The latest news and more from Upper Columbia River

Welcome and What's Up

 If you have paid attention you know that this blog has been AWOL during 2016.  We have been challenged by the move to a new website, the distractions of a rowdy political campaigning season, and a number of critical environmental issues facing the region for which we take responsibility as Sierra Club's Upper Columbia River Group. We are determined to be present and accounted for in this blog during 2017.

Even before the President-elect has been inaugurated, his disturbing agenda for the nation seems already to have begun with the initial session of the 115^th Congress.  It is important for all Sierra Club members to speak up against those congressional initiatives which negatively impact the environment and wildlife and those which either contribute to global climate change or discourage positive action to address climate change.  You can find suggestions for contacting your members of congress on Sierra Club's national website .  

Currently there are specific calls to contact your Senators asking them to oppose two nominations for Cabinet positions:

• Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State  and

• Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency

Check it out.

And because the Sierra Club has been working hard in recent years to become more inclusive in its membership, its leadership, and its foci for responsible environmental action, we should be vigilant in standing with minority communities in addressing racism and ethnic/cultural/gender inequality.  Environmental degradation affects everyone, but low-income and minority populations are disproportionately impacted.  Standing up for a healthy environment necessarily engages us in social justice as well.  Click to check out this opportunity.

In keeping with that inclusive orientation, we commend to you the “Women's March on Spokane and Northern Idaho,” a regional expression of the national “Women's March on Washington” scheduled for January 21, 2017.  See the information provided on our UCR Group home page.

Stay tuned.  There is a lot of work to do and many opportunities for you to be involved in ways that correspond to your interests, concerns, and available time.  We are all in this together.