August 2002
Welcome to the 6th issue of e-Sierra, the email newsletter
of the Sierra Club North Star Chapter. For even more up to date
information visit our website at http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/ .
Sincerely,
Sam Garst , Chapter Secretary
SamGarst@aol.com
Sign up for SierranACT, our email alert system! SierranACT is a powerful tool for environmentalists to contact decision-makers about critical environmental issues. To sign up or learn more, go to http://northstar.sierraclubaction.org.
Come spend a Sunday afternoon at SierraFest 2002! A summer celebration and
family-friendly picnic for Sierra Club members and their friends and families
thoughout Minnesota with good food & great music! Free antibiotic-free
hamburgers & hot dogs from Minnesota family farmers along with vegetarian
food, watermelon and corn-on-the-cob! Bring a side dish or dessert to
share.
Sunday, August 18th, 12-4pm at Boom Island Park. Boom Island Park is located
upriver from downtown Minneapolis and Nicollet Island. From downtown, go north
on Washington Avenue or the more scenic West River Parkway to Plymouth Avenue.
Go east across the bridge that spans the Mississippi River and turn right into
the Boom Island parking lot. See a map:
http://mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&address=8th+St.+NE+%26+Plymouth+Ave.&city=Minneapolis&state=mn
Training: Sierra Club Academy 2002!
Join dozens of other Sierra Club volunteers at an upcoming training on August 23 to 25 in Chaska, Minnesota. This is the best activist training we've got, with national trainers flying in. With these planning, organization-building, and media strategy tools, you can take an active role in the Club's local and national conservation campaigns. Email joshua.davis@sierraclub.org for details today!
Forestry Campaign:
This summer, National Forests are in the news and under fire. The wildfires burning in Arizona and Colorado have focused national attention on forest policy. And President Bush has backtracked on protections we secured for Roadless Areas, which cover over 61,000 acres in Minnesota. We've produced two reports this summer to set the story straight:
Restoring America's Forests: http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/forestry_restoration_report.htm
Forest Fires: Beyond the Heat and Hype: http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/forest_fires.htm
Global Warming Campaign:
Despite millions spent by automakers to oppose the measure, California Gov.
Gray Davis signed into law Assembly Bill 1493 aimed at restricting carbon
dioxide emissions from cars and light trucks. http://www.sierraclub.org/currents/ca_bill_signed.asp
Eleven Attorneys General from other states sent the President Bush a letter
criticizing the president for not enacting stronger regulations to limit
greenhouse gas emissions in response to global warming. Despite urging
from 217 North Star Chapter members, Minnesota's AG Mike Hatch did not sign the
letter.
Sierra Club volunteers drove 1,268 miles in July to show that fuel efficient
cars are a reality today and are an important way to reduce the threat from
global warming. The three new hybrid-electric cars combined used as much gas as
one Ford Explorer. http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/cars_road_rally_Main.htm
This month, we're writing Ford to adopt the Freedom Package of fuel efficiency
improvements. http://www.sierraclub.org/freedompackage/
Air Toxics Committee:
Amir Nadav, one of the student leaders on the school bus diesel campaign, was
recently awarded one of six national Brower's Youth Awards for his commitment to
environmental activism and his leadership on the school bus diesel campaign. For
more information, visit www.earthisland.org/project/viewProject.cfm?subSiteID=40
Way to go Amir! The prize for this award is $3,000 toward continuing the
campaign, a trip to California for an award ceremony hosted by Julia
Butterfly-Hill, and an activism adventure in Yosemite National Park.
WONDER IF YOUR LEGISLATOR MADE IT ONTO THE TOXIC TWELVE LIST?
The North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club released its 2002 "Toxic Twelve" list of anti-environmental legislators. Check out the list to see who joined House Speaker Steve Sviggum as environmental opponents. http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/T12_2002_Campaign.htm
International Committee:
Xcel Energy buys electricity from a Canadian power company that is destroying 32 million acres of boreal forest and devastating the lives of 12,000 Cree aboriginal people. And the problem is about to get worse.
http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/HYDRO_Manitoba_Hydro_Home.htm
The new City Pages article, Damaged: http://citypages.com/databank/23/1129/article10581.asp
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
For more information, call 612-379-3853 or vicki.munson@sierraclub.org.
August 7: Forestry, Land Use, and Conservation Committees
August 7: New Member Orientation
August 13: CAFO Rap Sheet release
August 15: Voter Education EVEC meeting
August 18: SierraFest
August 20: Twin Cities Group meeting, 7pm, Champlin Community Library, 12154 Ensign Ave. N.
August 21: International Committee
August 23-25: Academy Training
August 24-25: Wilderness First Aid training August 24-25th at the Staring Lake Outdoor Center, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
August 28: North Star Chapter Executive Committee Meeting