Please join us for Sierra Club Maine’s virtual annual celebration on November 12th from 6-7:30pm. While we may be physically apart this year, we’re looking forward to being able to convene more participants from the entire state to take part in this fun and engaging annual event.
The theme for this year's event is “dinner and a movie.” All participants will be provided with a link to view “Tomorrow,” an inspiring documentary about what individuals around the world are doing to help fight current environmental problems.
After viewing the film, we will come together on November 12th from 6-7:30pm for an engaging panel discussion around the themes of the movie—energy, agriculture, education, democracy, and economy. Panelists include:
Among our special guests will also be Maine State Senator Shenna Bellows.
Please register here to take part in this important event. We hope to see you there!
Sierra Club Maine in BDN: The Time for Climate Action is Now
Chapter Director, Sarah Leighton, shares that we have a unique opportunity to be a leader in the fight against climate change in her recent opinion piece in The Bangor Daily News . As she writes, "We have a moral obligation to act now. For decades, policymakers have put forth piecemeal, incremental suggestions that fail to make the necessary changes to truly decarbonize. We owe it not just to ourselves, but to future generations, to ensure that they are able to live and enjoy this incredible state. We know that shifting to a green economy will create jobs, ameliorate inequality, and advance a more just society. The choice is ours — will we act, or will we let this opportunity slip away?" Read the whole piece here.
Finalize Your Voting Plan Today
November 3rd is one of the most important elections of our time. The results of this election will dictate environmental progress or continued degradation for years to come. Your vote makes a difference! Do you know when and how you will be voting this fall? Things to consider:
Are you and those close to you registered to vote? If not, contact your town office to register today.
Absentee ballots will arrive some time after October 3rd. Drop your ballot (with envelope) off at your town office to ensure it arrives by election day.
You can also vote early, in person at your town office from Monday, October 5th up until the Friday before Election Day (October 30th). This is considered “early absentee” voting.
If you choose to go to the polls, when and how are you getting there? Do you need a ride? Do you need help with children? Time off of work?
Who else can you bring with you? Help get more people to the polls!
Maine's ability to address climate change, the well-being of indigenous communities, and the health of forests and rivers in Canada and New England are at risk of being undermined by proposed Canadian hydropower projects.
Sierra Club Maine, along with Northeast Sierra Club Chapters, and our partners at NAMRA (North American Megadam Resistance Alliance) sent a letter to the Governors in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York urging them to oppose megadam hydropower. After not being allowed to present to the New England Governors and Eastern Canada Premiers at their annual conference where they discuss issues including international trade and energy, we held a press conference event. Please help us spread the word about the injustice around megadams.
The fall edition of our Maine Sierran was sent recently to all Sierra Club members. This bi-annual publication comes out each fall and spring. Our most recent edition covers:
Sierra Club Maine political endorsements and their latest voting information
The dark side of Canadian hydropower
Sierra Club Maine’s continued fight against the CMP transmission corridor
Building strong coalitions to address the climate crisis
Not a member? Join today to receive our next Maine Sierran edition this spring!
Sierra Club Maine Partakes in PUC Stakeholder Group
Sierra Club Maine is participating as a stakeholder in a group examining the ways to better align utility regulation with Maine’s clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The group is organized by the Nature Conservancy with the Great Plains Institute facilitating. The group includes electric utilities, clean energy developers, state agencies, environmental organizations, and other content experts. We plan to meet 6-8 times virtually September through February and explore a range of topics, using the “Power Sector Transformation Process” recommendation from the Climate Council Energy Working Group as a starting point. Further recommendations to come in February 2021.
Sierra Club Maine, in partnership with Maine Audubon, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, JustMe for JustUs, and Maine Climate Action NOW will be launching a youth climate justice webinar series in October. The series will highlight a different youth voice every month to share the important work that is happening in our state and beyond. The first webinar will be on October 27th at 4:30pm. Stay tuned to our events page for more information coming soon.
Volunteer Opportunity of the Month
Are you someone who enjoys telling stories, writing, or being the first to deliver a story? If so, consider being a volunteer writer for our newsletter! E-newsletters like this are distributed monthly and our printed newsletter, the Maine Sierran, is created each spring and fall. To learn more about being a volunteer writer, please contact us at maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.
Green Tip of the Month: Composting, from Trash to Treasure
by Kyle Bonus
With many of us expanding our culinary skills and serving up new dishes at home, we are likely sending more food scraps to landfill. Already, the EPA says organic waste is the single largest component of municipal solid waste. As organic waste breaks down in a landfill, it produces methane, a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
There are many things we can do to reduce food waste, but we can’t avoid producing food scraps like banana peels and eggshells. Composting is an easy and affordable food waste solution that you can practice from your apartment or yard, no matter the size or location.
With so many ways to compost, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs, space, budget, and even the amount of time and effort you want to commit. Try composting at home or look for municipal or private composting programs. Local organizations, farms, or community gardens may even offer free food waste drop-offs in your area. Best of all, compost is full of nutrients that can help your garden or potted plants thrive.
Do you have a green tip that you would like to have included in a future newsletter? Please share it with us here!
The Month Ahead
Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!
The Maine Climate Council met twice in September to review the draft strategy for Maine’s next Climate Action Plan. The plan is due to the Legislature on December 1st - and there is a lot of work to be done until then! Review all their work/recommendations here. Follow along with the Climate Council process by attending the following public meetings:
