September 2002

Welcome to the 7^th issue of e-Sierra, the email newsletter ofr the Sierra Club North Star Chapter. For even more up-to-date information, visit our website at http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org

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

America’s huge oil consumption in our vehicles costs us more money at the gas pump, encourages global warming through increased carbon dioxide pollution, and threatens our national security. The Sierra Club and thousands of consumers nationwide are encouraging Ford to make more fuel efficient cars by taking the issue to the American people and the car-buying public. For more information on the Freedom Package campaign, http://www.sierraclub.org/freedompackage/ . To join in the local effort, contact Freedom Package Organizer at 612-379-3853. Fuel efficiency and clean car campaign information can be found at www.northstar.sierraclub.org/Car_HOME.htm

The Bush Administration is proposing to increase logging and suspend environmental laws in our National Forests. Write your Congressional representatives to tell them you care about Minnesota's National Forests. Our new web-based form gives you a sample letter to email! http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/Forestry_Congress.htm

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will be joined by self-described hell-raiser Jim Hightower, author Barbara Ehrenreich, Professor Cornell West, former California State Senator Tom Hayden, and democracy activist Granny D who will talk as part of the Rolling Thunder Tour when it arrives in the Twin Cities for the Labor Day Holiday on September 2nd. www.northstar.sierraclub.org/govt_rolling_thunder.htm

----------------------------------------

The North Star Chapter's Antibiotics in Agriculture campaign will be hosting a 'Tour de Manure' on September 7, 2002. This will be a chance for Sierra Club members to visit rural Minnesota to learn more about modern agriculture and the excessive use of antibiotics in factory farms. For more information about the Tour de Manure, please visit http://www.northstar.sierraclub.org/cafo_tour_de_smell.htm or contact Kendra Kimbirauskas at 612-379-3853 to reserve your place.

The Harmful Hydro Campaign would like you to check out the June 2002 World Rivers Review which is published by the International Rivers Network. In that issue, located at http://irn.org/pubs/wrr/, you will find an article titled "Selling Out Canada's Rivers" by Will Braun. It is an excellent overview of the Manitoba Hydro issue. For more information about the Sierra Club’s Harmful Hydro Campaign or to join local efforts, please contact Steve Birchler at Sbirch3@aol.com

The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) sprays about 50,000 acres of parks and residential areas during the summer with "synthetic pyrethroids" which are toxic to bees, butterflies and fish. The EPA classifies the sprays as "possible carcinogens." Most of the spraying they do--97%--is for nuisance mosquitoes, not for disease mosquitoes. You can find out if your street is being sprayed by checking the MMCD website every day at www.mmcd.org/adult. Or, you can request your property not be sprayed by going to www.northstar.sierraclub.org/MMCD_mosquito_control.htm and filling out the form or calling 651-645-9149

Gain valuable skills and information to assist in efforts to protect our National Forests. Meet other activists working to insure that future generations will be able to enjoy our National Forests in all of their splendors.Take positive action in favor of wildlife, clean water, and recreational opportunities. Make a personal investment that will pay off by protecting forests from destructive forestry management. For more information and details on how to RSVP, please visit www.northstar.sierraclub.org/Forestry_Forest_Watch.htm

As school begins this Fall, you may begin to notice diesel buses turning off their engines to reduce children’s exposure to harmful diesel emissions. A new law supported by the Sierra Club, metro area students, and other environmental groups calls for schools to reduce bus idling and redesign bus parking to reduce exhaust entering school buses and schools. The Sierra Club has developed materials for parents and concerned citizens to take to their schools to encourage implementation of this new law. For more information or to obtain copies of these materials, contact Michelle Rosier 612-379-3853. Samples are available online at www.northstar.sierraclub.org/studentzone.htm

----------------------------------------

As part of the Environmental Voter Education Campaign we are dropping thousands of voter guides about the environmental positions of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone and U.S. Senate Candidate Norm Coleman. Interested? Contact Heather Cusick at 612-379-3853 or heather.cusick@sierraclub.org

Sunday, October 6th, 2002- Noon - Come join us as we explore beautiful Dakota County. Along the bike tour, you will see open space at risk for development, learn about the need for new transit opportunities, and discover how one suburban city is planning to create a new community center to replace sprawl. Speakers will talk about current development patterns, how SmartGrowth can make a difference, and what you can do to make changes in how we develop our communities and protect our farmland and natural areas. To register - complete the registration form at [insert link]. Discounted early registration (by Sept. 16th) fee of $10 includes sag wagon, mechanical support and great food. Order a Tour de Sprawl t-shirt for only $5! More information or to volunteer to help organize and to register for the tour can be found at www.northstar.sierraclub.org/sprawl_tour_de_sprawl_2002.htm or by calling Sharon Stephens at 952-465-2118.