Watch CBS News

Environmentalists Launch Wild Rice Hotdish Protest

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Environmental Partnership is sending a tongue-in-cheek message to legislators: Enjoy your wild rice hotdish now - before Minnesota's waters are too contaminated to produce the official state grain.

To celebrate Earth Week, the statewide coalition of more than 80 conservation and environmental organizations asked Minnesota voters to send their favorite wild rice hotdish recipes to their legislators.

The groups want to focus attention on a host of policy proposals moving through the State Capitol that they say threaten Minnesota's waters, natural areas, wildlife habitat, and parks and trails. They include pro-mining bills that would weaken sulfate pollution standards for wild rice waters.

Earth Day is Friday. The first was held in 1970 and it's credited with helping to launch the environmental movement.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.