Tuesday, Impeachment Rally & Holiday Gathering

In La Crosse: 5:30 p.m. in Cameron Park. A gathering to show support for a vote to impeach Donald Trump. Bring signs, flashlights, horns, whistles, flags, etc. Speakers are invited.

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After the rally, join us at the Frank's home for food and enviro-talk. 

December newsletter

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17 at 6 p.m.  Join us for great food, warm company, and interesting conversation at our annual HOLIDAY GATHERING at the home of Barb & Don Frank, N1965 Valley Rd, La Crosse (608-788-3914). Bring some appetizers or snacks to share.  YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A CLUB MEMBER! How to get there: From State Road & Losey, go east on Highway 33 for about one mile. At the stop lights, turn left (north) onto Wedgewood Drive West in Wedgewood Valley. Stay on Wedgewood Drive West to Valley Drive.The house is at the intersection of Wedgewood Drive West & Valley Drive.There will be a lighted sign! Carpool? If you’d like to seek or offer a ride, visit www.groupcarpool.com/t/gnfm0d. Email crsierraclub@gmail.com or call Pat: 608-788-8831 with questions. See you there!

CLIMATE STRIKE CONTINUES!  Local citizens will join the continuing worldwide climate strike on Friday, Nov. 29 and Friday, December 6. Deep  concern about the the climate crisis continues as new studies show countries must pledge even stronger, faster action to avert an unrecoverable catastrophe.

On Nov. 29, "Black Friday," the focus was runaway consumerism and pledging personal action. Demonstrators will display signs to boycott excessive buying and support students’ ongoing Fridays for Future campaign. Everyone concerned about climate change can pledge a personal action such as joining Buy Nothing Day, writing a letter for local fossil fuel
divestment, or other suggested actions shown at the event page at tiny.cc/laxclimatestrike2.

On Friday, Dec. 6, residents will urge U.S. elected officials to pay attention to the climate crisis during the global climate summit in Madrid (COP25). Students will lead follow-up actions highlighting their petition to US Rep Ron Kind, delivered with more than 300 constituents' signatures on September 23. The petition urges Kind to support and co-sponsor five bills that take strong climate action.

For more information visit the Facebook page and the event page.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE SOON!  Annual Coulee Region Sierra Club Environmental Education grant applications are due on January 5, 2020! These grants are provided to schools and programs working with children through middle school to start a new project or help maintain an ongoing program that helps children connect with, protect, and advocate for the natural world. Thanks to a grant our club receives from the Paul Stry Foundation, we are able to make this money available in the
Coulee Region Group area: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. For more information and links to the application, please visit tinyurl.com/CRSCGrantInfo

BOARD CANDIDATES' STATEMENTS     
Veronica Bauer I am a UW La Crosse student studying biology and environmental studies, projected to graduate in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Science. Through my environmental studies capstone, I have been working alongside a local activist on community and student awareness projects which include published articles in the Coulee Region Sierra Club newsletter and the creation of a student blog for living sustainably. I have also had the privilege of working for WisCorps as a Community Engagement AmeriCorps intern where I further developed valuable professional skills such as cultivation, irrigation, and harvesting techniques, community outreach, and educational program development. I am part of a UWL club called Students for Sustainability that aims to bring sustainability to campus and provide service for the La Crosse community. I am very passionate about reducing waste, conserving freshwater resources, keeping the community healthy and engaged, promotion of personal and community gardens, and addressing the impacts of corporate agribusiness. I believe I would make a great contribution to the board.

Ned Gatzke I was present for the first Earth Day in 1970. As a recent college graduate I had recognized that I had an environmental conscience that needed to be focused and incorporated into living action. To facilitate this objective I joined the Sierra Club in 1974.
I have lived in rural Monroe County for 44 years, interacting with a small woodland and prairie landscape. During this time, I have recognized and support the work of other organizations in the region focused on environmental protection, in addition to standing up,
when necessary, to advocate for constructive environmental considerations in local public policy decision making. I have also come to recognize that positive environmental policy is dependent on the larger public policy process that takes place in our local and state legislative bodies. In that context, the people we elect to represent us matters. Consequently, I have been an active participant with Wisconsin Conservation Voters/Voices and currently serve on the board of directors. My travels throughout North America have also provided a larger perspective of "how things work" and environmental issues for people living in other places.


HIGHWAY CLEANUP REPORT  By Pat Wilson Sam Skemp and Pat Wilson braved the
cold rain for a while during the Coulee Region Group’s October trash pickup on River Valley Drive, but ultimately postponed the completion of the effort to November. On November 9, Kathy Allen, Maureen Kinney, David Bange, and Pat and Bobbie Wilson completed the effort.
We had to pick trash out of the early November snow, and I’m sure we missed some. Now, we can rest until April when we host another cleaning of our adopted roadway. 

CITY OF LA CROSSE READY FOR 100 PROGRESS   A new solar siting ordinance in the City of La Crosse will pave the way for more and easier solar installations. And, thanks in part to citizen advocacy, the La Crosse City Council will begin updating its 2009 Sustainability
Plan and assessing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, as they work to achieve their R4100 (Ready For 100) goal of zero carbon emissions and 100% renewable energy community-wide by 2050 or sooner. 

PETITIONERS WANT CLEAN POWER   A group of community members delivered over 1,000 petitions to Dairyland Power Cooperative at their headquarters in La Crosse on November 20, calling on them to abandon plans for a fracked gas plant in Superior Wisconsin. Dairyland Power Co-op and Minnesota Power have applied for permission to build a new $700 million fracked gas power plant in Superior, the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC). Environmentalists and climate activists have concerns about water usage, proximity to Lake Superior, the impact on the climate, and the cost.

“We’re delivering 1,130 petitions to Dairyland Power Coop asking them not to build a new fracked gas plant.  We believe they should be investing in renewable energy, not more dirty fossil fuels. We’re in the middle of a climate crisis and that is not what we need,” said Avery Van Gaard, Coulee Region Sierra Club board member.

A recent analysis by the Sierra Club showed that the project would cost ratepayers more for electricity than comparable clean energy portfolios (CEP).  The analysis showed that CEPs would provide the same energy, peak capacity, and ramping characteristics as the proposed gas plants, but at a lower cost, saving ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

EVERS SIGNS TRESPASS BILL   Despite strong opposition by a coalition of environmental, climate, and civil rights groups and advocates, Governor Evers has signed a bill to criminalize peaceful protests of fossil fuel infrastructure.

"Governor Evers had the opportunity to demonstrate leadership on climate change, and he opted not to. ,,. It's disappointing that the governor was unwilling to do so and instead supported this bill that helps the fossil fuel industry continue to lock us into a climate catastrophe," Elizabeth Ward of Sierra Club-Wisconsin said.

This bill has its origins in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and is being pushed around the country by the American Petroleum Institute. More than 20 states have passed similar legislation. South Dakota’s trespass law has been blocked by a federal judge, the result of a lawsuit brought by the SD ACLU.

The ACLU of Wisconsin voiced concerns that the bill’s vague and ambiguous language would have a chilling effect on expressive activity and lead to self-censorship among climate activists fearful of criminal penalties.

Read more at: nofelonytrespassbill.org

'TIS THE SEASON: WALLET-FRIENDLY GIFTS & ECO-FRIENDLY WRAPPING   by Veronica Bauer   By Veronica Bauer     Oh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year once again. The season of holiday gift giving and festivities has descended upon us. I know from experience that there will be many holiday sales and specials coming our way to tempt us, yet how can we enjoy the season and time spent with loved ones while our wallets suffer and landfills feast? I know that the allure of giving extravagant gifts and using decorative wrapping is difficult to resist, but there are ways around it that are both eco-friendly and wallet-friendly. I will provide you with alternative options that will benefit both you and the environment.

The Chamber of Commerce says that last year, U.S. households spent an average of $1,536 during the holidays. Overall holiday retail sales surpassed $1 trillion in 2018. Sadly, 14.2% of Americans say they have had to sell some of their possessions to pay for gifts.

I do not believe we should spend a lot of our money — or sell our belongings — for gifts that friends and family may not even like. So, what can we do to change that? I don’t know about you, but I think that personal, hand-made, and/or thrifted items are the way to go. These types of gifts say, “I love you. I care about you,” without ripping a hole in our budgets. Here are some ideas:

• Plants such as aloe, spider plants, succulents that sprout more plants. You can propagate them in thrifted or reused containers, add a ribbon with an attached note, and viola! You have your gift!
• Herbs are also a great gift for those who enjoy cooking!
• Paintings/drawings
• Homemade snow globes
• Thrifted clothing outfits
• A favorite food dish: What could be better than getting your favorite food as a gift?
• “Coupons”: Specified favors on decorated cards that the gift receiver can use whenever they want for however many times you specify. Examples: doing the dishes, getting a massage, going for a walk or doing another fun activity together, making dinner, etc.
• DIY Chunky Knit Blanket (see  www.lilyardor.com/diy-chunky-knit-blanket)
• DIY Baskets/Kits/Sets: Themes that are based on what your loved one enjoys such as food, drinks, bath/beauty, movies, crafts, etc.
• Pictures with painted, decorated, or custom frames/holders

There are many other DIY possibilities. Your loved ones will love any of these gifts because they will appreciate

the time and effort that you have put in to making it for them.

The other topic to address is gift wrapping. Gift wrapping is a huge part of the holiday culture and is also a huge contributor to waste in landfills. Americans spend an estimated $2.6 billion on wrapping paper every year at an average of $4.99 per roll which leads to nearly four million tons of waste gift wrapping and shopping bags each holiday season.

What can we do about it? There are many alternatives that are more practical and eco-friendly. Here is a list of gift wrapping ideas that will help you transition away from standard wrapping paper:

• Use fabric or cloth.
• Make t-shirts into tote bags that they can reuse (see youtu.be/_O33Wq_uz6Y).
  Wrap a gift using thrifted or gently-used scarves, blankets, thin towels, or washcloths.
• Repurpose paper bags, newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes (i.e. used cereal boxes you can decorate).
• Use yarn or string with a custom note to add a finishing touch.
• Use a bigger gift to enclose a smaller gift. 
• For smaller gifts, you can use an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll and fold in the two ends.

If you absolutely need to use wrapping paper, be sure to look for a sustainable brand that uses recycled paper without containing any dyes or lamination which make it difficult to recycle.

The overall message I have for you during this holiday season is use what you already have, repurpose as much as possible, and buy sensibly. I hope this information has helped you to expand on your ideas. Happy gifting!

Veronica Bauer is a Biology major and Environmental Studies minor at UW-La Crosse. This semester, she is working with CRSC to educate about sustainability issues online and through our newsletter.

Veronica will give a capstone presentation on her Environmental Service Learning experience to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 3:10 p.m. in room 3201 Centennial Hall on the UW-La Crosse campus. Other Environmental Studies students will present between 2:15 and 4:00 p.m. on Dec. 3, 5, and 10 in 3201 Centennial.   

COULEE REGION SIERRA CLUB YEAR IN REVIEW    by Pat Wilson  The Coulee Region Sierra Club was active during 2019 both in environmental advocacy and providing opportunities for members to experience the outdoors. The Ready for 100 campaign was the major effort of 2019 and we made good progress. In 2020, we’ll continue our efforts on Ready for 100, clean water, and public transit, while taking up November election advocacy as a new task. Along the way, we’ll continue to seek ways to involve more members in activities and increase our effectiveness outside of La Crosse County.

Sustainability, Clean Energy, Ready for 100
January – The Coulee Region Group held a Community Climate Resolution Discussion in La Crosse to envision the climate future we want and discuss ways to make change happen. There was a follow-up meeting in February 
to work on next steps.
February – We sponsored an online Community Energy Survey to gauge the opinions of La Crosse County residents about renewable energy.

March – We participated in the Climate Action Festival where we advocated for the Ready for 100 campaign. We also created an online petition for La Crosse city and county residents to request that passage of Ready for 100 resolutions in their community.

April – We held an “Imagining Carbon Free” public forum to discuss what carbon-free means for our community’s infrastructure, planning, buildings, neighborhoods, and transportation.
AND  We tabled and collected Ready for 100 signatures at La Crosse’s Earth Fair.

May - We co-sponsored a Green New Deal Town Hall in support of the Green New Deal Tour organized by the Sunrise Movement.

July - After the La Crosse Common Council passed a resolution committing the community of La Crosse to transitioning to 100% renewable energy and zero percent carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner, the Coulee Region Group held a press conference with Mayor Kabat and Council Member Barb Janssen on this milestone.

November - We delivered petitions to Dairyland Power opposing a new fracked gas power plant in Superior. 

Transportation
February – Members of the Coulee Region Group met with State Senator Jennifer Shilling to advocate for alternative transportation and local road maintenance funding in the proposed transportation budget.

June – We had a booth at the Open Streets Initiative in La Crosse, advocating for better pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit infrastructure.

July –We partnered with La Crosse Area Transit Advocates and the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation to host a Love Our Transit open house at the Transit Center in La Crosse.

April, July, November – We did a highway cleanup on our adopted highway, River Valley Drive in La Crosse.

Water Quality
March – The Coulee Region Group participated in the DNR’s public hearing on water discharge permitting for Babcock Genetics in La Crosse county.  It was a small victory that the DNR actually held the hearing, after it was requested by the Coulee Region Group and others.  Unfortunately, the DNR ultimately issued the permit.

June – CRSC members spoke at the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality hearing in La Crosse, supporting the need for stricter regulations to protect Wisconsin’s water.

September – Our members spoke at the ATCP-51 CAFO/livestock siting rule updates public hearing in La Crosse

Politics
March - Members of the Coulee Region Group Board went to Madison to participate in Conservation Lobby Day

November – Members lobbied state government  to stop the Criminal Trespass law.

Environmental Education
January - We continued our environmental grant program, awarding a grant to Innovations STEM Academy in Sparta, grades six through eight, to do monthly water testing and share some of their results with elementary students.

February – We hosted a public program, “The Greener Life: Learn to Live More Sustainably,” with Chandra (CS) Sherin, the La Crosse author of “Recipe for a Greener Life.” We also tabled at the Progresstival in La Crosse.

March – We tabled at La Crosse’s Climate Action Fair.
April – We provided information about our club and its initiatives including clean water, transportation equity, and the problem with plastic at the La Crosse Earth Fair.

May – We had a booth at the Driftless Outdoors Show.

June - We tabled at the Open Streets Block Party.

August – We sponsored a tour of La Crosse County Sustainability Coordinator Nick Nichols’ home to see how he lives the sustainable life 24/7.

September – We presented  a program about CLIMATE CHANGE:  Heading for Extinction (and what to do about it) - an Extinction Rebellion video and discussion in La Crosse

Green Spaces and Outdoor Recreation
March – The Coulee Region Group hosted local hikers, Sue Knopf and David Bange who talked about hiking areas in Southwestern Wisconsin

May – CRSC board chair, Pat Wilson, led a Wisconsin LOVES Parks hike at Wyalusing State Park, to advocate for restoration of funding for our state parks.

July – The Coulee Region Group co-sponsored a family-oriented canoe/kayak camping trip on the Black River.

Advocacy and Government Relations
The Coulee Region Group board chair Pat Wilson sits on the La Crosse Park Department Environmental Leadership Forum. CRSC Board member Cathy Van Maren is an appointed member of the Sustainable La Crosse Commission, the City of La Crosse MTU Board, and the La Crosse Area Planning Commission’s advisory Committee on Transit and Active Transportation.

Looking Forward  
Local and global environmental challenges will continue into 2020.  We will continue to work on Ready for 100, transportation system improvements, groundwater protection, environmental education, and getting people outdoors.  Please let us know if you want to work on any of these issues! 

COMING IN 2020!   Mark your calendar for January 28, the date of our next program (to be announced). year, we’re rolling out a monthly Coulee Region Sierra Club online book group, too. And we plan to drastically reduce the number of mailed newsletters which cost money, resources, and time. If you haven’t yet, tell us to stop mailing you paper newsletters (crsierraclub@ gmail.com) and read them at sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee.

SIERRA CLUB 2020 CALENDARS!   Again this year, your purchase of Sierra Club calendars will benefit our club and environmental programs and protection activities. The cost is $14.95 for the wall calendar and $15.95 for the engagement book. Get your calendar at our December 17 party or order from Maureen Kinney: 608-784-9324/608-784-5678 or email maureen@johnsflaherty.com. SIERRA CLUB NOTE AND HOLIDAY CARDS and other gifts are available online at store.sierraclub.org/calendars--cards-c28.aspx

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VOTE FOR 2020 COULEE REGION SIERRA CLUB BOARD!   We would like to thank board members George Nygaard and Jake Schnepper for their service to our club. Three other board members’ terms are expiring: Kathy Allen, Cathy Van Maren, and Pat Wilson. Please vote for up to FIVE board members for 2020. Write your ballot on a piece of paper and either bring it to the December 17 party OR mail it to Coulee Region Sierra Club, 620 23rd Street South, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601 postmarked by Dec. 17, 2019.

Please email crsierraclub@gmail.com or call Pat at 608-788-8831 with questions. 

VOTE FOR UP TO FIVE.
 

Kathy Allen  ... Veronica Bauer ... Ned Gatzke ... Cathy Van Maren ... Pat Wilson

You may also write in one or more names (up to five total) if you wish.

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THANK YOU, Kathy Allen, Veronica Bauer, Susan Colliton, Maureen Kinney, Wendy Stark, Dave & Donna Swanson, Cathy Van Maren and Pat Wilson for helping write, proofread, edit, copy, collate, staple, label, and mail our newsletter!

November Newsletter

ACTION ALERT: FELONY TRESPASS BILL     By Al Gedicks The Felony Trespass Bill (AB426/SB386) has already passed the Wisconsin Assembly on a voice vote and is on a fast track headed for the Wisconsin Senate. The bill would make it a felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine, to trespass on property owned, leased, or operated by fossil fuel companies. Some Wisconsin legislators who otherwise vote in favor of the environment and freedom of expression have bought the argument of the American Petroleum Institute that the bill is necessary to protect energy workers.

Threatening energy workers is already against the law. These heightened penalties are designed to suppress protests against the construction of oil and gas pipelines by those concerned about pipelines’ harm to the environment, indigenous land, and landowner rights.

I have asked Senator Shilling (D-La Crosse) to demand a roll call vote when the bill comes before the Senate next week. Her legislative assistant told me this morning (Oct. 29) that the Senator has not yet decided if she will call for a roll call vote. Without a roll call vote, there is no accountability for legislators who choose to give energy companies the power to stifle peaceful, non-violent protests through threats of felony convictions.

Please call or email Senator Shilling and tell her that she needs to demand a roll call vote on the felony trespass bill (SB386) so voters know who is willing to suppress freedom of speech and peaceful assembly for the energy industry. Senator Shilling’s office: 608-266-5490 or 800-385-3385. Email: Sen.Shilling@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Al Gedicks is executive secretary of the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council. Read the letter to the State senators from a coalition of state groups including the John Muir Chapter Sierra Club at tinyurl.com/SB386-letter.

LOCAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVE By Kathy Allen    In early October, several Coulee Region Sierra Club members attended a launch event to learn more about Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s new Driftless Region Organizing Cooperative. Citizen Action has worked on progressive issues around the state including health care, fair elections, CAFO moratoriums, and a living wage. They are now forming a co-op in the Coulee Region, and
the first issue the co-op will tackle is climate change. 

According to a 2017 report by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), one of the best ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is improving home energy efficiency. Because of this, Citizen Action will focus on making energy efficiency improvements more affordable and accessible for all southwest Wisconsin residents.The co-op will also work with banks, utilities, and elected officials to make residential solar more affordable. Such efforts could help La Crosse and other communities meet the “Ready for 100” goals of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050 or sooner.

To learn more about the new co-op, visit www.citizenactionwifund.org/energy or contact Ben
Wilson, the southwest Wisconsin co-op organizer, at ben.wilson@citizenactionwi.org or 608-386-2847.

Kathy Allen is a member of the Coulee Region Sierra Club board. She leads the local Ready for 100 team.

NOVEMBER 9 HIGHWAY CLEANUP   Weather dampened our planned cleanup in October so we’ve rescheduled for Saturday, November 9 at 9:00 a.m. Meet at the municipal water pumping station just northwest of the intersection of River Valley Drive and Gillette Street (County B). Gloves, safety vests, and bags provided. We usually spend 1.5 to 2 hours working in teams. The more the merrier! If you have questions, please contact Pat at 608-788-8831.

COLD WEATHER PRODUCE - LOCAL RESOURCES By Veronica Bauer     It is difficult to know exactly where our food comes from and how it is cared for, especially when it is so important in keeping communities healthy and safe. I don’t know about you, but I am often very concerned about whether the produce I buy is contaminated by foodborne pathogens, fertilizers, pesticides, or other harmful contaminants. I want to know with confidence that my food is grown, maintained, and distributed in a safe and sustainable way. To avoid stress when it comes to acquiring fresh food, a great solution is to grow your own. Sometimes though, we do not have direct access to a home garden or cannot grow because of the winter months. I can relate to this because I am a student living in an off-campus apartment where I do not have direct access to a garden. That is why I turn to my three favorite food resources for assistance in learning about growing food and acquiring fresh produce.

The Myrick Park Community Garden, found next to the Myrick Park Center along the La Crosse River Marsh, is very near and dear to me and I did not know it existed before this past summer. I was one of three Community Enrichment AmeriCorps interns at the garden for the summer. The garden is a demonstration garden, so it is smaller than typical community gardens. Throughout the summer, we planted, maintained, and harvested the garden. We grew many vegetables and fruits including tomatoes, potatoes, sweet peppers, corn, broccoli, radishes, kale, squash, carrots, various herbs, strawberries, and much more. My internship lasted from May to the end of August, but I still visit through late October and early November because some sweet peppers, radishes, eggplants, brussel sprouts, and kale are still growing. While I was working at the garden this summer, I was disappointed to see that not as many people as I thought came to the garden to harvest. Don’t get me wrong, I liked having a lot of fresh produce to myself, but I would have much rather shared what I had grown with community members. Next summer if you happen to find yourself in front of the Myrick Park Community Garden, please feel free to harvest some vegetables, as long as you only take what you need (leave some food for others) and you respect the garden and the people working in it. During the winter months, the garden is not up and running.

The Cameron Park Winter  Farmer’s Market at the Myrick Park Center is open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting on November 3rd and ending December 22nd. This time of the year is perfect for stocking up on storage vegetables such as squash, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and garlic. Be sure not to miss out on this great opportunity!

Another favorite place when it comes to produce is the La Crosse YMCA Food Forest. It contains roughly 100 different species native to the region, establishing a high level of biodiversity. Jarad Barkheim from Coulee Region Ecoscapes, who helped to establish, design, and care for the Food Forest, said that hundreds of pounds of local, nutrient-rich produce are harvested from the Food Forest each growing season. This produce is available for community members to harvest, as long as you know what you are harvesting, you do not harm the plants, and you leave something for others to harvest. Currently, there are still some things available at the Food Forest including popcorn, rose hips, wild onions, and medicinal herbs such as echinacea, purple coneflower roots, and horseradish. During the colder months activity at the Food Forest becomes pretty chill, no pun intended. However there are free classes offered to the community during the winter.

Stephanie Shaw, the YMCA Nutrition Educator Coordinator gave me the following list of free, community-open events/classes coming in the colder months:
•  November 14  from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the YMCA: Making and Preserving Bone Broth
•  November 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Myrick Park Center: Making Thanksgiving Side Dishes
•  December 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Myrick Park Center: Making Lefse
•  December 14 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the YMCA: Making Lefse
•  January 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the YMCA: Mediterranean Diet class
•  January 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the YMCA: Low-Carb Diet class
•  January 29 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the YMCA: Plant-Based Diet class
•  March 7 (time TBD): Food Forest 101 class

If you want to find out more event information, you can also search the Community Food Forest at the Y on Facebook.

Another place I would recommend checking out is the Kane Street Garden. It has been operating for 21 years alongside the Hunger Task Force. It is an “all together” community garden where anyone can volunteer and take home produce. During the summer, 30,000 pounds of organic produce is grown each year and in addition to growing food, workshops for all ages are available so everyone has an opportunity to learn how to maintain an organic garden. They are always accepting volunteers to help with the garden, so if you are able to, volunteer for an hour or more. During the colder months, garden coordinator Todd Huffman said that they will plant and harvest spinach in November, December, and up until mid-January. Picking times will be posted on the Kane Street Garden Facebook page within the next couple weeks.

One last option I would like to mention are Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares. After my internship ended in August and the produce in the Myrick Park Garden began to dwindle, a friend and I decided to split a CSA share through Small Family Farm (www.smallfamilycsa.com) based in La Farge, from when school started to mid-October. I have recently purchased a Fall share that I will receive on October 30th and November 13th which will include a large package of storage vegetables such as onions, garlic, winter squash, beets, carrots, etc. The only later share they have after the Fall Share is the Thanksgiving Box which will be delivered to you two days before Thanksgiving. That box include pie pumpkins, winter squashes, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots and more. A couple of other CSAs that deliver to La Crosse are Driftless Organics (www.driftlessorganics.com) in Soldier’s Grove and Harmony Valley Farm (harmonyvalleyfarm.com) in Viroqua. Both CSAs have shares that deliver through December and the boxes also contain storage crops.

The YMCA Food Forest, the Kane Street Garden, the Myrick Park Community Garden and Center, and your local CSAs are just a few great examples of ways you can receive locally grown produce. If these locations do not work for you or you do not live in the La Crosse area, you can search for places within your community. Enhance the health of yourself, your family, and your community by supporting your local produce resources.

Veronica Bauer is a Biology Major and Environmental Studies minor at UW-La Crosse. This semester, Veronica is working on educating about sustainability issues online and through the Sierra Club newsletter.

Growing your own or buying local food - mostly fruits and vegetables - in season, from a local source with minimal chemical inputs, food miles, processing, cold storage, and packaging helps reduce your carbon footprint. Organic soils store more carbon than soils on conventional farms (see tinyurl.com/CInOgSoil).

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS   The Coulee Region Sierra Club offers grants of up to $200 for environmental education projects for elementary and middle school age children or community organizations  in Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Projects must:
* Provide hands-on experience for students to learn about and explore our environment.
* Do something to promote a world that allows all life forms to live and prosper.
* Show students that they can make a difference in their envirionment, urban or rural.
* Be completed within the 2019-2020 school year.
* Provide a written report of outcomes.

Projects may:
* Consist of environmental displays or creative works.
* Benefit land, water, air, plants, animals, and/or birds.
* Be a new project or ongoing activity.

Applications are DUE BY January 5. See tinyurl.com/CRSCPrintApp for a print-and-mail application or apply online at tinyurl.com/CRSC-GrantApp. Email Maureen, maureen@johnsflaherty.com, with questions.

COULEE REGION GROUP BOARD ELECTIONS  We are seeking candidates to run for the Coulee Region Group board of directors! Board members will try to attend monthly meetings - in person or by phone or computer - and work to forward the goals of our club in the community. It would be fantastic if we could add some board members from counties outside La Crosse. Each area in our group has important issues and concerns (and potential programs and outings) and we would like to make sure all important matters are included in our program and event planning.

We will put a ballot in the December newsletter. If you are interested in serving on the board, please complete the online form at tinyurl.com/crscboardform or call Pat at 608-788-8831 with your name, contact info, county of residence, and a brief description of your experience and interests demonstrating why you would like to serve on the board. Please complete your nomination form by November 25. 

SIERRA CLUB 2020 CALENDARS   Again this year, your purchase of Sierra Club calendars will benefit our club and environmental programs and protection activities. The calendars cost $14.95 for the wall  calendar and $15.95 for the engagement book.

Get your calendar at our December gathering or order from Maureen Kinney: 608-784-9324/608-784-5678 or email maureen@johnsflaherty.com.

SIERRA CLUB NOTE AND HOLIDAY CARDS are available at store.sierraclub.org/calendars--cards-c28.aspx

SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE   On November 5, the Sustainability Institute at Western Technical College in La Crosse will host a Community Resiliency Symposium - Stories and Successes of our Local Watersheds. The program includes breakfast, a keynote address, stories of success, and a panel discussion. Learn more and get a link to the registration form at their site: sustaininstitute.com/education

Sustain La Crosse is a cohort-based program offered through the Sustainability Institute at Western Technical College designed to provide participant businesses and other enterprises in the 7 Rivers Region support in implementing sustainable initiatives. Module blocks start in spring 2020. The program is now accepting applications available at their site: sustaininstitute.com/sustain.

NEW CLIMATE PODCAST    By Kathy Allen       It seems like the climate crisis may finally be a key issue in the 2020 elections largely thanks to pressure from young people across the country. A new weekly podcast called “Climate 2020” is keeping voters informed and up to date on climate issues and what the candidates are saying about climate.

The first five episodes have covered topics such as the September climate strikes, Trump’s connections to fossil fuels, a campaign to get banks to divest from fossil fuel companies, and the lack of climate questions in the most recent debate. Each episode is about 30 minutes.

The podcast is hosted by Years of Living Dangerously award-winning documentary producer David Gelber and ClimateNexus Founding Director Jeff Nesbit.

Find more information and a link to episodes at climate2020podcast.com.

BATTLING PLASTIC By Veronica Bauer     If you look around at the streets you drive on or the sidewalks you walk on, you will probably see some sort of plastic lying on the ground. If you look in the waterways of your community, you will most likely see plastic floating on the surface. Some of the plastics you may not even be able to see because they have been broken down into microplastics. Unfortunately, I see this almost every day in La Crosse, whether I am walking to classes at the University or biking downtown. La Crosse is not the only guilty city; I see it in every city and every highway I pass through. The plastic crisis is only getting worse, and we all need to do something about it.

Plastic never goes away: it piles up in the environment and spoils our groundwater, poisons the food chain, contributes to carbon emissions, increases oil consumption, threatens wildlife, affects human health, and costs billions of dollars to abate. Yet, according to UN Environment, today “we produce about 300 million tons of plastic waste every year. That’s nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population.” (www.unenvironment.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/)

So, what can we do? Recycling is a great idea for combatting plastic waste and pollution, however it not very effective. A video by Greenpeace International called “Three lies big brands are selling you about plastic,” talks about how recycling is not a solution to our plastic waste problem. (youtu.be/RxDz-HFXs28)  According to National Geographic, less than one-fifth of all plastic is recycled globally, even though overall plastic production rates are increasing. (www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/05/plastics-facts-infographics-ocean-pollution/)

We need more recycling awareness and mindfulness. Some options that governments can provide to their citizens would be to run public awareness campaigns, offer recycling incentives, introduce plastic tax levies, or ban certain plastic products. The source(s) of plastic production should be the target for legislative change and should be held responsible for the plastic crisis and its consequences. However, the unfortunate reality is that the pressure has been placed on the consumer.

Consumers have the potential to make change happen. Even though you may think you are one person doing one action, these actions can add up. You can influence others to adopt a plastic-free way of life. Your action will have a domino effect. When everyone makes the transition, everything else follows. What consumers demand, companies will want to provide. If we want less plastic, we can get less plastic. Make your voice heard.

The main focus at the individual level is reuse and refill. Instead of using plastic and paper bags offered at various stores, bring your own cloth bag. You can purchase one or make your own. There are many video tutorials online. Instead of using plastic straws and plastic utensils, choose/purchase reusable options.

I personally have started reducing my individual waste. To start, I got myself an Aspero retractable metal straw and a bamboo spork with a cork case that I got from an eco-friendly store in downtown La Crosse called Full Circle Supply. I can attach both to my keychain so I can take them with me anywhere. Reduce plastic food packaging by buying in bulk and using your own reusable containers. I bring all of my jars to the People’s Food Co-op in La Crosse and fill them up with grains, beans, herbs, teas, oils, etc. Instead of using single-use coffee cups, bring your own reusable coffee container, whether it be a coffee mug, ceramic cup, or jar. Instead of buying beverages in plastic bottles, bring your own refillable bottle. Instead of continuously buying new shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, or any other toiletry bottles, take your own containers to fill from bulk containers. Full Circle Supply in downtown La Crosse is where I refill my bottles.

These are just a few important ways that you can reduce your plastic impact. If you want more specific ways to help reduce your plastic use, there are many websites that will tell you how to reach your goals. There are also a couple of community organizations that you can join that focus on combating plastic. One is the Plastic Initiative and another is called Viroqua Plastic Free.

I talked with Annika Mersmann from Viroqua Plastic Free about the purpose of this relatively new organization. The group plans to raise awareness of plastic pollution, plastic health issues, and solutions to the plastic crisis, offer education on the scope of plastic use and available alternatives, offer education on the local interface with the global plastic situation, offer guidance on plastic-free living, and work with local businesses, schools, and community groups for cooperative solutions. To join their cause or learn more about them and the steps they are taking, visit www.viroquaplasticfree.org or their Facebook page. Ms. Mersmann suggested these videos: “The Story of Stuff” (youtu.be/urFZ5o0az_4) and the trailer for an upcoming movie, The Story of Plastic (www.storyofplastic.org), both of which are very enlightening regarding the growing concerns of plastic pollution.

There are many ways that we can combat plastic, on the individual, manufacturer or legislative level. Combining our efforts and passing on the message can help to improve the lives of everyone and everything on the planet.
 

 


 

ALEC inspired bills penalize pipeline protest

The recent passage of Assembly Bill 426, which would provide felony penalties for protests near oil and gas pipelines and other "energy provider" sites is alarming. The bill now moves to the Wisconsin Senate as SB 326. A hearing on the Senate bill was held on October 22. This is one of many such attempts around the country to prop up the fossil fuel industry and tamp down protests.

According to the International Center for Not-For-Profit Law, under the ALEC-inspired legislation, "... trespass onto the property of any 'company that operates a gas, oil, petroleum, refined petroleum product, renewable fuel, water, or chemical generation, storage, transportation, or delivery system' would be a Class H felony, punishable by six years in prison and a fine of $10,000. Accordingly, protests in a range of locations could be covered, whether on land containing a pipeline or the corporate headquarters of an oil company."

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is suing to force Enbridge to remove its pipeline from tribal land (the easement expired in 2013), but this new law would potentially conflict with hunting and fishing treaty rights and criminalize treaty-guaranteed rights and tribal sovereignty. A diverse coalition of groups, including the Sierra Club and tribal governments oppose the legislation.

A similar bill enacted in Sorth Dakota has been successfully challenged by the ACLU with the state agreeing to not enforce and to compensate plaintiffs' attorney fees.

Read about the bill and contact your state senator and Governor Evers. 

October Newsletter

Join the Coulee Region Sierra Club Ecochallenge Team!  October 2-23, 2019
The annual People’s Ecochallenge gets people thinking, learning, and acting about climate and sustainability issues. Anyone may participate and everyone can benefit. You can do activities alone or with a group. It’s a great way to take our concerns to another level and engage family members, neighbors, colleagues, and classmates in taking next steps.

This year’s challenge includes learning activities and actions in categories including Waste, Food, Health, Transportation, Energy, Community, Nature, Water, and Simplicity. You may also create your own challenge.

Here’s how it works:
1. Join our team - tinyurl.com/CRSCEco1019 and choose your challenges.
2. As you complete your challenges, log in, mark them as completed, and choose new ones.
3. You and our team earn points for every completed challenge and for referring others to the team.
4. Top teams and participants may win prizes, including money and giveaways.

The main goal of our participation is to engage and include as many community members as possible to actively work at protecting our world for current and future inhabitants. Join us!

October 1 Highway Cleanup!  Please join us for an hour or two as we pick up litter along
River Valley Dri ve in the heart of the La Crosse River Marsh. We’ll meet at 5:30 p.nm. at the pumping station just northwest of the Gillette Street/River Valley Drive intersection. The work is easy - our club provides gloves, vests, bug spray, and bags - and it’s rewarding to clean paper, plastic, metal, bottles, cans, and other debris. Bring your family and friends. A large group will make the work go quickly. NEW: Submit a photo of your most unusual
find and you might win a prize! More details will be given at the cleanup. See you there!

October 3 Citizen Action Energy  On October 3, at 7 p.m. at 401 West Avenue South in La Crosse, Citizen Action of Wisconsin will kick off the first initiative of its new Southwest Wisconsin action co-op. Ben Wilson, the co-op’s organizer, will announce an agreement
with Associated Bank that will help people install energy efficiency upgrades that will pay for themselves in lower energy bills. RSVP to this event at tinyurl.com/CASWWI1003. If you are not able to attend, CA will hold similar events throughout the Coulee Region. Email Ben
at ben.wilson@citizenactionwi.org to learn more and find out about other events in the area.

Global Climate Strike  [View pictures of the day's events at the online version of the newsletter at https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/62848859/october-2019-coulee-region-sierra-club-newsletter]   On Friday, September 20, Coulee Region residents joined millions around the world to press the case for immediate, substantial climate action. La Crosse hosted several events during the day starting with an hour long visibility event at a busy commuter intersection. About 30 percent of US carbon emissions come from transportation, including private, often single occupant vehicles. Dealing with planning and low/no-carbon transportation options must be a priority.

At noon, UWL students held an eleven minute vigil at the campus clocktower. Carly Rundle-Borchert covered the event for the campus newspaper, the Racquet. “Throughout the course of these eleven minutes, UWL Josie Talbert read climate change fears submitted by UWL students. After each fear was read, students and community members yelled, ‘Hear
our fear!’” Read her article and see more photos at tinyurl.com/RacquetClimateStrike

At Central High School, Fridays for Future, La Crosse chapter, called a four hour strike along Losey Boulevard. A large number of students were joined by community supporters. One family traveled from Tomah to take part in the strike activities. Anna Durall, co-leader of F4F in La Crosse noted that this was the largest group they’ve seen so far. She also invited community members to join their climate strike every Friday from 10:10 to 10:45 a.m.

At least 200 people gathered at 5:30 at Burns Park for a rally and march to the office of Rep. Ron Kind. Students urged Rep. Kind to stand up for strong climate legislation. Nearly 300 signatures were collected online and in person. The march stretched several blocks along Main Street and around the corner onto Fifth Avenue. Outside of Rep. Kind’s office, students read excerpts from “The Uninhabitable Earth” by David Wallace-Wells. The group
marched back to Burns Park where the rally ended with an exhortation to make this event the first step in a new level of climate activism.

Students delivered their petition to Rep. Ron Kind’s local staff on Monday, September 23. Those who were not able to sign the petition, may still contact Rep. Kind and other elected officials to co-sponsor and actively support strong climate legislation such as the Green New Deal. Read the students’ letter at tinyurl.com/f4flax-kindpetition. 

Sustainable Nick Nichols!  On August 27, about 16 Coulee Region group members visited the home of La Crosse County Sustainablity Coordinator, Nick Nichols. Nick talked about the energy saving features he and his wife have installed on and in their home, including solar panels, solar water heating, a southfacing greenhouse, insulated window blankets, and a clothesline. Nick’s garden helps decrease the family’s food-miles footprint. They also heat with wood from the area. And Nick drives a hybrid plug-in car with an electric-only
range that covers his commute to and from work. They plan to sell their Medary-area home and build a smaller, tighter, even more efficient home nearby. If your group, class, or organization would like a tour, email NNichols@lacrossecounty.org.

Environmental Education Grants  The Coulee Region Sierra Club offers grants of up to $200 for environmental education projects for elementary and middle school age children or community organizations in Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. Projects must:
* Provide hands-on experience for students to learn about and explore our environment.
* Do something to promote a world that allows all life forms to live and prosper.
* Show students that they can make a difference in their envirionment, urban or rural.
* Be completed within the 2019-2020 school year.

Projects may:
* Consist of environmental displays or creative works.
* Benefit land, water, air, plants, animals, and/or birds.
* Be a new project with lasting value or the potential for ongoing activity.

Applications are DUE BY January 5. See tinyurl.com/CRSCPrintApp for a print and mail application or apply online at tinyurl.com/CRSC-GrantApp. Email Maureen, maureen@johnsflaherty.com, with questions. Successful applicants will be notified on or about mid-January. A written report will be due upon completion of the project.


HEADING FOR EXTINCTION (and what to do about it)  At our September 24 meeting, we watched an edited version of a video of an Extinction Rebellion program that had been held in Oxford, England in April. George Monbiot facilitated the program which discussed the science of global heating and the dire warnings for human existence. Presenters also talked about how Extinction Rebellion and other international groups are making a difference by
taking direct non-violent action.

Their three demands:
1. Tell the truth. Governments must tell the truth about the urgency of the climate and related ecological disasters and work with the media and others to educate and inform
citizens so the scope of the disaster is understood.
2. Act now. Governments must begin to take real, meaningful, immediate actions to reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions and halt biodiversity loss.
3. Beyond politics. The current political decision-making system is broken and corrupt. XR proposes a Citizens’ Assembly whose sole focus would be on listening to the science and, working with experts, decide on priorities and projects to meet the goal of living within planetary means.

View the video at youtu.be/QaFBnUyDXpk
 
Special thanks to guest, Debbie Dudek of Viroqua for introducing the video and leading the discussion after. Many good suggestions came up during the discussion. Clearly, the more we are able to talk about the issue AND what we can do about it, the more chance we have to move the required 3.5 percent of our population to act.

Connect with us onl ine! We’re on Twitter: @CRSierraClub, on Facebook.com/CRSierraClub, on our blog at cr-sierra.blogspot.com, and at our website:
www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee. We also continue to hope our members will email us at crsierraclub@gmail.com with info about events and actions happening in their parts of the Coulee Region


Sierra Club 2020 Calendars  Again this year, your purchase of Sierra Club calendars
will benefit our club and environmental programs and protection activities. The calendars cost $14.95 for the wall calendar and $15.95 for the engagement book. Get your calendar at our December gathering or order from Maureen Kinney: 608 784-9324/784-5678 or email maureen @ johnsflaherty.com. SIERRA CLUB NOTE AND HOLIDAY CARDS are available at store.sierraclub.org/calendars--cards-c28.aspx

Volunteer Appreciation October 5  The John Muir Chapter will celebrate and honor its many volunteers during an Appreciation and Awards Party on Saturday, October 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the offices of partner organization, WISDOM, 1251 Vel R. Phillips Avenue in
Milwaukee. A Coulee Region group member is among this year’s award winners. Cathy Van Maren was chosen for the Merit Award for her work on the Transportation team, Ready for 100 team, and various community groups. For more information about the event and to RSVP, see tinyurl.com/JMCAwards19.  

CRSC Board Nominations  Our club will hold elections for its board in December. If you’re interested in being on the board, please email crsierraclub@gmail.com with a paragraph
about yourself, your connection to the Sierra Club, and your goals for the Coulee Region Sierra Club if you are elected. We will include candidate statements and a ballot in our December newsletter. We particularly invite members from outside La Crosse county to consider serving on the board. Board members meet about ten times per year and use email as necessary between meetings. Accommodations will be made for those who are not
able to physically attend meetings. The board sets the agenda for the year, communicates with members and with the John Muir Chapter leadership about Sierra Club initiatives and priorities, raises and spends club money, works with allies on club priorities such as Ready for 100, water quality issues, transportation, and environmental protection.

If you need more information, please feel free to email us or call Pat Wilson, chair, at 608-788-8831. 

Oct. 26 Volunteer for the Wild  The Mississippi Valley Conservancy will host a day of
removing invasive species on Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Trempealeau Lakes Nature Preserve near Trempealeau. Safety equipment and tools will be provided as well as a lunch during the noon hour break. Dress in layers and wear long pants with sleeves and close-toed shoes. Bring plenty of water to drink along with whatever sun and insect protection you will need. RSVP by calling 608-784-3606 ext. 5.

Sept. 28 Enbridge Line 3 protest in Duluth

Join us at Gichi-gami Gathering to Stop Line 3! We have buses going from across Wisconsin to the event in Duluth!

About the Gichi-gami Gathering to Stop Line 3:
Join us September 28 for a rally, march, and gathering of our Midwest community to send a clear message to the Minnesota Governor and state agencies:  Midwesterners stand together to protect what we love and say STOP Line 3 and other pipelines that threaten our water, climate, and communities.

John Muir Chapter Sierra Club will have buses from across Wisconsin to the event in Duluth! On September 28, there will be a rally, march, and gathering to join in community and send a clear message to the Minnesota Governor and state agencies: Midwesterners stand together to protect what we love and say STOP Line 3 and other pipelines that threaten our water, climate, and communities. 

Where: Gichi-Ode’ Akiing Park, Duluth

When: Saturday September 28, 2019 

Reserve your spot on the bus!

There will be 3 buses from Wisconsin to the Gich-gami Gathering to Stop Line 3. Bus tickets are $10 each. If you cannot afford the $10 ticket, sponsored tickets are available for $1. Please contact our office with any questions or concerns.

​Stops include: Ashland, Beloit, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, and Stevens Point.  With enough interest, other stops could include: Janesville, Marshfield, Wausau or Whitewater. (If you’d like to see one of the stops, sign up and get 5 of your friends to join!)  Carpools will be arranged from other cities as well. Sign up for a carpool here.

AND, from MN350:

In just over a week, we’ll gather on the shores of Gichi-gami -- also known as Lake Superior -- to say no to the Line 3 tar sands pipeline and YES to a cleaner and more just future. I can hardly wait.

This event is a big deal. In June, a court put the pipeline on hold because the spill risks to Lake Superior were never even studied. We’re going to Gichi-gami together to say enough is enough: kill this project, put a foot down, protect what we have and what we love.

We know that the risks of a tar sands spill, or the certainty of climate warming brought on by burning this oil, or the continued erasure of indigenous treaty rights already give more than enough reasons why this pipeline must never be built.

SATURDAY, SEPT 28: REGISTRATION & MORE INFO

Schedule for the day:
Starting at noon at Gichi-Ode’ Akiing park in Duluth: arrival, drumming, art
1:30pm: Rally
2:30pm: March
4-6pm: Gathering, food, workshops, fun!

 

Tuesday, Heading for Extinction

On Tuesday, September 24, the Coulee Region Sierra Club will show a video of an Extinction Rebellion program hosted by George Monbiot in Oxford, England, in April.

The video, Heading for Extinction (and what to do about it) talks about clinate crisis predictions and actions that will help avert the worst of the unrecoverable consequences of runaway planetary heating. Following the video, the group will talk about what we can do in the La Crosse area and Coulee region to push policies, priorities, and projects that will reduce carbon emissions and move toward renewable energy.

Also at this meeting, Ben Wilson, new organized for Citizen Action of Wisconsin, will talk about CA's work to encourage and support energy efficiency updates and improvements in the southwest Wisconsin area. And there will be a report about Ready for 100 progress in La Crosse.

Everyone is welcome to attend the free and open to the public event. Refreshments will be provided. 

CLIMATE STRIKE - SEPTEMBER 20!

La Crosse youth and adults are planning Climate Strike events to coincide with the Global Climate Strike on September 20. This is big. Not only will millions around the world be marching and rallying to bring attention to the climate crisis, people of La Crosse will rally, too.

But getting the world out, competing with business as usual, has been hard. So this is our plea: tell everyone about the Friday, September 20 Global Climate Strike and encourage them to get involved locally. If you don't live in the La Crosse area, there is still time to plan a vigil in your town center, hold a clilmate march or visibility events, invite friends to hold a letter writing session (and sign the online letter) or do something else to make the climate crisis visible and real in your community.

First, read and SIGN THE LETTER to Rep. Ron Kind that urges him to support real and immediate climate action legislation. This is not a "political" thing. This is a fundamental right of citizens thing! Sign the letter and encourage your groups and contacts to sign the letter.

Then read about and share the events highlighted at the event page. Events include a morning commuter visibility at La Crosse St. & Losey, two afternoon student strikes, and an evening march and rally.

Download and share the flyer - on social media, at your school or office, via email.

Last, attend and bring others to the events. Talk about the climate crisis every day. Relate what we are not doing right now to what we are doing to our future. Sunday's La Crosse Tribune had a great editorial about the consequences of our inaction.

This is the most important thing. Drop your current most important thing for one day and help the 9/20 Climate Strike break through the celebrity news and the Packers news and all the other distractions. The future of our planet and our children is on the line. Don't ignore them.