A Light Shines in the Dakotas
Aggrieved but emboldened by the federal government's attempt to
fast-track a crude-oil pipeline through sovereign Native American lands,
more than 200 tribes and thousands of native activists have gathered at
the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota in a powerful and
virtually unprecedented display of unity. Thousands more have rallied in
solidarity in over 100 cities across the country. In response, three
federal agencies have issued a joint statement that will temporarily
halt pipeline construction near the Standing Rock Sioux's water supply.
"Regardless of what happens next, the Dakota Access pipeline protest has
already made history," says Sierra Club Executive Director Michael
Brune.
Read on—and
take action to support the Standing Rock Sioux.
Voices From the Camp
For five months, Standing Rock Sioux tribal members and other native
allies have been camped alongside the Missouri River in a show of
resistance against the Dakota Access pipeline. "There are two kinds of
laws," says indigenous activist, writer, and economist Winona LaDuke.
"The white man's law and the Creator's law."
Read about how the indigenous climate justice movement is working to stop the pipeline.
Photo by Sunshine Velasco
Stop the Delisting!
Greater Yellowstone's grizzly bears are already facing the loss of
traditional food sources due to climate change, diminishing habitat due
to development, and an uptick in preventable conflicts with hunters and
ranchers. Stripping them of Endangered Species protections, which the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed, could be the proverbial
straw that breaks the grizzlies' back. Many of the state-level leaders
who would take over management of this magnificent apex predator are
uninterested or outright hostile to grizzly bear recovery. Some state
plans even advocate culling—one might say "trophy hunting"—of essential
female bears.
Take action by October 9 to help protect Greater Yellowstone's grizzlies.
Speaking Out for the Arctic
When Emmy-nominated actress Keri Russell was in her early 20s, she
landed the title role in a major TV series. "We'd work 18 hours a day
five days a week," she recalls. "I had a binder for my scripts, and on
the cover I put a photo of Alaska. It was my solace. I'd look at it and
think, 'I'm going to go there.'" And go there she did, to the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge—one of the nation's last great wilderness
areas, which nonetheless faces threats from drilling and fossil fuel
development.
Hear what Russell has to say in this video, and take action to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Waiting for Winter
Do the first hints of cooler weather make you crave snowy adventures?
Yeah, us, too. The crisp air and hush of winter are the perfect
companions to invigorating activities. Here are a few trips that will
make you want to dust off the snow gear:
Dreaming of a different type of getaway?
Search our full roster by activity, location, date, and budget.
Photo by John Kolman
Dirty Power Plan
Big Coal may be going the way of the dinosaurs, but it's still fighting
tooth and nail to stop advances in clean energy. That's where ALEC—"a
kind of dark-money dating service, matching wealthy corporations with
compliant politicians"—comes in. Underwritten by fossil fuel interests
like Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, Peabody Energy, and the American
Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (say what?!), ALEC crafts templates
for bills that reflect the desires of its funders and puts them in
lawmakers' hands. "ALEC's overarching goal," says the Center for Media
and Democracy, "is to prevent the regulation of carbon emissions."
Read more about ALEC's battle against clean energy.
How to Clean Up Our Polluted Political Ecosystem
According to Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig, we need to first fix
our democracy if we're to stand a fighting chance of addressing the
challenges facing our environment. "The environmentalism that inspired
Roosevelt may well have given us America's first great fight against the
corrupting influence of money in politics," he says. "But we have
allowed our republic to be captured by special interests ... and the way
we fund political campaigns corrupts democracy."
What's the remedy?
Illustration by David Plunkert
Nasty-Ash Sludge
Heather Moyer, a writer on the Sierra Club's staff, took a sabbatical
earlier this year to report on an array of subjects including
fly-fishing, the intersection of the faith and environmental
communities, and the travesty of mountaintop removal coal mining. Back
in July we brought you
Part 1 of Moyer's in-depth look at mountaintop removal in West Virginia. We now bring you Part 2:
What Does 7.8 Billion Gallons of Toxic Coal Sludge Look Like?
The Envelope, Please...
A Native American environmental leader, a U.S. congresswoman who has
championed clean energy, and the man who guided the National Park
Service through its 100th birthday celebration were among those honored
at the 2016 Sierra Club Awards ceremony in Oakland, California, on
September 10.
Read about all the winners and what they did to earn their awards.
Backcountry Bookshelf
Backcountry adventure and book reading aren't exactly the most
compatible of pastimes. Paper books are heavy, and e-readers can lose
their charge. Still, most backcountry adventurers insist on jamming a
paperback into their backpack. But what about before your trip? Smart
planning is a prerequisite for a successful sojourn, and to that end
we've rounded up the best books of the season on parks and the
outdoors—some geared for pre-trip planning, others better suited for the
coffee table.
Check 'em out.
Photo by Lori Eanes
Sierra Club Holiday Cards Are Here
Our online store has a great selection of new designs and customer
favorites to choose from. But don't delay! The most popular
cards—holiday and blank—and boxed assortments sell out quickly.
Check out this year's selection.
Will You Be a #ClimateVoter in November?
There's so much at stake in this year's election, and the latest polls
suggest it's going to be a horse race. The Paris Climate Agreement, the
president's Clean Power Plan, basic safeguards for our air and water,
the future of the EPA, the balance of the Supreme Court for perhaps a
generation, and countless other critical fights hang in the balance.
Each election, the Sierra Club releases a Voter Guide to help members
pick the candidates who will protect our environment. This year, we've
added some new features, including ways to make climate a key issue in
this election.
Be among the first to check it out!
Don't Let the EPA Get Exhausted
Thanks to standards set by the Obama administration, the fuel efficiency
of our cars is improving every year, cutting oil use and carbon
emissions while saving drivers money at the pump. But—surprise!—Big Oil
is putting its profits before public health by trying to roll back these
rules. We mustn't let that happen. Now is the time for the EPA to
strengthen, not weaken, these critical standards. The deadline for
public comments is
September 26.
Urge the EPA to stand strong and strengthen tailpipe pollution standards.
Summer of Success
Summer's almost over—
this Thursday
it will officially be autumn. But while the end of summer is always a
tad wistful, the last three months brought great progress in the ongoing
(we think inevitable) transition from dirty fuels to clean energy. In
case you missed any of the big news while you were spending time at the
beach or by the campfire, Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign director Mary
Anne Hitt has put together a list of summer highlights.
Check out Hitt's Top 10 hits.
Let's Make a Good Thing Even Better
The U.S. Forest Service just released its long-awaited management plan
for the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. While it contains many
good ideas, including a transportation plan that will greatly improve
access, it lacks critical detail and planning in several areas. Now is
the time for the public to help shape the future of "L.A.'s backyard" by
demanding better recreational amenities and naming specific lands,
waters, wildlife, and habitat that need explicit protections in the
final management plan.
Take action: Support the strongest, most inclusive plan for the San Gabriels.
