what's new..

Have a question about an Austin Sierra Club conservation issue? Specific issue contacts are listed further down this page. If you have a general question, contact the Conservation Chair:

Donna Tiemann...............358-7076 or donna.tiemann@lonestar.sierraclub.org

For a much more extensive list of Austin Sierra Club contacts, follow this link: OFFICERS and CHAIRS

In the current Austin Sierran newsletter, Conservation Chair Donna Tiemann writes about current local environmental campaigns and concerns directly impacting our neighborhoods and the community. Find out what you can do to make sure we are permitted to monitor, voice our concerns, and influence issues that affect our environment, health, and well being. Follow this link to the on-line version of the newsletter, then go to the CONSERVATION COLUMN.

Help the Sierra Club stop the drilling on Padre Island.

Support a Federal buyout of the mineral rights at Padre Island. A buyout is the only way we can ever guarantee that the drilling will be stopped once and for all, and that the park will be returned to the creatures that live there and the people who love it.

Check out the information on the Lone Star Chapter site to find out how you can help.

UPDATE: From Chris Wilhite, project coordinator: "Sierra Club would like to organize a second annual Alternative Spring Break on Padre Island National Seashore in order to achieve a greater partnership with the Sierra Student Coalition, to generate greater interest among students for wildlands conservation, and to bring national media attention to the drilling on the national seashore....Last year, a little over half a dozen students came from four different universities in Texas, Arizona, and Minnesota. It was a pilot project that allowed us to make initial connections with student groups and to understand all that would be necessary to pull off a larger event." Planning for this event is now under way. If you would like to be involved in either the planning or the Alternative Spring Break, please contact Chris Wilhite at chris.wilhite@sierraclub.org and let him know.

The Fox in the Greenhouse
A grassroots coalition of environmental, religious, and activist groups has launched a campaign to expose the Fox network's skewed and inaccurate coverage of global warming. The campaign, led by the Sierra Club, Brave New Films, and MoveOn.org Civic Action, includes a YouTube video called Fox Attacks: The Environment that exposes Fox's pattern of misinformation, and an online petition.

See for yourself what they've been saying on Fox -- it would be funny if it weren't so infuriating.

What can you do about it? Plenty, as it turns out. One of Fox's major advertisers, Home Depot, is a company that says it cares about the environment. That's why we're petitioning them to pull their ads.

You can help by contacting your local Home Depot and asking them to cancel their ads on Fox.

• Texas Water Matters
• City of Austin Water Conservation
• Austin Lawn Watering Schedule

The Sierra Club INSIDER is an on-line publication that keeps subscribers informed of the Club's efforts to defend the environment nation-wide. The December issue discusses several critical priorities and takes a look at an imaginary meeting between George Bush and John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club. Follow this link to view an on-line copy of the December issue: INSIDER

John Muir and George W. Bush can never see eye to eye -- or can they? When cartoonist Mark Fiore follows everyone's favorite wilderness odd couple to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the President seems to develop newfound respect for the Refuge and its inhabitants. See what happens in the latest episode of "Camping with George."

Understanding the history of the City of Austin's passionate defense of Barton Springs and the surrounding watersheds is critical to understanding what Austin, Texas is about. The Springs are a symbol, a rallying point and a source of lifeblood - water. In Texas, this is no trivial matter. Many analysts predict that the value of water will exceed the value of oil in the next millenium and that a lack of pure and reliable water in this part of the country will determine who lives where and how they live. The exchange below provides insight into some of the issues Austin faces in its struggle to balance development with conservation, preservation and protection of this incredibly valuable resource. Darly Slusher points out how far we have come; Bill Bunch points out why we have not come far enough yet.

Already a subscriber to the Sierra Club INSIDER newsletter? Tell a friend about how they can get a monthly email and become one too: TELL A FRIEND

Protecting Barton Springs - A Response - Bill Bunch

July 11th is World Population Day
Don't look now, but the Earth is already home to more than 6.6 billion people -- and growing. What can we do about it? The Sierra Club's Global Population and Environment Program supports global health initiatives that ensure healthier communities, help curb global warming, and protect our planet.

Visit their website on World Population Day to find out what you can do to promote solutions to climate change that advance sustainable development and family-planning initiatives worldwide.

You are already a part of the problem; now be a part of the solution.

Congress is gearing up to vote on legislation that could put America on the path toward energy independence and a cleaner energy future. Unfortunately, vital provisions that would drive meaningful new energy policy -- increases in fuel economy (CAFE) standards and a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) -- are missing from energy bills sent to Speaker Pelosi by several House committees.

Tell your Representative to support CAFE and a national RES to fight global warming and cut America’s dependence on old dirty sources of energy.

Follow this link to send a message to Congress telling them you support The Markey-Platts fuel economy reform act and higher CAFE standards for vehicles: SPEAK OUT

Interested in alternative energy choices? Here is a link to a blog on the topic: Blogspot

Use the table below and to the right to locate an issue that concerns you and contact the Austin Sierra Club activist involved in that issue.

Transportation issues

• Dick Kallerman .....444-1326 or cedartex@aol.com

Longhorn pipeline

• Karin Ascot .....443-1135 or karin.ascot@earthlink.net

Water quality

• Norman Johns..... 451-4690 or johns@nwk.org