Southern Sierran
Newsletter of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
May 2021
FOOD AND OUR CLIMATE
This month's issue explores the issues of food, food waste, and plastic pollution as drivers of climate disruption and tells the stories of local change-makers striving to reduce food waste, through smaller serving sizes, composting, recycling, and more!
The Once and Future Planet
There have been many versions of King Arthur’s story told throughout the centuries, but they all normally begin with England being in some form of chaos prior to his rise. This pre-King Arthur setting is akin to where we are with climate change today.
Paddling Against a Plastic Stream
To protect, or not to protect, that is the question: Do the pros outweigh the cons of western Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) joining California’s endangered species list?
News Updates
#KeepItInTheGround
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday, April 22nd, took action to ban new permits for hydraulic fracturing starting in 2024, halting the controversial oil extraction method reviled by environmental activists, and called on the state regulators to evaluate phasing out all oil production in the state by 2045. End of oil extraction in California by 2045 is the fastest timeline in the world. And we can still influence the process to make that happen faster! Read our statement here.
LA City Takes Steps to Phase Out Oil Drilling
On Tuesday, April 20th, the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) committee voted unanimously to pass a motion that implements steps toward a comprehensive phase-out of oil and gas production in the city of LA. Sierra Club, together with STAND-LA, a coalition of frontline organizations pushing for the phase out of oil drilling, and other partners, helped direct hundreds of calls to the council offices and collected over 8,000 petitions (1,100 of which were collected by Sierra Club) which were sent to the committee prior to the vote. The motion will be directed to other committees before a full council vote. It's more important than ever to add your name to push for final votes.
Protect California's Air Quality!
We are approaching a major milestone in our campaign to push the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to clean up the air in Southern California! Let's keep the momentum going! On May 7, the Board of the AQMD will vote on the warehouse indirect source rule. Here’s how you can take action leading up to the vote.
Thank Senator Padilla for Championing CA's Public Lands and Rivers!
Thank Senator Alex Padilla for taking action on climate change, and introducing legislation (The PUBLIC Lands Act) that will protect and increase access to over 1 million acres of public lands and more than 500 miles of rivers throughout the state. Urge him to push for passage in the Senate.
Stop the Proposed Poseidon Desalination Plant in Huntington Beach
It's been a few days since the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board RWQCB approved the permits (with conditions) that Poseidon desalination needs to move forward. While the RWQCB was our best and cleanest way to defeat Poseidon, there are other agencies (some far less friendly to ocean polluters) that still have to weigh in. We know that, and so does Poseidon. Join us for a conversation about where we are in our fight against Poseidon and next steps.
Mining Exploration Threatens Long Valley
Speak up against a proposed Long Valley mining project! If you live, work, or recreate in the Eastern Sierra and have concerns about the impact of this proposed project, or the prospects of larger scale mining in this scenic and important landscape, we encourage you to submit your comments by May 6, 2021. Learn more and submit comments electronically here.
Angeles Chapter Book Club June 6 @ 6:30 pm PT
The Angeles Chapter Book Club has something for everyone. Expand your knowledge on environmental and social justice issues. Or find that next bit of inspiration to keep fighting for the planet, everyone is welcome! The read? Dorecta Taylor's Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility uncovers the systemic problems that expose poor communities to environmental hazards.
Photo of the Month: “First Christian Church and Storm Clouds” by John Clement
See this photo and many more in Focal Points Magazine, courtesy of the Angeles Chapter Camera Committee. Instructions to subscribe are in Focal Points or contact the editor.
Outings & Activities
Sierra Club Outings remain on hold through July 4, 2021. Our Angeles Chapter program is working on ways to support and encourage leaders while developing future outings during this time. Look for a few Travel Adventures ready to go, and more wonderful adventures to be added soon, even if their status is “Tentative."
20s and 30s Sierrans
The 20s & 30s Section, part of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, was formed to promote, organize, and lead Sierra Club activities that interest environmentally-conscious people in their 20s & 30s. Click to learn more!
Mule Pack Section
Check out the Angeles Chapter Mule Pack Section! This group conducts base camp trips into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and hires packers to carry your camping gear to a selected base camp while you hike separately with only a day pack, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the Sierras without the burden of a heavy backpack. Check out their website to stay in the loop for future trips in 2022!
Volunteer Corner
There are many volunteer opportunities for Sierra Club members. You can sign up on our volunteer form and we will find you a position, or you can use the Sierra Club’s Volunteer Connection and scroll through posted volunteer openings and roles.
If you visit our chapter website’s Volunteer Page, you can read our blog dedicated to Volunteer News and find the following highlighted volunteer needs:
- Environmental Journalist to help write informative and entertaining copy related to environmental and sustainability issues.
- Water Activist in Orange County (OC) willing to help with important water issues like Poseidon, Bolsa Chica and other Coastal OC issues.
- Grassroots Journalist to help write action-inspiring copy that motivates readers to write letters/emails to decision makers, attend (virtual) government meetings and sign petitions.
- Skills based volunteers with Marketing Technology/ IT backgrounds who can assist with email campaigns, SalesForce, Drupal, Google Analytics and other Information Technology tools used by the chapter.
- Social Media Volunteers who can help create and post relevant content to our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn platforms.
- Mountain Open Space Activists to join the Santa Monica Mountains Task Force and help secure and protect more land, while coordinating discussions on open spaces, trails and Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA) conservation.
In Memoriam
Alice Goldberg (1926-2021)
Long-time Angeles Chapter Outings Leader and two time Outings Service Award winner, Alice Goldberg, passed away in Seattle, WA on March 16th, 2021. She was 94.
Pat Bertoldi (1927-2021)
Pat Bertoldi, an avid member of the Hundred Peaks Section, passed away in San Diego County in April at the age of 94.
The Sierra Club is indebted to the contributions of members who are no longer with us. This page is one way we remember their lives and their impact. If you have recently lost a loved one and would like them to be remembered here, please let us know here.
