The news and images from the Gulf of Mexico are both shocking and heartbreaking. Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune was in the Gulf last week touring the disaster site for the second time. After seeing oil-soaked birds and struggling dolphins, Brune issued a call to action for all Americans who feel helpless in the face of the disaster and want to make sure it never happens again.
It's time to chart a new course. The Sierra Club is organizing rallies and events around the country urging President Obama to develop a plan to move our nation beyond oil in the next 20 years.
Ready to jump-start a new energy direction? Start by sending a message to President Obama.
With hindsight, the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico seems all too inevitable. Unfortunately, we can't go back in time to prevent it. But another environmental disaster that's threatening America -- dirty tar-sands oil -- can still be averted if enough people speak up.
Watch our video about why tar-sands oil is a terrible choice for America's energy needs.
Then take action before it's too late: Tell the Obama administration that we don't want a pipeline built to import the world's most harmful type of oil for the atmosphere.
Readers of the May 28 issue of the Austin Chronicle were greeted by a cover photo of Texas Sierra Club organizer Eva Hernandez sporting a pair of red boxing gloves. The accompanying story, "Environmental Cage Match," detailed the EPA's recent efforts, in tandem with environmental groups, to compel the state -- specifically the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality -- to clean up the air in Texas.
Read more about Eva and the Sierra Club's work in Texas in Scrapbook.
After radio host Rush Limbaugh said that the Sierra Club was to blame for the Gulf Coast disaster, our supporters responded with donations -- more than $100,000 worth! That means that Rush really is the Sierra Club's biggest fund-raiser, and we'll be sending him a thank-you note on behalf of everyone who contributed.
He'll also get a Sierra Club backpack (so he can take a hike, of course).
Back in March we announced "The Best Internship on Earth" -- a chance to spend the summer traveling around the country -- hiking, rafting, and enjoying the outdoors -- and creating a video blog about the Sierra Club's youth programs. After narrowing down the pool of more than 800 applicants to just ten finalists, we selected Evan Geary, a film graduate from New York University, for the job. If you haven't already seen Evan's video application, stop reading and watch it right now! You won't regret it.
One of the first places you might run into Evan during his busy summer is at the Outdoor Nation Youth Summit and Festival, June 19-20 in New York City's Central Park. The festival is open to the public Saturday afternoon. Many of the Sierra Club's youth-oriented programs will also be there, including Building Bridges to the Outdoors, Inner City Outings, the Sierra Student Coalition, and Military Families Outdoors.
Thanks to everyone who participated -- and especially to our outstanding ten finalists, each of whom will receive a new pair of Hi-Tec hiking boots for hitting the trails this summer. Now let's waggle.
Know someone who might be interested in the Sierra Club Insider? Help spread the word by using our online form to tell your friends, family, and co-workers about the Insider or simply forward this Insider on. (Some email clients strip the links out of emails when forwarded. If your email does this, you can also direct friends, family, and co-workers to our online version.)
|
Time to Move Beyond Oil 
In the Ring for Cleaner Air
Get Lost, Rush