November 1, 2017
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The 2017 Texas Legislative Scorecard
In case you missed it, we launched our 2017 Legislative Scorecard last week. But why would we bother in the midst of such a hostile and discriminatory atmosphere at the Capitol, where putting the word "climate" in any bill is a mark of death?
Because you need to know what these lawmakers are doing in your name. We shined a light on bad votes and good votes so that you will be more informed about the actions of your elected officials. Official positions and talking points do not count for much against what really matters: their votes. We also need to applaud the lawmakers who continue to fight for good bills!
Let's hold our State Representatives and Senators accountable to their votes this year and beyond! Check out how your elected officials voted, and take a minute to let them know what you think on Twitter and Facebook.
Because you need to know what these lawmakers are doing in your name. We shined a light on bad votes and good votes so that you will be more informed about the actions of your elected officials. Official positions and talking points do not count for much against what really matters: their votes. We also need to applaud the lawmakers who continue to fight for good bills!
Let's hold our State Representatives and Senators accountable to their votes this year and beyond! Check out how your elected officials voted, and take a minute to let them know what you think on Twitter and Facebook.
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ATX: Indigenous Peoples' Day, The Border Wall & The Intersecting Fight For Climate & Social Justice
October 5 was a big day in Austin that could have reverberations in communities across Texas. In case you missed it, here's a bit of hope to keep you speaking out, organizing, and moving forward with your community for a better tomorrow.
(Photo by Vanessa Ramos)
(Photo by Vanessa Ramos)
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Dos Republicas: The Fight Persists
On October 5, riding the tide of successful city council resolutions acknowledging Indigenous Peoples' Day and opposing the border wall, a group of representatives from Eagle Pass, Public Citizen, and the Sierra Club made their way to the Travis County Courthouse in Austin to demonstrate against a TCEQ-approved wastewater discharge permit for the Dos Republicas coal mine in Eagle Pass.
A few weeks later, we heard great news:
The judge reversed the wastewater permit and remanded it to TCEQ!
This is a major victory for the people of Maverick County and for all affected Native peoples fighting for clean air, clean water, and the protection of sacred sites. More than 50 people from all over Texas attended this hearing, and we will continue to fight until the mine is closed and the land restored.
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We're Looking For New Executive Committee Members! Know A Good Fit? Is It You?
Esteemed members, it's that time of year again! We are currently receiving requests and nominations for the LoneStar Chapter Executive Committee. The "ExCom" organizes the many committees (Conservation, Political, Finance, etc.) that help guide the Chapter and deal with important administrative decisions that allow the Lone StarChapter to achieve its objectives.
Know of a dedicated Sierra Club member that would flourish in the position? Do you fit the bill?
Know of a dedicated Sierra Club member that would flourish in the position? Do you fit the bill?
Contact our Nominations Committee by emailing Kristal Ibarra-Rodriguez, Lone Star Volunteer Coordinator, at kristal.ibarra-rodriguez@sierraclub.org or calling at 939-216-9699 for details.
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Reactions: Luminant Energy to Close Big Brown, Sandow, Monticello Coal Plants
Read more about our reactions to Luminant's plant closures here.
You read that headline right. Luminant Energy announced earlier this month that it plans to close three huge dirty coal plants early next year. This underscores that the country is moving away from coal faster since Trump was inaugurated than during the last six years of the Obama Administration, and builds on the U.S. progress to cut more carbon pollution than any other country in the world.
Texas in particular is rapidly transitioning away from obsolete coal plants like the Luminant fleet because of their virtually uncontrolled pollution and because of the rise of low-cost renewable energy. These coal-fired power plants are among the largest polluters in the country and are increasingly unable to compete against plentiful and clean renewable energy.
Read more about our reactions to Luminant's plant closures here.
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TOPS ON FACEBOOK
- The fight against the dirty Dos Republicas coal mine in Eagle Pass continues.
- Couldn't make it out to To Protect & To Explore: A Texas Rivers Celebration? Here's the Texas Living Waters short film that was screened last night.
- The Texas Legislature is sick, and the medicine it needs is public accountability. Find out how your legislator scored.
- Environmentalists, Indigenous peoples, immigrants, and all others threatened by the current administration are uniting across issues and building a movement
- Yesterday, this bill passed out of a House committee. You can thank Congressman Michael McCaul (Austin + surrounding areas) for advancing $10 BILLION to prop up a racist structure that'll harm border communities and wildlife migration in South Texas.
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Welcome Beyond Coal Dallas Organizer Misti O'Quinn To Team Texas!
Misti O'Quinn, a resident of Dallas and mother of three, is our new Dallas-based Beyond Coal Organizer!
Misti brings the reality of her family's health to the fight for a clean energy future. Two of her three children have been plagued by asthma since birth. Her personal battles with respiratory illness led the way for her participation in the fight for clean air in Dallas.
Learn more about Misti's past work fighting for clean air in Dallas here.
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TOPS ON TWITTER
- #ColumbusDay? No way. Happy #IndigenousPeoplesDay! It's about time we busted the historical myth that Columbus "discovered" the Americas.
- Come out, #atx! We're at Plaza Mariposa until 9 pm celebrating #IndigenousPeoplesDay. 4926 Cesar Chavez.
- Trump: Let's have known polluters lead environmental quality agencies & councils. Makes total sense.
- 100% of @SierraClub funds go directly to community-led recovery efforts in areas impacted by #HurricaneMaria.
- Where we'll be on Oct. 9 (Monday) for #ATX's first official #IndigenousPeoplesDay! Join us.
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Victory: French Bank BNP Paribas To Quit Texas LNG
BNP Paribas, Europe's second largest bank, announced that it would no longer do business with companies whose primary business activity is connected with oil and gas from shale and/or oil from tar sands.
Earlier this year, Chairman of the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe Juan Macias (left) and Sierra Club Valley Organizer Rebekah Hinojosa (right) traveled to Paris with Rainforest Action Network to pressure the big international banks to say no to Texas LNG projects in the Rio Grande Valley, which would destroy sacred indigenous sites, spew pollution into Valley communities, and scar the pristine Texas gulf coast.
Read more about this month's victory here.
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TOPS ON INSTAGRAM
#ColumbusDay? No way. Today we honor #IndigenousPeoplesDay! It's about time we busted the historical myth that Columbus "discovered" the Americas.
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with our growing Instagram community?
Send it over to Lone Star Chapter Comms Coordinator Larisa Manescu at larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org and be sure to follow us @TexasSierraClub.
A joint effort between the Greater Fort Worth Sierra Club, the Texas Campaign for the Environment, and Zero Waste Fort Worth paid off in Fort Worth City Council's recent adoption of a forward-thinking plan to lead the city forward on a zero waste path.
With the help and hard work of many people over the course of two years, the final plan includes a residential composting program and many zero waste principles.
Read more about it here.
With the help and hard work of many people over the course of two years, the final plan includes a residential composting program and many zero waste principles.
Read more about it here.
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Donate To The Lone Star Chapter
When you donate to the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter, you support local efforts to:
- Protect wild and treasured places, from the Big Bend area to the Big Thicket
- Keep our air and water clean
- Ensure adequate water supply for people and environment
- Ensure a clean energy future
- Reduce climate disruption
- Keep pressure on politicians and corporations to ensure safe and healthy communities