June 9, 2009: Volume VII, #23
"We really can't say we're the Saudi Arabia of coal anymore." |
In this issue
1) Take Action: Strengthen and Pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act |
1) Take Action: Strengthen and Pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act
The American Clean Energy and Security Act currently being debated in Congress is of vital importance to putting the United States on a path to slash carbon emissions and create new clean energy jobs to boost our economy. Big Oil, Big Coal, and other polluters have already attempted to weaken the bill for their own gain.
This important legislation needs to be strengthened in three key areas before its passage: strengthen the renewable energy and energy efficiency provisions, restore authority to the EPA to clean up dirty coal plants, and ensure that polluters, not consumers, are paying.
Urge your Representative to strengthen and pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act
2) Join: Climate Crossroads
President Obama can't solve global warming. Neither can Congress, the EPA, nor the Supreme Court -- not without you. But the solution will require more than our individual efforts. It's going to take a community that cares -- and is ready to do something about it.
We've created a place where this can happen -- a new online community called Climate Crossroads. It's free, open to everyone, and more than two thousand people have already joined.
Climate Crossroads not only features the latest Sierra Club actions but also has plenty of actions posted by people like you. For example, you can take the plastics pledge, become a guerilla gardener, or sign on for meatless Mondays. Go ahead and post your own actions!
Interested? Click here for your Climate Crossroads username and password.
3) Winners: India Green Achievement Awards
Today the Sierra Club announced the organization's first ever "Green Energy & Green Livelihoods Achievement Award" winners for India. Sharing the award are Ecosphere Spiti, for successfully creating sustainable livelihoods linked to conservation and ecotourism and the Barefoot College in Rajasthan, for applying practical, traditional knowledge and community-owned sustainable technology to reach the poorest residents of the impoverished desert state. Each award comes with a $40,000 prize and a trophy to be presented during a ceremony in Mumbai on July 30th.
For more information on Sierra Club's India program visit www.sierraclub.org/india.
4) New Efforts: 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps
On Monday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced his agency will establish a new office dedicated to getting youth outdoors. Salazar, joined by White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett and hundreds of children, signed a Secretarial Order to officially establish an Office of Youth at the Department of Interior. The creation of the Office is the first step toward fulfilling Salazar’s vision of establishing a 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps.
The new Corps will build a bridge to the outdoors and to green jobs for a new and diverse generation of public lands enthusiasts and employees. It will also educate a young hunters and anglers. The announcement followed a youth fishing event at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall.
Learn more about the Sierra Club's efforts to get kids outside