What You Can Do
Here's how we can protect the environment in the Trump era
1. Get on the email list to hear about Sierra Club Maine Trump Resistance activities and information
2. Start a local Trump Resistance Team in your community (we’ll help you set it up!)
3. Host a biweekly or monthly Trump Resistance gathering
4. Organize a phone bank to call Maine's Congressional Delegation
5. Write a Letter to the Editor and submit to your local paper
6. Start a Facebook group for your local Trump Resistance Team (e.g. York Trump Resistance)
7. Attend rallies
8. Organize local rallies
9. Organize an event or house party to get more people involved
10. Schedule a meeting with Sen. Collins, Sen. King, Rep. Poliquin, and Rep. Pingree (or their staff) at nearest office to you
Issues
Anti-Climate
Executive Order
On March 31, 2017, Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of dismantling the Obama Administration’s key actions tackling the climate crisis and protecting clean air, including the Clean Power Plan and other safeguards issued under the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Protection Act, and other authorities.
- Summary of Trump Climate Executive Order
- Trump's climate change order sends message to the world that the U.S. is no longer a responsible actor
Paris Climate Accord
President Trump, in a decision that will strike a major blow to global efforts to combat global warming and climate change, has decided to pull the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord, making the U.S. only one of three countries in the world (the others being Syria and Nicaragua), to not take part in this historic agreement.
- Trump expected to announce withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord
- Trade wars could erase any job gains predicted from exiting Paris Climate Accord
- Maine scientists and academics condemn Trump's decision on Climate Accord
Budget
President Trump has proposed budget cuts for environmental programs that provide important funding for the continuation of Maine’s fisheries, among other important areas given funding. If these budget cuts are approved by Congress, Maine’s lobster and fishing industries will continue to decline, devastating Maine’s coastal economy.
- Trump's outline for NOAA budget could cut funding for Sea Grant
- Maine delegation should unite against proposed EPA cutbacks
- Here's how EPA cuts and policy changes could affect Maine
- Trump's budget would have serious consequences in Maine
- Trump's proposed cuts to NOAA alarm Maine's marine community
- Trump's climate change denial is bad news for Maine's lobster fishery
- Trump's EPA moves to defund programs that protect children from lead-based paint
- Rollback of EPA's lead paint efforts chills state officials
- Deeper EPA cuts pose a particular menace to Maine
- Janet Mills joins democratic attorneys general to fight Trump's efforts to weaken environmental regulations
- Trump's fight against environmental protection is a threat to Maine's economy and health
- Jeopardizing Maine's environmental assets makes no economic sense
EPA Standards
With Scott Pruitt as the agency’s head, the Environmental Protection Agency has begun efforts to roll back air and water pollution standards, which poses a significant threat to human health and the environment.
- New York leads 10-state lawsuit against Trump administration over stalled pollution rules
- Maine is prepared to fight efforts to roll back vehicle fuel economy standards
- EPA head Scott Pruitt assailed - and applauded - for not banning controversial pesticide
- Federal rollbacks threaten state's drinking water, fishing spots, economy
- Maine's attorney general joins suit agains EPA over smog
Lands Protection
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument was placed on a list of 22 such sites that were up for federal review by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. This beautiful recreational area, which provides a needed boost to the area’s economy, could face being derecognized as a national monument.
- Trump administration to review designation of Katahdin Woods and Waters
- Zinke impressed by Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
- Lepage plans to testify against the Katahdin area National Monument amid anticipated federal review
- Lepage administration won't install road signs for Katahdin National Monument
- Supporters and former opponents of Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument want Trump and Lepage to back off
- New map shows off features of Katahdin Woods and Waters' loop road
Dirty Fossil Fuels
In his short time in office, President Trump has already moved to strengthen the oil industry by signing executive orders giving the go-ahead to construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, as well as lifting restrictions on offshore and Arctic drilling. These expansions of fossil fuel’s power will devastate the terrestrial and marine environments that are subject to drilling and oil leakages. County and state action must be taken to oppose these dangerous constructions if we wish to preserve valuable natural ecosystems.
- Trump administration grants approval for Keystone XL pipeline
- Trump to advance Keystone and Dakota pipelines with executive order
- Trump administration approves Keystone XL pipeline
- Pipeline spill by Dakota Access company could have a deadly effect
- Trump to sign executive order on offshore drilling and marine sanctuaries
- Trump's risky offshore oil strategy
- Conservation groups sue Trump to defend Obama's Arctic drilling ban
- Trump, reversing Obama, will push to expand drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic
- Trump signs order to open Arctic and Atlantic drilling
- Trump upends environmental policies
Nominees
Neil Gorsuch
President Trump has nominated Neil Gorsuch, a staunchly conservative judge, to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Gorsuch believes in interpreting the U.S. Constitution as it would have been perceived at the time of enactment; he is backwards-looking, and unconcerned about changing things for the better for the future of the country. We must oppose Gorsuch’s nomination if we wish to see meaningful social change in this country.
- Environmental stewards should stand together against Gorsuch
- Maine organization letter opposing Gorsuch
- Senator King's opposition to Gorsuch is detail-driven and personal
- Ninety-six Maine lawyers ask Senators King and Collins to oppose Gorsuch
- Demonstrators send strong message to Maine senators at protest in Portland
- Constituents gather outside of City Hall to protest Gorsuch
- Written testimony of Patrick Gallagher on the Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Neil Gorsuch
Scott Pruitt
Scott Pruitt, a man who has sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was nominated by President Trump to head the EPA. Pruitt does not have our environment’s best interests at heart, and his dangerous decisions regarding EPA standards for pollutants and chemicals could seriously endanger at-risk people in Maine and beyond.
- EPA nominee Scott Pruitt does not reflect Maine values on the environment
- Senator Collins says she will vote against EPA nominee Pruitt