People’s Climate March Report
By Robert W. Hastings
On Friday, April 28, I and 26 other environmentalists from Alabama boarded a bus in Montgomery to travel to Washington, DC to join the People’s Climate March, an effort to demonstrate public demand for government action on combating climate change. Thanks very much to the National Sierra Club and the Alabama Chapter for generous support to make this trip possible. Our group included dedicated environmentalists from Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, Prattville, Uniontown, Auburn, Opelika, Bremen, Tallassee, Nauvoo, Springville, and Pell City. We had 12 students or recent graduates as young as 20, and several elders over 70. About half the group were Sierra Club members, with most of the others expressing an interest in joining the Club (several already have joined).
The midnight ride was rather uneventful except that sleeping on a bouncing bus was almost impossible. But thanks to our excellent drivers, Tim Watts and Marcus Walker of Vision Express, we arrived early in Washington, at 8:30 Saturday morning. Ours was among the first buses to arrive at our designated parking at RFK Stadium, but was eventually joined by several hundred others. Most of us rode the Metro subway to the Capitol Mall, while those more energetic hiked the two miles up Independence Avenue. Arriving early allowed us time to roam the Mall to meet other activists and view their posters before the massive crowds arrived, or for some to visit adjacent museums.
By 11:00, when the March Lineup was scheduled to begin, we were joined by over 200,000 other activists from all over the country representing many diverse groups. The artistic and thoughtful posters and signs being carried by participants presented educational and forceful lessons regarding the need for concerted and immediate action to combat climate change and other threats to our environment. Our group dispersed and joined various contingents lined up in front of the Capitol and for several blocks along the Mall. These were designated as (1) Protectors of Justice, (2) Creators of Sanctuary, (3) Builders of Democracy, (4) Guardians of the Future (youth and students), (5) Defenders of Truth (scientists and educators), (4) Keepers of Faith (religious groups), (5) Reshapers of Power, and (6) Many Struggles, One Home (environmentalists and climate activists). At 12:30, the “line” of over 200,000 people began marching up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, surrounded the White House, and then gathered at the Washington Monument for speeches, music, and sharing. Despite record heat, chaotic marching, and massive crowds, there was no pushing or shoving, no animosity, and no abusive language (except for some directed toward the incompetent president and his anti-science administration). Hank Moore, member of the Montgomery Group, brought National publicity to the Sierra Club and Alabama Chapter by being the subject of the first photo in Washington Post's "Photos from the People's Climate March". (See: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/photos-from-the-peoples-climate-march-in-dc/2017/04/29/2429ce80-2d02-11e7-b605-33413c691853_gallery.html?utm_term=.3f3b5f79749d).
We boarded our bus to return home at 6:00 PM, hot and tired, but reinvigorated to continue our fight for environmental protection. Most of us slept well on the return home.
Suggested ways to continue our efforts (even for those unable to join us in Washington) are as follows:
Host a Climate Resistance Circle (text CIRCLE to 69866 to learn more).
Send Climate Defenders Postcards to your representatives (text MAIL to 69866).
Join or form a #Mayors4CleanEnergy Team (text PCM100 to 69866).
Join #DefundKXL and #DefundDAPL (see http://sc.org/defund pipelines)
Join #SeizetheGrid especially for high school and college students (see http://bit.ly/seizethegridpcm)
Stand with #TeamSierra (sign up at sierraclub.org/signup)
For more information and many more photos, see https://sierraclub.org/peoples-climate-march.
Annual Sierra Club Alabama Chapter Convention
Save the Date! October 13-15th, 2017
Location: Living River, A Retreat on the Cahaba
Sierra Club members and companions are invited to gather in festivity while we learn about "Amazing Alabama" and appreciate the natural wonders that our incredibly diverse state has to offer. Knowledgeable speakers will illustrate why Alabama is near the top of the list of most biodiverse states. Together, we will reflect on ways that we can protect and preserve the assets we have just as John Muir and his fellows would have long ago.
Enjoy outdoor camaraderie as we take in the natural beauty first hand, listen to live music while conversing with fellow outdoorsmen and conservationists, and take home valuable knowledge of our Amazing state of Alabama. Please join us on the biologically unique and beautiful Cahaba River in celebrating "Amazing Alabama"!
Sierra Club Alabama Chapter's conventions are open to all regardless of membership to the club. Please forward this to anyone who might be interested. Student Scholarships will be available. More information will be forthcoming as the committee finalizes plans.
Use the links below to add to your calendar:
iCalendar • Google Calendar • Outlook • Outlook Online • Yahoo! Calendar
Celebrating 125 Years: Sierra Club's Quasquicentennial
May 27 is a special day for us (all 3,000,002 of us). Happy Anniversary! May 27 marked the Sierra Club's Quasquicentennial. That's right -- 125 years ago, our founder John Muir rallied fellow conservationists to save the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The rest, as they say, is history.
Thanks to your loyal support, we look pretty good for 125! We've expanded our mission over time to work tirelessly for climate solutions as well as to protect clean air, clean water, and precious wildlife. We've grown our membership from a fledgling regional outfit to an environmental and clean energy powerhouse of over 3 million members and supporters in 64 chapters across the country. We've made advocating for justice a centerpiece of the 21st century Sierra Club because some people don't have access to nature -- or safe drinking water -- or clean air -- which is not just an environmental issue, but a human rights issue.
Your support and advocacy have tangible results around the country -- children protected from asthma; wildlife recovering from the effects of drilling and deforestation; millions of acres of protected wilderness, national parks, national monuments, and other public lands that are the legacy of every American today as well as broadened access to nature for children and adults alike.
We face many important fights in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. We will defend clean water, clean air, national parks, public lands, climate science, environmental justice, and so much more. However, there is one thing I am certain about as we celebrate our 125th today -- we are more powerful together in shaping the world we want to see -- the future for our country and our planet -- because of you.
For 125 years, you have been the foundation of the Sierra Club's strength. Thank you for all you’ve done to make this historic moment possible. We're grateful for your sustained commitment and support and we are honored to have you with us as we begin the next 125! (from the National Sierra Club)
DefendRivers Paddle Set for Saturday July 8.
The #DefendRivers paddle and campaign engages people across Alabama in raising awareness of water issues and communicating their significance to state elected officials and those seeking to become elected officials. This year, the paddle will be held on Saturday, July 8. This annual event provides an opportunity for citizens to *float* their message directly to Alabama’s policy makers and elected officials. Stay tuned for our message — coming soon! You can register here.
The AARP Pop-Up Demonstration Tool Kit
Permanent, large-scale community changes can be difficult to launch. That's why pop-up demonstration projects - temporary bike lanes, protected intersections, crosswalks, parklets, sidewalk cafes, plazas, benches, street trees and more - are valuable tools. When new ideas are illustrated through temporary installations, a desired enhancement can be more quickly understood, supported and achieved. The AARP Pop-Up Demonstration Tool Kit provides information and examples to get a pop-up demonstration started in your community. Read more. via Smart Growth America
Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s 15th Anniversary: June 15th on the Bama Belle Riverboat
“Cruisin’ on the River”-- Beer, Food, Tunes and a Sunset Cruise
Tuscaloosa – On Thursday, June 15 from 6-9 P.M., Black Warrior Riverkeeper will celebrate 15 years of clean water advocacy with the event “Cruisin’ on the River.” The Black Warrior River sunset cruise will feature live music, dinner and local beer on the iconic Bama Belle Riverboat, which docks by the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk at 1 Greensboro Ave.
Event proceeds support Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s efforts to protect the Black Warrior River watershed including Lake Tuscaloosa, a reservoir on the North River that provides drinking water to 200,000 people.
Henri’s Notions will perform throughout the cruise. From soft fingerpicked ballads to hard-driving jigs and reels, the group creates a musical mix of traditional Celtic and American music. Henri’s Notions has appeared with such folk icons as Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, The Kingston Trio and David Grisman Quintet.
Tickets are on sale now at blackwarrior15.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $40 per person. Admission includes dinner (with meat, seafood, and vegetarian options) catered by The Levee, and a complimentary sampling of local beers by Druid City Brewing.
The event is for ages 21 and up. Children under the age of 12 may attend with parent or guardian but will need a ticket as space is limited to 100 guests.
Boarding begins at 6 P.M. The boat will leave at 6:30 P.M. sharp and will return at 9 P.M.
To view highlights of Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s 15 year history, visit: blackwarriorriver.org/press-releases/
Going Swimming This Summer?
Check out the swim guides to be sure where you plan to dip a toe is clean!
http://coosariver.org/swimguide/
http://www.cahabariverkeeper.org/swimguide/
Here's an overview guide as well: https://www.theswimguide.org/beaches/alabama/
Is Your Water Clean
Is your water clean? Our Friends at Black Warrior Riverkeeper created this handy map showing where industry discharges wastewater into rivers and streams.
CAHABA RIVER RAMBLE | SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017
CAHABA RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE | WEST BLOCTON, AL
Registration opens at 6:30 | Race begins at 7:30
The Cahaba River Ramble Trail Race, presented by ALABAMA OUTDOORS, is a spectacular 5k and 10-mile trail race along the “biological heart” of Alabama’s longest remaining free-flowing river, the Cahaba, and is the primary annual fundraiser for our Shane Hulsey CLEAN Environmental Education Program and the Cahaba River Society’s work with many partners to protect and restore that Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge. (learn more here)
Outings and Events
Cahaba Group
Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. - June Meeting of the Cahaba Sierra Club | The Energy Efficient Home at Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr., Hoover, AL. This month we will have a presentation by Stephen Guesman of GreenWorks called 'The Energy Efficient Home: Why You Want It and How to Get It’.
Do you know the answer to the question: "What element of your life has the biggest carbon footprint?" (Hint: it is not your car.)
This informative presentation will help you learn how to lower your carbon footprint as well as your monthly utility costs. Stephen Guesman is a residential remodeling contractor and green building educator from Birmingham, Alabama. He presents Green Building workshops for home builders and remodelers, as well as Green Living and Home Energy Clinics for homeowners. He has worked on passive solar, underground and straw bale homes as well as conventional remodeling and homebuilding. His current practice includes Home Energy Assessments and Makeovers, and Green Home Design Reviews. Guesman and his wife live on a rural Blount County farm (north Alabama) in a passive solar home with solar power (off-the-grid) and solar thermal (hot water).
The Cahaba Group will have a business meeting at 6:00 pm, and the presentation will begin at 6:30. Join us at the Hoover Library in one of the large meeting rooms downstairs.
For many Sierra Club, Cahaba Group outings (plus some non-Sierra Club outings), check out the Birmingham Adventure Group on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/BirminghamAdventureGroup/
Coosa Valley Group
Thurs., June 8, 6:30 pm – Roe and Ken Hyche, Cahaba Group Outings Leaders
Don’t miss hearing Ken and Roe Hyche, outings leaders for the Cahaba Sierra Group. They will present a slideshow and narration about visiting the different natural places in Alabama, with emphasis on areas within a few hours’ drive. They will also discuss how the Coosa Valley Group can have a more active outings program.
Ken and Roe are both certified outings leaders with wilderness first aid training and are long-time outings leaders for the Cahaba Sierra Group. They are active in hiking, backpacking, paddling, climbing, biking, canoeing, and working on trails. They were active Scout leaders for years. Ken is co-organizer of the Birmingham Adventure Group. Roe is an assistant hike leader with both the Birmingham and the Georgia Adventure Groups. They like to share their enthusiasm for the outdoors with people of all ages and to help them be good stewards of the earth.
Thurs., July 13, 6:30 pm – James Lowery – The Cahaba Impact Crater
Thurs., Aug. 10 – 6:30 pm – Glen Coffee – Dredging the Mobile Bay
Directions to the Joe M. Ford Center: From I-59, take the exit for I-759. Follow I-759 until it ends at George Wallace Dr. Turn right, then take the first left onto East Cardinal Drive. The Joe Ford Center is the first building on the right.
Connect with Sierra Club: By phone |256| 459 8177 (get info, text, leave a message) fb.com/CoosaValleySierraClub
Mobile Bay Group
Tuesday evening, June 6. Monthly Event.
Location address: 5 Rivers, Alabama’s Delta Resource Center, 30945 Five Rivers Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527 (entrance is across from Meaher State Park on the Mobile Bay Causeway). For more information, please contact Carol Adams-Davis, 702-496-5050 or email: mcadamsdavis@earthlink.ne
Where: 5 Rivers, Tensaw Theater, Please follow the Sierra Club signs.
(The General Public is invited, No Admission)
Location address: 5 Rivers, Alabama’s Delta Resource Center, 30945 Five Rivers Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527 (entrance is across from Meaher State Park on the Mobile Bay Causeway).
For more information, please contact Carol Adams-Davis, 702-496-5050 or email: mcadamsdavis@earthlink.net
Montgomery Group
The Montgomery Group meets monthly on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Room 25, at 6610 Vaughn Road in Montgomery (next to St. James School).
June 15, 7:00 pm. - Group Chair, Robert W. Hastings, will present a slide show on the Snakes of Alabama, with a few live specimens on display. Come and learn to distinguish non-venomous Watersnakes from Cottonmouths, and Gray Rat Snakes from Copperheads.
North Alabama Group
Tuesday, June 6 - Monte Sano Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm sharp from the Monte Sano State Park Hikers’ parking lot on Nolen Avenue. There is a small fee to enter the park and all dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and during the hike. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact Steve Jackson at covecrawler@gmail.com
Saturday, June 10 - Old-Fashioned Fun: Hike, Swim and Picnic lunch . Moderate and fun!
Grab your inner tube, bring a picnic lunch and swim in a blue hole and/or under waterfalls in the South Cumberland State Park area. We’ll hike short trails to two to three different waterfalls (time permitting) and a blue hole where you’ll have a chance to float, frolic, photograph, or just enjoy. The hikes are considered moderate due to terrain, not distance. Bring snacks, water, lunch, a towel, wear a swim suit (if you plan to swim), hiking shoes/gear, and bug spray. Group size is limited. For more information contact Aaron at sctrailevents@gmail.com T-storms/torrential downpour cancel.
Tuesday, June 13 - Monte Sano Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm sharp from the Monte Sano State Park Hikers’ parking lot on Nolen Avenue. There is a small fee to enter the park and all dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and during the hike. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact Patricia at pwales77@gmail.com
Saturday, June 17 - Monte Sano Hike. Moderate.
Enjoy summer on Huntsville’s jewel. We will explore trails on a 6-7 mile hike in the State Park. Experience the beauty of the park in summer. Dress for the weather, including sturdy shoes. Bring a camera, water, snacks and some cash for the park entrance. Dress for the weather and bring water and a snack . Meet at the Hikers Parking Lot at 8:30am - the hike leaves at 9:00am sharp. Leashed dogs welcome. Rain Cancels this hike. Questions, contact Patricia at pwales77@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 20 - Monte Sano Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm sharp from the Monte Sano State Park Hikers’ parking lot on Nolen Avenue. There is a small fee to enter the park and all dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and during the hike. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact Alan Greene at agreene256@comcast.net
Thursday, June 22 - The North Alabama Sierra Club welcomes The Nature Conservancy.
The Conservancy is an international organization focusing on protecting and preserving our lands, water and oceans. They will discuss what is important to us all which is protecting and preserving our natural resources both globally and here in Alabama. The program starts at 6:00pm at the National Children Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Al. Information at 256 337 9702.
Saturday, June 24 Keel Mountain and Calloway Sinks Hike. Strenuous.
We will hike half of this trip off trail so expect uneven terrain with an initial steep assent. We will visit a waterfall, a cave and then the Sinks on Nature Conservancy Property. We will be hiking to a remote location that will have little or no cell coverage most of the time. This will be a 9 mile hike with 2500 feet elevation gain and 2500 decent. Good hiking boots are strongly recommended. Bring water (there will be water sources to filter) and lunch. Hike leader approval is required and the outing is limited to 12 hikers. We will meet at the Publix parking lot on Winchester road at 8:30am. Short drive to trailhead. Contact Steve at 256-337-9702 or at covecrawler@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 27 - Monte Sano Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm sharp from the Monte Sano State Park Hikers’ parking lot on Nolen Avenue. There is a small fee to enter the park and all dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and during the hike. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact Aaron at sctrailevents@gmail.com
West Alabama Group
The Group does not meet June-August