"The Lorax is the protector of the truffula trees. We think this is the greenest use of coal."
-- Mike Farina, president of LoraxAg LLC, on the new company and plans to build a new coal plant
In this issue:
1) Take Action: Support the Land and Water Conservation Fund
2) Take Action: Support New Rules for Cleaner Air!
3) State of the Union: Tune in!
4) Latinos: National Convention to Set 2010 Agenda
1) Support the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Recently, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced The Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act of 2009. This legislation will fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which has protected more than 5 million acres of land and water across the country.
For years the Fund has been chronically shortchanged in the budget process, resulting in a grant backlog for important projects. Key resources have already been lost forever to incompatible development as a result of the lack of timely and adequate funding.
The Fund needs consistent and predictable funding to allow the program to continue to be effective. Tell your senators to support the LWCF and become a cosponsor of S. 2747.
Contact your senators today!
2) Take Action: Support New Rules for Cleaner Air!
Taking the advice of scientists and health professionals, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules aimed at reducing the amount of harmful ozone, or smog, in our air. But Big Oil and Dirty Coal are fighting to protect the dirty, unhealthy status quo, putting their profits before our health.
Fight back! Tell the EPA you support their efforts and ask them to implement the strongest proposed smog limit.
Tomorrow at 9 PM EST, President Obama will give his first State of the Union address. There are a multitude of ways to tune in: watch it live online, use the new free iPhone app, or even go old-school and watch it on a television.
Hear what the President has to say and then give your feedback. Submit your follow-up question online or vote on others at YouTube.com/CitizenTube. The President will be answering the questions live next week.
You can also join a new group at the Sierra Club's Climate Crossroads online community to share your question and to see what other people are asking the President.
4) Latinos: National Convention to Set 2010 Agenda
Delegates representing millions of Latinos from across the United States will gather in El Paso, TX this weekend to set priorities for the Latino community for the coming year. Among the priorities being discussed at this year's National Latino Congreso are climate change mitigation and adaptation, economic stimulus to create green jobs and environmental justice. The Sierra Club is proud to be a co-convener of this important gathering.