Artwork by Ed Nolde, Artist & Sierra Club Maine Volunteer
March 2024
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Allagash Wilderness Waterway
Conversation March 6th
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You're invited! Sierra Club Maine will be hosting a community conversation, A Hard Road to Wilderness: The Allagash Wilderness Waterway, on March 6th at 6pm.
In this virtual trip, travel from Allagash Lake to Allagash Falls with retired Supervisor Tim Caverly. Learn about the creation of the AWW as a wild and scenic river. Hear of threats to the wild, such as increases in day-use hiking trails, multiple vehicle access points, escalations of human development, limited rule enforcement and efforts to degrade wilderness character. Learn about measures to monitor wilderness character, and to require the Bureau of Parks to administer the area for Maximum Wilderness Character as required by law. |
Save the Date: Earth Day Events April 20th!
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Sierra Club Maine is celebrating Earth Day by getting outside and giving back! Join us Saturday, April 20th* as we clean up our communities and hike the great outdoors! *Rain date April 21st
COMMUNITY CLEAN UPS
Calling all volunteers and nature lovers! Would you like to give back by hosting your own Earth Day clean up? If so, please fill out our interest form here and we will promote it on our website. Community members will be able to sign up from there. If you'd prefer to be an active participant in a clean up, stay tuned for times and locations to come!
SEARS ISLAND CLEAN UP & HIKE
Earth Day is the perfect time to get outdoors to appreciate the beauty of Maine. Join us for an outing on Sears Island on April 20th* from 10am to 1pm! We will hike the island’s various trails, admire the local ecology, and pick up any litter along the way. Learn more & register here.
We look forward to celebrating with you! Updates will be available on our website & social media: Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter. #SCMaineEarthDay
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Upcoming BEP Hearing on Advanced Clean Cars 2
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The Board of Environmental Protection plans to vote on adopting the revised Advanced Clean Cars 2 standard on March 20th. We need your help to get this over the finish line! Take action here. If you want to attend the meeting or help with outreach, please contact Matt Cannon, Sierra Club Maine's State Conservation & Energy Director, at
matthew.cannon@sierraclub.org.
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2024 Is an Election Year
- Stay Up to Date and Get Involved!
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This November, Mainers will head to the polls to vote on local, state and federal issues. Sierra Club Maine’s Political Team is already meeting to make sure we:
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Elect pro-environmental state and national candidates to elected office, and pass ballot initiatives that align with our mission;
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Endorse ballot initiatives and pro-environmental candidates, and educate the public on candidates’ environmental positions and voting records;
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Mobilize our members and supporters to participate in and volunteer for endorsed campaigns; and
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Support good government and clean elections to strengthen our democracy.
The Political Team meets biweekly on Tuesdays from 4-5pm, and we are currently welcoming new members. If you are interested, please reach out to ania.wright@sierraclub.org. You can also stay informed with our work by becoming a member today!
Members receive regular communications about our Political Program.
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The 2024 legislative short session is still in full swing, and the Sierra Club Maine Legislative Team continues to advocate for climate justice priorities at the legislature. In February, we:
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Advocated for fully staffing and supporting government agencies to ensure we can reach our climate and clean energy goals.
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Testified in support of LD 373, to ensure strong labor protections for clean energy jobs. Read our testimony here!
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And much more!
If you are interested in getting involved with advocating for our legislative priorities, please join us for our weekly meetings on Mondays at 4:30pm! Please email Ania at ania.wright@sierraclub.org for more information.
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Celebrate the Wild!
60th Anniversary of the Wilderness ActBy David von Seggern
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2024 has arrived and with it we have the sixtieth anniversary of the federal Wilderness Act that established America’s National Wilderness Preservation System. So it is time to begin celebrating sixty years of wilderness preservation in the United States. Sierra Club members should especially engage because of the Club’s long and effective history in the efforts to preserve wilderness areas in the U.S.
Maine has three designated wilderness areas: 1) Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness, 2) Moosehorn Wilderness, and 3) Moosehorn Wilderness (Baring Unit). The first is in southern Oxford County near the New Hampshire border; the second and third are in southeastern Washington County. Together they comprise nearly 20,000 acres of undeveloped land that is preserved forever under the Wilderness Act. More on these wilderness areas can be found on the informative flyer prepared by Vicki Hoover at the national Sierra Club office.
This year, in addition to local events throughout the nation, our nation’s wild places will be celebrated as part of the 12th World Wilderness Congress, taking place in Rapid City, South Dakota, on August 24 to 31, 2024. At least one full day will have a special focus on North American Wilderness. Continue reading here.
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Climate Change in 2023 AcceleratedBy David von Seggern
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Here is the most alarming chart I have seen in my following climate change for decades. This chart, which is updated daily, shows the mean global surface temperatures by day for every year since 1940.
It draws on datasets provided by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, a European Union climate agency with perhaps the most sophisticated climate analysis tools.
Note the drift of the 2023 (orange) line compared to the historical mean lines, and compared to any previous year. Global warming in 2023 accelerated, principally after June 2023 and continued into 2024. The January 2024 temperatures are already starting off at roughly 0.3°C above the 2023 values. The scourge of global warming is upon us, and it is no wonder Maine has seen some of its worst winter storms less than a month into winter.
Please download this graph when you plan to talk to others about climate change, especially local and state officials. Be aware that there is a data delay of approximately one week. Other important information is available on the UMaine webpage for climate analysis. The urgency of action to prevent the worst effects of climate change becomes greater by the day.
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Chapter Receives Car Donation - How You Can Help!
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This January Sierra Club Maine received its first car donation of the year! The donation came to us from one of our lifetime members in Belfast, ME. On behalf of all of us at Sierra Club Maine, we'd like to thank them for their continued support and generosity.
Donating an old car, boat, truck, motorcycle, or RV to Sierra Club Maine has a lasting impact on our work advancing climate solutions, advocating for clean air and water, and keeping our wild places wild. Donating is easy and someone will come to you to pick up your donation for free. Simply call 855-337-4377 or visit sierraclubfoundation.careasy.org and make sure to designate your donation to “Sierra Club Maine.” Questions? Please email us at maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.
Interested in becoming a Lifetime Member? Life Membership contributes to Sierra Club’s Life Member Fund. Since 1905, the income from this fund has been used to support Sierra Club conservation programs and campaigns. Benefits include:
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Lifelong membership in the Sierra Club and your local Chapter
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Personalized Life Membership Card and Certificate with Ansel Adams image
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Subscription to Sierra Magazine
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Worldwide eco-travel opportunities
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Discounts on Sierra Club gifts
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Life Member Newsletter and updates from the Club's Conservation Director
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Learn more and become a lifetime member here!
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Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash
Green Tip of the Month:
Find and Unplug Your Energy Vampires
By Michael Trombley, Sierra Club Maine Volunteer
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These days, most of us have dozens of electrical devices and appliances in our homes. According to the Sierra Club, devices that draw power while they’re turned off can waste around $200 a year per household.
You might think it’s hard to know exactly how much electricity your devices use, but there’s an easy way to measure this. Even better, it’s often available for free. Most Maine libraries loan out simple, plug-in electricity monitors
that will show you how much energy a device is using, even when it’s turned off. All you have to do is plug the meter into your wall outlet, and then plug your device (like a computer, a coffeemaker, or a dehumidifier) into the meter. You might be able to cut down your usage significantly if you find out a device is constantly pulling a lot of power even when you’re not using it. Stop by your local library to try it out!
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Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!
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Legislative Team Meetings
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Help us organize events to educate and engage Mainers across the state.
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March 6 at 6pm: Allagash Wilderness Waterway Community Conversation
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Travel from Allagash Lake to Allagash Falls with retired Supervisor Tim Caverly. Learn about the creation of the AWW as a wild and scenic river. Hear of threats to the wild, and learn about measures to monitor wilderness character, and to require the Bureau of Parks to administer the area for Maximum Wilderness Character.
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Events Team Meetings
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Help us organize events to educate and engage Mainers across the state.
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March 19 at 12pm: Clean Energy Team Meeting
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Join our team and ensure a clean and just energy future for Maine, specifically focused on renewable energy development!
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March 23, 10am-2pm: Climate Action Fair at York High School
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York Ready for Climate Action is hosting their second annual Climate Action Fair at York High School on March 23rd, 10am-2pm. Come learn about climate impacts being felt in Maine, and advocacy efforts to make a difference in the state.
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Volunteer With Sierra Club Maine
Interested in helping to protect Maine’s environment? We invite you to join us at our volunteer orientation February 14th at noon - RSVP here! No matter your background, we have a role for you—no experience necessary.
We are always looks for photos from across the state to feature in our marketing materials. Professionals and amateurs alike are encouraged to submit images of Maine landscapes, nature, and wildlife. Please submit your photo here.
Questions? Email us at maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.
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