HBG August Program
Tues Aug 13, 5-9 PM -- Harvey Broome Group Annual Picnic, Tyson Park
We'll see you all at the August 13th picnic at Tyson Park at the main picnic shelter. Please RSVP by Agust 11 0n this google sheet or to Mac Post at mpost3116@aol.com.
Our annual picnic is a chance to get together for a few hours with good food and good friends. It's very informal, and even if you're not a "regular" at HBG meetings, we welcome you to this event. It's a good chance to chat with other members to catch up on what we're doing and find out if you'd like to get involved in outings, program meetings, or environmental action.
The picnic will be held on August 13 at Tyson Park, located near downtown. This park has very nice paved walking and bilking trails as well as some open areas, plus tennis courts (open until 11 pm), a skatepark and playground. Located on the Third Creek Greenway, it offers walking or biking either east, where it intersects the Neyland Greenway (1.3 miles one-way), and accesses UT Gardens, or west, into West Knoxville as far as Forest Park Blvd. See the video. A beautiful (and large) mural is on the long concrete was at Fulton Bottoms, just a short walk from the picnic area.
Mac Post, checking out the mural at Fulton Bottoms, a short walk from the picnic pavilion
We'll gather at the large Shelter #1, which is near parking spaces along Tyson McGhee Park Street SW. The hours of the picnic are from 5:00 PM until 9 PM, though the park does not close until 11 PM. HBG will provide hotdogs, and both hamburgers and veggie burgers. So just bring a side dish or dessert as your contribution.
To make sure we have enough hamburgers, hot dogs, and vegetarian equivalents available please
Directions: To get to the southern entrance of the park, the park entrance will be on north side of Kingston Pike, just west of the US 129 underpass. To get to the western entrance of the park, go west on Cumberland Avenue at the Neyland Drive and Concord Street intersect; turn right onto Concord Street; park entrance will be on your right. For Google Map, the address is 2351 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919, or just “Tyson Park."
Don’t forget: HBG will provide hotdogs, and both hamburgers and veggie burgers. So just bring a side dish or dessert as your contribution. http://bit.ly/2LSbqp2
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Hey there, HBG members! Here is your chance to serve and lead the Sierra Club at the local level!
In the Sierra Club, the Executive Committee (“ExCom”) is the governing body of the local group, which meets monthly. The Harvey Broome Group’s ExCom has 12 members who are elected for two-year terms, with the terms staggered so that half of the board is up for elections or re-elections every year in November. Thus, every year, we need candidates for six positions on the ExCom. We have a Nominating Committee (“NomCom”) that will produce a slate of about eight candidates for consideration by the group, but there is also a process for getting your name on the ballot by petition, even if you are not recommended by the NomCom.
This year, at least two of the six incumbents are not seeking re-election, so the NomCom is looking for “new blood” to run for office! If you think you have something to offer to the leadership of the Harvey Broome Group, or would just like to recommend another member, please let the Nominating Committee know by contacting NomCom Chair Jerry Thornton at gatwildcat@aol.com or 865-719-9742, no later than August 9, 2019. You will be asked to submit a brief biography and statement of why you want to be on the ExCom. Candidates must be a member in good standing before the ballots are sent out in the November Tenne-Sierran.
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Newsflash
E.P.A. Finalizes Its Plan to Replace Obama-Era Climate Rules. "The rule represents the Trump administration’s most direct effort to protect the coal industry. It is also another significant step in dismantling measures aimed at combating global warming, including the rollback of tailpipe emissions standards and the planned withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.” In a June 19 New York Times article, Lisa Friedman states: ”The rule represents the Trump administration’s most direct effort to protect the coal industry. It is also another significant step in dismantling measures aimed at combating global warming, including the rollback of tailpipe emissions standards and the planned withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.” Read it at: https://nyti.ms/2LlDMZh.
ExxonMobil failed to communicate known climate crisis-related risks to investors and the public.”Oil giant Mobil sought to make tax-exempt donations to leading universities, civic groups and arts programs to promote the company’s interests and undermine environmental regulation . . . investigations by multiple state attorneys general over claims it [ExxonMobil] failed to communicate known climate crisis-related risks to investors and the public.” Article by Sharon Kelly in the June 11 Guardian: http://bit.ly/2NTm1ml.
TVA Must Clean Up 12 Million Cubic Yards of Toxic Waste in Middle TN. "TVA's Gallatin site is not the only one with leaking, unlined toxic waste pits. Coal ash at Allen Fossil Plant in Memphis, Bull Run in Claxton, and other TVA sites are still polluting.” Article by Kathy Hawes, Executive Director, June 13, Tennessee Clean Water Network (TCWN). Read read about it at: http://bit.ly/2XM4Pi8.
 Coal ash storage at Bull Run is right on the lakefront.
A related June 13 report by Adrian Mojica of Fox17Nashville can be found at: http://bit.ly/30wZlda.
Sierra Club Opposes [US Nitrogen] Permit Scheme in Greene County. Scott Banbury of the Tennessee chapter of the Sierra Club, said he has multiple issues with the pending proposal to "de-aggregate" the permits for US Nitrogen, Yara North America and Praxair LLC.” Scott Banbury submitted comments to the effect that the combined facilities in Greene County have the potential to release "large quantities of Greenhouse gases and should be subject to limits and monitoring requirements.” An environmental consultant submitted detailed objections to the permit proposals and urged TDEC to place additional monitoring and reporting requirements on the three companies. See the article by Walter F. Roche Jr. at: http://bit.ly/2JGnc38.
"Conflicting testimony: Environmental agency officials asked state worker to run industry-sponsored golf tournament.” The headline says it succinctly. See the June 20 Nashville Tennessean article by Mike Reicher: http://bit.ly/2JwrQ4R.
In case you haven’t heard: "EPA rolls back Obama-era plan limiting coal-fired power plant emissions.” The EA itself says that the rule change could result in more than 1,400 premature deaths by 2030. (Some are commenting that the abbreviation “EPA” is turning into the "Environmental Pollution Agency.” Read the CNN politics June 19 article by Ellie Kaufman: https://cnn.it/32m1YjP.
"A review by doctors and scientists of more than 1,700 studies concludes that the industry poses a threat to air, water, climate, and human health. . . . 84 percent of studies published from 2009-2015 on the health impacts of fracking conclude the industry causes harm to human health.” See the June 20 article in Environmental Health News by Kristina Marusic: http://bit.ly/2Y325kO.
"Mississippi and Tennessee authorities say the EPA’s push for partnership with states and environmental compliance has left criminal enforcement in question.” June 11 article by Bloomberg: http://bit.ly/2XIUeEH.
"Going 'Zero Carbon' Is All The Rage. But Will It Slow Climate Change?” On NPR’s “All things Considered,” June 18: https://n.pr/2SfNJZ5.
TVA releases “Final” 20-year power plan. See: http://bit.ly/2SfNOfl and http://bit.ly/2XHvJb3 . A June 27 Chattanooga Times Free Press article by Dave Flessner reflects mixed views on the TVA plan, with environmental organizations, while recognizing that the plan is a significant move in the right direction, also argue it does not go far enough. The Sierra Club position is that “ [The] Plan is still too heavy on fossil fuels, light on energy efficiency.” Read the article at: http://bit.ly/2LP9ZaZ. The Sierra Club’s evaluation can be found at: http://bit.ly/2ScYY4w.
Cedars of Lebanon State Park could soon more than double in size after the Tennessee Department of Agriculture transfers 2,690 acres of state forest land to the Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conservation. Cris Corley, a member of the county committee, said they hope to build a trail that connects Cedars of Lebanon to Long Hunter State Park. Corley is also a member of the Sierra Club’s executive committee.” Read about it at: http://bit.ly/2SdcDZ8.
Mike Pence repeatedly refuses to say climate crisis is a threat to US. See the June 23 interview [with Jake Tapper] summary by Martin Pengally in the Guardian. Read it at: http://bit.ly/2Gbt1Vj.
TRUMP EPA CONTINUES ATTACK ON COAL ASH PROTECTIONS WITH POLLUTER WELFARE. "The latest rollback removes the requirement for coal plants to set aside money for clean up of their toxic waste so the public doesn’t foot the bill.” July 2 article in EARTHJUSTICE: http://bit.ly/2LMA0rk.
Trump to claim US is environmental leader in spite of ripping up protections. "Trump will tout America’s clean air and water, although his administration has advanced many efforts that experts say have undercut the country’s environmental record.” Rampant hypocrisy in the Trump administration is demonstrated in planned July 8 comments. See the article by Emily Holden in the June 3 issue of the Guardian: http://bit.ly/2Y0YF1U.
As Coal Fades in the U.S., Natural Gas Becomes the Climate Battleground. "State legislatures are also increasingly weighing in on which energy sources get built. To date, 29 states have enacted laws that require their utilities to get a certain fraction of their power from wind and solar.” See the June 26 article by Brad Plumar in the New York Times: https://nyti.ms/2XMv9hm.
Tree planting 'has mind-blowing potential' to tackle climate crisis. "Planting billions of trees across the world is by far the biggest and cheapest way to tackle the climate crisis, according to scientists, who have made the first calculation of how many more trees could be planted without encroaching on crop land or urban areas.” The Guardian, July 4, by Damian Carrington: http://bit.ly/2NVmbtm.
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Please vote in local elections!
Your opportunity to have a voice on the climate issue - please take advantage of it.
This year’s votes for Knoxville City and Knox County elections are critical to our committment in the fight against Climate Change. It’s our chance to have a say in who will make the decisions in this critical period of climate action or inaction. Inaction is tantamount to ignoring the issue and suffering enormous costs to our children and future generations to come. So please REGISTER if you have not already done so, and VOTE for support of a robust effort to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Information about voting and election districts can be found, respectively, at the county's website https://www.knoxcounty.org/election/, and the city's website: http://knoxvilletn.gov/residents/newcomer_information/election_information.
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Knoxville makes progress on Clean Energy: Ready for 100 Petition
Harvey Broome Group’s Ready for 100 initiative delivered 439 petitions to Mayor Rogero’s office. These petitions support deployment of clean energy for the City of Knoxville.
In June, the Mayor’s Office reported on progress in reducing carbon emissions. The City’s 2008 greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts resulted in exceptional progress for the city’s operations. This progress, when compared with 2005, will result in a reduction of more than 20% by 2020.
The Mayor’s Office also put forward an aspirational plan to continue reducing emissions with targets for 2030 and 2050. City Council is considering a resolution to adopt this plan as a City initiative to be continued even after the current Mayor leaves office. This achievement and the plan forward are consistent with other major US cities that are committed to a sustainable future and fighting climate change.
If you are interested in supporting these goals, please sign the petition, which you can download from: https://bit.ly/2FhlzrI.
Please return your signed petition to: janatclimatechange@gmail.com.
Chicago has commited to 100 percent clean energy.
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Sing for the Climate
"Sing for the Climate" Headliner Maggie Longmire and friends entertained the crowd.
Report by Kent Minault
On Saturday, June 29th, many of us saw the culmination of over four months of hard work on the part of a quartet of environmental organizers. Late last February, I was asked to join Louise Gorenflo, Roberta Boone and Maggie Longmire in putting together a Sing for the Climate Concert which we hoped would accomplish two goals; put on some fabulous Appalachian music that would inspire our city to get its act together to respond to the climate crisis, and bring together the most active and engaged organizations in town to partner with us and help people take action. The Sing for the Climate Concert at the World’s Fair Park Amphitheater in downtown Knoxville pretty much aced it on both counts.
I loved the idea and jumped at the opportunity, but I have to admit I was never sure it would work. It’s hard to pull off an event with two disparate goals. The show could be great and the politics fizzle, or vice versa. But I think we had a couple of things going for us. First, we here in east Tennessee enjoy a highly energized, hugely popular and professionally accomplished music scene with a character unique to our region. Second, political developments nationally and globally give us a feeling of both opportunity and urgency around the climate crisis. There’s a feeling that we have all we need to successfully respond to the crisis, but we’d better get busy because we don’t have much time. Both the opportunity and the urgency were clearly articulated in the show.
The urgency came across with a lot of impact when Maggie and the Free Soil Farm led the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Choir in a powerful rendition of the Climate Song from Belgium, which starts out, “We need to wake up, we need to wise up. We need to open up our eyes and do it NOW, NOW, NOW!”
And the opportunity was pretty obvious from the interest the local political class showed in the event. Mayoral candidates India Kincannon, Marshall Stair, Calvin Skinner and Fletcher Burkhardt as well as our state representative, Gloria Johnson, all put in an appearance, and several stayed till the end. And from the stage, we saw some masterful music-making by Jay Clark, whom we hope will also become a state representative.
But the political visitors were only the half of it. A whole other manifestation of energy was happening behind the audience where 18 local environmental and economic justice organizations had set up table displays and were actively engaging people pretty much the whole time. Check out this great photograph by John Todd Waterman:
He’s captured a unique sweep of action, with the music swelling up from the stage, people coming up to tables and signing petitions, and energetic conversations going on all along the upper promenade (all encouraged by Maggie from the stage!). The tabling partners showed a strong diversity of ages and ethnicities. At the far right of the picture in the black T-shirt and baseball cap you can see Logan Hysen of the Sunrise Movement, a nationwide movement of young people in support of the Green New Deal, and in profile just behind the woman with the sunglasses is Chet Hunt of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, with goatee and shades making a point in conversation. And they were joined by Centro Hispano, the NAACP and SEEED, whose Executive Director, Stan Johnson, gave a powerful speech from the stage which brought together the issues of environmental justice and energy efficiency.
The event also pushed the envelope in the direction of zero waste. Notice Stan above with his reusable water bottle from KUB. No plastic disposable water bottles were in sight, and the pretzels and Italian ices from the food truck were wrapped in simple napkins. People’s water bottles were filled from coolers supplied by Maggie and several churches with water provided by the Tennessee Clean Water Network – all quite necessary in the 90 degree heat!
Knoxville Interfaith Power and Light was the main sponsor of the event, and was joined by the Allies of Knoxville Immigrant Neighbors, Beardsley Farm, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, Knoxville Women’s March, League of Women Voters, Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the Statewide Organization for Community eMpowerment, Trees Knoxville, and of course, the Harvey Broome Group of the Sierra Club.
The final purpose of the Concert was to focus all this energy on a clear “ask,” a statement of intent we would all push to make happen. Here is Louise Gorenflo’s statement of the ask, which she presented from the stage during the concert. Clipboards with petitions were passed through the audience in support:
Vote Climate. This Campaign will urge our city candidates and county elected leaders to develop an equitable community-wide climate action plan at every level of government and with strong community engagement to reduce our community’s carbon emissions by half by 2030.
With this first step, Vote Climate will work to put into office leaders who will act to join the hundreds of cities around the world in this vital effort to reduce our carbon emission by half by 2030. Vote Climate will identify and work for those candidates willing to adopt and implement equitable community-wide climate action plans.
Candidate Forums for the upcoming City Council elections organized by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy will take place on July 9th and 20th, and SEEED will hold an Energy Equity Mayoral Forum on the 25th. Our partners will all urge their supporters to attend these events and help put into office elected leaders who will get behind the “ask” and adopt policy that will make it a reality.
We have a moment here that begs for our involvement. Let’s jump in and seize it!
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APIEL: the 2019 Appalachian Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
When: Friday, September 27 - Sunday, September 29, Knoxville
Where: University of Tennessee College of Law, 1505 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37996
Sponsored by UTK College of Law, Sierra Club, United Mountain Defense (UMD), and others.
At APIEL 2018, Kentucky activists Davis Mounger and Jim Scheff wrap up their presentation, “Winning: It’s a thing: Strategies and stories from the front line of public lands defense.”
APIEL is unique in our region as an informal and lay-friendly opportunity to learn from and connect with environmental lawyers, leaders, and activists concerned with environmental and social justice from all over the country - and it’s open to all. Two days of workshops are scheduled generally two at a time.
“The conference features a series of workshops with the goal of exchanging information, sharing skills, and fostering collaboration between grassroots organizations, the bar, and future lawyers and policy-makers.”
Register to attend, apply to present, and find more info at APIEL.org
Send questions and ideas about the conference to apiel.info@gmail.com
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Other Events
Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum, October 1-2, 2019, UT Conference Center, Knoxville. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), and Tennessee Clean Fuels (TNCleanFuels) will hold the fifth annual Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo (STF&E) on October 1-2, 2019 at the UT Conference Center in Knoxville. The research, technology, planning, and policy developments shared at STF&E aim to improve transportation efficiency, reduce vehicle emissions, and address the mobility needs of all. An agenda for the 2019 STF&E will be made available soon. Learn more about STF&E at: www.sustainabletransportationforum.com. Registration is currently open at http://stfe.eventbrite.com.
Knox Climate Actions has the latest information and events related to climate activism.
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HBG Loses Two Longtime Leaders and Friends
Robert (Robin) Hill
Our long-time colleague in environmental endeavors passed away on Wednesday, July 10, after bravely fighting and winning her battles against heart disease for many years. Services were held in Knoxville on July 17. Robin was a resident of Knoxville and Farragut since 1954. As some of you know, Robin has identified as a female for many years.
Robin retired from active engineering work in 2000. Her experience included project management on projects at ORNL and Y12, including work on general construction, special research, environmental restoration, and waste management projects.
Robin also had an impressive career in public service. She served for 10 years (1970-1980) as a member of the Knox County Quarterly Court and on the Knox County Commission as one of the two representatives for the West Knox County area. Since about 1982, she served on the Farragut Municipal Planning Commission, retiring as Chairman of that organization in May 2010 after 17 years in the position. Robin also served for five years on the Farragut Storm Water Advisory Committee, retiring from that committee in July 2010.
Robin joined the Sierra Club in 1987, and served on the HBG Executive Committee (ExCom) for the past 14 years. She served as Chair of HBG from 2010-2014, and continued on the ExCom for another four years. Robin was active and interested in the many local environmental issues we face in the HBG area and in the state, particularly in combating the many pieces of proposed state legislation that have adverse environmental effects. Robin’s special interests as an HBG Executive Committee member were environmental issues related to transportation, parks and greenways, responsible development, and other issues where results are best achieved at the local level. Robin also served at the state level on the Tennessee Chapter ExCom, including as Secretary, from 2006 to 2015 until his health no longer allowed him to sleep in park facilities. His trenchant wit and incisive wisdom were a significant asset in keeping the Chapter focused on the important issues.
Those of us who worked with Robin on HBG ExCom knew her as a tireless advocate for the environment, especially “mundane” matters like stormwater control, transportation and local planning and zoning issues. She spent countless hours attending meetings and representing our views to local politicians and planners. She will be sorely missed.
David Reister
The TN Chapter and the Sierra Club also lost David Reister this year. He died peacefully on January 31, 2019 after a period of declining health. He was born on February 22, 1942 in Los Angeles, California, a true California boy.
David graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and earned a PhD in Engineering Physics in 1969. He started his career as a professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo and moved to Oak Ridge in 1974 to work with Alvin Weinberg and Cal Burwell in the Institute for Energy Analysis at the Oak Ridge Associated Universities. In 1985 he moved to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory where he had a rewarding career until his retirement in 2012.
David joined the Sierra Club in 1970 in Buffalo, when he was asked to be the chair of the energy task force for the Niagara Group, and also served as outings chair and group chair. He became active in the Harvey Broome Group in 1997 when the Tennessee Department of Transportation proposed to build the proposed Orange Route next to his house. In 1998 he joined the HBG ExCom, becoming conservation chair in 2000, and in 2008 assumed the position of Group chair. He was also the TVA chair for the TN Chapter. In 2005, he joined the national sustainable consumption committee, in 2007 joined the sustainable planet strategy team, and in 2008 was appointed chair of the national biofuels task force. He served on the HBG ExCom from 2000 to 2014, where his principal activities and interests focused on energy impacts on the environment, transportation, and TVA.
David was always a conservationist and particularly loved the woods and streams of East Tennessee. He spent many happy hours scouting for the Cumberland Trail and in fact donated a significant amount of land to it. He was chair of the Cumberland Trail Conference from 2004-2009.
David’s tireless advocacy for the environment on all levels from the local to the national was, as was Robin Hill’s, if not inspirational to the rest of us certainly reinforcing for our commitment to doing what is right for our place and our planet. And we should always remember David’s dedication to eating carrots for good health.
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HBG/Chapter Events
Summer Retreat 2019
July 26th through 28th
Cedars of Lebanon State Park
You're Invited! The Tennessee Chapter's Middle Tennessee Group invites you to join other Sierra Club members from around Tennessee at beautiful, historic Cedars of Lebanon State Park for a weekend of outdoor activities and indoor entertainment.
https://www.sierraclub.org/tennessee/blog/2019/07/tennessee-chapter-summer-2019-retreat
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HELP THE HARVEY BROOME GROUP
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT
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Can't donate now? Sign up for Kroger Community Rewards. Kroger donates a portion of what you spend to the Harvey Broome Group as long as you designate HBG as your preferred charity.
Here's how:
1. Go to the Kroger Community Rewards web page
2. Register (or Sign In if you already have an account.)
3. Enroll in Community Rewards (or Edit if you're already enrolled.)
4. Enter HBG's Community Rewards Number 27874.
That's it. Swipe your Kroger Card when you shop and know that you're helping protect your environment.
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Who We Are
Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization -- with more than two million members and supporters. Our successes range from protecting millions of acres of wilderness to helping pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. More recently, we've made history by leading the charge to move away from the dirty fossil fuels that cause climate disruption and toward a clean energy economy.
The Harvey Broome Group (HBG) is one of five Sierra Club Groups within the Tennessee Chapter. HBG is based in Knoxville and serves 18 surrounding counties. HBG's namesake, Harvey Broome, was a Knoxvillian who was a founding member of the Wilderness Society and played a key role in the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Visit our website.
Join HBG.
Donate.(click the Donate button on the HBG home page)
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park