THE ROADRUNNER

 

Sierra Club Candidates' Forum

Kern 2nd Dist. Supervisorial Race

Bakersfield's Beale Library, 7 pm, Tues, Dec. 4th.

     The Chapter and the newly-formed Buena Vista Group will host our first-ever forum for candidates in Kern County’s second district supervisorial race from 7 to 9 pm on December 4, 2001 at the Beale Library, 701 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield. This forum is a major undertaking of the Club and we need your help—and your attendance—in making it a success.

     All five candidates in the race have agreed to participate: Mary Beth Garrison, Bernita Jenkins, Don Maben, Gary Sperling, and Linda White.

     As Club activists know, county supervisors have a profound effect on the environment. They not only set policy, but they also set the tone of public dis­course. Current Kern County supervisors, for example, openly attacked formation of the new Giant Sequoia National Monument and Carrizo Plain National Monument and encouraged others to do so.

     It's already apparent we’ve got our work cut out for us in educating the candidates. One stated pub­licly that he’s “concerned about public access to public lands” and that “there was a tendency to close these lands to the public.” And when asked about urban sprawl he replied, “Urban sprawl? We don’t have it here."”(That was probably news to the Bakersfield audience.) Another candidate replied to the same question with “I am for private property rights” as though sprawl was enshrined in the con­stitution and clean air is not.

     The event is open to the public, so bring your friends and neighbors—and your questions. Mod­erator Harry Love will ask some questions on behalf of the Club, but he will also be taking written questions from the audience.

     Some of the topics we hope to discuss are urban sprawl in Bakersfield (yes, Virginia, there’s sprawl in Kern County), air quality in the southern San Joa­quin Valley, preservation of agricultural land, pro­tection and management of our national monuments, improper use of off-road vehicles, en­vir­on­mental justice for all, protection of the Kern River Wildland corridor, energy development within the county, amelioration of impacts from wind energy projects in Tehachapi, and concentrated animal feeding oper­ations (aka milk factories).

     For updates, contact Paul Gipe at 661.822.9150 or visit http://kernkaweah.sierraclub.org/.

 

Chapter Executive Committee needs volunteers to raise their hands and sayI would like to help!

     Step right up and run for one of the open spots on the Kern Kaweah Chapter EX-COM. The election proper, done by mail, will be in January. Meetings are held approximately once a month, usually on a Saturday afternoon. Call Georgette Theotig 661. 822.4371 for more details as to what is involved after you say you want to take part.

     It is easy to say that one doesn’t have enough experience, not enough time, can’t do it! But then you will never know what you are missing—great discussions, great learning opportunities, and great camaraderie are just some of the benefits, and every once in a while you can rightfully indulge yourself in the feeling that you are truly doing something for the natural world that you love and appreciate.

      If running for the Chapter Ex-com sounds like a bit too much to begin with, talk with your local Ex-com and offer your services there. There is a 99.9 percent chance you will be welcomed with open arms. Call the number at the head of your group listing, p. 6, and find out how you can serve locally if not in a chapter-wide position.

     Give yourself the gift of new experiences .

              Yes, YOU ARE NEEDED!

 

Gifts to Buy? Sierra Club Calendars

How to Shop? Call Georgette, Stephanie!

     Order those beautiful Sierra Club productions today: the traditional, always terrific Wilderness Calendar to hang on your wall that features a new, large-size photo every month and the Engagement Calendar, spiral bound book format to put by your telephone with a different picture each week. Just $10 each, and they can be delivered to your door via the postman. Call Stephanie Ruosso (Bakersfield area) 661.393.8286 or Georgette Theotig (rest of the Chapter) 661.822.4371 to put in your order now. Quantities are limited and that’s no joke! You don't want to be disappointed. Remember too—profits go to support Chapter conservation efforts!

 

 

Threat of Chapter-supported Lawsuit Requires Air Pollution Control Board to take Positive Actions for Clean Air.

     This past July, Earthjustice threatened the Air Pollution Control Board with a lawsuit on behalf of our Chapter, two other Sierra Club Chapters, the Fresno Medical Alliance for Healthy Air, Latino Issues Forum, and the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment. The suit would have asked the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District to adopt and enforce six ozone pollution control measures it had promised to enact by 1998. These are rules regulating architectural coatings, organic liquid storage, organic solvent disposal, commercial charbroiling and replacement of two other rules with newer, more effective pollution-control measures within six months. The Air District, in the settle­ment, has now agreed to do this under court supervision.

     Kevin Hall, with the Fresno Chapter of the Sierra Club, noted, “This is a positive move by the Air District. But we will continue to monitor them carefully to ensure their continued compliance with federal law.”

     “This is a victory for everyone who breathes in the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevada Moun­tains,” said Bruce Nilles, an attorney with Earth­justice. “We are pleased with this outcome because it will eliminate more than 6 tons per day of pollu­tion.” Nilles cautioned,“But, this is just the be­ginning. The District must reduce ozone pollution by 300 tons per day over the next four years to meet the federal ozone standard.” Do you need further confirmation that this threatened suit was necessary?    Breathing is more dangerous in Bakersfield, Fresno, and the Visalia-Tulare-Porterville area than in any other place in the nation except Los Angeles.

     "It continues to be hazardous to your health," said Dr. David Pepper of the Medical Alliance for Heal­thy Air. "Each year, we see more children and elder­ly people in the emergency room because of air pollution. It’s a sad situation that can be addressed with a little political backbone. Today, the Air District is taking an important first step in the right direction.”

     We are most grateful to Bruce Nilles, the attorney with Earthjustice, who represented the coalition, skillfully handling the legal activities and to you, our Chapter members for your financial support of the Sierra Club and the Kern Kaweah Chapter. This has helped to bring about this obviously much needed action that is a giant step forward toward attaining clean air in the communities that we call home.

      There is still more to be done. If you want more information and/or want to help, call 661.323.5569 to find out what you can do.

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VICTORY: Giant Sequoia National Monument Lawsuit Dismissed.

Carla Cloer's response to the news that the Giant Se­quoia Naiional Monument Lawsuit was dismissed follows below:

     As you may remember, the County of Tulare, the timber industry and a couple of individuals filed a lawsuit against the Administration in an attempt to undo the new Clinton-designated Giant Sequoia National Monument.

     After G. W. Bush won the election, several environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, NRDC, Tule River Conservancy, the Wilderness Society, and the State of California filed with the court to become Intervenors so that they could argue in support of the Monument. We knew that the issues raised in the lawsuit were frivolous, but we couldn’t be sure that the Bush administration would strongly defend the suit.

     The judge did not act for several months: Finally some news to report, and it’s GOOD! On Friday, September 28, 2001, Judge Urbina granted the gover­nment’s motion to dismiss in its entirety Tulare County et al.’s lawsuit challenging the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

     Essentially, the judge strongly reaffirmed the validity of the Antiquities Act against the plaintiffs’ claim that it is an unconstitutional delegation of authority to the president; reaffirmed in general the authority of the president to establish national mon­uments under the Antiquities Act, and in particular President Clinton’s exercise of that authority in this case; ruled that establishment of the Monument violated neither the National Forest Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, nor the Administrative Procedure Act; and held that estab­lishment of the Monument did not violate any supposed pre-existing rights the plaintiffs may have had within the Monument, including rights they claimed under the 1990 Mediated Settlement Agree­ment. Because the lawsuit was dismissed, our motions to intervene were moot. In any event, for now the Monument is safe, at least from the legal challenge, and we should all declare victory.

     A big thank you to our attorneys at Earthjustice!

     As for the ongoing USFS planning process for the new Monument Plan, we continue to have many many concerns that the process is not leading to something that will follow the intent and purpose of the Proclamation that created the Monument. Many of us, including local volunteers and Sierra Club staff, are working hard to get this plan on the right track and/or to lay the groundwork for a legal challenge should the USFS not be up to the chal­lenge of managing this irreplaceable natural wonder.

     We hope that it will not be necessary to head to court in future years to save the Sequoias once again! But, that is what we will do if it is required!   

Carla Cloer, Sequoia Task Force Chair/Sierra Club

     Sequoia ForestKeeper: Organization’s First Meeting is Grand Success.

     About six members of the Kern Kaweah Chapter were among the fifty or so who attended the launch of the new Sequoia ForestKeeper organization at noon on 20 September 2001 in front of the same ginat sequoia tree where President Clinton signed the Giant Sequoia National Monument Proclamation. Repre­sentatives of the California environmental foun­dation, Environment Now, the Monache Inter­tribal Association, John Muir Project and Range­Watch made preliminary statements. Following Ara Marderosian’s keynote message (see excerpts below) a nicely catered lunch and a stroll among the giants ended the celebration for most, with some taking a further tour with Martin Litton to view the des­truction in the forest caused by the Forest Service logging.

     Following are excerpts from Marderosian’s speech:

     It is due to the perceptive awareness of the need for a focused organization and the support of the directors and staff of the California environmental foundation, Environment Now, that we are here to­day to launch the Sequoia ForestKeeper.

     Sequoiadendron giganteum. John Muir called Sequoias “nature's masterpiece,” “the greatest liv­ing thing,” and a “king tree.”

     Sequoia trees are the world's largest living things. These majestic trees have reached ages of 3,200 years, diameters of 38 feet, and individual weights of 600 tons. To put it in perspective, some Sequoia trees have been in existence since 1000 BC, a time that predates Plato, Confucius, and Buddha to name a few. The Sequoia, a relative of the Coast redwood, grows in natural groves only in California. Sequoia National Forest and the Giant Sequoia National Monument contain more than half of the world’s Sequoia groves.

     As well as being a sanctuary to these giants, the Sequoia National Forest is a complex and abundant forest ecosystem that is home to hundreds of plant and animal species, including the California Spotted Owl and Pacific Fisher. In spite of its stature, how­ever, the Sequoia ecosystem is threatened.

     Logging continues to occur in the Sequoia National Forest and in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and logging loopholes exist in the Giant Sequoia National Monument Proclamation.

     The Sequoia ForestKeeper has been created to ensure that this ecosystem will endure and evolve through future windows of time. Its mission is to protect and restore the ecosystems of Sequoia National Forest and the Giant Sequoia National Monument through monitoring, enforcement, edu­cation, and litigation.

     The Sequoia ForestKeeper will serve as the eyes, ears, and voice for the forest. The plan for action includes: (a) to effectively participate in the plan­ning of our national monument in order to create a management plan that truly protects the Sequoias,  preventing logging under the guise of forest health, fuels reduction and resource management from destroying the ecosystem as a whole, (b) to educate the public as to the wonders of this great forest and to the potential threats to its well being, and (c) to monitor the health of the forests’ many ecosystems so that future generations can share in the wonder of this magnificent forest.

     Quote from a fitting observation made by the poet William Blake: “The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity—and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagi­nation itself."

     Marderosian urged each individual “to make a promise to yourself that you can make a difference and you can help to preserve this magnificent ecosystem. Be accountable, tell a friend, and be part of the solution.”

For further information with details on how to become a member, contact 760.376-4434 or 866. 533.7873. Web site is www.sequoiaforestkeeper.org

News from the legislative front.

Mainly +++! Hooray!

     You have seen the articles on Sequoia Monument and air pollution. No more need be said.

     State news: Signed: authorization for a state-wide vote in March on a 2.6-million dollar bond issue for parks: purchase of land, renovation, etc.

     Signed: Bills coordinating local water supply and land use decisions to help provide California’s cities, farms and rural communities with adequate and assured water supplies.

     Signed: Bill that gives local governments the op­portunity to deny build-out of antiquated subdi­visions in places where development should not occur and should end the practice of artificially inflating land values for the purpose of extorting exorbitant sums of money out of land trusts and public agencies that wish to acquire the land affected (Hearst Lands plus several others!).

     Yet to Come: Support for the Roadless Area Con­servation Rule, the law that will prevent road development in our national forests. In just 60 days, 850,000 comments! Took a year to gather the last 1.5 million comments, response is amazing but does not mean success! When this and drilling in ANWR comes up again, YOUR VOICES WILL BE VITAL.

Sept. Joint RCC Meeting Report. Next meeting: Southern Section. Sunday, Jan 6th. LA Sierra Club Office.
All members welcome!

     Twice a year delegates from the California Chap­ters meet in San Luis Obispo to discuss the current environmental issues facing the state. Many of the topics discussed are often the same at each  meeting but have reached different stages of necessary action.

     On the weekend of September 18–19, the RCC (Regional Conservation Committee) from both northern and southern parts of the state met. A grass roots organization spoke on behalf of an initiative they plan to place on the ballot regarding old-growth trees. It would prevent the removal of a commercial grade tree that was older than 150 years. They were seeking Sierra Club approval. A topic of concern to the Central Valley, that of urban sprawl into agri­cultural lands, may be addressed through a proposed initiative for the Nov, 2002 ballot that would require towns to establish urban growth boundaries that would contain growth and encourage in-fill devel­opment. Another legislative bill, now law,  should help to control growth by stating that  water supply  must be assured  prior to development.

     On coastal issues a proposed national seashore for the Gaviota-Santa Barbara area was discussed along with the concern that the governor is seeking to weaken the power of the Coastal Commission.

     The long-term issues of additions to Wilderness land, the Yosemite National Park plan to reduce human impact, and the continued threat to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge rounded out the discussion issues.

     The amount of time, knowledge, and fortitude that both our member volunteers and Club staff dedicate to these issues attest to our degree of success in the past. It also indicates the degree of vigilance we must maintain to keep our victories coming. The final lesson learned is that your letter writing, e-mail messages, and presence at meetings is the only way we can win.                                           Harry Love

 Kern River Freeway

still needs your help.

     A joint meeting of the Bakersfield City Council and the Kern County Board of Supervisors, on July 23, unanimously choose Alternative 15 of the  Ba­kersfield Systems Study. Alternative 15 consists of the Kern  River  Freeway plus an extension of the freeway through town to state routes 178 and 58  plus a north beltway that will be built several years after the  Kern  River Freeway. Alternative 15 paves 350 homes and 520 businesses;  it  costs $1.5 billion, if eight lanes wide and no cost overruns. Arthur Unger, SC speaker, was the only person opposed to the Kern River  Freeway;  many other individuals and groups spoke against putting the freeway near  their property.

     Unger pointed out that instead of a freeway, we could  use a  small fraction of 1,500 million dollars to subsidize frequent bus service. He also said that the freeway was opposed because it will bring air pollution and  noise to those who recreate by the river and facilitate suburban sprawl  onto farmland.  

     Unger thinks the Kern River Freeway can still be stopped by preventing its funding. Kern is the most populous county in CA that does not have a sales tax dedicated to building roads; so, the state will have to  pay for the Kern River Freeway. Since the plan is to exclude trucks from the Kern River Freeway, the state might not want to pay for it. On  August  20, Governor Davis said California will not build any more freeways. 

     Please write to Davis, thank him for his courage and foresight in making this proclamation (Address on p. 8) and express your wishes for not supporting the proposed freeway. 

     Over one hundred flyers to homes and businesses at the eastern end of the freeway have been dis­ributed. Call 661.323.5569 if you can help with this effort and/or desire more information.

Letter to the editor

Save the Arctic Wildlife Refuge

     After the terrorist attacks on New York, now, more than ever, we need to realize that oil dependence is what makes this country vulnerable to outside at­tacks. Far from encouraging more oil drilling in places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to defend our national security we need a huge pro­gram to encourage sustainable energy production and a move to solar, wind, and much greater energy conservation.

     As someone who wants America to be able to retain its freedom, civil liberties, and environment rather than giving them up like the Terrorists want us to, I am urging our United States Senators to oppose opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. I hope you will agree, and write our two California Senators to ask them to oppose oil drilling in the Arctic.      Harold Wood

Around the Chapter

* Buena Vista Group Meeting in Patriots Park in September provided a nice opportunity for club members to “be normal” after the Sept 11th occur­rence. Delicious potluck contributions provided a great meal with an “ice cream social” at the end with, incidentally, enough ice cream to share with the neighborhood kids playing in the park.

     The Buena Vista group is very sorry to have received the resignation of Leah Hagemeier, its chair. Leah is now located permanently in Los Angeles. Glenn Shellcross, the vice-chair, is filling in and has expressed hope that volunteers for this job and other positions on the group’s ex-com will step forth. Call 661.832.3382 if you want to submit your name or recommend someone to be contacted.

* Great Job, Paul. Paul Gipe, Chapter Chair, has been most generous with his expertise and time in putting on Energy Seminars all over the Chapter’s geographical domain—Visalia, Pine Mountain Club, Bakersfield, and still more to come. We are very fortunate to have a person with his background and willingness to share in our Chapter. Thanks, Paul.

*Great Job, Elizabeth Saba & Ann Williams who recognized that a friend, the Kern River, needed help as it wandered thru Bakersfield proper. These two were the spearheads who have led to a group called Rivercare. Rivercare is dedicated to cleaning up the river’s banks from the incredible amount of trash that is left along its course. You can read more about it in the on-line version of Midgebuzzings and there will be more of an update in the next issue of the Roadrunner. So now, more power to you, Elizabeth and Ann, and your fellow members of Rivercare.

Nov. 1st (thur) Kern River Specific Trails Plan. Public meeting. 6 PM. Kern Co. Public Services Bldg, 2700 M St, Bksfld. Hiker advocates are needed.

Nov. 3rd (sat) 9 AM Unrecognized Tribes of California Rally. All day walk through Bakers­field to Elk Hills.  Transfer of Elk Hills oil fields from Federal control to Occidental Oil Company, threatens their heritage . Details? Call 661.637.1851. Nov. 8th (thur) Public Meeting on Proposed Forest Management Plan for Four South­ern California Forests (includes Los Padres). Frazier Park Community Center. 6 to 9 PM. Your voice needs to be heard.

Nov. 9th. (fri) Mineral King Group Social Gathering at Brewbaker’s Brew Pub, Visalia. 6 PM.

Nov.10 (sat) Excursion to Aquarium of the Pacific. Long Beach. Call Gita, 661.242.8258 for more details.

 Nov. 17th (sat) Pinto Peak (7508ft), near Towne Pass. We will probably start from Emigrant Pass, using the abandoned jeep track. Meet at the CalTrans Park and Ride Lot, E. Ridgecrest Blvd, at 7:30 am. Call Dennis at (760)375-7967.

Nov.19 (mon) Owens Peak Gp. Program to be determined. Maturango Museum, 100 E. Las Flores; 7:30 pm. Call Dennis for more info. 760.375.7967.

Nov. 20th (tues) The Kangaroo Rat. Speaker: Ellen Cypher. Buena Vista Group. Beale Library. Bksf. 7 PM.

Nov 24th (sat) Pacific Crest Trail Section Liebre Mt. Strenuous. Beautiful views over Antelope Valley. PMC tennis courts, 8 AM. Flying J, 8:30 PM. Call Ches, 661.242.0423 for more details.

Nov 27th (tues) Birding at Carrizo Plain. Meet 8 AM for full day trip, 1 PM for half day trip. PMC tennis courts. 2000 to 6000 sand hill cranes, hawks, etc. congregate in the late afternoon. Bring snack and plan for late return. Details? 661. 242.2137.

Dec. 1 (sat)  Mineral King Group Outing to Marble Falls, Sequoia National Park. For info call Theresa Stump 559.731.0594 or Harold Wood at 559.739.8527.

Dec. 1st (sat) Condor Group Holiday Party. 6 PM. PMC, Pool Pavilion Room. Bring potluck item to share, white elephant for gift exchange.

Dec. 8th (sat) Chapter’s Christmas Party. 6 pm. All Kern-Kaweah Chapter members are invited to celebrate at the home of Gordon and Eva Nipp in Bakersfield. Please bring your special potluck dish. For directions call 661.872.2432.

Dec. 9th (sun) Mineral King Group's Annual Holiday Party, at Harold and Janet Wood’s house, Visalia, 4 pm. All Sierra Club members welcome, Call to R.S.V.P. 559.739.8527.

Dec 14th (fri) 6 pm. Mineral King Group Social Gathering at Borders Books Coffee House, Visalia.

Dec. 15th ( sat) Timosea Peak (8664ft), west of Owens Lake. Good winter workout with great view of Cottonwood Creek and Owens Valley. Meet at the Ridgecrest Cinemas at 7:00 am. Call Dennis at 760.375.7967.

Looking Ahead to 2002

Feb 1-3 (fri-sun) Cross Counry Ski Tour in Sequoia National Monument. Feb 16-18 (sat-mon) Cross Country Ski Backpack to Trail of the Giants, Sequoia National Monument. Limit 8. These two trips will be led by Gary and Paulette Landers, Call now for details: reservations 714.529.8154

Interested in attending ex-com meetings of your group? of your Chapter? Call relevant telephone number listed in the Chapter Roster, p. 6.

 

 

             

MIDGEBUZZINGS

     For many years I’ve subscribed to National Public Radio, where I have found comprehensive coverage of the news at a very early hour. It was NPR that first

alerted me to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Towers in New York City and provided me with the best information during those first awful days. I tune in every morning while I do the daily chores of mak­ing coffee and getting breakfast.

     Yesterday morning, however, I found that I couldn’t listen any more. Someone was discussing terror as the current mode of warfare, and I re­member his saying: “We have to be ready for many more horrifying surprises.” That’s not news to many of us. We have been expecting an attack like the one in New York for some time, and have said as much to each other. Part of the reason for that sense of imminent peril has been regular attention to the best news sources, and reading about the wretched conditions in which the majority of the people in the world are living. In other words, to be informed means to know that we are in danger. Even so, we can’t think about it constantly.

     For the last couple of years or so I have used the privilege of this column mainly to address environ­mental issues and problems: the awful quality of our air; poisons in ocean waters; threats to forest lands, overdevelopment of farm lands and so on. But thanks to that moment yesterday, I am throwing down, if not a gauntlet, then a silken glove, in resolution. I have decided that if you, my readers, want another place to look for beauty and poetry besides your own perceptive imaginations, you will find it in this column, insofar as I am able to discover and share exquisite things with you.

     I hope that I have not lost entirely the sense of wonder I enjoyed for so many years as a writer. Dulling occurs with degradation of the environment as we have seen it in the nearly thirty years that I have been writing this column. In my case it is attributable partly to advanced age and the wearing down of faculties and senses. But part of it, also, is owing to constant inundation with bad news. We cannot tune out current events, because we know that social morality includes the obligation to be in­formed, and because in knowledge there is some security. But right now we are all oversensitive to horrors, both in the environment and in society. You don’t need to hear any more about them from me. What many of you may need now is to look with me at what the clearest light reveals to us about the magnificence of being alive and loving the earth

     For starters I am leaving in a couple of days for a full week in Zion and Bryce National Parks. In the next Roadrunner I will share with you my im­pressions of the beauties of those places, and after that, from now on, I will be looking for beauty anywhere I can find it. If this endeavor does not enhance your lives, at least it may help to sharpen my own vision again.                Ann Williams

 

Kern Kaweah Chapter Roster, 2001

Executive Committee Paul Gipe, Chair 661.324. 1923. Buena Vista Grp G.Shellcross, 661.589.0595    (Bkfd);

Condor Grp. Ches Arthur, Chair 661.242.0423 (Pine    Mtn. Club);

Kaweah Grp Theresa Stump, Chair 559.781.0594 (Porterville);

Mineral King Grp Harold Wood, Chair 559.739.8527    (Visalia)

Owens Peak Grp Dennis Burge, Chair 760.375.7967 (Ridgecrest)

 

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Holiday Wishes

 for

Patience, Perseverance  and Hope

 

to all our members, readers, families, and friends—and don't forget the President’s admonition to try to get back to some normalcy in our personal lives. Enjoy happy days—

 

 

Sierra Club President addresses Sierra Club Membership

Excerpts from letter written by Jennifer Ferenstein, Pres. of Sierra Club

Dear Sierra Club Family,

     “As individuals and as an organization, we share in an awareness of the pain and suffering that directly touches many, and indirectly touches all.”

     September 11th is being called “the day that changed the world.” Even if much is different today, the core values that define us as Americans—tolerance, generosity, freedom and love of country—have not changed. Nor has the mission of the Sierra Club changed. Now is the time for these values to emerge stronger than ever ... to ensure that appreciation ...f or our living planet endures.

     As our nation ... plans for the future, environmental issues will continue to arise. The Sierra Club will engage in these discussions; we believe that protecting our air, land and water is a critical part of protecting our homeland. As policy-makers take up the nation’s environmental agenda, we will continue to be vigorous, forceful and effective advocates for environmental protection.

     We will conduct our advocacy in a fashion and tone that helps Americans unite around our common environmental values. We can, and will, disagree without being disagreeable, but our public lands, waters, air and wildlife must not be sacrificed by those who would choose to exploit the recent tragedies for short-term gain.

     Preserving and protecting the quality of our natural and human environments have been the Sierra Club's mission for 110 years. Today we re-affirm our commitment to this mission. Now, more than ever, we are dedicated to the defense of “America the Beautiful”—our communities, our forests, wetlands and wilderness —and to the values infusing our international work and human rights campaigns. As we redouble our commitment, I ask you to share our resolve and to join us in our vigilance as we stand watch to protect the environment for our families, for our future.  Sincerely, Jennifer Ferenstein

                                                                        

 

 UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER  special from Jack Solomon, Condor Group

     It was a good thing I hadn't yet read that article on mountain lions in Discover Magazine when I decided to take a brief overnight jaunt to Sawmill last August, because if I had, I would have been thoroughly alarmed when a lioness and her cub practically stumbled over me at sunrise. As it was, I was thoroughly enchanted, blissfully unaware of the new data suggesting that mountain lions appear to be changing in their behavior towards us, in one case or two seeming to regard us as a good source of protein.     

     From the mountains nearby where I visit there is a dazzling site for an overnight stay, tentless beneath the stars, with the southern San Joaquin Valley sparkling out to Bakersfield  It is also a very difficult place to find a level open space for a sleeping bag. This I finally found, with room for just one, and passed a pleasant night under the stars, only to be greeted at dawn by a sight even more impressive than petroglyphs or even condors:  my mountain lion and cub.    

     These things just happen, you know. One minute I was munching a breakfast bar and talking to Sonia (my wife) on a walkie talkie, and the next, I found myself staring at the gorgeous golden head of a mountain lion, who was watching me intently from a distance of about fifty yards. As I reported the exciting news to Sonia, a spotted cub, speckled like a fawn, suddenly bounded out of the rabbit brush about thirty yards from me, back towards mom. I suppose that if it had decided for an even closer look at me I wouldn't be telling you this story now, but the tale has a happy ending. Mom and kitten gave me one last look and majestically (this is the only word) vanished into the brush. A few minutes later, a deer completed the tableau by bounding away to the east (exactly the opposite direction from the lions), and, with my bottle of water running out, it was time for me to return home.    

     And as I now think of it, maybe I should contact Discover Magazine and tell them that their tales of mountain-lion-devoured joggers just might be a bit too alarmist. Well, one can't be certain, of course, but I am certain that the mountain lions belong just where they are, and it is up to us visitors to their realm to be careful when we tread there. Who knows, in another lifetime or so I may be lucky enough to see the same sight again.               

THE ROADRUNNER

November, December, 2001

 

General Publication Information

Deadline: Dec 5th for Jan. Feb issue

Address: jmal@frazmtn.com or M. Lockhart, Editor, Roadrunner, PO GG, Frazier Park, CA 93222

      Submit an article? 650 words max., shorter is better.               Submission after deadline? we will try to get it in.     

Not a member of Sierra Club and/or Kern Kaweah Chapter? Want this newsletter? Send $5 to

L. Unger, 2815 La Cresta Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305

 

 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NUMBERS:

White House Comment Line: 202.456.1111 or 800.374.6702

 e-mail : president@whitehouse.gov |White House Address:1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20500

 

Senators Barbara Boxer, 312 N Spring St. Suite 1748, LA 90012. TP:213.894.5000 and Diane Feinstein, 11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 915, LA 90025 . TP:310.914.7300

Call US Capitol Switchboard - 202.224.3121 ask by name

 

Dir. Gale Norton, c/o Tom Fulton, , U.S. Department of the  Interior, 1849 C Street, NW,Washington,DC 20240

 Dir.Ann Venneman. U.S. Dept of Ag, 14th & Independence   Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250. 

 

CALIFORNIA NUMBERS:

Gov. Davis: 1-916-445-2841

Calif. Legislative Switchboard (receptionist will help you contact your Senator and/or Assembly member if you are unsure):  916-322-9900