Footnotes Issue #48: November 14, 2011
Georgia Water Coalition Issues "Dirty Dozen" List
Last week, the Georgia Water Coalition named its "Dirty Dozen" for 2011, exposing the worst offenses to Georgia's water. The Georgia Water Coalition is a consortium of more than 180 conservation and environmental organizations including the Georgia Sierra Club, hunting and fishing groups, businesses, and faith‐based organizations representing more than 300,000 Georgians.
"This is more than a list," said Jerry McCollum, president of the Georgia Wildlife Federation and a founding member of the Coalition. "This is a call to action for Georgia's citizens and its leaders. The sites populating this list are only poster children for the larger problem of a system that is failing to protect our water, our fish, and wildlife and our communities."
The Coalition blames continuing funding cuts to Georgia's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and a lack of political will to aggressively enforce state and federal environmental laws and implement state policy that better protects and manages Georgia's water.
Topping the list is the Ogeechee River where a textile manufacturing plant in Screven County is blamed for a fish kill earlier this year in which 30,000 fish perished. Rayonier's pulp mill in Jesup, the proposed Savannah River Harbor deepening project, minimum flows on the Chattahoochee in Atlanta, reservoir proposals in Dawson and Hall counties, and the Georgia Chapter's nomination -- the proposed Plant Washington-- round out the top six.
Congratulations to Cobb EMC members, who on Saturday elected three new board members and forced a run off in the fourth district, which is a critical step to stopping Plant Washington! Read more at the Marietta Daily Journal.
Quick Links
Were you bummed and dejected at the end of Who Killed the Electric Car? Well join us for a ray of hope as we screen Revenge of the Electric Car at the Midtown Arts Cinema on Monday, December 5th at 7:25 p.m.
Revenge follows four entrepreneurs from 2007 through the end of 2010 as they fight to bring the electric car back to the world market in the midst of a global recession. The protagonists are Bob Lutz from General Motors, Elon Musk from the American start-up Tesla Motors, Carlos Ghosn from Nissan, and Greg Abbott, an independent electric car converter from California. The screening is free, but you must RSVP to reserve your seat.
Sierra Club Meetings
Beyond Factory Farming, Monday, November 14th, 7:30 p.m., Leah Garces - Chair, Leah.Garces@ciwf.org.uk Wildlands and Wildlife Committee Meeting, Tuesday, November 15th, 7:00 p.m., Mike Murdock - Chair, murdock1@mindspring.com RAIL Committee Meeting, Monday, November 28th, 7:00 p.m., David Emory - Chair, david.emory@gmail.com Atlanta Inner City Outings (ICO), Tuesday, November 29th, 7:30 p.m., Naomi Bock, atlantaico@gmail.comSmart Energy Team Meeting, Monday, December 5th, at Midtown Arts for "Revenge of the Electric Car," Mike Walls - Chair, mwalls@ellijay.com |
Upcoming Events
Hemlock Festival - Thank you, Volunteers!
The Wildlands Committee would like to thank the volunteers who made our time at Hemlockfest a success! Thanks go to Phil Zinsmeister, Carol Goetzheimer, Frances Eubanks, Roger Buerki, Meghana Deshpande, and Michelle Kegler. And the Georgia Chapter would like to thank Committee Chair Mike Murdock for coordinating volunteers and supplies. Thank you, Mike!
Georgia ForestWatch Seeks New Executive Director
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Georgia ForestWatch is the leading non-profit environmental organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and restoring the 867,000-acre Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Based in Ellijay, Georgia, the region supports a broad array of recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, mountain biking, canoeing and wildlife viewing. We are currently looking for an Executive Director who can lead this prominent organization. Download the job description.
John Muir, Nature's Beloved Son - Thru December 4th
Atlanta History Center will host the traveling exhibition Nature's Beloved Son: Rediscovering John Muir's Botanical Legacy traces his travels to Canada, Indiana, the American southeast, California, and Alaska, presenting vivid images and specimens of the actual plants that Muir held in his hands, carried in his pockets, and preserved for all time.
Sierra Club 101 - December 10th
You got on our mailing list because you care about the environment and want help -- now what? Sierra Club 101! Come learn about the Sierra Club and how to get involved in our local efforts. Open to members and non-members alike -- bring a friend! Breakfast and coffee provided. December 10th, 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. Register online by clicking here.
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