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April 2005

Welcome to e-Sierra

The email newsletter of the Sierra Club North Star Chapter
April 2005 / Issue 34

CLEAN ENERGY AND WE MEAN IT!
Weigh in on the shenanigans in Congress. Very soon, the U.S. Senate will consider the Bush administration's energy bill. It's important that we send a strong message to Senator Coleman and Senator Dayton that a bill that supports polluting industries and shortchanges renewable energy is the wrong choice. Please take action today: http://northstar.sierraclubaction.org/showalert.asp?aaid=1178

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY
Join the Sierra Club at Mercury Free Minnesota Earth Day Celebration at the Science Museum of Minnesota! On Saturday, April 23rd from 10:00am until 2:00pm, there will be main stage shows by the Raptor Center, Science Museum, and Clancy (Minnesota's mercury-sniffing dog); as well as a great carnival of activities and educational games on mercury. The event is from 10am - 2pm. Special 2-for-1 admission to the Science Museum when you mention the Earth Day event. To find out more about the event, email or 612-659-9124

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - TO PROTECT OUR WILD FORESTS
Help stop a new, enormous logging sale that is planned on Superior National Forest. The Echo Trail project is planning 25 square miles of clear-cuts in this huge project area, which surrounds a large part of the Boundary Waters. Proposed cuts will eliminate five of the Forest's 24 roadless areas. Take a walk on the wild side on May 7th from 10:00am-2:00pm and help us collect 3000 postcards to send to Governor Pawlenty. Picnic to follow. Meet at Lake Hiawatha Park, at 28th Avenue South and East 44th Street in Minneapolis. 100 people have already signed up! To sign up for this event call Joshua Davis at 612-659-9124 or sign up on line at: http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/events/20050507registerForm.html

For more background info: http://northstar.sierraclub.org/about/news/20050330.html, and http://www.superiornationalforest.org/analyses/EchoTrail.stm.

SLOW DOWN AND SMELL THE WILDFLOWERS
Hike along Lake Pepin and enjoy some of the best wildflower viewing in Minnesota on Saturday, April 30th at Frontenac State Park. Wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots due to areas of steep and often uneven terrain. We will walk 2-3 miles, taking time to stop and enjoy the flowers as well as the scenery. The hike will be followed by a short picnic lunch. Meet at the Sierra Club office at 9am or at 10:30 at the Point-No-Point Picnic area at the park. Remember to bring water and a lunch. We will return mid-afternoon. Rain cancels. For more information/RSVP, contact Susan Szczukowski at or 612-721-7333. For more information about upcoming outings check out our web calendar at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/outings/index.html

TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
Are you concerned about mass transit in the metro? Do you support expanded bus/light rail service and additional space at park and ride lots? How about better bicycle and pedestrian-friendly streets and paths? If you answered "YES" to any of the above, then Transportation Choices 2020 needs your support! "How can I help?" you're wondering? It's easy! Get on board by joining the new transportation listserv. Simply send a blank email to transportation-northstar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com For more info, email or call Joshua Houdek at 612-659-9124.

MIGRATORY BIRD WATCHING
Back by popular demand! See many species of migratory birds and learn the reasons they stop at Pilot Knob as they make their way up the Mississippi River flyway. Join the Land Use Committee for this fun outing on Saturday, May 14th, 8 - 10am. For more information go to http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/outings/200505.html#20050514a or email .

GREEN GROWS GREEN - GREEN INVESTING SEMINAR
This two-hour seminar, from 6:00 - 8:00pm on Tuesday, May 17, will provide you with information on environmentally and socially responsible investing, including Sierra Club Mutual Funds. Seats are limited. You can contact Jesse Eiynck for more information at 651-338-1971 or . Also, more details are available here http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/events/20050517.html.

EARTH DAY CLEAN UP FOR WATER QUALITY
Come help keep the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the City of Burnsville healthy this Earth Day! On Saturday, April 23rd from 9:00am-noon join the Sierra Club to help out with a spring litter clean-up near the Minnesota River. Meet at Cliff Fen Park in Burnsville. Please contact Kevin Bigalke at (952) 858-0720 or eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6b%62%69%67%61%6c%6b%65%40%66%72%69%65%6e%64%73%6f%66%6d%6e%76%61%6c%6c%65%79%2e%6f%72%67%22%20%3e%6b%62%69%67%61%6c%6b%65%40%66%72%69%65%6e%64%73%6f%66%6d%6e%76%61%6c%6c%65%79%2e%6f%72%67%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b')) by April 20 to register or for more information. Walk-up volunteers are welcome!

KICK-OFF PARTY - INTRODUCING SIERRA NEIGHBORHOODS!
Working with neighborhood groups, and urging neighbor to neighbor contact, Sierra Club members and local residents will encourage each other to use better environmental practices such as reducing toxins and yard waste, planting and landscaping for water quality, or large scale projects like green rooftops. See latest North Star Journal for overview of the Sierra Neighborhoods program at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/about/journal/200504.pdf The first house party to learn about these practices and the Sierra Neighborhoods program is scheduled for Thursday, May 5th at 6:45pm for the Seward Neighborhood. If you live in Seward and wish to attend, please RSVP to Cesia (saysha) Kearns at (612) 659-9124 or . If you have water management expertise such as building rain gardens please give us a call or drop Cesia an e-mail and get involved in a planning group.

WOMEN'S LIVES, CHILDREN'S FUTURES, THE PLANET'S HOPE:
The Power and Promise of International Family Planning
Join Sierra Club's Global Population and Environment Program, Planned Parenthood, Population Connection and Pathfinder International for a FREE public forum on the impact of U.S. Policies on the global reproductive health and rights of women and families around the world. Thursday, May 12, 6:30-8:30pm, location TBA. Check the North Star Chapter Sierra Club Web site calendar (http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/events closer to the event for details. Refreshments provided! For more information, contact Laura Kelnhofer at eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6c%61%75%72%61%2e%6b%65%6c%6e%68%6f%66%65%72%40%6e%6f%72%74%68%73%74%61%72%2e%73%69%65%72%72%61%63%6c%75%62%2e%6f%72%67%22%20%3e%6c%61%75%72%61%2e%6b%65%6c%6e%68%6f%66%65%72%40%6e%6f%72%74%68%73%74%61%72%2e%73%69%65%72%72%61%63%6c%75%62%2e%6f%72%67%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b')).

LIFE IN NICARAGUA AND MN: THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONNECTION
Meet Representatives of the MiraflorUnion of Agricultural Cooperatives. Come hear the story of UCA Miraflor, a cooperative which supports a community in northern Nicaragua through a combination of sustainable agriculture and ecotourism. Leaders from Miraflor will speak on the importance of: Fair Trade Organic Shade Grown products such as coffee, promotion of environmentally sustainable development, and conserving habitat for migratory bird species shared by Nicaragua and Minnesota. Join us Thursday, May 5 at 7:00pm at the Seward Coop, 2111 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis. Sponsored by the Seward Coop and Sierra Club North Star Chapter.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: FILM AND DISCUSSION
Join the Sierra Club at the Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota's Earth Day film, Fenceline: A company town divided. "Fenceline" is a documentary that examines the stark social divisions created by race, economics, and toxic pollution in Norco, Louisiana, a company town in the middle of "cancer alley." It reveals a deeper social reality in the struggle between industry and environment. It is persuasive evidence that in a racially and economically divided America, we don't all breathe the same air. Film and Discussion. Fri, April 22nd. 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis. The film will be showing all week. See the calendar below. For more info, call Michelle 612-659-9124.

BLUE GREEN LOBBY DAY AND CAFTA ACTION
The Minnesota Blue Green Alliance and the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition are joining together to invite concerned Minnesotans to join in a day of action in celebration of Earth Day on Thursday, April 21st at the Capitol and then at Senator Norm Coleman's office. Rally and lobby at the State Capitol to promote good jobs, a cleaner environment and a safer world. We'll be talking to our elected officials about public transportation improvements, energy efficient buildings, renewable energy and stopping another bad trade deal (CAFTA). Following the lobby day, workers, students, environmentalists, farmers and social justice activists will caravan to Senator Norman Coleman's office to rally behind Fair Trade and urge the Senator to vote against CAFTA. For more information contact Tara Widner at 612-623-8003 or or http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/events/20050421.html

"WE HAFTA STOP CAFTA" PHONE BANK
The Bush Administration plans to push for a vote soon on the Central American "Free" Trade Agreement. For more info go to http://www.sierraclub.org/trade We can help defeat this bad, "NAFTA-on-steroids" trade bill. Join us on Thursday, April 28 from 6:30-9:00pm to call Sierra Club members here in Minnesota and in Washington state to mobilize them to oppose CAFTA. If you can, please bring your cell phones to increase the number of people we can reach. For more information, contact Ginny Yingling at 651-731-4420

SAKATAH SINGING HILLS STATE TRAIL
Join us on Sunday, May 22 and welcome the return of spring with a scenic ride along Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail. The trail lies along a former railroad and crosses through Big Woods and rolling prairie. We will ride for 30-40 miles total and stop for a picnic lunch along the way at Sakatah Lake State Park. We will meet at the Sierra Club office at 9:30 am to head to the trail. Bring your bike, a helmet, and a backpack with water and food, plus some money - just in case. We will return in the late afternoon. Bad weather cancels. Please RSVP to outings leader. Angie Hong at or 952-261-9599. For more information about upcoming outings check out our web calendar at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/outings/index.html

SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS


Tues Apr 19: International Issues 7:00pm
Tues Apr 19: EJAM Earth Day Film @ University of Minnesota Willey Hall. 7pm - 8:30pm
Wed Apr 20: EJAM Earth Day Film @ Macalester Coll Art Bldg Lecture Rm 4:45pm - 6pm
Wed Apr 20: Outings Committee 7:00pm
Wed Apr 20: Phoning for "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" 6:30pm
Wed Apr 21: Forest Watch meeting, 7pm (come at 6pm for orientation)
Wed Apr 21: EJAM Earth Day Film @ Hamline U Learning Cntr Rm 100E 11:15am - 12:15pm
Wed Apr 21: EJAM Earth Day Film @ Augsburg College Marshall Rm 7pm - 8pm.
Fri Apr 22 EJAM Film Festival 6pm - Minneapolis Urban League
Fri Apr 22-Sun Apr 24: Sierra Club booth at Midwest Mountaineering
Sat Apr 23: Mercury Free Minnesota's Earth Day at the Science Museum - 10am - 2pm
Sat Apr 23: Earth Day Clean-up for Water Quality
Sun Apr 24: Phoning for "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" 6:30pm
Tues Apr 26: Clean Air Committee 7:00pm
Wed Apr 27: Water Committee 5:30pm
Wed Apr 27: Excom
Wed Apr 27: Phoning for "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" 6:30pm
Thurs Apr 28: "We Hafta Stop CAFTA" Phone Bank 6:30-9:00pm
Fri Apr 29: Volunteers tour area designated for timber sales with the Forest Service
Sat Apr 30-Sun May 1: Living Green Expo
Sun May 1: Phoning for "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" 6:30pm
Mon May 2: Land Use/Transportation Committee 7:00pm
Wed May 4: Forestry Committee
Wed May 4: Phoning for "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" 6:30pm
Thurs May 5: Sierra Neighborhood Seward Houseparty
Sat May 7: Take a Walk on the Wild Side Neighborhood Outreach
Mon May 9: Sierra Neighborhood Committee meeting 5:30pm
Tues May 10: New Activist Orientation 5:30pm
Tues May 10: Conservation Committee 6:30pm
Wed May 11: Wetlands Committee 5:30pm
Sat May 14: Migratory Bird Watching


For More Calendar Information or for Interesting Submissions Contact:

Our postal address is
Sierra Club - North Star Chapter
2327 E. Franklin Ave
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406
United States