News Archive

News Blog

Welcome to the Southern Sierran, published by the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, serving Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

[Header photo: One of four Mountain Lion Kittens P-66 through P-69 © Courtesy of National Park Service]

December 2021

  • The decision to drop poison on the Farallon Islands should not be made while the public is distracted by the Holidays. Call the Coastal Commission during their meeting and let them know your personal idea. Although the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter asked the Coastal Commission to consider fertility control over poisoning in August 2020, there is no current Sierra Club opinion that I know of for this week's meeting. As a concerned citizen, however, you have a right to make your concern know by calling in the meeting on Dec 16th (you must register to call in by Dec 15th) 

  • Five members-at-large have been chosen to represent the Angeles Chapter’s Executive Committee in elections that ended November 15th, 2021. Newly elected members of the Executive Committee will take office in January at the first board meeting of the year. They will join at-large Marcia Hanscom, Jason Islas, and Lynne Plambeck as well as delegates from each of the 14 regional groups, on the board.

  • The following is a report from a local Long Beach student who attended one of the chapter’s regular hikes at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve. A huge thank you to Wilson High biology teacher, Ms. Cunradi, who often encourages students to join her on our hikes, and to Nick for his thoughtful write-up. We hope to see you back out on the trails soon!

  • Oil spills are catastrophic events that make all of us coastal activists in some ways. We must unify in our support in effective and meaningful responses that can make a difference. This is the first in a series on oil spills for coastal activists, and we start with understanding which agency is our first line of defense.

  • As part of a long struggle to curb unneeded sprawl development and to protect vital wildlife corridors, the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, and California Native Plant Society filed a motion to defend a Calabasas City Council’s denial of a residential and commercial development proposed for the city’s fire-prone hillsides. 

November 2021

  • Sierra Club Angeles Chapter is calling on the Mayor and City Council to Stop L.A. Zoo's planned destruction of native woodlands and we need your help!

  • Thank you to the City of Costa Mesa and everyone who attended the chapter’s Orange County Oil Spill Town Hall event Saturday evening, November 20. We had a great event with over 50 people attending in person and many more online.

  • We are looking for environmentally inclined individuals who have an interest in digital marketing and digital strategies with an ambition to participate in the creation of video interview and podcasts then reorganize the content into snack size video and memes for broader social media

  • Often Sierra Club members become concerned about conservation issues along the coastline of LA and Orange Counties. Usually, this means having some knowledge about the California Coastal Act and California Coastal Commission is useful. This article is part of a planned series of articles and videos/podcasts to help those new to coastal activism quickly come up to speed on how to be effective in protecting our coastal environment.

  • Community Membership starts with local participation. As a member of the Sierra Club, your participation makes a huge difference. Please review your emails, find your ballot, click on the link, check out candidates and follow the instructions to vote. If you cannot find your ballot just call our Chapter office in LA at (213) 387-4287 and ask for one between 9am and 5pm or leave a message after hours. Your participation is important and the survival of the Sierra Club depends on this simple action.

  • The United States already produces more plastic waste than any other country, much of which ends up choking marine animals or releasing noxious, cancer-causing fumes to underserved communities because of disposal processes. The production itself releases millions of tons of greenhouse gases released into the air. How much more environmental damage needs to occur before we’re willing to sacrifice some of our convenience? 

October 2021

September 2021

August 2021

July 2021

  • Why should you  participate in redistricting, the process of setting new congressional and state legislative boundaries? Because it is easy, it matters, and you only have this opportunity every ten years. 

  • The California Sierra Club Political Action Committee (PAC) is holding its annual fundraiser online Sunday, August 8th from 4 pm to 6 pm.   The PAC contributes to state and local candidates statewide.

  • Sierra Club is currently recruiting new members to the Young Adult Advisory Board to lead statewide change to hold big tobacco companies accountable for the environmental destruction that they are causing. Tobacco Product Waste is the most littered single use plastic product, and releases toxic forever chemicals into our living environments. We need your help! Join our movement. 

  • For variety, for a challenge, or just a walk in the woods, the Lower Peaks Committee list of peaks under 5,000 is a great way to explore and enjoy the mountains around us and to encourage protection and preservation of Lower Elevation Ranges in Southern California.

June 2021

  • Earlier this month, Culver City voted to phase out and clean up oil wells within the city’s borders by July 28, 2026. This vote is historic on multiple levels -- for starters, Culver City is one of the first cities in recent history to phase out existing oil production. The process, which included a study to inform the timeline to phase-out oil drilling, creates a pathway for the city and county of Los Angeles to follow. 

  • The Angeles Chapter staff hosted our second environmental social justice (ESJ) book club last week Wednesday, June 2nd. For this meeting, we chose Dorceta Taylor's Toxic Communities. The book draws on an array of historical and contemporary case studies to explore the controversies over racist disparities, inequities, and discrimination that affect our communities of color. 

  • The SPS has been the premier mountaineering entity in the entire Sierra Club for decades, offering more restricted mountaineering trips than any other section, group, chapter, or National. Read about their history and how to participate here.

  • Recycling has become more of a priority over the past few years. But why is there so much still going into landfills and polluting our ocean? 

  • “Sweat or pay” was my fair ask of fellow volunteers. But for the severe financial impacts that COVID has brought to nonprofits, I’m asking proud Sierra Club members to pay a little extra. Here’s why.   
  • Along Avalon and San Pedro Blvd, between 54th and 55th street, lies a little jewel called South Los Angeles Wetland Park. The park serves the common good and social justice in reducing green space inequities by making parks a useful part of cities conceived as a whole, a perfect example of not only beautification but also smart public investment. 

May 2021

  • For hunters in California, harvesting game now comes with one major caveat. Emblazoned across each license is a message that only non-lead ammunition can be used.

  • Listen to Angeles Chapter Senoir Director Morgan Goodwin talk with Nancy Pearlman on Environmental Directions. This international, award-winning interview radio series is the longest-running environmental program in the country.

  • The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter nominating committee is looking for members from sections and groups across the Chapter to run for the chapter Executive Committee (ExCom).

  • You need a hunting license before you go hunting, a marriage license before you get married and the Poseidon desalination project needs to get their permits before they are allowed to operate.

April 2021

  • The Mule Pack Section conducts base camp trips into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We hire packers to carry our camping gear to a selected base camp while we hike separately with only a day pack.
  • The 20s and 30s Section is a group of 20 and 30 somethings interested in meeting new friends in the greater Los Angeles area while enjoying the outdoors through hiking, camping, backpacking, beach-combing, playing volleyball and other fun experiences.

  • While water governance is complicated, it should not be feared.  I believe it’s essential to understand not only where your water comes from, but who makes decisions on your behalf and how you can participate to affect change.

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