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  • TAKE ACTION!
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    • Maps. Documents, Etc.
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  • More
    • HOME
    • TAKE ACTION!
    • Learn More
      • Maps. Documents, Etc.
      • Videos
      • Guest Speakers
    • Latest News
    • CONTESTS
    • Other Initiatives
      • The Right to Night
    • CONTACT
    • MERCH
    • DONATE
  • HOME
  • TAKE ACTION!
  • Learn More
    • Maps. Documents, Etc.
    • Videos
    • Guest Speakers
  • Latest News
  • CONTESTS
  • Other Initiatives
    • The Right to Night
  • CONTACT
  • MERCH
  • DONATE

Out-of-State Residents Encouraged to Participate in All Steps!

The Porcupine Mountains and Lake Superior don't just belong to a single township, county or state — they belong to all of us, and they belong to no one but themselves.

STEP ONE: Sign and Share!

Sign-On Letter for Residents of Gogebic and Ontonagon CountiesSign-On Letter for OrganizationsSign the Petition!

STEP TWO: Resist the $50 million taxpayer-funded grant

HIGH PRIORITY ACTION!

We have received confirmation from Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony that the Copperwood Grant may still be approved in 2025.


_________________


In 2024, the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee blocked a $50 million taxpayer-funded grant to the proposed Copperwood Mine, not once but TWICE. This victory was in large part due to our campaign mobilizing tens of thousands of citizen advocates to put pressure on our elected officials and is a tremendous example of People Power in action. But we must remain vigilant: news articles are reporting that the company will continue seeking the grant in 2025, a fact which Senator Sarah Anthony confirmed on April 25th.


Please reach out to the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding these two points:


  1. Tell them THANK YOU for blocking the grant twice in 2024.
  2. Request confirmation that they will VOTE NO should the grant ever cross their desks again.


Expressing gratitude to our politicians for past actions serves two roles: 1) it's a nice thing to do, 2) it lets them know that they have something to lose.

E-mail Addresses (copy and paste the full list into the To: field of an email)


SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov

SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov

SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov

SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov

SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov

SenJIrwin@senate.michigan.gov

SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov

SenDCamilleri@senate.michigan.gov

SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov

SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov

SenMCavanagh@senate.michigan.gov

SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov

SenJDamoose@senate.michigan.gov

SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov

SenROutman@senate.michigan.gov

SenLTheis@senate.michigan.gov 


Phone Numbers

Sarah Anthony (Majority Chair) 517-373-6960
Sean McCann (Majority Vice Chair) 517-373-5100
John Cherry 517-373-0142
Rosemary Bayer 517-373-2417
Sylvia Santana 517-373-0990
Jeff Irwin 517-373-2406
Kevin Hertel 517-373-7315
Darin Camilleri 517-373-7918
Veronica Klinefelt 517-373-7670
Mallory McMorrow 517-373-2523
Mary Cavanagh 517-373-7748
John Bumstead (Minority Vice Chair) 517-373-1635
Thomas Albert 517-373-1734
John Damoose 517-373-2413
Mark Huizenga 517-373-0797
Rick Outman 517-373-3760
Lana Theis 517-373-2420

Talking Points

See the Homepage for inspiration. Even if you are only saying "thank you," it is always helpful to reiterate our arguments. More talking points can be found here.


If the project is to advance, may it do so on its own two feet along with the rest of us, through the forces of the free market without the interference of a corporate welfare handout from our pockets. Why should the taxpayers bail out a failing foreign company who wants to ship our copper abroad? This is a message politicians on both sides of the aisle can get behind. Tell our elected officials this is a controversial and divisive use of taxpayer dollars.

STEP THREE: Put Pressure at the Top!

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

The Governor has the power to intervene with Michigan's environmental regulators and halt permitting to the proposed Copperwood Mine. Contact the Governor today and demand a formal state review of the Copperwood Mine.  Find talking points here.

Contact the Governor

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

The Attorney General also has the power to influence Michigan's environmental permitting regulators. Contact the A.G. today and demand a formal state review of the Copperwood Mine. Find talking points here.


Contact the A.G.

Michigan's Environmental Regulators

Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) continues to approve permits to the proposed mine, despite significant environmental concerns, disruptions to outdoor recreation, and public pushback. Urge them to stand with the people of Michigan by denying all additional permits!

COntact Egle

Gogebic County Board of Commissioners

The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners continue to approve Resolutions of Support for the mine, despite pushback from the community, the local Tribe, and folks from around Michigan and beyond. Contact the Commissioners and tell them: 1) your tourist dollars are on the line; 2) the County's reputation is on the line; 3) Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains belong to all of us!

Contact the Commissioners

STEP FOUR: Be Creative!

Every single person has unique skills, resources, and time allowance to commit to this important cause. As a campaign based in a remote and scarcely populated area, we will only be successful if we have the help of many thousands of passionate individuals.

 

Please consider contributing by:

  • Writing blog posts / videos / your own social media content
  • Reaching out to media and request coverage
  • Submitting letters to the editor of a local or non-local newspaper
  • Designing and/or distributing flyers and stickers in your neighborhood
  • Host a table at a farmers market
  • What else? Use your imagination!

We are just the messenger!

Now that you've got the message, what will you do?

Help Our Cause

ProtectThePorkies is run entirely by volunteers dedicating considerable time and energy to this important cause. As a small team, we strive to make efficient and constructive use of funding. Your contributions assist greatly with our mission. 


  • PayPal (click the button below)
  • Venmo: @ProtectThePorkies (if asked for last four digits, 6667)


You may also mail checks to this address:


PO Box 6

Wakefield, MI

49968

Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

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Stay informed and join our mailing list; we will only contact you with pertinent news related to the campaign

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