlorine, used to purify drinking water, mixes with organic matter, such as fertilizer in surface water.  Health risks are not just from polluted water.  VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are released into the air and carried away on dust particles and blown throughout the countryside by huge fans exhausting mega-size barns.  Headaches, runny noses, sore throats, excessive coughing, diarrhea, burning eyes, respiratory problems, stress and shortness of breath occurs more frequently in communities near hog confinements.

To this writer, the current laws in Illinois clearly show that Republicans care more for corporate dollars than the health and welfare of the people.

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Taken from the Democratic 2002 Platform

Natural Resources
Preservation of the family farm is another goal of our party. We also support continued emphasis on resource conservation, agricultural research and the promotion of agricultural exports. We desire repeal of the Republican Freedom to Farm Law. This law has harmed family farmers, while benefiting corporate agribusiness.

Environment
The Democratic Party believes strongly in the freedom of Americans to breathe clean air and drink safe water. We oppose Republican efforts to scale back the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and Community Right?to?Know laws that safeguard the health of American families.
 
We support efforts to clean up and prevent pollution, conserve resources, protect wilderness areas and avert the threats of global warming and ozone depletion.
 
Knowing that it indeed is possible to grow the economy and protect the environment at the same time, Democrats will continue to move forward by reducing red tape and punishing polluters.