Lame-Duck Session Brings Lame Enviro Proposals

Michigan Chapter Update December 7, 2014 In This Issue: Lame Duck, Lame Environmental Proposals Clean Energy Legislation Introduced, But Too Late for This Year Concerned About Food, Ag, Animals? Then Save the Date: March 9, 2015! Wayne County Exceeds Acceptable Levels of Sulfur Dioxide Looking for a Few Good Volunteers to Work on Oil & Gas Do You Have Design and Layout Expertise? Join the Sierra Club or Give the Gift of Membership Thank You! Lame Duck, Lame Environmental Proposals Pollution pours from an incinerator in Detroit. Legislation being considered in the lame-duck session in Lansing would allow the burning of old tires and solid waste to count as renewable energy. Sierra Club is currently battling two lame environmental bills the Michigan legislature is entertaining during its lame-duck session. The first is HB 5205, which would classify the burning of solid waste as a form of renewable energy and allow for the construction of new incinerators. Sierra Club opposes this proposal because waste incineration does not produce clean energy -- it emits more carbon dioxide per unit of energy than any other form of electricity, greatly contributing to the negative consequences of climate change. We're also fighting SB 910, which would prohibit the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality from enforcing air pollution regulations on wood heaters. Unregulated wood heaters account for 13% of the country’s soot pollution and have major public health implications such as increased risk of heart disease, asthma, and lung disease. On the positive side, we support SB 795-800 which would increase prison time and fines for illegally introducing prohibited, non-native aquatic species (like Asian Carp or Zebra/Quagga mussel) into Michigan's waters. We also like HB 5397, which would allow municipal utility providers to fund residential clean energy programs through on-bill payments. This legislation is crucial to helping homeowners to get financing for efficiency upgrades and renewable energy projects. Let your elected officials know how you feel about these four environmental proposals! Please take a moment to look up your State Senator and State Representative. Have questions or want to get involved? Contact Anne Woiwode at anne.woiwode@sierraclub.org or 517-484-2372 x 11. Clean Energy Legislation Introduced, But Too Late for This Year Three bipartisan bills to expand Michigan’s 2008 renewable energy and energy efficiency laws were introduced in November, just as the legislature entered its lame-duck session. The current law, which expires next year, mandates that electricity providers meet a 10% renewable energy requirement, and that electric and natural gas utilities achieve annual energy optimization standards. The bills, HB 5967(Schmidt), 5968 (Dianda) and 5969 (VerHuelen), are expected to be reintroduced in the 2015 legislative session. Sierra Club welcomes the long overdue debate on renewing and expanding the current clean energy laws, particularly because legislation under debate this year would gut the current laws. However, there are concerns that this package falls short on several counts. For example HB 5968 sets a strong but voluntary goal (unlike the 2008 law) for Michigan’s electric utilities to increase renewable energy by 1.5% per year in their generation portfolio.  “Michigan families from Ironwood to Monroe need Lansing to work as fast as possible to move our state beyond fossil fuels to protect health and fight climate change,” said Michigan Chapter Chair David Holtz.  “It's time to hold utilities like DTE and Consumers Energy accountable to what our state really needs--a clean energy future fueled by renewable energy.”  Watch this space for details about "Farming Our Future: The Forces and Faces of 21st Century Agriculture," a conference presented by Less=More on March 9, 2015. Concerned About Food, Ag, Animals? Then Save the Date: March 9, 2015 A groundbreaking conference exploring the political, legal, and historical forces that shape farming in Michigan today and how to chart a path to a more sustainable food system takes place March 9, 2015 on the campus of Michigan State University during MSU’s historic Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. Presented by the Less=More Coalition, Farming Our Future: The Forces and Faces of 21st Century Agriculture will channel diverse national, regional and local conversations about the environmental, economic and social impacts of modern agriculture into a comprehensive forum to facilitate joint efforts to build a better food system. Look for more details in this e-newsletter and on the Less=More Twitter feed @MoreforMichigan and on the Less=More Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MoreforMichigan. Wayne County Exceeds Acceptable Levels of Sulfur Dioxide Wayne County is experiencing a crisis in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, a powerful pollutant that comes from coal plants and other sources that reacts with nitrogen oxide to create acid rain and can cause or aggravate health issues. People with cardiovascular disease or chronic lung disease, as well as children and the elderly, are most likely to suffer from health problems linked to elevated sulfur dioxide levels. Wayne County is the only county in Michigan to be designated as having SO2 levels that exceed what is considered acceptable. The Michigan Department of Environment Quality (MDEQ) is working to bring the levels under control, but the process, which requires a public hearing, has been delayed by months from its projected date already. Sierra Club is tracking the MDEQ as it develops a plan to ensure it includes a solution that addresses the heart of the problem -- 85% of all sulfur dioxide emissions in Wayne County come from three DTE Energy facilities, two of which are coal plants. A transition to cleaner energy is the only way to help ensure clean air for Wayne County residents. Click here to learn more.

Meat Matters Webinars: Meat, Livestock & Human Health

Register for all four. Attend the ones you can.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6416201563699806977

With the global meat-eating explosion, meat production can’t be far behind. The U.S. currently produces more than 9 food billion animals — and their manure — for meat each year. Federal officials are thinking about where meat fits into revamped dietary advice for Americans. Nutrition aside, McDonald’s and Wal-Mart are asking where meat production and consumption fit into the notion of sustainability; there are huge amounts of manure, water, antibiotics, hormones and energy involved. In short, meat matters. How much meat to eat, and what kind? It affects your health, the public’s health and to the environment we all share.

1) September 15, 2014 12pm ET/9am PT   Meat Racket 
In his new book, Meat Racket, investigative reporter Christopher Leonard adds to the public spotlight on why meat (and who produces it) matters. Dr. Michael Greger, physician-host of Nutrition Facts, and staff scientist at the Humane Society of the United States, explores why a meat industry that treats food animals well could also better serve public health. Moderating is Bob Martin,  director of the Food System Policy Program at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and former director of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production.

2) October 23, 2014, 1 pm ET/10am PT.  Food Day Special:  The 21st Century Jungle. The U.S. produces over 9 billion food animals annually, but meat factories, slaughterhouses and packing plants remain invisible to most. (In several states, it’s illegal to document and show what's happening inside.) Conditions within these facilities are critical to public health, food safety, and of course the health of workers. Updating the lessons Upton Sinclair’s classic, The Jungle, is Ted Genoways’ new book, The Chain: Farm, Factory, and the Fate of Our Food. Join the conversation with Ted Genoways and Joann Lo, Executive Director of the Food Chain Workers Alliance, moderated by Keeve Nachman, PhD, Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future's Food Production and Public Health Program.

3) December 4, 2014, 1pm ET/10am PT   What Meat to Eat
What we eat has rippling effects beyond our own health. For the first time, experts advising the USDA on the newest (2015) version of its Dietary Guidelines for Americans, are considering the sustainability of the American diet. That’s also on the agenda for Menus of Change, a joint effort of the Harvard School of Public Health and the Culinary Institute of America.  Author, physician and nutrition expert, Walter Willett, MD, MPH, presents. Roni Neff, PhD, Director of the Food System Sustainability Program at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, and editor of Introduction to the U.S. Food System, discusses sustainability and the Dietary Guidelines.  Hugh Joseph, PhD of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University will moderate. 

4) January 2015.  Cultivating Health. 
Our gut bacteria shape our health. Dr. Martin Blaser, past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), explains the connection highlighted in his recent book  Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics is Fueling Our Modern Plagues. Dr. Lance Price, public health professor at George Washington University, explores the contribution of industrial meat production, including its reliance on antibiotics. IDSA cosponsors. 

REGISTER TODAY. Contact David@HealthyFoodAction.org for more information or sponsorship opportunities.

Tell Trader Joe's to stop selling meat from animals raised on antibiotics

Fight Animal Factory Pollution!

Become a Sierra Club Water Sentinel!

 
Sign up for a free webinar!  Tues., June 18, 7-8 pm  OR Thurs., June 20, from 7-8 pm

A key weapon in the fight against polluting animal factories is evidence volunteers gather in nearby waterways. Concerned citizens help collect vital data on pathogens and bacteria that end up in rivers and streams when manure waste runs off from farm fields, lagoon leaks or intentional dumping. They also check for lowered dissolved oxygen levels--caused by excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from animal factories--that contribute to fish kills.

Sierra Club is offering two free webinars about animal factory water monitoring conducted by Goldman Environmental Prize Winner Lynn Henning. She’ll give an overview of the types of pollution caused by animal factories, how water monitoring is done and what Sierra Club does with the data. Participants will also have the opportunity to sign up for advanced training to become a volunteer water monitor of an animal factory in their area.  

To register:   Email cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org and specify the webinar date in the subject line.

Two Ways to Engage in the Environment This Weekend! * June 26 Film Event Focuses on Fracking in Grand Traverse Area * Foodopoly Author Speaks in Grand Rapids June 25

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	Michigan Chapter Update  June 2, 2013  In This Issue: Two Ways to Engage in the Environment This Weekend! Join the Pooparazzi...Become a Factory Farm Water Monitor Foodopoly Author Speaks in Grand Rapids June 25 June 26 Film Event Focuses on Fracking in Grand Traverse Area Environmental Justice Orgnaizer Rhonda Anderson Wins Virginia Ferguson Award Support Sierra Club the eBay Way! Your Chance to Fight Back Coming in July! Sierra Club will have a booth at the Michigan Energy Fair in Ludington and the 2013 Michigan Summit in East Lansing this weekend. Drop by! Two Ways to Engage in the Environment This Weekend! Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association Michigan Energy Fair -- Fri. and Sat., June 7 and 8, at the Mason County Fairgrounds in Ludington. This annual event features workshops, speakers, clean energy exhibitors and energy activities. Consumers Energy will also offer free tours of the nearby Lake Winds Energy Park.  Check out the fair this weekend and drop by the Sierra Club exhibitor booth!  If you'd like to volunteer to help, emailtiffany.hartung@sierraclub.org. For more info on the fair, visit www.glrea.org. 2013 Michigan Summit -- Sat., June 8, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Brody Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing. This is the premier, politically progressive networking, training, and recognition event in Michigan held once a year. The conference will feature breakout sessions to challenge and inspire you to take action. It will also feature exciting presenters from around the country includingkeynote speaker and United Auto Workers President Bob King and Partnership for Working Families Executive Director Leslie Moody. Join us and hundreds of like-minded volunteers and organizations at the Michigan Summit and don't forget to stop by the Sierra Club booth. Register today to reserve your spot. Factory farm waste makes its way into our lakes, rivers and streams, threatening our health and the quality of our life. Click here to donate to our Less=More campaign to end support to polluting factory farms. (Photo: Tim McCabe, USDA NRCS) Join the Pooparazzi...Become a Factory Farm Water Monitor! Concerned citizens across the state of Michigan are training to monitor the condition of local streams, lakes, and wetlands to determine how they're impacted by nearby factory farms, which generate millions of gallons of chemical- and contaminant-laden waste that gets into our waterways. Michigan Chapter staff Lynn Henning and Cecilia Garcia recently conducted the first of several volunteer training sessions with a group of concerned citizens in Delton, a beautiful community in Barry County populated by several industrial livestock operations. These volunteer "water sentinels" will help us build awareness of pollution, identify and  restore compromised sites, collect water quality data for use in Environmental Protection Agency rule enforcement, and advocate for their local watersheds. We're offering two free, introductory water monitoring webinars on Tues, June 18, and Thurs, June 20, from 7-8 p.m. for folks interested in learning more about this vital volunteer activity. To register, emailcecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org and put your preferred webinar date in the subject line. For questions, call 517-484-2372, x 10. To learn more about Less=More, our campaign targeting taxpayer subsidies that give an unfair advantage to factory farms over sustainable livestock farmers, visit MoreforMichigan.org or check us out on Facebook.  To donate online to Less=More, click here. This short video gives an overview of Foodopoly, a new book by Wenonah Hauter that reveals the ugly business of American farming and food production. Hauter will be at Schuler Books's 28th Street store in Grand Rapids June 25. Foodopoly Author Speaks in Grand Rapids June 25 The Less=More Coalition presents a talk by Foodopoly author Wenonah Hauter, Tues., June 25, at 7 p.m. at Schuler Books and Music, 2660 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids. Blending history, reporting, and a deep understanding of American farming and food production, Foodopoly reveals theshocking business behind the meat, vegetables, grains and milk that most Americans eat every day, including some of the most respected organic and health-conscious brands.  Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming shows how our agricultural policy has has been hijacked by lobbyists, driving out independent farmers and food processors in favor of industrial food giants such as Cargill, Tyson, Kraft and ConAgra with diverse impacts--from economic stagnation in US rural communities to famine overseas. Hauter will discuss her book and solutions to the problems, including Less=More's work to take on factory farm subsidies in Michigan, and be available to sign copies afterwards. This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, email Tia Lebherz at tlebherz@fwwatch.org or call 312-486-1356. A listing of the chemicals involved in hydraulic fracturing that have been found in watersheds nationwide (screenshot fromThe Sky is Pink). June 26 Film Event Focuses on Fracking in Grand Traverse Area Sierra Club Michigan Chapter presents a screening of The Sky is Pink, a short film about the controversial method of natural gas extraction known as fracking, Wed., June 26, at 7 p.m. at the Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Room, 610 Woodmere, Traverse City. The event is free and open to the public. Grand Traverse-area residents concerned about the quality of their water, air and natural resources are invited to the screening, which will be followed by a discussion of important regional environmental, legislative and political issues. Sierra Club staff and volunteer leaders will present opportunities for concerned citizens to get involved in environmental protection efforts in northwest Michigan. The Sky is Pink is an 18-minute documentary by Josh Fox, the Oscar-nominated director of Gasland, about New York state's urgent crisis of drilling and fracking, which is now an emerging issue in northwest Michigan as well.  Under weak environmental regulations, fracking in Michigan blasts millions of gallons of chemical-laced water into rock to release gas.  The result is air pollution and toxic water wells that have produced flaming faucets, as shown in Gasland, and even earthquakes. To RSVP for this event, email williamstrong@sbcglobal.net or call 269-372-3642. Environmental Justice Organizer Rhonda Anderson Wins Virginia Ferguson Award Rhonda Anderson, Sierra Club's environmental justice organizer working in metropolitan Detroit, received the national Sierra Club's Virginia Ferguson Award for her "consistent and exemplary service" working in what is known as the most polluted area of Michigan. In River Rouge, Ecorse and the 48217 neighborhood of Detroit, Rhonda has assisted communities to reimagine themselves even while being surrounded by some the most polluting industries in Michigan, including an old, coal-fired power plant and the state's only oil refinery, which receives oil sands from Canada through the Enbridge pipeline.  Rhonda is helping them create a new vision for the region, not solely reliant on heavy industry and polluting facilities, but based on new ideas of clean energy, good jobs and vibrant neighborhoods. To this end, Rhonda and lead environmental justice volunteer, Delores Leonard, recently worked with allies on the Detroit Digital Justice Project, which helped provide internet to residents and bring educational and career opportunities to a by-passed community. Congratulations on a job well-done, Rhonda! Support Sierra Club the eBay Way! Sierra Club has partnered with eBay's charity fundraising program, ebay Giving Works, to bring awareness and raise funds for nonprofits like us dedicated to changing the world. Here's how it works: BUY: Click on this link to go to the Michigan Chapter's page on eBay showing outdoor gear and apparel items for sale with the proceeds going to the Chapter. When your item sells, you will get a tax donation receipt for the donated portion of your proceeds. SELL: Got some outdoor equipment or apparel lying around your house that you don't know what to do with? Contact the Michigan Chapter and we can arrange for collection of your items to either sell on eBay or at our Chapter Retreat in August. WHAT: Outdoor apparel from top brands like Patagonia & the North Face; Tents and camping accessories (stoves, headlamps, sleeping pads, etc.); Bags and backpacks; Winter outerwear; Other miscellaneous items that need a new home like snowshoes, yoga mats, binoculars, biking equipment, etc. Our goal is to post on eBay year-round, so you can buy, sell or donate anytime to support the Michigan Chapter's work. We're so thankful for your support and contributions, no matter how big or small. For details, contact cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org 517-484-2372 or jan.oconnell@sierraclub.org  616-956-6646. Your Chance to Fight Back Coming in July! Sick of reading about the Michigan legislature's attacks on the environment? Here's your chance to fight back. The Michigan Chapter's Political Committee is hosting their 2013 Kickoff Fundraiser July 27 in East Lansing. All of the proceeds will go toward helpingelect pro-environment candidates to the Michigan legislature and local offices next year. Sierra Club Michigan Chapter's 2013 Kickoff Fundraiser Saturday, July 27, 2 - 6 p.m. @ the East Lansing home of Chapter Political Director Mike Berkowitz RSVP to mike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org Can't make it to the fundraiser but still want to make a donation? Click here to for directions on how to make your donation! We're everywhere! @MichiganSierra Support the Michigan Chapter  Click HERE to make a Secure Online Donation! Unsubscribe from Michigan Chapter Updates Update My Profile | Manage My Email Preferences | Update My Interests | Explore Our Online Communities   Michigan Chapter - Sierra Club 109 E. Grand River Avenue Lansing, MI 48906 Contact Us Header photo Near Andrus Lake, Upper Michigan, by Beverly Wolf.

Spread the Word to Your Favorite Farmer: Less=More Offers Easy Access to Subsidy Info * Join Our Citizen Lobbying Team!

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	Michigan Chapter Update  May 19, 2013  In This Issue: Spread the Word to Your Favorite Farmer: Less=More Offers Easy Access to Subsidy Info Join the BlueGreen Alliance for Climate and Jobs Town Hall May 30 Data Entry Party Tuesday, May 21, in Lansing! Join Our Citizen Lobbying Team Sierra Club Members Meet with Labor/Business in DC to Discuss Clean Economy Michigan mega-dairies annually generate millions of gallons of waste filled with pathogens, growth hormones and contaminants that ends up in our waterways. These polluting factory farms are supported by your tax dollars, which put livestock farmers that do not harm the environment at a disadvantage. Help us even the playing field for sustainable livestock farmers! Learn more at www.MoreforMichigan.org. (Photo: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) Spread the Word to Your Favorite Farmer: Less=More Offers Easy Access to Subsidy Info As part of its effort to help level the playing field for sustainable livestock farmers in Michigan, the Less=More Coalition has made available information about taxpayer-funded Farm Bill conservation subsidies in one place online at http://tinyurl.com/EQIPsubsidies. Less=More is a sustainable agriculture coalition launched earlier this year to address the inequity of Farm Bill subsidy distribution in Michigan and how the system favors polluting factory farms over safe, sustainable livestock farms at the expense of the environment and public health. The Less=More web link connects farmers with basic information about 2013 Farm Bill subsidies in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in Michigan. It includes a listing of the more than 100 conservation practices funded by EQIP and the amount of money available for each practice as well as the most current EQIP application. "This information is available on the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service website, but it can be tricky to find if you don't know where to look," says Lynn Henning, Sierra Club Water Sentinel. "We make it as simple as possible. A farmer can sit down and see what's out there for him or her with a click of the mouse."  Click here for the full story and spread the word to your favorite farmer!   Join the BlueGreen Alliance for Climate and Jobs Town Hall May 30 in Warren On May 30, the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) will hold a town hall discussion in Warren to explore how updating our infrastructure to deal with the consequences of changing climate in the Great Lakes region -- from roads, bridges and transit to our electrical grid and systems that protect our water -- will create good, family-supporting jobs. The event will feature BGA Executive Director Dave Foster along with Michael Langford, President, Utility Workers Union of America National; Steve Frenkel, Midwest Director, Union of Concerned Scientists; Brian Pallasch, Managing Director, American Society of Civil Engineers; Roxanne Brown, Assistant Legislative Director, United Steelworkers, and David Hecker, President, AFT Michigan. Sierra Club is a founding member of the BGA, a partnership that unites 14 of our country's largest unions and environmental organizations, including Sierra Club, to work on areas of common interest. (see related story below) Join us for this important discussion on Thurs., May 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the IBEW/Detroit Electrical Industry Training Center, 2277 E 11 Mile Road, Suite 1, Warren, MI 48092-5217.  Light Refreshments will be served.  Please RSVP to Sue Browne, 269-838-5956.     Data Entry Party Tuesday, May 21 , in Lansing For three months earlier this year, Sierra Club volunteers circulatedpetitions across the state to get a referendum on the wolf hunting lawpassed late in 2012. They collected thousands of signatures, and now we need your help to enter these vital names and addresses into our database. Please join us for a Data Entry Party hosted by our very own Mike Berkowitz on Tues., May 21, from 4-8:30 p.m. at our Lansing office, 109 E. Grand River Ave. Snacks and drinks will be provided. There is free parking in the lot behind our building, accessible off of north Washington Avenue. If you have a laptop, please bring it with you! RSVP to mike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org.  If you can't make this soiree but still want to help, email mike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org to arrange another time to help out. Join Our Citizen Lobbying Team! Are you concerned about fracking? Do you care about preserving our forests? Want to know how to help stop climate disruption? If so, consider joining the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter's Citizen Lobby Team.We're looking for passionate people to help put pressure on their lawmakers to solve environmental problems like fracking, climate change, and natural resource exploitation. The best part is, you can do it in the comfort of your own home! To get involved or learn more, contact Mike at mike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org or (517) 484-2372, x 13.  A Green Jobs Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill was attended by many of the Michigan participants in the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference in DC last month. Some are pictured here with Cong. Dan Kildee (third from right), including Sierra Club's Tiffany Hartung, Moving Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer; Brad van Guilder, Moving Beyond Coal Organizing Representative; Richard Morley Barron, Chapter Political Committee Chair; Laurie Tata, Nepessing Group volunteer; and representatives from the National Wildlife Federation, Utility Workers Union of America, and League of Conservation Voters.  A group from the Detroit area traveled to DC to attend the Good Jobs Green Jobs conference. They included: from left, Sandra Turner-Handy, Michigan Environmental Council; Ebony Elmore, River Rouge resident; Rhonda Anderson, Sierra Club Environmental Justice Organizer; Steve Kozel, of the Calumet Project, Hammond, Ind.; Alisha Winter resident River Rouge, and Valerie Burris, Detroit. Sierra Club Members Meet with Labor/Business in DC to Discuss Clean Economy Last month, Sierra Club sent several Michigan Chapter members to attend the annual Good Jobs Green Jobs National Conference hosted by theBlueGreen Alliance.  More than 1,800 union workers, environmentalists, business and non-profit leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to learn about current trends and emerging issues as well build relationships with people from around the country. With the consequences of climate change too big for a single group to tackle, the conference sought to bring together labor union members, environmentalists, business owners, community leaders and elected officials nationwide for one of the country's largest discussions on how to build a cleaner, more efficient American economy. We're everywhere! @MichiganSierra Support the Michigan Chapter  Click HERE to make a Secure Online Donation! Unsubscribe from Michigan Chapter Updates Update My Profile | Manage My Email Preferences | Update My Interests | Explore Our Online Communities   Michigan Chapter - Sierra Club 109 E. Grand River Avenue Lansing, MI 48906 Contact Us Header photo Near Andrus Lake, Upper Michigan, by Beverly Wolf.

Join the Pooparazzi! * Help the State Manage Your Forests Wisely! * Move Michigan Beyond Natural Gas and Oil

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	Michigan Chapter Update January 13, 2013 In this Issue: Join the Pooparazzi! Free CAFO Water Monitoring Webinars Help the State Manage Your Forests Wisely! How Green Were Your Legislators in 2012? New Campaign Aims to Move Michigan Beyond Natural Gas and Oil Are You an Armchair Activist?...Get Your Rear in Gear This Year! Save 20% on Sierra Club Wall Calendars  Join the Pooparazzi! Free CAFO Water Monitoring Webinars One of the most important weapons we have in the fight against polluting animal factories, also known as CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), is the evidence our volunteers gather in waterways near these facilities. Concerned citizens who want to make a difference have helped us collect vital data on the levels of pathogens and bacteria that end up in rivers and streams when manure and waste runs off from farm fields, leaks from storage lagoons or is intentionally dumped. They also check for dissolved oxygen levels, which are lowered by excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that contribute to fish kills. If you'd like to learn more, we're offering two free introductory webinars conducted by Goldman Environmental Prize winner Lynn Henning (pictured left with a friend) on Tuesday, Jan 29, and Thursday, Jan 31, from 7-8 p.m.  To sign up email cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org and specify the webinar date in the subject line. We'll send call-in details the week before the webinar. Questions? Contact cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org or lynn.henning@sierraclub.org. Help the State Manage Your Forests Wisely! At four million acres, Michigan has the largest State Forest system in the country.  These lands, covering the UP and northern lower peninsula, are where everything from protection of endangered species to oil and gas development and logging to hiking and snowmobiling occur.  Over the next two months, the owners of these public lands, you and all other Michigan residents, have a critical opportunity to shape the long term management of these public lands.  If you care about clean water, recreation, restoring biodiversity, and assuring that our public resources are managed for future generations, not just to maximize private profits today, this is the time to speak up. In 2008, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources released a plan for managing the nearly four million acres of state forest and then embarked on a regional planning process, one that looks at three eco-regions of the state: Northern Lower Peninsula, Eastern Upper Peninsula, and Western Upper Peninsula. These forest plans will address issues such as the desired number of acres per species, how many miles of snowmobile trails are appropriate, and whether there are duplications in recreational facilities. For details about the plans, click here. The state needs to hear what you think about its plans for YOUR forests. It's soliciting input from the public through March 8. After reviewing the plans, send your comments and ideas toforestplancomments@michigan.gov or snail-mail them to: DNR Regional State Forest Management Plan Comments, Forest Resources Division, Forest Planning and Operations Section, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909-7952. Join Sierra Club in providing input into the future management of your State Forests!  Find out more about Sierra Club's approach to sound management of our forests here.  Check upcoming Michigan Chapter Updates for more details on our comments.  For more info or assistance, email the Michigan Chapter's forest ecologist at marvin.roberson@sierraclub.org. How Green Were Your Lawmakers in 2012? Sierra Club Michigan Chapter just released its final scorecard for the 2011-2012 Michigan Legislature, which scores lawmakers based on their votes for or against environmental bills.Both chambers scored a failing grade, with the House receiving a 46% and the Senate with a 40%. House and Senate Democrats generally voted to support environmental protections, scoring an average of 89%, while House and Senate Republicans voted to attack our environment repeatedly, scoring an average of only 24%. To find out how your individual lawmakers scored, click here. Want to learn how you can help make sure lawmakers are more "green" in 2013? Emailmike.berkowitz@sierraclub.org to get involved! New Campaign Aims to Move  Michigan Beyond Natural Gas and Oil With a new year unfolding, the Michigan Chapter is pleased to announce a new Beyond Natural Gas and Oil (BNGO) campaign to work towards moving our state away from fossil fuels and toward energy efficiency and clean energy sources. Rita Chapman, longtime Water Sentinel, has transitioned to the lead staff role for the campaign, coordinating closely with MI-BNGO Committee Chair Nancy Shiffler.  Volunteers Craig Brainard (West Michigan Group), Jim Egged (Southeast Michigan Group), Charlie Weaver (Northern Michigan), and Dick Brown (Huron Valley Group), and many others, provide leadership and strategic input. Already, the committee has begun a water monitoring project on the North Branch of the Manistee led by Charlie Weaver.  A new Writer's Club educates others about the topic through letters to the press and lawmakers, blogs, and essays, and several committee members routinely give presentations and movie showings. In 2013, we'll work to limit the expansion of gas production and help show that natural gas is part of the problem - not the solution.  You can help.  Please email rita.chapman@sierraclub.orgor call 517-484-2372. Dust off your duff and get active for the environment this year! Are You an Armchair Activist? Get Your Rear in Gear This Year! Are you an armchair activist? Take this survey and find out. If you spent more time on the couch than outdoors last year, now's the time to resolve to do better in 2013. Sierra Club is here to help you stick to your New Year's resolution with a variety of activities around the state and opportunities to get involved in making real change for Michigan's environment. Check out our website to learn more about our projects and how you can get involved.  Andplease consider supporting our work with a donation here. Save over 20% on Sierra Club 2013 wall calendars!  Purchase price now just $10.  Get one before they're gone! Email Cecilia Garcia for details at cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org or call 517-484-2372. We're everywhere! Click here: Support the work of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter today!  Click here to make a secure online donation. Unsubscribe from Michigan Chapter Updates Update My Profile | Manage My Email Preferences | Update My Interests | Explore Our Online Communities   Michigan Chapter - Sierra Club 109 E. Grand River Avenue Lansing, MI 48906 Contact Us Header photo Near Andrus Lake, Upper Michigan, by Beverly Wolf.