Action Alert!

Take action: Tell Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin that stimulus money needs to go towards helping families and workers -- not lining the pockets of oil executives.

The fossil fuel industry has been chomping at the bit to seize the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to solve their pre-existing financial woes - and to no one’s surprise,  Donald Trump and his administration are racing to help them do it. At a time when the federal government can’t seem to get it together to help nurses and doctors get the basic protective gear they need, this is deeply infuriating. 

Changes to the Main Street Lending Program announced today by the Fed mirror precisely those lobbied for by the fossil fuel industry and its cheerleaders in Congress. This lending program, funded at least in part by money allocated under the CARES Act, is designed to help financially sound small businesses recover from the COVID-19-induced economic crisis. What it wasn’t intended to do? Bail out an industry that has been facing decreasing returns and increasing debt for more than the past decade.

The Sierra Club and our partners, along with Congressional Democrats, have been raising the alarm bells in recent weeks about the potential for the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department to misuse American taxpayers’ relief funding on failing fossil fuel companies. We have said from the start that relieving the long-standing debt burden of fossil fuel companies would only be throwing good money after bad, while doing nothing to help protect workers and communities.

Read more at https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2020/04/fossil-fuel-industry-gets-its-wishlist-federal-loan-program-changes

Ways to Stay Positive Through COVID-19 Podcast

Ideas for how we can stay positive through the COVID-19 situation

Ideas for how we can stay positive through the COVID-19 situation

We are currently in unprecedented times and all are looking for ways to make the best of this whole situation with COVID-19. Well, I have some ideas as to ways we can keep a positive mindset through everything that is going on. One idea I have is from an article I read by Sam Wollaston of The Guardian where he wrote about garden camping within our own backyard, which I thought is a great idea. The article stated ideally everyone is able to do this as a whole family activity with children but even if a person lives by themselves they can still partake in camping within their own backyard. Within the article it mentioned how cheap, eco-friendly and fun this activity is and that it is simple. Even if an individual doesn't have a garden, still we all have the capability of camping within our own backyard. Who doesn't enjoy cooking smores, huddling around a fire, telling stories, socializing with family and reading books in a tent? These are all things we are able to do while garden camping and or camping within our own backyards as well as put together our own tent. 

Here is a link to the article written in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/10/the-cheapest-greenest-holiday-ever-the-weird-joy-of-garden-camping-with-the-kids

A second idea I have to staying positive right now is the ability we all have to just go outside and be immersed within nature. Licensed therapist Mirriam Torres Brinkmann says in an article written by The Sierra Club, “People are feeling compelled to go out because we are all social animals, and being locked up and isolated is against our nature"(Bryant, 2020). Dr. Brinkmann adds in The Sierra Club article, "that a compelling amount of research shows that not getting enough time in nature is detrimental to our mental health" (Bryant, 2020).  I definitely agree getting outside in nature, immersing ourselves within nature is helpful not only to our mental health but also our physical health. There are so many things we all as individuals can do while in nature such as exercise, enjoy the sounds of birds and wildlife, sit down and draw in a sketch book and talk to trees among many other things. I also want to add, while it is important to be in nature, we need to have guidelines such as not traveling more than 10 miles from home walking somewhere, when walking somewhere make sure it is with immediate family members only, keep a minimum of 6 feet distance between yourself and other people, try to avoid crowded places the best you can and lastly make sure to be safe. 

Here is a link to the article written by The Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/if-you-must-venture-out-during-covid-19-heres-how-do-it

A third and final idea I want to discuss is tips for staying positive during the times of the coronavirus. In an article written by health.clevelandclinic.org, they had multiple tips I really liked for staying positive during these times and the tips were, #1 Exercise regularly, #2 maintain a healthy diet, #3 take a break, #4 connect with others, #5 Pick up a new hobby, #6 Serving within your own community and lastly #7 get sleep and rest (5 Ways to Manage Stress during the Coronavirus Outbreak, 2020). Relating to the tip of connecting with others I think it is a great idea to send letters, send emails, talk on the phone, have zoom meetings among other things with family members you don’t see much to see how they are doing and know you care about all your family members, I called my grandma recently who lives in Manitowoc and have not talked with her for awhile and it was nice getting to catch up with her, hear she was doing well and staying healthy.

Here is a link to the article written by clevelandclinic.org: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-ways-to-manage-stress-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/

Earth Day Conversation Podcast with myself Marc Carstens joined by Nick Nichols

Donate in honor of Earth Day

Dear Coulee Region Sierra Club members,

Can you believe this year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day? The environmental movement has accomplished so much over the years, but there is also so much more work to do. Given the current global pandemic and "safer at home" restrictions, we won't be able to celebrate this milestone the way we hoped. While so many plans have changed, the Sierra Club is still striving to address urgent, immediate needs within our communities while still moving their longtime priorities forward in the state. In honor of Earth Day's 50th anniversary and to support the Sierra Club's mission in our region and throughout Wisconsin, our Coulee Group is holding an online "Team Sierra" fundraiser. Any money raised will be split evenly between our Coulee Region Group (to support our annual environmental education grants) and Wisconsin's John Muir Chapter.

To contribute or for more information, visit our fundraiser page: 

https://www.teamsierra.org/wisconsin/Team/View/129386/Coulee-Region-Group

You could also join our fundraising "team" by clicking the "join our group" button on our page (or contact us and we can walk you through the process) or by simply sharing the page with your friends and family.  We realize that the current, unprecedented situation is impacting everyone’s lives differently - if this is not the right time for you to contribute to the Sierra Club, we understand. Please do what is best for you!

Thank you, and take care!

The Coulee Region Group Board 

Vote online - Conservation Congress

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) is a citizen-elected board that advises the Natural Resources Board on environmental policies. It holds hearings around the state each spring to encourage public input on various environmental resolutions. However, like many events this spring, this year’s Conservation Congress will look a bit different. There will no longer be in-person meetings around the state, but there will be valuable ways to participate online. Despite the changes, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress remains an important opportunity to voice your opinion about our environmental future.

 Normally, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress holds hearings in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties in the spring. At these hearings, participants can contend for a delegate position, present resolutions, and vote on the resolutions. An online voting component was introduced in 2019 with much popularity, although resolution presentations and delegate voting had to occur in person. For more information on the traditional WCC and its history, see our recent blog on the topic.

 Online voting will begin April 13 at 7 p.m. and will remain open for 72 hours, until April 16 at 7 p.m. It's simple - click the link and fill out the survey at (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020WISpringHearingInput)!

When voting, you will be asked to answer 55 questions related to environmental policy. This year, there are several issues that will be of particular interest to Sierra Club members. Follow this link for guidance on voting and more information.

Get On Board Day - April 16

National GET ON BOARD DAY is Thursday, April 16. On this day we thank the drivers and staff of public transportation systems; recognize the vital function public transportation plays in moving people to work, school, shopping, and appointments; and appreciate the vital role public transit plays in reducing transportation-related emissions.

This year because of stay at home orders, we can't have a big party, but we still want to show appreciation for those frontline workers who are making sure people can get to work, get groceries, and to important appointments. So, we encourage you to print out this graphic and take it to the bus stop near you when the bus will come by on Thursday, April 16 and wave to the driver to show your appreciation. If you want to write a letter to the editor or send a message of thanks via the MTU or SMRT Facebook pages or email OHWS Transit, do that, too!

We will hope to do something bigger when we are again able to gather and celebrate together. Please participate if you can! Here's the link to a PRINTABLE .PDF. Or click the graphic below to get a social media friendly graphic.

April newsletter

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and state Safer at Home travel and meeting restrictions, all in-person Sierra Club activites are suspended until further notice. We encourage Sierra Club members to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe by staying home as much as possible. More details at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm

VOTING  The governor has not been able to change the date of our April 7 spring election. If you have not voted yet, you may request an absentee ballot online at myvote.wi.gov through April 2. The voted and witnessed ballot must be returned to your clerk by election day. If you have questions about voting, please contact your clerk.

BOOK CLUB ONLINE  Our Coulee Region Sierra Club book club continues ONLINE with Dahr Jamail’s award-winning book, The End of Ice, on tap through April. Join us at tinyurl.com/crscbookclub

CLEAN ENERGY TOOLKIT   The John Muir Chapter Sierra Club, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, and Renew Wisconsin released a Wisconsin Clean Energy Toolkit on March 10 with news conferences around the state. State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Chair of a $1.2 billion trust fund, hopes to continue helping communities finance projects like solar panels to address climate change and lower energy costs. More at: www.wicleanenergytoolkit.com 

CONSERVATION CONGRESS ONLINE   Beginning Monday, April 13, the annual Conservation Congress will take place ONLINE. Each year, Wisconsin holds a Conservation Congress for people from all 72 counties to weigh in on various environmental issues, some related to hunting and fishing, but many other issue that impact our environment. This year, due to COVID-19, there will not be in-person hearings. Instead, we encourage you to submit your input online. The online portal will have the same questionnaire usually completed during county hearings. It's your opportunity to voice your opinion, learn from others, and have input into our environmental future. Learn more at tinyurl.com/jmcconscon20

SIERRA CLUB RESPONSE   Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director     As we all begin to deal with a global pandemic, I want to let you know how the Sierra Club is adapting and responding. We’re prioritizing the health of our volunteers, activists, staff, and entire community. The COVID-19 pandemic is a social and economic justice issue, as well as a health crisis. Protecting our community is our number one priority, and we recognize that we have a social responsibility to be good actors in keeping others safe.

We are continuing to build a strong community of changemakers online. Many of us are  processing feelings of fear, isolation, confusion, anger, and sadness around this pandemic, and how it is being handled by a reckless administration that puts vulnerable communities last. In the past few weeks, I encourage you to put yourself in other people’s shoes and engage with sensitivity and care. More at www.sierraclub.org/michael-brune/2020/03/sierra-club-covid-19-pandemic