ARTICLES
Your Local Sierra Club in Action
These are the energetic faces of the Sierra Club canvassers this summer. They are
doing incredible work under sometimes difficult circumstances. They go door-to-door
throughout Connecticut through fog and smog, sleet and heat. They educate the public
on the Sierra Club National campaigns, as well as sign up many new members. This summer
they will raise more than $150,000 dollars for the Sierra Club! This is their best summer
of canvassing to date! I guess when it's the 'good fight,' people recognize it and they
have been supporting their beliefs by aligning with the Sierra Club campaigns. And
remember, 81.7 cents of every dollar goes to implementation of conservation programs.
These dedicated canvassers will connect with almost 32,000 Connecticut residents!
The canvassers have reported an overwhelming concern for sprawl and traffic in Connecticut,
as well as the current Administration's attack on our National Forests and roll back of hard
fought environmental laws. Over the summer months of canvassing Connecticut, these
spirited people have enlightened so many about the Bush Administration's attempt to
rewrite forest regulations in order to maximize commercial logging profits with little
consideration for the American people and the higher values of our precious wild forests.
Our National Forests provide habitat for endangered species, clean drinking water for
many Americans, a sustainable recreational economy, and a chance to rejuvenate and connect
with the wild in all of us.
So, the next time you seen one of these exceptional people come to your door, thank them
for doing such difficult and important work. They believe in what they do and have the courage
to follow through on their convictions. In these times of struggling economies, global
pollution, and (media induced) fear/apathy; we all need them more than ever.
This is Eliezer (Lee) Cruz. He is explaining some of the toxic practices on the
lower Quinnipiac River and the plans for cleaning up this site. The "Toxic Tour"
of New Haven is one of the many activities Sierra Club members can get involved with
in Connecticut. Lee Cruz and other dedicated members of the New Haven Environmental Justice
Network give the tours several times a year (even in the cold). This tour group consisted
of Sierra Club members, high school students from the Young Scholars Program at Yale,
and two representatives from the EPA Regional office in Boston!
The tour takes groups to some of the toxic sites the New Haven Environmental Justice
Network has been fighting the last few years, as well as clean-up successes in the area.
We also passed many historical buildings dating back to the Civil War period most people
don't even know exist in New Haven. For more information on the "Toxic Tours" contact
the Sierra Club office at (860) 525-2500 or contact
Christel Manning at: christel.manning@snet.net
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