Campaign Updates
Our monthly update on projects the Regional Climate Change Program is working on as part of our effort to maintain and improve the health of our beautiful "Range of Light."
Alliance’s 3rd Organizer Academy Successful
May 22, 2013
By Craig Breon
Regional Climate Change Program Director, Sierra Nevada Alliance
From May 15th through 18th, the Alliance hosted twenty activists for our 3rd Organizer Academy, this year held at the charming, rustic Yosemite Bug resort in Mariposa County. Judging from the comments received as well as the evaluation forms filled out, the Academy proved both thought-provoking and practical for those involved.
Our trainers came from the Midwest Academy, based in Chicago, which has been training community activists and organizers since the 1970’s. They focus on a philosophy and techniques that they refer to as “direct action organizing,” meaning a focus on techniques to accumulate the power needed to affect change in a given community.
Participants came largely from Alliance Member Groups. In addition, thanks to our recent work in the Southern Sierra counties, a number of participants came from the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothill communities in Madera and Mariposa counties. The training included a grounding in the Midwest Academy’s philosophy of social change as well as a number of practical activities in areas such as recruiting new leaders, building coalitions, and compiling a strategy chart to guide organizing campaigns. Participants also had the opportunity to work on a strategy chart and tactics for a real organizing campaign that they were involved with, receiving advice and guidance from the trainers.
Enthusiasm ran high throughout the three-day training, as quotes from the post-event evaluations attest. “We found common ground and support and were able to renew our energy to commit to activism.” “I loved the role-plays: fun and very informative.” Or just simply, “Wonderful training!”
Our thanks to the Midwest Academy for their expertise, to our participants for their commitments to positive social change, and to the funders who made this event possible. Finally, thanks to Alliance staff member Gavin Feiger and interns Anna Olsen and Alex Riemondy for handling the logistics of the event and making sure that all went smoothly.
Turning the CEQA Tables
May 22, 2013
By Craig Breon
Regional Climate Change Program Director, Sierra Nevada Alliance
At the beginning of this year, we were looking at a well coordinated assault on the California Environmental Quality Act from a variety of business and development interests. They had the ear of both Republicans and some Democrats in Sacramento, and it seemed a lot of work would be needed to hold off what could be a major blow to protection of natural resources and lands in the Sierra and across the State.
What a difference a few months make! Beginning with the resignation of State Senator Marco Rubio—the ostensible leader of the effort to “reform CEQA”—opponents of CEQA have seen one setback after another. An alliance of conservation organizations, labor unions, and community groups have so far succeeded in fighting off the worst of the “gut CEQA” bills in the legislature. Remarkably, a few bills to improve CEQA are winding their way through the committee hearing process in Sacramento and may get to the Governor’s desk in September.
The most important of these good CEQA bills come from State Senator Noreen Evans, a Democrat from Santa Rosa. Her bills, SB 617 and SB 754, seek to make some common sense improvements to CEQA, such as improved electronic record keeping and better mitigation monitoring and enforcement. For more on the progress of those bills and to keep abreast of the action on CEQA in Sacramento and around the State, visit CEQA Works.
The Alliance continues to send letters to our State legislators in support of CEQA and the need for continued improvements in this bedrock environmental law. We have also sent staff to Sacramento to speak directly with those legislators. We will continue to coordinate our efforts with Alliance Member Groups and other conservationists. Hopefully, come September, we can cite this legislative turnaround on CEQA as a major accomplishment of the environmental movement in California for the year.
Alliance Noted for Work in Southern Sierra
May 20, 2013
Regional Climate Change Program Director Craig Breon has been engaging in Fresno County on proposed development in the Sierra foothills and along the San Joaquin River. A recent article in the Fresno Bee quotes Craig, citing concerns that development will march from the Valley floor into the Sierra, while distracting the region from the need to invest in existing communities. To read the full article, click here.
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Participants from the 2013 Sierra Organizer Academy |
Events
The Sierra Nevada Alliance is hosting a series of free webinars! Four months, four webinars. The webinars will range in discussions from extending the growing season in the Sierra to creating local food hubs. The schedule is as follows:
May 22nd from 10-11am: Extending the Growing Season in the Sierra
June 24th: Creating Local Food Hubs
July 24th: Exploring the Cottage Law
August 21st: River Friendly Landscaping in Your Community.
Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2013-August 21, 2013
More Information: To sign up and receive more information email Taylor
Join acoustic guitar virtuoso Alex de Grassi at the Valhalla Grand Hall Saturday, May 25, for a solo guitar performance that Vintage Guitar Magazine calls “nothing short of brilliant.” Proceeds will benefit the Sierra Nevada Alliance and Sierra Fund.
Date: Friday, May 25, 2013 6:00-10:00 pm
Place:South Lake Tahoe, Valhalla Grand Hall
More Information: Visit The Sierra Nevada Alliance
Join in the 2nd Annual Tahoe Bike Path Clean Up and help get the bike paths clean and ready for spring! Please join in at any of the designated sites – snacks will be provided in addition to gloves, trash bags and brooms. Bring your own water bottle.
Date: Thursday, May 30, 2013 3:00-6:00 pm
Place: North or South Lake Tahoe, CA
More Information: Visit Sierra Nevada Alliance's Calendar of Events
The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) are pleased to announce that the next Keys to Securing Brownfields Funding session will be held as a webinar on Tuesday June 4th at 10:00 AM. You will hear from agency experts about their respective grant guidelines. Topics to be covered include: Applicant and Site Eligibility Criteria; Application Steps; and Success Stories. To sign up for this free webinar, please send an email to DTSC .
Date: June 4, 2013 10:00am
More Information: Visit CA Department of Toxic Substances Control's website
As part of our continued support of the Sierra Water Workgroup, the Alliance has just begun planning the Second Annual SWWG Summit. The Sierra Water Workgroup's mission is to assist regional efforts to protect and enhance water quality, water supply, and watershed health; to develop cooperative regional responses; and to facilitate reinvestment in our watersheds and water resources by all beneficiaries. Working with Liz Mansfield, the Regional Climate Change team planned and held the first Sierra-wide SWWG summit last July. When attendees started calling it an annual event, we knew we had to deliver. Following up on requests and evaluations, this year we are working with the California State Bar to provide more in-depth information on water rights, area of origin issues, and more (MCLE credits will be available). Working with the Inyo-Mono IRWM team, we will be dedicating a large portion of the 2013 Summit to issues surrounding disadvantaged communities (DACs). Visit the SWWG website to learn more about our efforts and sign up to receive information, including updates on the Summit! Early bird registration is now available.
Date: June 11-13, 2013
Place: North Tahoe Event Center, King’s Beach, CA
More Information: Visit Sierra Water Workgroup or email Gavin
Comic of the Month
Newsletter contents prepared by Alex Riemondy.
If you have articles, events or announcements that you would like included in this newsletter or if you have feedback, please email alex@sierranevadaalliance.org.