December newsletter

 

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1 at 1p.m.  PFAS in drinking water Preparation for 12/01 and 12/10 public input ONLINE Register:  tinyurl.com/WISCPFAS  PFAS chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also called “forever chemicals,” are found in everyday objects like cookware, water resistant clothing, food packaging, and firefighting foam. They have vast effects on both humans and aquatic species.  PFAS don’t break down easily and remain in the environment for long periods of time, making their way into Wisconsin waterways and affecting both ground and drinking water.

PFAS contamination has been associated with developmental defects in infants, increased risks of certain cancers, raised cholesterol levels, and lower reproductive success rates. Strong PFAS regulations, including chemical cleanup and testing, ensure that the water we drink is safe, the fish we eat are safe, and that the effects of forever chemicals are diminished. Another important step is ensuring that there are safe limits established for PFAS in water. Right now, the Department of Natural Resources is updating surface and drinking water PFAS regulations, and they're accepting public comments on this work. Sign up to testify at a virtual public hearing to advocate for health, safety, and clean water!

Midwest Environmental Advocates held an online public information session on November 29 about public input in this process. A recording of that session may be viewed at https://youtu.be/DJHRrEQdFNw

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 15, 2 to 8 p.m.   Hearing on proposed gas plants Public Service Commission public hearings ONLINE Register:  tinyurl.com/WISCPSCGas  WEC Energy Group (owner of We Energies and WPS) has proposed building mini gas plants, known as Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) units in Rothschild and Kronenwetter in central Wisconsin. Tell the PSC that they should be building batteries and clean energy, not more fossil fuel infrastructure. There will be two options for hearings: 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. RSVP for more information and talking points.

SUPPORT OUR TEAMS!  Sierra Club teams do vital grassroots work. You can support these volunteer efforts by donating any amount through the end of the year at tinyurl.com/WISCTeamFunds

November 15, 2021
Kathy, Cathy, Nancy, Veronica, Avery, Pat, Ned, Dorothy and other CRG leaders

Thank you for your work on our Summer of Collective Action for August Recess (and beyond)! We named this effort “Change Powered by People” because grassroots power is central to our theory of change. The Coulee Region Group was a beautiful example of this. One of the main goals of this project was to build grassroots power through base-building, leadership development, and partnerships. You worked with partners across your region, hosted events and art-making action, and developed and trusted new emerging volunteer leaders -- great work using this national opportunity in a way that worked for y’all, brought new people in, and strengthened and grew existing relationships. Y’all developed a local organizing arc that brings people into your local campaigns, and rooted it in hope and climate solutions. It’s our hope that volunteers engaged in this program will go on this journey with us and continue to do work with the Wisconsin Sierra Club.

We believe that, because elected officials are ultimately accountable to their constituents, building and wielding grassroots power locally is essential to getting them to pass the legislation we need. You’ve done hugely important work educating your community and local decision-makers about the need for this crucial legislation and the benefits infrastructure work like energy efficiency projects and solar on schools will bring to Wisconsinites. Thank you!!

Laura Comer, National Distributed Organizer, Sierra Club Ready for 100 initiative

CLIMATE ACTION - LA CROSSE SCHOOL DISTRICT   As Wisconsin cities and counties continue pledging to be part of the climate solution by planning to eliminate carbon emissions and transition to 100% clean, renewable energy, parents, students, teachers, and community members are turning their focus on schools.

The benefits of renewable energy for school districts is clear--schools save money when they install renewable energy systems, from energy efficiency upgrades to LED lights to solar panels. But there are many other benefits as highlighted in a 2019 study from Stanford University (news.stanford.edu/2019/05/02/happens-schools-go-solar/).

At least five Wisconsin school districts have formalized their intentions to look out for the health and safety of students’ futures by adopting clean energy, climate action or climate justice resolutions. Commitments range from moving to solar installations to considering how school operations, including food systems and transportation planning, impacts the districts’ carbon footprints.

The Coulee Region Sierra Club has partnered with Wisconsin Conservation Voters, Citizen Action of Wisconsin Driftless Co-op, and Solar on La Crosse Schools to urge the La Crosse School District to make its own strong commitment to addressing the climate crisis institutionally. As a regional leader, La Crosse has an opportunity to make a major impact.

If you are a resident in or have children enrolled in the La Crosse School District, please join us in asking La Crosse public schools to move to 100% renewable energy and to make a climate action plan to help them prepare for the future.

Sign the petition at tinyurl.com/CleanSDLC-Petition and then follow the link to write your own letter to district leaders. If you can help contact others, speak at a school board meeting or participate in any other way, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis!  Climate change poses a major threat to children and young people’s health, nutrition, education, development, survival and future potential. Compared to adults, children require more food and water per unit of their body weight, are less able to survive extreme weather events, and are more susceptible to toxic chemicals, temperature changes and diseases, among other factors.

Critically, current and future generations of children will have to navigate an uncertain future where the current model of growth that links economic development to environmental exploitation is no longer viable.

- from FACT SHEET: COP26 - Children and Climate Change, November 1, 2021, UNICEF

DEADLINE NEAR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS   CRSC is offering  grants of up to $200 each for environmental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline has been extended to  January 5, 2022. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

New for 2021-2022, CRSC will recognize the achievements of and award $150 to a high school senior who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment. Eligible students are those graduating from high school in 2022 who reside in the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. The application includes essays and submission of a portfolio. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2022 with the award to be given by the end of April, 2022.  For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

Funding for these environmental grants and awards is possible thanks to an annual grant from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, shared dues from Sierra Club memberships, and donations made by community members. Email us to learn more: CRSierraClub@gmail.com. 

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT     Join more than a century of community science--the 122nd annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, December 14, 2021 through January 5, 2022. Learn more at www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count

DECEMBER EVENTS

December 1: Monroe County Climate Task Force listening sessions. 1 p.m. Bank of Cashton, 6 p.m. American Legion Hall, Sparta.  www.co.monroe.wi.us/Home/Components/News/News/152/15

December 1: FILM: The Ants and the Grasshopper sponsored by Edible Madison ONLINE at 7 p.m. More info at ediblemadison.com/antsandgrasshopper

December 2 - 4: Building a Socially Responsible Food Future hosted by the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project ONLINE.  tinyurl.com/SRAP-FoodFuture

December 3 & 4: La Crosse White Privilege Symposium hosted by La Crosse Waking Up White Collaborative ONLINE and at the La Crosse Center. Register at www.laxwakingupwhite.com/white-privilege-symposium.html

December  7: How to Run for Office training offered by the Wisconsin Farmers Union ONLINE from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Register at tinyurl.com/WFURun4Office

December 7:  Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition - Reasons to be Hopeful presented by the Rocky Mountain Institute ONLINE at NOON. tinyurl.com/RMI-Hopeful

December 9: Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change - the legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery sponsored by the Franciscan Spirituality Center ONLINE at 6 p.m. tinyurl.com/FSC-Roots-Seeds

December 10: A Bold Vision for Wisconsin Rail Travel hosted by the High Speed Rail Alliance ONLINE at noon facebook.com/events/1078970969574677/

December 13: Rally for Climate Justice at the UWL Clocktower. 11 a.m. tinyurl.com/Rally4Climate-UWL

December 18: Advanced Candidate Training sponsored by Wisconsin Progress. In person (location TBD) More info at actionnetwork.org/events/la-crosse-advanced-local-training/

December 30: Understanding Resistence to Change - A Workshop for Environmentalists presented by Joanna Moore ONLINE at 11 a.m. joannamoore.com/events

CLIMATE CRISIS - THREE STUDENTS' VIEWS    

By: Adrian Cuff

Adrian Cuff is a senior at UW-La Crosse majoring in microbiology with a minor in environmental science. As part of his coursework for the Capstone for Environmental Science class, Adrian is submitting articles about local environmental issues for our newsletter.

As we all know, the world we live in today is a part of a major climate crisis. Many people know about the crisis, but many do not know about it. I set out to learn whether young adults (UWL students) knew about the crisis and how they felt about the whole situation. I ended up choosing three random students at UWL, and they were different ages along with having differing views. Here’s what they had to say:

Student 1: “Yes, I am aware of the climate crisis. I am worried about our future on our beautiful planet that we are taking for granted and using up her resources way too quickly. It does suck that we are in a global pandemic, and the focus on the environment was pushed to the side. I know everyone says that one person can’t change the world, but if we work together, we can fix the issues that are harming the environment. I do my best to help save the environment from bringing my own bags into grocery stores, to using a water bottle, and many other things. I do as much as I can to be green, and hopefully my efforts will create a better future for the next generations.”

Student 2: “The climate crisis is very important, and I just don’t understand why it is not talked about more. I think most people would see the new bill that Biden passed that pushes for my green energy in the United States, but besides that it’s been swept under the rug. It makes me sick that huge corporations don’t want to fix their emissions and make the right decisions to save the planet because it would cost them money. Everyone is so greedy anymore, I guess they forget they need clean air, and clean water to live. Money won’t allow you to live. I do think it’s tough to be green as a person, and I do not think I’ll be making any changes because no one else is from what I’ve seen.”

Student 3: “The climate crisis is important, but I do not know how we will be able to fix our mistakes in time. All the major fossil fuel corporations lobby extremely hard to the politicians that run this country and will always make right decisions for the best interest of these corporations. It just makes me sick. I try to help the environment when I can, but it’s hard since I live on campus. I use an Ozzie container, which I know saves a lot of waste from hitting the landfills and use a water bottle as well. I know I definitely can try harder to be green, but UWL should also look at trying to be greener as well.”

Overall, it is good to see these students know about the climate crisis, and that it is still very important to figure out for humanity’s future. UWL deserves a lot of credit for hosting many events, speakers, and even having clubs like Students for Sustainability that spread the information about the environment throughout the campus and beyond. A cleaner and greener future doesn’t look too far on the horizon, and I cannot wait to see what this younger generation can achieve in the future

SIERRA STUDENT COALITION   The Sierra Student Coalition is a network of young people ages 14-35 organizing for climate, racial and economic justice. The group offers training programs, popular education, leadership development opportunities, campaigns, resources, and a community of support for youth across the country.

SPROG is the Sierra Student Coalition’s longest running training program, and is typically an intensive one-week leadership training program that teaches tools for environmental and social justice activism to young people across the country. To learn more and apply for training programs, visit www.sierraclub.org/youth

JULIANA V. UNITED STATES     In 2015, 21 youth sued the United States government for failure to protect their future by not acting to combat climate change.  The suit, called Juliana v. United States, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon in 2015.

The complaint asserts that, through the government's affirmative actions that cause climate change, it has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, as well as failed to protect essential public trust resources.

Read about the case at www.youthvgov.org/our-case

COULEE REGION SIERRA CLUB BOARD ELECTIONS     Thank you for participating in the democratic process of electing your local Sierra Club representatives!  Just enter your member number and then vote for up to four candidates, to begin two-year terms in January 2022. The candidate bios are below. Please complete one ballot per member (both members in a Joint membership may cast ballots). You will receive a link to the online ballot and your member number in an email OR via postcard. Your member number is required so your membership can be verified by the Election Committee. Please vote either with the online ballot OR by printing, completing, and mailing the ballot show below.

** All ballots must be received by midnight December 28, 2021. **
If you choose to print and mail the ballot shown below, please mail it by December 21 to:
1815 Cameron Ave. La Crosse, WI  54601

Kathy Allen - Kathy lives in La Crosse and was elected to the Coulee Region board in 2018. She has served as the group's president since January 2020. Kathy was a member of the "Ready for 100" team that worked with the city and county of La Crosse to pass 100% renewable energy transition resolutions. She is currently serving on the La Crosse County Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. In her free time, she enjoys cycling on the Driftless Region's roads and trails.

Ned Gatzke - Ned has lived in rural Monroe County for 45+ years, interacting with a small woodland and prairie landscape. He first joined the Sierra Club in 1974. He is on the board of Wisconsin Conservation Voters/Voices, has been on the board of The Prairie Enthusiasts (Coulee Region Chapter), and is a citizen participant on the Monroe County Climate Change Task Force. Ned was present for the first Earth Day in 1970, and his travels throughout North America since then have provided him a larger perspective on environmental issues for people living in other places.

Cathy Van Maren - Cathy is retired and lives in La Crosse but also spends time in Vernon County. She has been the newsletter editor for several years and is active on the CRSC "Ready for 100" team and the state Sierra Club  Transit Equity team. She's an "active transportation" (public transit, walking, bicycling) advocate, working with local and state transit advocacy groups and, locally, to push for better transportation/commuter cycling infrastructure, but she also owns an electric car and has worked on several EV education and outreach programs. She's on the city of La Crosse Climate Action Plan Steering Committee and volunteers at city Community Victory Gardens.

Pat Wilson - Pat is enjoying retirement in La Crosse, WI.  He joined the Sierra Club in 1976 because he appreciated the hiking trails the Sierra Club had cleared on Nature Conservancy properties in the Baraboo Hills.  He's a past president of the Coulee Region Group and the Sierra Club's Wisconsin River Touring Section.  Currently he's on the Wisconsin Water Team and the Coulee Region representative to the Sierra Club's Wisconsin Chapter board.  He's also active in the Friends of the Blufflands and the Bluffland Coalition, protecting  regional bluffland habitat and recreational opportunities.

 

Marsh webinar

 

La Crosse River Marsh Restoration Project: 

Year One Update Webinar 

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 6:30 PM

The City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department has launched a multi-year restoration project to address hydrology, habitat, and recreational infrastructure in the La Crosse River Marsh. SmithGroup, Inc. is providing professional environmental services to evaluate historic and current conditions, design changes, prepare work plans and estimates, and manage construction. Stakeholders, including Friends of the La Crosse River Marsh, are providing local assistance. Leah Miller, of the Parks department, and Casey Meehan, of the Friends of the Marsh, will be co-hosts for this webinar. 

Log in on Wednesday, November 17th at 6:30 pm for a Zoom webinar to review the first year of the project and see what's coming next. Dave Wolmutt, Principal Engineer for SmithGroup, and his team of specialists will kick off the webinar with a presentation focusing on their analysis of marsh hydrology, habitat, and trails, followed by Q & A, with questions coming from audience members. The SmithGroup presentation will be saved and uploaded onto the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry and Friends of the Marsh web pages for later viewing. All questions, will be answered and posted as FAQs also on these web pages. Community members attending the webinar do not need to pre-register. 

Register: https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/parks-recreation-forestry/park-projects/la-crosse-river-marsh-restoration-project

November newsletter

 

NOVEMBER 3, 6:30 p.m. ONLINE: UPROOTING RACISM, SEEDING SOVEREIGNTY - Racial injustice in our food system     Rescheduled from July, this program features a riveting keynote address delivered by Soul Fire Farm’s Co-Founder and Farm Manager, Leah Penniman, and closes with a performance by world-renowned poet, Soul Fire Farm’s Program Manager, Naima Penniman. The storytelling weaves the history and structural realities of racial injustice in the food system, with movement strategies past and present of frontlines communities mobilizing for food and land sovereignty. RSVP: tinyurl.com/WISC-FoodSystem

This program is part of the Sierra Club of Wisconsin’s Environmental Justice series. Learn more at sierraclub.org/wisconsin/blog/2021/08/introducing-environmental-justice-event-series

NOVEMBER 10, 7:00 p.m. ONLINE: Indigenous resistance to mining in Wisconsin     Tribes in Wisconsin have worked for decades to oppose destructive mining projects that threaten clean water and traditional food. Beginning with 1970s opposition to the Crandon Mine project, tribal governments have led efforts against international extractive industries and state politicians of both parties. Using people power, laws, and treaty rights, indigenous leaders have provided a model of persistence and resistance. RSVP at tinyurl.com/WISC-MiningResistance

This program is part of the Sierra Club of Wisconsin’s Environmental Justice series. Learn more at sierraclub.org/wisconsin/blog/2021/08/introducing-environmental-justice-event-series

NOVEMBER 17, 6:30 p.m. ONLINE: Chapter Awards - Celebrating environmental leaders     Every year Sierra Club Wisconsin recognizes some of our many wonderful volunteers and community leaders for their dedication, passion and leadership. We could not do our work alone, and celebrating our award winners is one of the best parts of our year. Please join us and Wisconsinites across the state on Wednesday, November 17 at 6:30pm for a virtual ceremony that allows us all to be together and celebrate these environmental leaders from across the state. We're excited to announce the awards of these outstanding leaders. See you on November 17th to celebrate them and learn more about their work! RSVP: tinyurl.com/WISC-21Awards

EDUCATION GRANTS!     CRSC is offering  grants of up to $200 each for environmental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline for applications is December 10, 2021. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

New for 2021-2022, CRSC will recognize the achievements of and award $150 to a high school senior who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment. Eligible students are those graduating from high school in 2022 who reside in the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. The application includes essays and submission of a portfolio. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2022 with the award to be given by the end of April, 2022.  For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

Funding for these environmental grants and awards is possible thanks to an annual grant from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, shared dues from Sierra Club memberships, and donations made by community members. To learn more about donating, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

CRSC BOARD ELECTIONS     The Coulee Region Sierra Club will hold elections for its board of directors in December. The board meets monthly to plan events, coordinate with the state Sierra Club, and network with local and regional partners and allies on Sierra Club issues.

There are four available seats. Terms are two years and begin in January 2022. If you are interested, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com with your name, contact information, and a brief paragraph describing your experience and interests and why you would like to be on the board. PLEASE SEND NOMINATIONS NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 20. If you don’t do email, please call 608-315-2693.

Qualifications include Sierra Club membership and past work or interest in outdoor activities and/or environmental issues. The board is especially interested in adding members who live outside of the La Crosse area, but anyone is welcome to nominate.

The chapter is helping with our elections this year. Voting will be online or by paper ballot. The December newsletter will have candidate statements, the ballot, and instructions for voting by mail or online. Those who do not receive a newsletter will get a postcard with instructions. Voting will close on December 28 with results announced in our January newsletter.

LAST CALL FOR CALENDARS!     Sales of Sierra Club calendars help support our environmental education grants. Wall and engagement calendars for 2022 are available. Call  608-315-2693, or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com. Engagement calendars are $16 and wall calendars cost $15. Find other Sierra Club merchandise, including apparel, gifts, things for kids, cards, and outdoor items at store.sierraclub.org/storefront.aspx

CONGRATULATIONS SOLAR ON LA CROSSE SCHOOLS!     Congratulations, Solar on La Crosse Schools, 2021 Organization Winner of the Sustainability Institute’s Inspiring Sustainability Award! tinyurl.com/21SustainAwards

CLIMATE CRISIS FILM FESTIVAL     This year’s international COP26 summit is considered by many as the last chance for governments to agree on crucial climate policies that reduce carbon emissions and limit global temperature rise before the planet is set on the path to irreversible climate change. Taking place in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12, the mostly in-person conference is set to host over 200 countries, NGOs, businesses, faith groups, and other governing bodies. But the summit has been widely criticized for being inaccessible to those who are already experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis. For small countries and BIPOC communities and activists, particularly those in the Global South, where the first and most drastic effects of extreme weather are occurring, vaccine inequality and travel costs are barriers to seats at the proverbial table.

This troubling inequity is very much on the mind of Susanna Basso, artistic director and co-founder of the Climate Crisis Film Festival (CCFF). “The most vulnerable communities have the least to do with carbon emissions,” Basso says. “For them not to be included at COP26 is particularly worrying. The least we can do as a festival is to give over our platform, showcase [these communities], and pass the mic.”  

Accessible online from November 1 through November 14, the festival’s program includes over a dozen films from BIPOC filmmakers on the frontlines of climate change around the world, including shorts, mid-length, and feature-length documentaries from Pakistan, Niger, Brazil, Denmark, the United States, Panama, Chile, and New Zealand. The films, and the greater “festival ethos,” Basso says, are linked by the theme of “intersectionality.” The documentaries that were selected, in addition to their artistic power and gripping visuals, Basso says, confront climate change through the lens of social justice, gender inequality, politics, and the economy.

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, and Bill McKibben will give the keynote opening remarks on November 1. Read more about the Climate Crisis Film Festival and register (free) to view these important films from November 1 through 14 at www.climatecrisisff.co.uk  

NOVEMBER EVENTS

Now through November: Waking Up White Regional Read. www.laxwakingupwhite.com/waking-up-white-regional-read.html

November 1 - December 25: Third annual 55 Miles in 55 Days walking challenge Black River Falls. Lunda Community Center. lcc.recdesk.com/Community/Calendar

November 1-4: Nature Writing Workshops. www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events

November 5: Mississippi Valley Conservancy Fall Fundraiser and online auction 5:30 p.m. www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/stronger-together-fall-fundraiser-live-online-auction

November 6: “Ecosystems as Models for Restoring our Environment” 3 p.m. Viroqua  thearkviroqua.org/ecosystems-economies-john-giordanengo/

November 10: Sierra Club of Wisconsin Virtual Volunteer Night. 6:30 p.m. tinyurl.com/WISC-1110Vol

November 10: Friends of the Black River: “Life in the Clouds.” 6:30 p.m. Lunda Community Center, Black River Falls  www.blackrivercountry.net/event/friends-of-the-black-river-educational-meeting

November 12: Just Keep Swimming - Fish Movements & Threats of River Fragmentation 7 p.m. JavaVino, La Crosse www.uwlax.edu/calendar/?e=25083

November 15: Building a Multiracial Environmental Community 6:30 p.m. tinyurl.com/WISC-MultiEnviro

November 17: Driftless Dialogs - Who are the Amish? 6:30 p.m. Kickapoo Valley Reserve kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar1013Vol  

WOLF UPDATE     A Dane County judge has blocked Wisconsin’s November wolf hunt, but wolves are still under threat around the country., Read how you can work with the Sierra Club to help protect wolves in the U.S. at tinyurl.com/WISC-wolves 

LINE 3 - THE FIGHT CONTINUES     Since October 1, about double the amount of tar sands oil has been crossing Minnesota despite continued public opposition. Read the press release from Sierra Club including the North Star Chapter Director's response that the fight to stop Line 3 will continue. - Janette Dean

As Enbridge Announces Line 3 is Completed
Fight for Climate Justice Continues

Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Contact: Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org

Today, Canadian oil company Enbridge announced that tar sands oil will start flowing through the Line 3 pipeline this Friday. If allowed to continue operating, the pipeline will carry 760,000 barrels per day of the dirtiest oil on the planet from Alberta, Canada to Superior, Wisconsin, running through more than 200 bodies of water along the way, including the headwaters of the Mississippi River and lakes in northern Minnesota where Native Americans harvest wild rice and hold treaty rights.

Originally proposed in 2014 as a replacement for an aging existing pipeline, the new Line 3 -- which is twice as large and travels along a new route -- has faced fierce opposition in Minnesota because of the threat it poses to clean water, Indigenous rights, and the climate. Enbridge originally planned to have the pipeline operational in 2019 but was delayed by grassroots opposition and legal challenges. A challenge to the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to issue a key water-crossing permit is still pending in federal court. In issuing the permit, the Corps failed to consider the pipeline’s impacts on the climate and on Indigenous rights. A victory for pipeline opponents in this case could send the Corps back to the drawing board on its environmental review and shut down operation of the pipeline in the meantime.

To date, more than 900 Indigenous-led water protectors have been arrested or cited for protesting the construction of Line 3 in Minnesota. Peaceful protesters have been surveilled, shot at with rubber bullets, and tear gassed. Police have made violent arrests and once in custody, many have faced solitary confinement and been denied medical care. Protesters have been hit with extreme charges including felony theft and felony aiding attempted suicide.

Sierra Club North Star Chapter Director Margaret Levin released the following statement:

“President Biden and the other politicians who chose to do nothing as treaty rights were violated, waterways were polluted, and peaceful protesters were brutalized have placed themselves on the wrong side of history. We will continue to seek to hold them accountable for failing to prioritize the best interests of our communities over the desires of a foreign oil company.

“This is not the outcome we hoped for, but the fight to stop Line 3 has always been a fight for climate justice and a future free from fossil fuels, and that fight will not stop just because Enbridge has succeeded in building this pipeline. Our movement is powerful, and we are not going anywhere. We will keep pushing forward -- demanding that our elected leaders live up to their promises and lifting our voices for healthy and safe communities and climate justice.”  

LEARN MORE     Learn more about the Sierra Club’s position on Line 3 at www.sierraclub.org/minnesota/beyond-oil and about Line 5 at www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/line-5. In addition, the Sierra Club opposes new fossil gas infrastructure including a proposed plant in Wisconsin. See addup.sierraclub.org/campaigns/no-new-fracked-gas-plant-near-lake-superior

October newsletter

 

October 19 at 7 p.m. Coal, Gas, and Public Health: The Electric Sector and Public Health. Burning coal to generate electricity is bad for healtha nd the environment. As utilities try to make the case for switching to fossil gas, health and climate advocatesr are pushing back to stop another harmful wave of fossilf uel infrastructure. Join this event to learn about the connections between our electric sector, justice and equity, and public health. RSVP at tinyurl.com/WISC-1019Electricity

 

This program is part of the Sierra Club of Wisconsin’s Environmental Justice series. Learn more at sierraclub.org/wisconsin/blog/2021/08/introducing-environmental-justice-event-series

 

Environmental Education Grants and Awards    For spring 2022, CRSC will offer grants of up to $200 each for environmental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline for applications is December 10, 2021. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

 

The Coulee Region Sierra Club also seeks to promote environmental stewardship through

enduring, fair, and equitable action. Protection of air, water, land, wildlife habitats, and

the climate is a primary goal. New for 2021-2022, CRSC will recognize the achievements

of and award $150 to a high school senior who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment. 

 

Eligible students are those graduating from high school in 2022 who reside in the

CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau,

and Vernon counties. The application includes essays and submission of a portfolio.

The deadline for applications is March 15, 2022 with the award to be given by the end

of April, 2022. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students 

 

Funding for these environmental grants and awards is possible thanks to an annual

grant from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, shared dues from Sierra Club memberships,

and donations made by community members. To learn more about donating, please

email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

 

Sierra Club Calendars Available Now!   Sales of Sierra Club calendars help support our environmental education grants. Wall and engagement calendars for 2022 are available. Call  608-315-2693, or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com. Engagement calendars are $16 and wall calendars cost $15. Find other Sierra Club merchandise, including apparel, gifts, things for kids, cards, and outdoor items at store.sierraclub.org/storefront.aspx

 

CRSC Board Nominations     The Coulee Region Sierra Club will hold elections for its board of directors in December. The board meets monthly to plan events, coordinate with the state Sierra Club, and network with local and regional partners and allies on Sierra Club issues.

If you would like to nominate someone, including yourself, please email the name and contact information for the nominee along with a paragraph describing the nominee’s qualifications for the board to CRSierraClub@gmail.com by November 20, 2021.

Qualifications including Sierra Club membership and past work or interest in outdoor activities and/or environmental issues. The board is especially interested in adding members who live outside of the La Crosse area, but anyone is welcome to nominate. If you have questions, please email or call 608-315-2693.

 

Fall Highway Clean Up     Calling all CRSC members wishing to help clean up our adopted portion of River Valley Drive!  Meet up at the La Crosse Pumping Station just northwest of the intersection of River Valley Drive and Gillette Street (Highway B) at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 11 to get gloves, vests, and bags. Bring your camera! Not only is this section of roadway near the beautiful marsh but you might find something interesting during the clean up. This is a fun distanced outdoor activity that helps keep our local environment clean. Call Pat with questions: 608-788-8831.

 

October Events     

Now through November: Waking Up White Regional Read. www.laxwakingupwhite.com/waking-up-white-regional-read.html

Now through October 25: Western TC Drawdown Challenge. Register at: www.sustaininstitute.com/drawdownchallenge2021

Monday, October 11: Indigenous Peoples Day

Tuesday, October 12: Local and Global Climate Action. Noon. Register at: www.fspa.org/content/ministries/ecological-advocacy/resources-and-events2

Wednesday, October 13: Sierra Club of Wisconsin Virtual Volunteer Night. 6:30 p.m. tinyurl.com/WISC-1013Vol

Saturday, October 23: Autumn Mushroom Foray in Crawford County from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration required: mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/autumn-mushroom-foray

Wednesday, October 27: Advocate for wolves at Natural Resources Board. 8:30 a.m. Register for training and link at tinyurl.com/WISC-4Wolves

Saturday, October 30: League of Women Voters - Empowering the Wisconsin Vote Virtual Issues Briefing from 9 a.m. to noon ONLINE. Learn more and register at: tinyurl.com/1030-WILWVIssues

 

Rail Passengers Meet 10/23     The Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers (WisARP) will hold its fall meeting on Saturday, October 23 at the Black River Beach Neighbor-hood Center in La Crosse and via Zoom. The main focus will be the second daily passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Paul expected to begin in 2023. Register for the WisARP meeting at tinyurl.com/WISARP102321

A Union of Concerned Scientists study concluded that, for individuals or couples traveling fewer than 1,000 miles, a bus or train is the cleanest option.  

 

WisCorps Grant     CRSC environmental education grant recipients for 2020 had to navigate COVID-19, school closing, schedule disruptions, and program cancellations. Our club relaxed the schedule and asked for reports when projects were finished. Justin Holten, AmeriCorps volunteer with WisCorps, Inc., one of the grant recipients, wrote:

WisCorps used the grant money to purchase Leave No Trace education materials. The resources include guides for teachers to incorporate LNT in lessons and activities for children of all ages. LNT materials will provide ongoing training and resources for teachers and activity leaders.

The  guide, “Teaching LNT,” has great ways for teachers to learn best practices. This general guide is focused on activities for people of all ages, and pairs well with the book “101 Ways to Teach LNT.”

“Bigfoot’s Playbook,” contains easy, quicker games focused on younger kids that require minimal resources to run. These activities integrate into our school programs. WisCorps runs two different types of school programs: field trips and outreach. Our field trips are generally focused on elementary aged students, as well as a few middle school groups. Our outreach program allows us to travel to schools that may have a hard time traveling to our facility. We had only a few lessons built for this program, so adding in our LNT lessons through the resources bought will help this program grow a lot. Adding in Leave No Trace education to these programs will also help add to the reinforcement of how to better care for our world.

The “Peak Pack” resources can also be used for varying school programs but especially help grow our Camp programs. Given the longer duration and flexibility of these programs, the Peak Pack’s pre-built flexible programs are perfect and reinforce LNT teachings with more in depth and thoughtful activities, as well as more hands on games and learning objectives.

WisCorps is very grateful to be able to buy these activities which have already been immensely helpful in giving us the ability to grow our programs to be stronger in Leave No Trace education.
 

The Kinnard Farms Decision: What does it mean for Wisconsin's Clean Water Future?  This summer the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed clean water advocates  a hard-fought victory with a decision confirming the authority of the Wisconsin DNR to protect water resources from manure pollution. MEA attorneys worked with Kewaunee residents for eight years on this case. Join Midwest Environmental Advocates on Wednesday, October 6 at 6 p.m.  for a presentation and discussion of this important decision. Zoom in: us02web.zoom.us/j/86220043378 or view the program at  facebook.com/MidwestEnvironmentalAdvocates 

 

City Hike for Sierra Club

 

City Hike is a unique local hiking experience. It combines raising funds to support Sierra Club’s climate and environmental justice initiatives with an accessible way for YOU (and your friends and family) to enjoy nearby nature and be inspired.

This fall, between September 19 and October 9, you can take action and participate in City Hike in your hometown, a neighboring city, or a place you've always wanted to visit.

We believe that climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. The Sierra Club is powered by millions of members and supporters across the country. We believe in the power of collective action and the power of grassroots fundraising.

To sign up for this event, you must be at least 18 years of age or have a parent/guardian sign up for you and accompany you on your hike. Everyone that participates must check the below box and agree to our Activities Waiver.

Read FAQs here.  
 

September newsletter

 

September 26, 1-5 p.m. ASK ME ABOUT MY EV: A National Drive Electric Week Event at Copeland Park in La Crosse (Oktoberfest Shelter)   In their latest report on the climate crisis, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that we have a relatively short window of opportunity to make major changes in our fossil fuel-based systems. UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who calls the report Code Red for Humanity, says, “This report must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels before they destroy our planet.” Electric vehicles are available and affordable now. What are we waiting for?

National Drive Electric Week will sponsor hundreds of events around the country to give people the chance to see electric vehicles and talk with their owners and dealers about them. Learn how to choose an EV, get the truth about charging and “range anxiety,” learn about utility incentives, and more. The event is free and open to the public, rain or shine.  If you are the owner of a plug-in electric vehicle (bicycle to car), please consider bringing and showing your vehicle. To register as a participant, attendee, or volunteer, please visit the event site: tinyurl.com/DriveEVLaX. National Drive Electric Week is presented by Plug-In America, Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association.

Register to volunteer, participate, or attend at tinyurl.com/DriveEVLaX

September 28, 6 p.m. ONLINE Film and Discussion: FAMILY (by the Global Indigenous Council) RSVP: tinyurl.com/WISC-FamilyFilm    Join with fellow Sierra Club members from around the state in viewing the film, FAMILY, by the Global Indigenous Council, that highlights the deep connection Indigenous Nations share with wolves, and the major threats currently facing imperiled populations in the lower 48 states. Following the film, a panel will discuss updates on work to protect Wisconsin wolves. The world is facing a mass extinction and biodiversity crisis. Wolves need us now.

FAMILY is an appeal to reverse the Trump administration’s removal of the wolf from the Endangered Species list. Retaining the de-listing contradicts President Biden’s January 2021 “Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationship.”

This is the first in the Wisconsin Sierra Club’s Environmental Justice series that will examine issues of accessibility, health, and environmental injustice. For more information on the series, visit the event site at tinyurl.com/WISC-EnvJusticeSeries

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS AND AWARDS     For spring 2022, CRSC will offer grants of up to $200 each for environmental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline for applications is December 10, 2021. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

The Coulee Region Sierra Club also seeks to promote environmental stewardship through enduring, fair, and equitable action. Protection of air, water, land, wildlife habitats, and the climate is a primary goal. New for 2021-2022, CRSC will recognize the achievements of and award $150 to a high school senior who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment.

Eligible students are those graduating from high school in 2022 who reside in the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. The application includes essays and submission of a portfolio. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2022 with the award to be given by the end of April, 2022.  For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

 
Funding for these environmental grants and awards is possible thanks to an annual grant from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, shared dues from Sierra Club memberships, and donations made by community members. To learn more about donating, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

SIERRA CLUB CALENDARS     Sales of Sierra Club calendars help support our environmental education grants. Wall and engagement calendars for 2022 are available. Call Maureen Kinney, 608-784-5678, or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com. Engagement calendars are $16 and wall calendars cost $15. Find other Sierra Club merchandise, including apparel, gifts, things for kids, cards, and outdoor items at store.sierraclub.org/storefront.aspx

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Now through November: Regional community read of the book Waking Up White - book chats and related programs. www.laxwakingupwhite.com/waking-up-white-regional-read.html

Saturday, September 11: Karst Exploration, Eagle Cave, Blue River (near Boscobel) from 1 to 4:30 p.m. www.crawfordstewardship.org

Saturday, September 18: Jackson County Pace & Pedal, Wazee Lake Recreation Area, Jackson County. www.jacksoninaction.org/pace-and-pedal

Saturday, September 18: Botany & Beer - Hogback Prairie hike in Gays Mills at 10 a.m. Get more details at the calendar, www.crawfordstewardship.org, or email hike@botanyandbeer.com,

Tuesday, September 21: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer book discussion. 6 p.m. online. RSVP www.fspa.org/event/braiding-sweetgrass-book-discussion-zoom

Saturday, September 25: Evening Sky Prairie Walk, 7 p.m., Tunnelville Cliffs State Natural Area, Vernon County. mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/evening-sky-prairie-walk

JOBS, JUSTICE, CLIMATE!     On Thursday, August 26, members of the Coulee Region Sierra Club, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Conservation Voters gathered at Western Technical College to urge U.S. Representative Ron Kind and other elected leaders to ACT NOW on Climate.

Kids and adults made a banner and wrote personal messages for Rep. Kind before the 1 p.m. press event which featured local citizens who spoke in support of strong climate action.

Speakers included La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds who noted that the city needs strong policy and financial support from the federal government in order to maintain its ongoing commitments and address increasingly expensive and extensive problems caused by climate change. He also noted that La Crosse is moving forward on its own and highlighted the upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant which, once completed, will completely power itself and eventually provide power to help charge La Crosse’s coming electric buses.

Casey Meehan, Director of Sustainability and Resilience at Western Technical College noted, “I’m proud of what Western’s done, but like everyone else we need to be doing more. We need to be doing a lot more, and to do more our communities need more support from our elected officials in order to mitigate and adapt to the crisis that we’re up against here. And we need that support now.”

Abby Siakpere, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student said, “Some of the world’s leading climate change scientists have now confirmed that humans are making irreversible changes to our planet, and extreme weather will only become more severe. They have made it clear that the time is now, when we must act urgently to avoid the worst possible consequences.”

Following the press event, participants carried their banner and messages to the King Street office of Representative Kind.

View news reports about the event at www.news8000.com/activists-hold-art-gathering-for-climate-action/ and wxow.com/2021/08/26/wisconsin-conservation-voters-have-a-message-for-rep-ron-kind/ 

INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE   The Wisconsin Sierra Club is recruiting for the fall 2021 project aide and internship program. These volunteer positions are entirely remote and can be filled by anyone in the state. Anyone may apply; college students may be able to earn course credit. Explore a non-profit environmental career or get more hands-on experience with grassroots organizing and activism, including working with Sierra Club teams, digital communication, administration, finance, and legislative and electoral initiatives. PA's work four to nine hours per week. Scheduling and hours are flexible. Learn more at tinyurl.com/WISC-PAs  

 

HURRICANE IDA RELIEF     Louisiana coastal communities were already on the front lines of the oil-and-gas-industry fueled coastal land loss and petrochemical pollution crisis. The national Sierra Club recommends sending donations to the following organizations United Houma Nation, Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy, Foundation for Louisiana, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, and Louisiana Environmental Action Network.

A LIVABLE FUTURE RESTS ON A CLIMATE-FOCUSED RECONCILIATION BILL

On August 16, Sierra Magazine published an article by James Steinbauer about the need for a climate-focused reconcilliation bill. Here are important excerpts; you are encouraged to read the entire article at www.sierraclub.org/sierra/livable-future-rests-congress-passing-climate-focused-reconciliation-bill

Last week, just one day after a major United Nations scientific report concluded that human activity has locked the planet in an intensifying climate crisis for at least the next 30 years, the US Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill aimed, in part, at combating climate change. The bill is more than just a day late and many, many dollars short.

[M]any of the ambitious ideas that Biden proposed to cut the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change were whittled down to ensure the bill got enough votes from Republicans. Biden wanted $100 billion to modernize the nation’s electricity grid. He got $73 billion. He wanted $15 billion to construct a network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations. He got $7.5 billion. He wanted $378 billion to upgrade buildings to be more sustainable. He got a little over $5 billion. Two of the most meaningful policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions—a clean energy standard that would require power companies to replace fossil fuels with renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower, and clean energy tax credits—were left out entirely.

“Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees is within reach, but it requires really transformational change. The bipartisan bill is not transformational,” Jillian Neuberger, the legislative engagement associate for the World Resources Institute, told Sierra. “It will make some of the improvements to the grid that are necessary for the green energy transition, but the most important thing is that we actually get green energy on that grid. We need a climate bill that incentivizes renewables.”

Democrats hope to pass both provisions—and more—in a second $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill. Last Wednesday morning, Senate Democrats took the first step down that path, voting to approve a budget blueprint that allows them to shield the larger bill from a Republican filibuster under the Senate’s complicated budget reconciliation process.

In its current formulation, the second, more robust legislative package would create a new Clean Electricity Payment Program that would incentivize power companies to increase their renewable sources of energy. (This is essentially a clean energy standard designed to meet the strict rules that govern budget reconciliation.) It would impose fees on methane and carbon polluters, provide new consumer rebates to help electrify and weatherize homes, and electrify the federal vehicle fleet and buildings. It would also create a New Deal–style Civilian Climate Corps that would put Americans to work building climate-resilient infra-structure, reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy and conservation projects, and helping communities recover from climate disasters.

If the reconciliation bill is passed, Democrats say it would put the United States on track to meet Biden’s commitment to halve greenhouse gas emissions and create an 80 percent clean energy grid by 2030.

“We have a really small window here, both legislatively and in the context of global warming, to do something,” Marcela Mulholland, the political director for Data for Progress, told Sierra. “We’re one #MeToo scandal or car accident from losing our majority. It’s critical that we make the most of this time while we have it.”

The budget resolution is only the outline of a bill—not a bill itself. And it still faces significant hurdles to make it out of the Senate. Hours after providing a key vote to approve the budget blueprint, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a moderate Democrat, issued a statement declaring that he has “serious concerns” about the impact of the budget’s price tag on “our children and grandchildren.”

Climate-action advocates say that the cost of inaction is even higher.

“We need to think about the impact that not passing a climate bill will have for future generations—and, let’s not kid ourselves, this current generation,” Neuberger said. “We’ll be leaving a lot of opportunities on the table. The opportunity to create good jobs. The opportunity to clean our air. The opportunity to make a lot of things more affordable. The loss of not taking those opportunities will be felt for a very long time.”                    
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August Newsletter

 

THE NEXT GENERATION    The Coulee Region Sierra Club (CRSC) aims to involve tomorrow’s decision-makers in better understanding the natural environment and our connection to it. The goal of the grants are to promote exploration, enjoyment, under-standing, and protection of the natural environment (land, water, air, wildlife, etc.)

For spring 2022, CRSC will offer grants of up to $200 each for environmental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline for applications is December 10, 2021. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

The Coulee Region Sierra Club also seeks to promote environmental stewardship through enduring, fair, and equitable action. Protection of air, water, land, wildlife habitats, and the climate is a primary goal. CRSC believes that all people of all ages can help protect the natural environment for present and future generations through active engagement.

New for 2021-2022, CRSC will recognize the achievements of and award $150 to a high school senior who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment.

Eligible students are those graduating from high school in 2022 who reside in the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. The application includes essays and submission of a portfolio. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2022 with the award to be given by the end of April, 2022.  For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

Funding for these environmental grants and awards is possible thanks to an annual grant from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, shared dues from Sierra Club memberships, and donations made by community members. To learn more about donating, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

SUMMER ON THE RIVER    Great fun was had by all on the Black River family canoe camping trip July 24-25.  The hot sunny weather was great for a trip like this.  If we weren’t swimming we were dousing each other with water guns while paddling.  It’s amazing how much energy kids demonstrate on trips like this.  We camped on a sand bar.  This was the first experience with canoeing or primitive camping for some of the people on the trip.  While paddling 24 miles on the Black River, we experienced the river’s recreational and ecological value.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT    The City of La Crosse anticipates receiving nearly $22 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and they have created a public input tool for city residents to provide ideas and examples. The funds will be distributed over the next few years and are to be used for revenue replacement for certain specific payments and projects (see https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/FRF-Interim-Final-Rule.pdf) including water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure; public health; payments to essential workers; and payments to individuals and businesses hard-hit by COVID.

If you are a City of La Crosse resident, please take this opportunity to share your priorities and ideas. Visit https://bit.ly/2UyQTMZ

The County of La Crosse is also seeking input: “As part of our Envision 2050 Comprehensive Plan process, we have launched a new survey on the future of rural La Crosse County. To participate, please go to publicinput.com/envision2050. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. What happens to our agricultural land over the next decade and beyond matters to everyone, so we encourage all La Crosse County residents to participate.”

The La Crosse Area Planning Committee is still seeking public input as it updates its Regional Transit Development Plan. The online survey is closed, but you may still provide comments through the online mapping site. Learn more at tinyurl.com/LAPC-RTDP

CAFO NEWS AND ACTION    On July 8, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the state Department of Natural Resources has the authority to place permit restrictions on large livestock farms and high-capacity wells to protect the state’s water. Please take advantage of this ruling! The Crawford County Roth Feeder Pig II  permit is still being evaluated, and  concerned citizens are encouraged to continue to request an Environmental Impact Statement. Learn how and where to send requests at crawfordstewardship.org

The Real News Network and In These Times have produced an excellent documentary about the fight against CAFOs in Crawford, Polk and Burnett counties. Watch the film at youtu.be/Cs7WfJKMfaY and share with others. (Caution: some profanity.) 

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS    On Sunday, September 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. several groups, including the Coulee Region Sierra Club, will host a National Drive Electric Week event at the Copeland Park Oktoberfest Shelter in La Crosse. At this event, local electric vehicle (cars to bikes) owners and dealers will show and talk about their experiences. We are seeking volunteers to help with the event, including setting up, welcoming and placing participants, helping tablers, guiding visitors, and cleaning up. If you are interested in helping with this free and open to the public event, please sign up at tinyurl.com/DriveEVLaX-092621 or call 608-315-2693. Masks may be required depending upon conditions at the time. 

BUILD BACK BETTER FOR CLEAN ENERGY, JUSTICE, AND JOBS!    Wisconsin Sierra Club, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, Wisconsin Environment and other groups are encouraging all of us to keep pressing our elected representatives to take bold steps in addressing the climate crisis. Per WCV: “Congress must invest in climate, clean energy, justice, and jobs at the scale that science demands. We must take action to get millions of people back to work in new, good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy while tackling climate change and environmental racism. Clean energy is the fastest-growing industry in America and provides a huge opportunity for high-quality union jobs that help rebuild the middle class. We have to meet the scale of the crises we face with the big investments needed to build back better with justice and equity.

Congress will be on recess during August, so we are urging people to call, email, and attend events when members are in their home districts. We want:

CLEAN ENERGY: Put the U.S. on the path to 100 percent clean energy powering our electricity grid, the transportation sector and our buildings – including homes, businesses, and schools.

JUSTICE: Prioritize the just and equitable solutions that the communities most harmed by toxic pollution--low-income and communities of color--are leading, and ensure that at least 40% of benefits go to the communities who need it most.

JOBS: Support the preservation and creation of high-quality, good-paying union jobs across the economy, like builders, roofers, pipefitters, engineers, electricians, accountants, researchers, teachers and more.

Use this link (bit.ly/3hrLJd3) to tell your member of Congress to support investments in clean energy, justice and jobs. If you live in the La Crosse area, visit the Sierra Club/WI Environment Photo Petition table on August 13 at the Cameron Park Farmers’ Market, 400 King St., beginning at 4 p.m. Sign up here: tinyurl.com/0813PhotoPetition

AUGUST EVENTS

Thursday, August 5: Wisconsin League of Women Voters hosts an online program on Drinking Water and Wastewater from 3 to 5 p.m. online. Learn more and register at tinyurl.com/WILWV-Water

Tuesday, August 10: Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration host Karl Green, Community Development Education, UW-Extension, for an online talk about Water Resources in the Driftless Area (La Crosse County). Noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom. fspa.org/EcoAction.

Saturday, August 14: Mississippi Valley Conservancy hosts Canoeing and Kayaking Basics from 10 to 11:30 a.m. mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/canoeing-kayaking-basics

Tuesday, August 17: Botany & Beer community hike at Duck Egg County Forest, Irish Ridge Road, Viroqua, Masking and distancing required. BYOB. Meet at 5:30 p.m. Email for info:  hike@botanyandbeer.com

Tuesday, August 24: JacksonInAction Hunter/Hiker Fitness experiences. Hike area trails and learn about health and fitness.  www.blackrivercountry.net/event/hunter-hiker-fitness/2021-08-24/

WAKING UP WHITE REGIONAL COMMUNITY READ    The La Crosse Public Library and the Waking Up White Collaborative invites everyone to join the La Crosse regional community read of Debby Irving’s best selling book, Waking Up White. The event includes public presentations and small group book chats, in addition to conversations about ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive multicultural community.

Beginning August 16, the book will be available, free, at La Crosse area libraries and businesses. Sign up to participate in Book Chats--small, in-person, theme-based, facilitated discussions. Starting September 12, free, public programs will look at antiracism topics. Visit www.laxwakingupwhite.com/waking-up-white-regional-read.html for more information.

COULEE REGION PEOPLE    This month we talk with Beth Piggush, Integral Ecology Director and Laudato Si Promoter with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse.

What got you interested in the environment and outdoors activities?

My personal interest in the environment and outdoors stems from time at my house as a child in southern Minnesota. I spent as many hours as I could outside climbing trees, catching frogs in the ditch and building snow forts in the winter. I was also lucky to live near the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin. It had a terrific Director and Naturalist, named Larry Dolphin leading summer camps, maple syruping tours, snowshoe hikes and canoe trips down the Cedar River. The experiences I had as a child exposed me to love the places around me, no matter the season there was always something to do.

Now, as an adult, my interests have grown to more advocacy for what I love in nature as well as taking time to play and find peace with my surrounding environments. Plus it doesn't hurt that professionally I get to tie in my interests of caring for the environment and outdoor activities too.  

What kinds of activities are your favorites? Do you have favorite outdoor spots?

Depending on the season (and there are more than 4 seasons), I like to be outside on a trail with my family. It could be a hiking trail, water trail, cross-country ski trail, or random deer trail (when I get lost). I like to be on the ground, to enjoy nature up close and personal. My favorite spots at the moment are the City of La Crosse trails, specifically the Hass Tract right now. I have enjoyed the Bittersweet Lakes State Natural Area in northern Wisconsin. I also enjoy a quick canoe or bike ride around Lytle's Landing or a winter or spring hike along Seven Bridges (avoiding the muddy or mosquito seasons of course).

What got you involved in the Sierra Club?

I have known about the Sierra Club for a long time, since I worked with them in Connecticut on advocacy campaigns back at 2007. My family officially joined the Sierra Club when we were able to enjoy the Black River canoe trip a couple of years ago. That was a great experience, which we just repeated this month. We joined shortly after our initial canoe trip and made it official.

What are your main environmental interests and how did you come by them?

I am genuinely interested in many topics from renewable energy and energy efficiency to clean water to climate justice. I am interested in working to mitigate the impacts of climate change, so my children and future generations can enjoy what I love and enjoy within nature. I also have a strong interest in learning from the landscape and understanding indigenous uses of plants as medicine and food. Being up close and personal on a trail allows me to notice the details of a plant through its whole growth cycle or learning the “season” when different mushrooms pop.

How have you worked on those interests?

My work on climate is constant; it involves conversations at the dinner table with my family and making everyday choices of a want vs. a need. I have participated in strikes, petitions and presentations about climate change. I am learning more about the public health and social impacts of climate change, too--how racism and migration are part of the climate crisis, as we are all interconnected. I work every day to make better choices and I share what I learn and know with others.

With regards to the landscape, this is a hobby that keeps me motivated to learn more about each place I visit. Whose land was it? How is it being managed now? What can I learn from the prairie, forest or stream? Can I offer anything to the prairie, forest or stream?

Do you have an environmental wish for 2021?

My wish would be for people to understand the true cost of purchasing an item from a store or online. Knowing this “cost” could help people understand many more environmental issues and possibly stop some awful behaviors.
What got you interested in the environment and outdoors activities?

My personal interest in the environment and outdoors stems from time at my house as a child in southern Minnesota. I spent as many hours as I could outside climbing trees, catching frogs in the ditch and building snow forts in the winter. I was also lucky to live near the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin. It had a terrific Director and Naturalist, named Larry Dolphin leading summer camps, maple syruping tours, snowshoe hikes and canoe trips down the Cedar River. The experiences I had as a child exposed me to love the places around me, no matter the season there was always something to do.

Now, as an adult, my interests have grown to more advocacy for what I love in nature as well as taking time to play and find peace with my surrounding environments. Plus it doesn't hurt that professionally I get to tie in my interests of caring for the environment and outdoor activities too.  

What kinds of activities are your favorites? Do you have favorite outdoor spots?

Depending on the season (and there are more than 4 seasons), I like to be outside on a trail with my family. It could be a hiking trail, water trail, cross-country ski trail, or random deer trail (when I get lost). I like to be on the ground, to enjoy nature up close and personal. My favorite spots at the moment are the City of La Crosse trails, specifically the Hass Tract right now. I have enjoyed the Bittersweet Lakes State Natural Area in northern Wisconsin. I also enjoy a quick canoe or bike ride around Lytle's Landing or a winter or spring hike along Seven Bridges (avoiding the muddy or mosquito seasons of course).

What got you involved in the Sierra Club?

I have known about the Sierra Club for a long time, since I worked with them in Connecticut on advocacy campaigns back at 2007. My family officially joined the Sierra Club when we were able to enjoy the Black River canoe trip a couple of years ago. That was a great experience, which we just repeated this month. We joined shortly after our initial canoe trip and made it official.

What are your main environmental interests and how did you come by them?

I am genuinely interested in many topics from renewable energy and energy efficiency to clean water to climate justice. I am interested in working to mitigate the impacts of climate change, so my children and future generations can enjoy what I love and enjoy within nature. I also have a strong interest in learning from the landscape and understanding indigenous uses of plants as medicine and food. Being up close and personal on a trail allows me to notice the details of a plant through its whole growth cycle or learning the “season” when different mushrooms pop.

How have you worked on those interests?

My work on climate is constant; it involves conversations at the dinner table with my family and making everyday choices of a want vs. a need. I have participated in strikes, petitions and presentations about climate change. I am learning more about the public health and social impacts of climate change, too--how racism and migration are part of the climate crisis, as we are all interconnected. I work every day to make better choices and I share what I learn and know with others.

With regards to the landscape, this is a hobby that keeps me motivated to learn more about each place I visit. Whose land was it? How is it being managed now? What can I learn from the prairie, forest or stream? Can I offer anything to the prairie, forest or stream?

Do you have an environmental wish for 2021?

My wish would be for people to understand the true cost of purchasing an item from a store or online. Knowing this “cost” could help people understand many more environmental issues and possibly stop some awful behaviors.