Photo by iStockphoto.com/RamiroMarquezPhotos |
| The Trump administration just announced plans to make significant cuts to the Endangered Species Act in spite of its proven success. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune will be hosting an Endangered Species Act Town Hall on Thursday, September 5, at 5:30 PM PST/8:30 PM EST. Learn about the key role this bedrock environmental law has played over the years, and what you can do to help defend it. RSVP today for the Endangered Species Act Town Hall. |
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| The Trump administration is pushing for a quick vote on NAFTA 2.0 when Congress reconvenes in September. The trade deal fails to address climate change, instead offering handouts to corporate polluters. Right now is a critical time to be talking with your members of Congress about this toxic trade deal that would prolong NAFTA's legacy of outsourcing jobs and pollution. Tell your members of Congress to oppose NAFTA 2.0. |
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Photo by AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin |
| This summer is a primer on how extreme heat waves intensify the feedback loop of climate change. This June and July were the hottest on record in the US. No matter if you live in Montana, Mississippi, Minnesota, or Maine, extreme heat waves are affecting everyone. Business as usual isn’t an option anymore. |
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Salinas, California Seasonal farm workers pick and package strawberries. | Photo by iStockphoto.com/Human Role |
| Working outside during heat waves—or inside without air conditioning—can lead to sometimes fatal heatstroke and exhaustion. In 2004, farmworker Asuncion Valdivia died of heatstroke after picking grapes for 10 straight hours in 105°F heat. The Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act would limit the amount of time workers can be exposed to extreme heat and ensure that they have ready access to water and get paid breaks in cool places. Tell your members of Congress to pass this lifesaving legislation. |
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| On September 20, in advance of the UN Climate Summit in New York City, millions of youth across the country and around the world will be taking to the streets to demand significant and immediate action on climate. Find a Youth Climate Strike near you or organize your own—we’ll provide everything you need to get started. RSVP now to attend a Youth Climate Strike on September 20. |
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| Reintegrating into civilian society can be a challenge for veterans returning from active duty, and research shows that spending time outdoors is healing and improves mental and physical well-being. A bipartisan bill now before Congress, the Accelerating Veterans Outdoors Recovery Act, would establish an interagency task force to make recommendations on how to use public lands to support medical therapy for veterans. Ask your members of Congress to cosponsor this legislation as it moves through the House and Senate. |
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| Celebrate National Drive Electric Week at one of the 160+ events being held from coast to coast the week of September 14–22. Cosponsored by the Sierra Club, National Drive Electric Week features family-friendly events such as ride & drives, games, prizes, food, and more. Thinking of going electric? Come talk with owners who’ve already done so, and find out everything you’ve always wanted to know about EVs. Get charged up at an event near you. |
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Photo by Adriana González |
| “We have witnessed in Puerto Rico the immense power of a united people to confront corruption and abuse by the island’s political class,” says Sierra Club columnist Javier Sierra. “While the game of musical chairs in the transfer of power seems endless, so do the revelations of corruption fueled by the dirty energy industry.” Find out how the sun can help combat corruption and solve the island's energy crisis. |
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Photo by Eraldo Peres/AP Photos |
| Fifteen years ago the Brazilian government enacted a series of landmark measures to stop deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and protect the indigenous people who live there. The reforms were an overwhelming success. But now a rightist government is rolling back these protections, and deforestation has spiked to a 10-year high. More than 1,300 square miles of forest—an area larger than the state of Rhode Island—have been lost so far this year, a 39% increase over the same period in 2018. And it looks like things are about to get worse. |
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Photo by iStockphoto.com/Bmswanson |
| Insect numbers across the globe are plummeting. Ditto pollinators like bumblebees, beetles, and butterflies. Turns out one of the cheapest and easiest ways to save beneficial bugs is taking better care of the millions of acres of right-of-way that line our highways and roads. “They’re not the most amazing habitat,” says one expert, “but they support lots of insects… and they’re a good safety net for pollinators.” What should be done with The United States' 17 million acres of roadside habitat? |
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Photo by iStockphoto.com/WaveTop |
| “Hey Mr. Green,” asks Debra in Merrick, New York. "I have two dogs and pick up their poop with a paper towel or tissue paper (not new but used/recycled) and put it into a plastic bag (bread bags, etc.), but I am trying to reduce the amount of plastic used. Could I flush the poop down the toilet, or is that bad?" Get the poop (we had to say it, right?) from the Sierra Club’s grand poobah of poo. |
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| The Sierra Club’s Climate Parents program, in collaboration with Ready for 100, has launched a campaign to move school districts across the country to 100% clean energy. School districts are often the largest energy consumers in their cities and towns. Powering them with 100% clean energy will help build societal momentum for clean energy. Says Climate Parents director Lisa Hoyos, "Student, parent, and family activism for bold climate action is at an all-time high: Whether it’s student climate strikes or transforming school districts into beacons of clean energy—we need all hands on deck." Learn more to get involved! |
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Maui's coral reefs are in danger because of wastewater from the island. | Photo by iStockphoto.com/Rich Cao |
| The County of Maui is fighting the Clean Water Act over a single wastewater treatment plant—a fight that could end water protections across the country. In a case that will be heard by the US Supreme Court in November, the county claims that pollution pumped into groundwater that then flows into the ocean is exempt from the Clean Water Act. Big polluters like the coal and gas industry and industrial agriculture are all hoping for a ruling in favor of Maui County so they too can circumvent clean water protections by dumping their waste into the ground. Tell Maui county to stop its attack on clean water and withdraw its case from the US Supreme Court! |
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| Get 25% off any 2019 trip when you book by Friday, August 30. Just mention code SALE2019 when making your reservation online or by phone. We’ve got options galore, including easygoing family excursions, affordable volunteer vacations, rugged wilderness backpacking trips, water-based journeys, immersive international experiences, and more. The sale ends soon and spaces are filling up, so act now! Note: This discount cannot be used for reservations made before July 27, 2019. See all trips and sign up. |
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1 Source: “Homes With Solar Panels Sell for 4.1% More” Zillow Economic Research - Analysis of listing descriptions and sales transactions between 3/1/18-2/28/19. Comparison values made in New York, NY, Orlando, FL, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA and Riverside, CA. Actual impact on home values will vary. |
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