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:
- Cross-country ski the remote northern Maine woods
- Winter backpack from hut to hut in California's High Sierra
- Dogsled through untamed Alaskan wilderness
- Snowshoe the wonderland of Grand Teton National Park
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
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.
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