Do environmentalists really care about pollution?

This may be a rather strong statement, but I have to say it. I don't believe environmentalists really care about pollution. They only care about who pollutes. They are perfectly willing to look past situations where government pollutes, because they support big government controlling our lives.

We've all heard about the Kyoto Protocol and how it exempts China. That is, it hamstrings western democracies and gives China a free pass to continue polluting.

Let me give a more specific example. When individuals or corporations pollute, even on a minuscule scale, they are prosecuted vigorously. But when government agencies pollute on massive scales, they are given a free pass.

First, a mountain out of a molehill. From the City of Milwaukee, a construction worker dumps a concrete slab into the river:
"Caught On Camera: Construction Worker Dumping Concrete Into Milwaukee River"
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/944495/caught_on_camera_construction_worker_dumping_concrete_into_milwaukee_river

And the construction worker's side of the story:
"Fired Construction Worker Says He Was Ordered To Push Concrete Into Milwaukee River"
http://www.associatedcontent.com/video/321088/fired_construction_worker_says_he_was.html?cat=64


Meanwhile, take a look at what MMSD (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District) does on a regular basis. Here's an example from 2005, where they dumped raw sewage for 13 straight hours:
"Rain Brings Lake Michigan Sewage Dump"
http://www.estormwater.com/Rain-Brings-Lake-Michigan-Sewage-Dump--NewsPiece10152

And some pretty pictures.

Disgusting, right? But perfectly legal. Not even worth mentioning. Not a peep from so-called environmental advocates.


Now let's go down the Lake Michigan coast, to Chicago. Have you ever heard of the Chicago River? Do you remember that the direction of flow of the river was changed around 1900? Do you remember WHY? They did it so Chicago could continue to dump sewage into the river.

Some history:
"The disinfection debate: How clean should the Chicago River be?" by Lea Radick
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/govt/story.aspx?id=156707

Another point of view, from the Chicago Tribune:
"Cleaner river = pollution?"
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-01-22/news/1001220186_1_metropolitan-water-reclamation-district-disinfect-chicago-river

This says it all: "Chicago is the only major U.S. city that doesn't disinfect its sewage..."

In fairness, I shouldn't say that there are no environmental groups that give government a free pass:
"Environmental groups file suit against Chicago wastewater treatment utility"
http://usalco.com/company/news/environmental-groups-file-suit-against-chicago-wastewater-treatment-utility-169

Amazingly, the EPA finally decided to step up and require Chicago to disinfect its sewage. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
"EPA orders Chicago waterway cleanup" by Dan Egan
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/121733544.html

It's about time.