"It is enough to give a nature lover a petrified woodie."
-- TIME's TV critic James Poniewozik on Ken Burns' National Parks.
In this issue:
1) Tune In: The National Parks, America's Best Idea
2) Take Action: Become a Champion for National Parks
3) Take Action: Protect the Grand Canyon
4) Resilient Habitats: Activists Go to Washington
1)Tune In: The National Parks, America's Best Idea
You probably already know, but make sure to turn on the tube tonight to spend some quality time with nature -- yes, really -- by watching Ken Burns’ new documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea. The series airs every night this week, with the Sierra Club's strong work in support of parks featured prominently. The National Parks: America's Best Idea makes it more clear than ever that we shouldn't take our national parks for granted.
Show your support for our national parks and enter to win a trip for two to Yosemite and San Francisco!
2) Take Action: Become a Champion for National Parks
As America focuses on Ken Burns' new PBS series, all eyes will be on our spectacular national parks...it couldn't have come at a better time. Across America our national parks face an unprecedented threat: global warming. We must act swiftly to pass climate legislation that will not only reduce greenhouse gases, but also help wildlife, plants and landscapes survive global warming.
Stewardship of "America's Best Idea" has never been more important. Help us reach our goal of 100,000 Champions for National Parks by October 4th!
Sign our petition to your senators today to call for a strong climate bill.
3) Take Action: Protect the Grand Canyon!
Recently the Obama administration took emergency action to halt uranium and other mining within miles of one of our nation's most iconic landmarks, the Grand Canyon. Now, the Department of the Interior is taking the next necessary step, gathering public comment on whether mining should be prohibited on a long-term basis around the park’s boundaries. While this is an important action, the real solution is for Congress to modernize the 1872 mining law.
Tell Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar to protect our parks and forests on a permanent basis by working with Congress to update the 1872 mining law.
4) Resilient Habitats: Activists Go to Washington
This past week a group of activists traveled to DC to help launch the Sierra Club's Resilient Habitats campaign on the Hill. Meeting with 120 Senate and House offices, the activists spread the word about the importance of protecting key corridors, limiting non-climate stressors on these important lands and implementing climate-smart management strategies.