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Lobbying Georgia’s Delegation on Mountaintop Removal
Small feel good win update: Georgia congressman Hank Johnson (D) from the 4th district will sign on to be a co-sponsor of the the Clean Water Protection Act. The meeting lasted no more than 5 minutes and I received instant success. Feels good after a rough last week with the Georgia delegation. It makes me happy that there is at least 1 representative in Georgia who is concerned about public health, communities, and the environment in Appalachia. Please visit http://ilovemountains.org/ to learn more.
In the mean time watch this NASA satellite footage of MTR at the Hobbit Mine in West Virginia http://is.gd/BnA6q1
My last meeting was with Republican Phil Gingrey (GA-11). His staffer was very busy dealing with budget deliberations but still took the time to listen to what Don and I had to say. As of now we have not received any co-sponsors from Georgia but we are looking forward to John Lewis and Bishop Sanford Jr. signing on to the Clean Water Protection Act.
Wednesday 2:50 I just had a meeting with Tom Graves (R) from the Georgia 9th district. We met with his legislative assistant named Bud Whitmire. Unlike my last meeting with Rob Woodalls office, Bud was an attentive and courteous listener. I want to thank Bud for his time.Don and I did our best to explain the long term economic impacts of continued mining by large multinational corporations. Although we probably won’t ever see Tom Graves on the Clean Water Protection Act, we can still do our best to educate him and his staff so that one day he and fellow republicans won’t stand in the way. Later today we are meeting with Phil Gingrey (R-11) at 4:30. I’ll post an update later.
2:43 Wow! What a meeting with Valentina J. Valenta the Senior Policy Advisor for my Congressman Rob Woodall (R) from the GA-7th. I have never been treated so poorly on Capitol Hill before. I was often cut off and made to feel like she was a bigger expert on environmental policy than me. Not only that, her demeanor was hostile, her comments were rude and left no room for a response. She told me that the federal government has no business in making environmental laws that we cannot afford. She also was scared that the Clean Water Protection Act may add a burden to mining companies around the country. She expressed her gratitude for NEPA but feels like it is time for it to go. Apparently she thinks the states have the institutional capacity to manage their own environmental affairs. Not only that but she would not let me air my grievances by telling me that I had no business asking the federal government to do something about this. I am livid, next election I am going to work my hardest to remove this guy and his awful staff from Washington.
Hey folks, I just had a meeting with Sanford Bishop of the 2nd District of GA. His staffer was very receptive to the environmental and economic consequences of MTR for coal field communities. He also understood that this is a federal issue because water crosses state lines and the poverty rate is a humanitarian crisis.
My last meeting of the day was with civil rights icon John Lewis of the 5th district of GA. His office has been a champion of environmental issues for decades. He is a former sponsor of the CWPA and we expect him to resign onto the bill within the next few days. I have to say that I think the budget battles are taking a toll on all the staffers on the hill — they look drained, overworked, and dead.
I just met with Congressman Paul Broun’s staffer from GA-10. This was a very productive meeting. This office doesn’t know much about MTR but felt somewhat squeemish about how extreme this form of strip mining is. Although they are a “drill now, drill anywhere” kind of office I think that with more work they could support the Clean Water Protection Act. The main concern was the similar name to a previous bill called The Clean Water Restoration Act which would redefined the term ‘navigable waters’ in The Clean Water Act. The staffer was a really nice guy and I appreciated that even though we disagree on just about everything that we could still have a cordial discussion about policy.
The next three days I am going to be on Capitol Hill working with the Georgia Congressional delegation to end mountain top removal. I just met with Senator Chambliss’s environmental staffer. She spoke about Chambliss having a balance between cheap domestic energy and environmental concerns. My question is, what environmental concerns has Chambliss ever had? He has a 0% rating from the League of Conservation Voters. Meanwhile Georgia’s growing appetite for coal destroys more mountains everyday.
Stay tuned for more updates about my meetings with the Georgia congressional delegation or follow my twitter feed @jcherson
Learn more at,
- Jeremy Cherson
Jeremy Cherson is an Environmental Policy student at American University and an intern at The Wilderness Society. He is a contributor every Tuesday.
The Better Kind of Grocery Shopping
Yesterday, during my weekly grocery run, I passed by a product in the produce aisle that made me chuckle: “Live Basil.” I couldn’t resist thinking of all the other ways a producer could have marketed this fresh basil but instead decided to go with “live,” as if it could dance or sing. Picking it up, I discovered its originality: this bunch of basil was locally grown in Athens and still in the bulb, meaning you could plant it in order to yield even more of the delicious herb, if so desired.
This got me thinking about local farmer’s markets – why don’t I go more? There are so many benefits to purchasing produce from local vendors:
1. Local Foods are Fresher (and taste better)
2. Local Foods are Seasonal
3. Local Foods Usually Have Less Environmental Impact
4. Local Foods Preserve Green Space & Farmland
5. Local Foods Promote Food Safety
6. Local Foods Support Your Local Economy
7. Local Foods Promote Variety
8. Local Foods Create Community
Considering these points and the fact that spring is just around the corner, why wouldn’t you go local? Don’t know where to go? I suggest you look up local food markets in your area. And if you want to be even more healthy & environmentally friendly, walk there!
Happy local market buying!
-Austin Sewell
Spring Fever
The Spring Equinox has arrived. It’s at 7:21 p.m. tonight to be exact.
Just two weeks ago I had the heater turned on in our house and was bundled up in a sweatshirt. Now I’m ready to bask in the 70-80 degree weather that awaits us in Athens, Georgia this week.
Spring symbolizes new beginnings and promises happier moods for the majority of us.
It means…
1. Flowers are in full bloom
2. The opportunity to sport eco-friendly spring fashion (visit http://www.shopbeausoleil.com/ for cool green designer clothes)
3. Fishing and other outdoor activities
Say goodbye to cold weather and take advantage of the beauty of this season (which happens to be my favorite, by the way)!
-Margaret
Image Sources: http://cosmicallybeautiful.tumblr.com/, http://decideforyourself.wordpress.com/2008/09/, http://www.alaskafishing411.com/, http://www.shopbeausoleil.com/
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
The one day where everyone is Irish and celebrates the night by drinking green beer at an Irish pub comes around every year. But did you know you can drink green beer every day of the year? More breweries are exploring ways to be more eco-friendly and are pushing out beers that can be dubbed “green” without having the visible holiday hue as part of the beverage.
Breweries across America are taking steps like wind power and solar power to provide their energy for brewing. Some are even turning to including only all natural ingredients in their beer and recycled packaging to reduce their carbon footprint. However, these environmentally concerned breweries are smaller and distributed more locally. Larger breweries sold on a national level could learn a thing or two from these small beer companies when it comes to going green.
Consumers can also have a green effect on the environment with their beer choice. By ordering a locally brewed beer, consumers eliminate the need for transportation from far away cities that create more carbon emissions than a local delivery. Beer from the tap is also better for the environment because it eliminates the need for cans and bottles (that may or may not be recycled by the bar or pub). So today, on St. Patrick’s Day, we hope that you will give some thought into where your beer is coming from and if it is really a green beer, no matter how much dye may be in it.
Don’t forget to recycle your cans and bottles and have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day!
For more information about eco-friendly breweries in America visit: http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/69/green-breweries/
- Amanda
Spring in Blue Ridge
Over spring break I took a road trip with a few of my roommates from Washington DC to New Orleans and back. On the way back from NOLA we made a stop in Blue Ridge Georgia to enjoy the great outdoors of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Recently my parents and their friends purchased a cabin that backs up onto the national forest. For me, this is a dream come true. Literally the backyard consists of the Cohutta Wilderness and Lake Blue Ridge. Both exemplify the beauty of our state—serenity I often miss.
During our stay at the cabin we explored the surrounding area and experienced the bizarre weather of March in Georgia at 3500 feet. There were moments of sunshine followed by hail turning to snow and reverting back to warm sunshine all within 5 minute intervals. It appeared that Mother Nature was trying to impress my mid-western friends with as many seasons as possible in a short time span.
The next day we went off exploring an unnamed creek often employing acrobatic feats in order to cross the creek from bank to bank. As we sat on a creek side log the warm sun beat down on us imparting us with fuel for the next few weeks of school. The mountains always provide me with the comfort and respite I need. I am happy to say that the North Georgia Mountains did the same for my mid-western friends. If you have a free weekend I suggest you get out while the weather is good and the forest is blooming with new life.
- Jeremy Cherson
Jeremy Cherson is an Environmental Policy student at American University and an intern at The Wilderness Society. He is a contributor every Tuesday.
A man’s best friend!
We all have heard the saying “A man’s best friend” referring to the loyal and loving family dog. I myself have two dog’s one fully blooded golden retriever Charlie ,and one mixed survivor dog named Roscoe. My brother brought him home from school one day and told my Mom if we didn’t adopt him he would be put down. With this terrible news and this precious puppy looking up at her with those sad eyes how could she say no? He is such a joy and my parents love having him around. Charlie doesn’t mind either!
Roscoe is my family’s first dog from a humane society. What Roscoe made us realize is that he is lucky to be alive. We will never choose to pay large amounts of money for a beautiful full-blooded dog with papers over a rescue dog ever again. Roscoe was lucky the day my brother spotted him and brought him home. Unfortunately this is not the case for all dogs.
The Humane Society in Athens Ga needs your help. They run a no kill Clinic and as you might suspect it can get very expensive keeping all the animals fed and taken care of. Pets Plus in Athens has teamed up with The Humane Society to raise money and food for the animals. The next time you go to a Pets Plus ask to donate a bag of dog food or make a monetary donation at the counter!
If you are in the market for a new pet don’t forget about the precious animals in your local hemane society waiting for you a new home! What better way to make a difference in your life and the life of an innocent animal!
Mary Catherine Finnerty
New York Times Editorializes on Budget, America’s Great Outdoors and Monuments
On Sunday, February 20, the New York Times issued an editorial praising the inclusiveness and transparency of the America’s Great Outdoors report.
The editorial also criticizes the proposed-Congressional budget for stripping critical conservation programs, and alludes to an anticipated fight challenging the President’s authority to designate new national monuments under the Antiquities Act.
It is no coincidence that the editorial was released President’s Day weekend. For, 15 Presidents – from Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Bush — have used the Antiquities Act to protect our most beloved and iconic places.
The editorial reminds us that across the country open space is disappearing at a record pace. This Congress has the opportunity to reconnect our children with the outdoors, now and forever.
- Jeremy Cherson
Jeremy Cherson is an Environmental Policy student at American University and an intern at The Wilderness Society. He is a contributor every Tuesday.
Thoughts on Global Warming from a UGA Ecology Major
Five weeks ago none of us had to go to class because the skies had painted white treasure upon campus. At the same time facebookers were declaring their love for the miracle, but not all of them left out an accompanying “What global warming?!”. Whether or not it snowed this past January in Georgia, that event does not negate the 0.74˚ C increase in global average temperature. I know that does not mean a lot to some people, but imagine what would happen if your blood temperature rose 1.3˚ F. It is important to consider larger spatial and temporal scales when analyzing global climate change.
Weather refers to singular events, while climate refers to weather patterns over a long period of time (temporal). The physics of the Earth and the chemistry of water and air lead the constant movement of the two mediums. Hot air is less dense than cold air and can also hold a lot more water, so when the sun hits the equator a lot of hot, moist air rises to a higher elevation. As that air rises to a higher elevation it begins to cool and loses its water, which explains why tropical forests (hot, humid areas) are at the equator. It also creates a pocket of suction in that area, and air from higher latitudes (up to 30˚ N/S) is sucked down to the equator. This suction creates a circular effect and the hot air that had originally risen and began to cool and lose its water, it becomes more dense and eventually becomes very cold (while also carrying very little water) and drops right around 30˚ N/S. This would explain while most of the deserts in the world are located at those latitudes (Figure 2.) The process of this transfer of air is called the “Hadley cell.” There are two other cells: the “Ferrel cell” and the “Polar cell.” The Polar cell operates in the same direction as the Hadley cell, but the Ferrel cell operates in the opposite direction. As air in the Ferrel cell moves towards the pole along the surface of the air, it picks up water and drops it at the subtropical regions along 60˚ N/S. An important feature of the planet to note is that the earth has a different circumference per latitude. Velocity is distance over time, and the distance gets smaller but a year can never be shortened. Therefore the velocity at the equator is the fastest, and as air from the Hadley cells comes down to the equator from higher latitudes, the air curves away from the direction of the earth (as you can see in the figure, whether or not the air is going towards the equator or the poles it will turn left or right).
These winds create currents in the oceans. Water is much better at holding heat than air. Have you ever noticed that Europe which is at a similar latitude to Canada, experiences a similar climate to the US? It is because the “Westerlie” in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. This refers to the North Atlantic Oscillation. The portion of it with which you may be familiar is the Gulf Stream current (in which water goes North and then East), which drags warm water from the Caribbean to Europe. This water allows for a similar climate as our nation, and also explains the rainy days in London. However, as polar ice caps are melting, floods of fresh, cold water are invading the North Atlantic surface water and can potentially stop this stream of water mitigating the effect of the Gulf Stream on Europe and leading to a much colder climate in that region of the world having devastating effects to their native flora and flauna and agricultural practices. I point this out because it is important to emphasize the importance of the term “climate change” versus “global warming” and to differentiate between local and global trends. It may be getting warmer globally, but that is leading to more variable climate conditions at specific locations (i.e. harsher winters and hotter summers). Just remember, it may have snowed five weeks ago but it’s the beginning of February and the high of the past few days has been in the high 60s. I can’t wait to see what July is going to be like…and don’t forget, the average high in Athens, Ga for July last year was 94.6˚ F (the third highest year to date since 1944).
* Historical temperature data from 1944 to 2010 comes from the weather station at Athens-Ben Epps Airport, National Weather Service ID (AHN).
-Alex Wright
*We would like to give a special thanks to our guest blogger Alex Wright, a third-year Ecology major at the University of Georgia.
New Environmentally Friendly SunChips Bag
While unnecessarily strolling through the chip aisle in the grocery store, I came across flashy new packaging for SunChips. I am very proud to say that Frito-Lay, maker of my absolute favorite crunchy snacks, has unveiled new environmentally friendly packaging. The company revamped its 100 percent biodegradable bag after noise complaints; some compared the crinkling sound to that of a revving motorcycle engine.
With Frito-Lay’s proactive stand on serving its customers with quality while simultaneously keeping our environment clean, it has delivered a quality product. This is a snack you can feel good eating!
And I must recognize the fact that Frito-Lay isn’t the only company making eco-friendly efforts. Cliff Bar, McDonald’s, Ted’s Montana Grill, local Athens coffee shops and other restaurants are getting on board with environmentally conscious programs, recyclable straws, coffee holders and take-out containers.
Thank you to all companies who serve the public and the planet.
-Austin Sewell
