October 2005
Welcome to e-Sierra
The email newsletter of the Sierra Club North Star ChapterOctober 2005 - Issue 40
CALLING ALL HYBRID CAR OWNERS FOR THE COOL CITIES SCAVENGER HUNT AND HYBRID CAR TOUR!!
Join us by light rail, bike, and hybrid cars on Tuesday, November 1st to celebrate people and places that are reducing global warming emissions by reducing energy consumption. Join Mayor Rybak and Representative Frank Hornstein as they kick off the day with a press conference at 10:30am at City Hall. Then follow a scavenger hunt to sites where local residents are reducing global warming and increasing energy efficiency. Find out at each stop how the Twin Cities can lead the nation in ending global warming. Volunteers needed to participate in the tour and a global warming house party. Contact Cesia (saysha) Kearns at 612-659-9124 or email to RSVP or for more information.
NOVEMBER 3: EXPOSE VICTORIA'S DIRTY SECRET
Victoria's Secret mails more than a million catalogs a day, almost all of which are produced from virgin fiber paper with little or no recycled content. Sierra Student Coalition is working across the country to pressure the company to stop destroying our forests. Get involved by letting Minnesota store owners you care, on the November 3 Day of Action! http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/events/2005/20051103.html
OPEN SPACE PRESERVED FOREVER AT PILOT KNOB - THANK YOU ACTIVISTS
Thanks to Sierra Club volunteers and many others, the Mendota Heights City Council voted October 18th to purchase and restore 8.5 acres of this open space treasure. Pilot Knob overlooks the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers and offers some of the most spectacular views in the region. Learn more from our recent outing to Pilot Knob.
LOSING LOONS? IN ROSEMOUNT
Are you concerned about the impact of mercury on Minnesota's wildlife? Join us on Thursday, October 27th, 7:00pm Rosemount Community Center, 13885 South Robert Trail, Room 210. Learn about how dirty coal plants are polluting the environment with mercury and how rising mercury levels in loons are affecting their reproduction and behavior. Discover what we can do to stop mercury pollution before it's too late. Contact Cesia (saysha) Kearns at 612-659-9124 or email to RSVP or for more information.
FIGHT FOR OUR FUTURE: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN ACTION
Community members are invited to join Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota (EJAM) for a day-long mini-conference featuring workshops on environmental issues affecting children, including: toxic dumping in Somalia, pesticides and migrant farm workers, mercury and lead poisoning, and more. Keynote presenter Margie Richard will discuss her 30-year battle against Shell Chemical for justice for the people of the Diamond Community in Norco, LA, a historically black community with elevated cancer rates, known as "Cancer Alley." Join us this Saturday, October 22nd, 11:00am - 7:00pm at the Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. More info and schedule: http://www.ejam.org.
WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICES
The world's largest corporation repeatedly ignores environmental laws, ranging from the Clean Water Act to the Clean Air Act. On November 13th-19th, over 400 organizations from across the country - from small business owners and women's rights groups to environmentalists and labor unions - are coming together to stand up to Wal-Mart. Click here for more info, or contact Joshua Houdek at 612-659-9124 to host a viewing of the new documentary film, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price."
SHOREVIEW GREEN COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF
Calling all Shoreview residents! We are a group of local citizens who have created a Green Community Report that sets out our vision for an environmental community, and evaluates Shoreview's progress so far. The next step is working to improve our "score" and become a truly Green Community. Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 9th, 7:00pm at the Shoreview Community Center to learn about the report, share your ideas and help us set the agenda by voting on your top priority. More info/RSVP to: Margaret at 612-659-9124 or .
MOVING THE MIDWEST TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - COMMUNITY FORUMS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
You are invited to a community forum with Bob Olson from the American Sustainable Energy council, Michael Noble and Ken Bradley from Minnesotans for an Energy Efficient Economy, and local legislators. The forums are Wednesday, October 26th. , 7:00 - 8:30pm at Eden Prairie Library - 565 Prairie Center Dr (FFI contact Laurie 952-931-9919 or ) and Wednesday, November 2nd, 7:00 - 8:30pm at the Shoreview Community Center, 4600 Victoria St. N. (FFI: Stephanie 651-696-7411 or ).
KNOCK A BLOCK FOR LIGHT RAIL
Saturday, Oct. 29th, 10:30am - 1:00pm - Wentworth Library, 199 E. Wentworth, West St. Paul
Help build momentum for light rail in the Twin Cities, ease congestion and clear our air! After a training and rousing send-off, talk to neighbors in West St. Paul and collect postcards supporting a light rail line in N. Dakota County. We'll wrap up at 1:00pm with lunch and a celebration. More info/RSVP to: Margaret at 612-659-9124 or .
RAISING LOCAL FUNDS TO PROTECT MINNESOTA LAND AND WATER
Communities nationwide are passing bond referenda to protect our land and water, as Dakota County citizens did in 2002, raising $20M. On November 16th in Chaska and November 17th in Elk River, you can develop skills to organize a successful campaign and build a constituency for conservation. Sign up for morning and/or afternoon sessions, or an evening session especially for citizen leaders like you. Co-sponsored by the Trust for Public Land. For more info or to register, call 651-917-2240.
WON'T YOU BE MY SIERRA NEIGHBOR?
Join us for a community walk for storm water education and action on Sunday, October 23rd from 1:00pm-4:00pm. Help us knock on neighbor's doors with a survey of actions to reduce stormwater runoff, provide tips for seasonal improvements to water quality, and hand out "I'm a Sierra Neighbor!" lawn signs. Warm up afterward with refreshments and good company. Call Cesia (saysha) Kearns at 612-659-9124 or email to RSVP or for more information or visit http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/events/2005/20051023.html.
BRRR!! $$$$ - WINTERIZING FOR WATER QUALITY
Saturday, October 29th 9:30am - 11:00am Matthews Park Recreation Center 2318 28th Ave. Learn a seasonal approach to improving water quality at this workshop. Listen and discuss your efforts and those of your neighbor's over refreshments, and then take a free winter quality care kit home with you. Call Cesia (saysha) Kearns at 612-659-9124 or email to RSVP or for more information, or visit http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/events/2005/20051029a.html.
CLEAN AIR OCTOBERFEST!
Tuesday, October 25th, 7:00pm, North Star Chapter Office 2327 E. Franklin Ave.
Care about the air we all breathe? New volunteers are welcomed to the Clean Air Committee for a friendly Autumn celebration and introduction to the committee's current efforts. Find out how you can be involved in a range of ways that will suit your interest and availability. Stay for Octoberfest refreshments and get to know other volunteers who want to make a difference in our air. Call Cesia (saysha) Kearns at 612-659-9124 or email for questions or more information.
NEW POPULATION COMMITTEE
There's a new Population Committee in the North Star Chapter! Come learn how you can help the Club's efforts to slow global population growth. For more info about the club's population program, visit http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/population/index.html.
RESTORE THE ROADLESS RULE
This spring, the Bush administration repealed the widely supported Roadless Area Conservation Rule, opening nearly sixty-million acres of America's last wild National Forests to commercial logging, road construction, mining, oil exploration, and other forms of development. A law called the Administrative Procedure Act allows us to challenge the Bush rule with a petition. Take the next step to protect our wild forests — Sign our petition, which will be delivered to President Bush and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.net.org/petition.php?partner=SCSW
ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th
"These candidates will be the best advocates for urban policies that promote clean air and water, greener government and livable communities, for our families and for our future..." If you live in Minneapolis, click here for voting info and to see our list of endorsements.
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
Sat. Oct 22: EJAM Conference "Environmental Justice in Action" 11:00am - 7:00pm
Sun. Oct 23: Community walk for water quality survey, 1:00pm -4:00pm
Tue. Oct 25: Phoning to save Pilot Knob 6:30pm
Tue. Oct 25: Clean Air Committee Octoberfest 7:00pm, Chapter office
Wed. Oct 26: Water Committee 5:30
Wed. Oct 26: Excom 7pm
Thu. Oct 27: Mercury and Loons presentation in Rosemount, 7:00pm
Sat. Oct 29: Winterizing for Water Quality Workshop, 10am-11am, Matthews Park
Sat. Oct 29: Knock a Block for Light Rail 10:30am
Tue. Nov 1: Cool Cities Hybrid Car Tour and Scavenger Hunt 10:30am-?
Tue. Nov 1: N. Dakota County Light Rail Campaign 7pm
Wed. Nov 2: Forestry Committee 7pm
Mon. Nov 7: Transportation Sub-Committee 5:45pm
Mon. Nov 7: Land Use Committee 7pm
Tue. Nov 8: ELECTION DAY!
Tue. Nov 8: New activist orientation 5:30pm
Tue. Nov 8: Conservation Committee 6:30
Wed. Nov 9: Wetlands Committee 5:30pm
Wed. Nov 9: Shoreview Green Community Kick-off 7pm
Wed. Nov 16: Raising Local Funds to Protect Minnesota
Thu. Nov 17: Raising Local Funds to Protect Minnesota
Nov 13-19: National Week of Action Against Wal-Mart
For More Calendar Information or for Interesting Submissions Contact: .