Changes

===Political Candidates===

===Political Candidates===

[[File: LesGoldenNotEasyBeingGreen.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small> One of the leading environmentalist spokesmen and activists in Illinois, Les Golden as President of the CARE party in Oak Park, Illinois, secured the election of a majority on the Park Board which on their first day in office banned pesticides in the parks and recreation centers.</small>]]

[[File: LesGoldenNotEasyBeingGreen.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small> One of the leading environmentalist spokesmen and activists in Illinois, Les Golden as President of the CARE party in Oak Park, Illinois, secured the election of a majority on the Park Board which on their first day in office banned pesticides in the parks and recreation centers.</small>]]

Dr. [[Les Golden]] of Oak Park, Illinois, has directed successful candidacies for nearly 10 people and has slated dozens, all with a focus on environmental issues. He has also run as a candidate for the park board to bring forward environmental concerns.  These include Francis "Bud" Corry, who became president of the park board, Christine Comer, who became president of the park board, Barbara Jepsen (park board), David Ristau (high school board), Steve Robinson (village board), George Doherty (township board), Gary Johnson (library board), Bruce Samuels (library board), and others.

Dr. [[Les Golden]] of Oak Park, Illinois, has directed successful candidacies for nearly 10 people and has slated dozens, all with a focus on environmental issues.   These include Francis "Bud" Corry, who became president of the park board, Christine Comer, who became president of the park board, Barbara Jepsen (park board), David Ristau (high school board), Steve Robinson (village board), George Doherty (township board), Gary Johnson (library board), Bruce Samuels (library board), and others.  Professor Golden has also run as a candidate himself for the park board to bring forward environmental concerns.

===Save the Pedestrian Mall===

===Save the Pedestrian Mall===

===Legislation===

===Legislation===

In 2009, following Dr. Golden's advocacy, the Oak Park Park District created a Green Committee and enacted a Tree Preservation Ordinance.  Althoug this was done to deflect criticism of the Park District by the CARE party and their supporters, the effect will have unquantifiable benefits.

In 2009, following Dr. Golden's advocacy, the Oak Park Park District created a Green Committee and enacted a Tree Preservation Ordinance.  Although this was done to deflect criticism of the Park District by the CARE party and their supporters, the effect will have substantial, unquantifiable benefits for the future of our planet.

===Green Building Design===

===Green Building Design===

===Weed Picking and Green Committee===

===Weed Picking and Green Committee===

[[File: LesGoldenSodforCitizens.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small> Les Golden, of Oak Park, Illinois, is a leading environmentalist and animal welfare advocate in the State of Illinois.  He frequently lobbies for these causes in columns, letters to the editor, and press releases.  In 2000, he began a program by which citizens can obtain free sod from park district trimmings to beautify their landscaping.  The worms and worm eggs are also saved from the landfills by this project.</small>]]The idea was slow in becoming reality.  After periodic lobbying of the park district by Golden and the members of the CARE party over many years, however, the creation of a Green Committee by the park district in 2008 has finally formalized Golden’s proposal and made weed picking rather than pesticides the practice at every park in the village.  The practice has now been adopted as well by neighboring towns.

[[File: LesGoldenSodforCitizens.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small> Les Golden, of Oak Park, Illinois, is a leading environmentalist and animal welfare advocate in the State of Illinois.  He frequently lobbies for these causes in columns, letters to the editor, and press releases.  In 2000, he began a program by which citizens can obtain free sod from park district trimmings to beautify their landscaping.  The worms and worm eggs are also saved from the landfills by this project.</small>]]The idea was slow in becoming reality.  After periodic lobbying of the park district by Golden and the members of the CARE party over many years, however, the creation of a Green Committee by the park district in 2009 has finally formalized Golden’s proposal and made weed picking rather than pesticides the practice at every park in the village.  The practice has now been adopted as well by neighboring towns.

==Tree Activism==

==Tree Activism==

===Saving Old Growth Trees===

===Saving Old Growth Trees===

[[File: LesGoldenOakParkPesticideBan.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small>In 1991, Les Golden, as president of Citizens Active for Respect for the Environment, achieved a ban on pesticides in the parks and recreation centers of Oak Park, Illinois.</small>]]In about 1998, Dr. Golden discovered that all the trees around a parking lot were to be destroyed.  He organized the local parents and their children, and notified the Chicago television media to cover the protest.  Diann Burns of ABC Channel 7 famously reported, "Why don't they just move the fence?!"

[[File: LesGoldenOakParkPesticideBan.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small>In 1991, Les Golden, as president of Citizens Active for Respect for the Environment, achieved a ban on pesticides in the parks and recreation centers of Oak Park, Illinois.</small>]]In about 1998, Dr. Golden discovered that all the trees around a school parking lot were to be destroyed by staff members of the Oak Park Park District, working on taxpayer time.  He organized the local parents and their children, and notified the Chicago television media to cover the protest.  [[Diann Burns]] of [[ABC]] Channel 7 famously reported, "Why don't they just move the fence?!"

In 2007, Dr. Golden discovered that all the old growth trees in a park in Oak Park were to be destroyed for a ball field.  He contacted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, organized a rally on two days notice, arranged for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago t.v. stations, and the local media to be present, had speakers including the Green Party candidate for governor appear, and in an emergency meeting the Department of Natural Resources forced the local park district to save many of the trees slated for destruction.<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-11-24/news/0411240206_1_new-trees-oak-park-district-mulberry-trees</ref><ref>Dwyer, Bill  (2007), “Tree Fury at Field,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 10, p. 1; http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/07-10-2007/Tree_fury_at_Field</ref><ref>Noel, Josh (2007), “Oak Park tree-removal plan heads for debate,” ''Chicago Tribune'', July 12, p. 7; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-07-19/news/0707181717_1_trees-park-renovation-plan</ref><ref>(2004) http://www.oakparkjournal.com/2007/2007-Field-Park-ralley-July-8th-2pm.html</ref>

In 2007, Dr. Golden discovered that all the old growth trees in a park in Oak Park were to be destroyed for a ball field.  He contacted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, organized a rally on two days notice, arranged for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago t.v. stations, and the local media to be present, had speakers including the Green Party candidate for lieutentant governor appear, and in an emergency meeting the Department of Natural Resources forced the local park district to save many of the trees slated for destruction. The DNR spokesman verified in the press that no notice of the impending destruction was made in the application for matching state funds.  The parents of school children who played around the trees paid for a marker which was placed under the largest tree in the park that was saved.  The marker reads, "The Field Playground Tree, Saved by Dr. Les Golden, July 2007." <ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-11-24/news/0411240206_1_new-trees-oak-park-district-mulberry-trees</ref><ref>Dwyer, Bill  (2007), “Tree Fury at Field,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 10, p. 1; http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/07-10-2007/Tree_fury_at_Field</ref><ref>Noel, Josh (2007), “Oak Park tree-removal plan heads for debate,” ''Chicago Tribune'', July 12, p. 7; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-07-19/news/0707181717_1_trees-park-renovation-plan</ref><ref>(2004) http://www.oakparkjournal.com/2007/2007-Field-Park-ralley-July-8th-2pm.html</ref>

===Prevention of Deforestation===

===Prevention of Deforestation===