Michiganders Speak Out Against Enbridge Tunnel Ploy
Fossil Fuel Industry Exploits Ukraine War for its Benefit
Environmental Justice Voices: Theresa Landrum on Why Voting is Important
Fertility and Endrocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Plastics
Sierra Club Board of Directors Election is Underway
Michigan Chapter Endorses Candidates for the Sierra Club Board of Directors
Welcome Sarah Tresedder, Michigan Chapter's New Communications Coordinator
Coming Soon to Your Mailbox: The Michigan Chapter March Appeal
Explore and Enjoy: Signs of Spring
Erma Leaphart in her home in Detroit. Photo by Cybelle Codish used with permission.
Detroit Neighborhood Stops Proposed Asphalt Plant
Michigan Chapter staff member Erma Leaphart was one of several passionate activists in Detroit who fought to stop a dangerous and polluting asphalt plant from being built in their neighborhood. While this is impressive on its own, it is even more inspiring in context. Since 2020, this plant was the only project denied a permit out of dozens proposed.
Michiganders Speak Out Against Enbridge Tunnel Ploy
Last Thursday the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) heard from dozens of people urging them to deny Enbridge’s proposal to move its Line 5 pipeline into a proposed tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. Enbridge is seeking approval of this move both to keep the dangerous dual pipelines on the floor of the straits from being shut down and keep Line 5 approved to operate for as much as 99 years longer.
The in person and video testimony supplemented more than 2,500 written public comments telling the agency to reject the project because of a lack of public need, the existence of feasible alternatives, environmental risks and climate damage. The public comments bolstered tribal, business and environmental intervenors in the MPSC case who have provided detailed technical and legal briefs documenting the flaws in Enbridge’s case.
“Arguments aimed at isolating the decisions in this case from the climate context must be rejected,” said Sierra Club volunteer Anne Woiwode in her comments. “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has documented the baked-in impacts of greenhouse gasses and the increasingly short window in which the world must act to attempt to stop even worse impacts. The MPSC plays an increasingly outsized role in protecting the public’s interests and fulfilling your obligations under the law as the climate crisis worsens.”
Also last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers selected a contractor to oversee development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Line 5 tunnel project. The scoping phase of the EIS process is expected to commence in the coming months.
Line 5 remains a ticking time bomb for the Great Lakes. Contact Julie Geisinger at julie.geisinger@sierraclub.org to stay up to date on the fight to shut down Line 5 or to get more involved.
The fossil fuel industry is exploiting the war in Ukraine to advance their own interests. Symbols of Ukraine: sunflower photo courtesy of Paul Halliday; Ukrainian flag.
The Fossil Fuel industry Exploits Ukraine War for Their Benefit
As millions of Ukrainians suffer inhumane assaults by Russia brought about by Vladimir Putin on their cities, their families and their lives, the fossil fuel industry and their political allies are exploiting the crisis to lock in decades of new fossil fuel infrastructure. Citing fast rising gasoline prices, Michigan’s majority Republican Senate adopted a resolution on March 9 calling for Line 5 to remain operational and to boost domestic gas and oil production.
“The oil industry’s effort to prioritize its pipeline and profits over people is as outrageous as it is predictable,” according to a joint statement released by the National Wildlife Federation and Oil and Water Don’t Mix. “Two independent studies show shutting down Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline won’t have a noticeable impact on gas prices but keeping Line 5 running puts Michigan’s economy and the Great Lakes at risk of a catastrophic pipeline rupture that would destroy up to 700 miles of Great Lakes coastline.”
The Sierra Club joins with the millions here in the United States and across the world in support of the Ukrainian people and calls on the American government to continue taking immediate action to support the people facing unimaginable loss. To achieve true energy independence, the United States must rapidly transition to affordable clean energy, not double down on risky fossil fuels. That’s why Sierra Club advocates for investments in clean energy like those proposed by President Joe Biden, which will increase the energy supply and help accelerate the production of cheaper, cleaner energy here in America. The energy consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine are proof that the world can't wait for a global transition to clean energy.
Theresa Landrum. Portrait by Sarah Tresedder.
Environmental Voices: Theresa Landrum on Why Voting is Important
The Michigan Chapter Update is featuring some of the most compelling Michigan voices for environmental justice in coming issues. Theresa Landrum has been one of the strongest advocates for addressing the disproportionate impact of pollution on communities of color. Here she discusses why voting is so important to advance climate and environmental justice.
Voting is important now more than ever before because the country is so racially polarized and we are in the midst of a climate crisis. After slavery, policies were instituted by the federal government, Veteran Affairs, banks and real estate companies to continue the cycle of racial discrimination and segregation throughout America which still exists to present day.
For decades Blacks have been forced to live in environmentally unhealthy environments while research shows Blacks are disproportionately impacted by pollution.
Blacks’ participation in the Women’s Suffrage Movement gave rise to the importance for all people to have the right to vote.
Voting is your opportunity to speak politically, to make change, and it is all about creating change for equity for all people, black or white, rich or poor.
Voting is our seat at the table. Our collective voting is power beyond measure.
Voting is our voice. We amplify our voice with our vote
Voting is the “Roar” to the awakening of our power
Now we can see the fruits of our and our ancestors’ labor by using our power to vote in the first Black president Barack Obama who addressed climate change by introducing the Climate Action Plan, a proposal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
And recently, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order directing all federal agencies to prioritize climate and environmental justice – leading to the first Black EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) director, Michael Regan and the first Black chairperson, Brenda Mallory, of the Council on Environmental Quality to carry out the order.
So, voting is critical because voting is opening the door for the future.
The Civil Rights movement is never ending for Blacks and people of color (POC). That is why voting is important!
Reading the label on products can help consumers avoid endocrine disrupting chemicals in their food and drinks. Photo by Anne Woiwode
Fertility and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Plastics
For the sake of consumers' health and the environment it is important to know about the harmful chemicals in plastics and to avoid purchasing items that use plastic containers for drinking water, beverages and storing and packaging food. The average American ingests 5 grams of plastic (the weight of a credit card) every week.
American society has integrated plastic materials into almost every aspect of life. As a result, people are exposed to a myriad of chemicals in the United States from water, air and food. The uncontrolled use of plastics has caused environmental impacts to the planet as well.
Plastics are synthetic materials made from fossil fuels created from a wide range of organic polymers. These materials provide flexibility during manufacturing, durability in container structure and coatings for food containers to increase shelf life. Plastics contain additives that are known to be endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) that impact the normal hormonal function of human bodies, especially for reproduction. Even more disturbing, these chemicals impact unborn children.
Professor Shanna Swan from Mount Sinai school of Medicine has documented that average sperm counts among men have decreased more than 50% over the past 40 years. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are a major reason for this fertility decline. EDCs have also been found to be associated with obesity and diabetes.
Bisphenol A (BPA) used to coat the inside of water pipes and the inside of cans for food and drink to extend shelf life.
Phthalates are used as softeners to make plastic more flexible. Approximately 6 million tons per year are produced throughout the world.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS) chemicals are used to treat plastic containers to retard fire. Scientists have found exposure to flame retardants can affect the nervous and reproductive systems and more.
Consumers need to be informed and read the labels before purchasing products to avoid these chemicals in food and drinks. Comments can be directed to theoriginalzuba@yahoo.com.
Sierra Club Board of Directors Election is Underway
Those eligible to vote in the national Sierra Club Board of Directors election will receive the ballot in early March either by mail or electronically (if they selected this option). The ballot will be accompanied by information on the candidates and where Sierra Club members can find additional information on Sierra Club’s website.
Member participation is critical for a strong Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club is a democratically structured organization at all levels. Sierra Club requires the regular flow of views on policy and priorities from its grassroots membership in order to function well. Yearly participation in elections at all Sierra Club levels is a major membership obligation.
In a typical year less than 10% of eligible members vote in the Board elections. A minimum of 5% is required for the elections to be valid. Sierra Club's grassroots structure is strengthened when member participation is high. That means robust participation is needed in the voting process.
How to learn about the candidates?
Members frequently state that they don’t know the candidates and find it difficult to vote without learning more. Each candidate provides a statement about themselves and their views on the issues on the official election ballot. Those preparing to vote can learn more by asking questions of local group and chapter leadership and other experienced members. They can also visit the Sierra Club’s election website at the button below for additional information about candidates.
Then choose preferred candidates and VOTE!
Voting Online is Quick and Easy.
Even members who receive their election materials in the mail are encouraged to use the user-friendly internet voting site to save time and postage. If sending via ground mail, please note that all ballots must be received no later than noon ET Election Day, April 27, 2022.
Michigan Chapter Endorses Candidates for the Sierra Club Board of Directors
The Michigan Chapter recommends a vote for Aaron Mair, Allison Chin, Cheyenne Branscum, Kate Bartholomew and Maya Khosla in the upcoming election for the Sierra Club's Board of Directors.
Sarah Tresedder is the Michigan Chapter's new Communications Coordinator. Photos provided by Sarah.
Welcome Sarah Tresedder, Michigan Chapter's New Communications Coordinator
The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter is pleased to announce that Sarah Tresedder has been hired as the Chapter’s first Communications Coordinator. Tresedder will oversee both traditional and digital media work, handle marketing, communications and press relations for the 55-year-old organization.
Tresedder has worked in various capacities with the Michigan Chapter since 2016, starting as an intern with the political program while earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and a minor in environmental studies from Michigan State University. Her most recent role at the chapter has been as an organizer on climate and energy issues in west Michigan and at the federal level, during which time she completed studies for two master's degrees in Public Policy and Environmental Health.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue advancing the Sierra Club’s mission to explore, enjoy and protect this state,” Tresedder said. “I hope to be a useful resource for the public, other organizations and the media, and look forward to helping achieve the Michigan Chapter's ambitious goals to make this state a leader in clean energy, environmental justice, and climate action.”
Mallard drake taking off. Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Coming Soon to Your Mailbox: The Michigan Chapter March Appeal
Remember to watch your mailbox for the Michigan Chapter’s annual March Appeal! This is one of the Chapter’s most important appeals for support of the work we do because it’s one of only two times in the year that the Michigan Chapter is allowed to ask all of its Sierra Club members for direct support through the U.S. mail.
Sierra Club members and supporters know the Chapter doesn't shy away from the long, hard fights: stopping the flow of oil through the aging Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline; moving Michigan beyond fossil fuels and toward clean energy; safeguarding the Great Lakes; growing political power in Michigan and protecting the state's forests and wild places.
Keep an eye out for the drawing of the duck taking flight on the March Appeal envelope, arriving in mailboxes this week. Every dollar contributed in response to this appeal will stay in Michigan and support Sierra Club's fight for a better Michigan future.
Gifts can also be made right now, at this link or by going to the donate button below. The donation form also provides a link to a tax-deductible gift option, if that is preferred.
Canada geese (l) returned to Michigan in mid-March to find wetlands are still frozen. Photo by Anne Woiwode. Early wildflowers to look for (r) include Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria). Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation.
Explore and Enjoy: Signs of Spring
March 20 is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere this year, but the migratory birds in parts of Michigan have already been quite vocal about their plans. Michigan’s location in the Great Lakes and the distance from the Ohio border to the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula means bird watchers can enjoy the migrations of an extraordinary array of birds for months.
Within days in early to mid-March in southern Michigan, it seemed like bird calls increased by 1000% as the critters began looking for partners and nesting spots to raise their young. Some arrived so early that the waterways are still frozen and snow is in the forecast, but they are eager to get settled in. Look for red-winged blackbirds, great blue herons and Canada geese in wetland areas. Raptors provide some of the greatest shows as they gather to cross the open waters of the Great Lakes. And listen for the ancient call of Sandhill cranes as they return throughout the state. The free Merlin app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology helps with identification of birds using calls, descriptions or photos, and is a great tool to learn about the birds.
As the snow and ice in backyards, fields, wetlands and forests begin to melt, the first of Michigan’s spectacular collection of wildflowers poke up through the soil. Join outings offered by local Sierra Club entities to find these lovely harbingers of spring. This is a great time to learn about native plants to include in home gardens as well. Plan when to plant trees as well and consult the local Conservation Districts which will often have free trees for residents to plant.
Above all, soak in the sunlight, warmth, smells and sounds of spring as Michigan emerges from a challenging winter.
Two male and one female mergansers seen on a Sierra Club outing. Photo by John Metzler.
