Join & Support
Home Join & Support

Our Issues
Global Warming
Energy
Streams & Wetlands
Sagebrush
Grasslands
Other Hot Issues
Take Action
MT Legislature
Resources

Hawk

 

montana audubon -- actions -- february 2010

  1. clean energy & climate legislation -- our future is in the hands of the senate. We need your voice - write a letter to the editor

  2. Montana business leaders & owners -- your voice is a crucial one!

  3. the "parade" of real people - show our congressmen why we want a strong energy and climate bill - stop in their district office....

can we get clean energy and climate legislation?

YES!!!!!! We have to make it happen! Our lives (and our kids and wildlife populations) depend on it. This past fall the Senate passed a key bill out of the Environment and Public Works committee. Momentum towards building a clean energy future and reducing carbon pollution is gaining. Senators Kerry and Boxer introduced the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act (an overview of the bill is on the Information section of our website HERE >>). Concurrently, Senators Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman are developing a bipartisan framework to move legislation forward. And they want a bill by EARTH DAY!!!!!!

The House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) back in June, which many consider the most important environmental vote ever taken by the House. More about the vote and bill is on the Information section of our website HERE >>

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

1. It's all about the Senate.  We need every one of us to voice support for this bill moving forward this fall. Let our Senators know Montana is ready for clean energy, and thank Senator Baucus for his leadership on the wildlife and natural resource adaptation funding designed to accompany this bill.

You can attend EVENTS, TALK to your friends, WRITE a letter to the newspaper, VOLUNTEER. or make PHONE CALLS:

Sen. Max Baucus: max@baucus.senate.gov  or call: (202) 224-2651
Sen. Jon Tester: jon@tester.senate.gov or call: (202) 224-2644

2. We need LETTERS TO THE EDITOR asking for action in the SENATE and strong climate action this year. Speak up for clean energy, more jobs, & reduced pollution!

A great way to continue the conversation is to refer to one of these excellent opinion pieces all published in the second part of September! ("I agree with Kathy...")

Tips for writing good letters are HERE >>

A list of newspapers and links to send in letters is HERE >>

General Talking Points for letters: (see below for wildlife/natural resource talking points)

  • It's time for the Senate to pass a clean energy bill that creates jobs, cut our dependence on foreign oil, and reduceS carbon pollution.
  • America would benefit from independence from fossil fuels and foreign oil. Encouraging energy efficiency and home-grown renewables is patriotic.
  • Carbon pollution has led to major impacts to human health, communities and natural resources. America's reliance on foreign oil threatens our national security.
  • Doing nothing will cost more in damage from droughts, spread of insect-borne diseases, more intense weather events like fires, hurricanes and storms, and ever increasing insurance rates. We must invest a modest amount now to get cleaner air, greater energy security, and new energy jobs.
  • Focus on the benefits of jobs - businesses in the emerging clean energy economy have grown at a faster rate than U.S. jobs overall.
  • Delay is not an option. We must reduce carbon pollution. America must become a global leader in clean energy for the 21st century.
  • The world needs our leadership.
  • The time is right to urge Senators Baucus and Tester to strengthen and support clean energy and climate legislation.

Talking Points for wildlife enthusists, sportsman, and nature lovers:

  • Over 600 groups across the Nation have called on the Senate to pass" "...comprehensive climate and energy legislation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and dedicates funding for natural resoures adaptation in order to safeguard fish and wildlife and the natural resoures on which we all rely.." Thank you to Senator Baucus for your leadership on wildlife adaptation funding!
  • Our natural resources make enormous contributions to our national, state and local economies. The combined economic contribution of outdoor activities such as birding, fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and other forms of wildlife-dependent recreation, if combined into one business, would rank in the top 10 Fortune 500 companies.
  • Rising to the challenge the climate crisis poses will determine the future of our land, air and water, and the fish and wildlife that depend on their healthy condition – as well as the future generations who will watch wildlife, hunt and fish on our land and in our waters.
  • Losses of western trout populations may exceed 60 percent in certain regions with potential losses of migratory bull trout as high as 90 percent. Trout are especially vulnerable to climate change because they are dependent on an abundance of clear, cold water. As coldwater habitats warm, rising temperatures will negatively impact a variety of trout life history phases – from eggs to juveniles and adults.

see Amy for more of these..

 

Here are TIPS to help you write an effective letter and get it published:

  1. Be timely - Many papers are covering the energy debate in Congress.  Your letter will have a greater chance of being printed if it is in response to an editorial, op-ed, or story about the current energy debate. Mention the name or date of the article. 

  2. Follow the paper's guidelines - BELOW is information about where to email a letter to the editor of any of Montana's eight major newspapers, and the word limit for each. 

    In general, you should:
    1. put your final letter into the body of an email (don't send as an attachment);
    2. put the editor's email address in the "To" field;
    3. put "letter to the editor" in the "Subject" line;
    4. have the salutation read, "Dear editor," followed by your letter; and
    5. include your name, address and phone number with the letter (many papers will call to confirm authorship before running a letter).

  3. Get personal - Share your expertise. Editors are more likely to publish a letter, and the letter will have more impact, if it demonstrates local relevance.  If you are a business person, talk about the importance of your industry and clean energy jobs.  If you have solar panels on your roof-share that information. 

  4. Refer to our Congressional delegation - Senator Max Baucus, Senator Jon Tester and Representative Dennis Rehberg - by name. If your letter includes a legislator's name, staff will usually give him the letter to read personally.  

  5. Keep your letter short, focused, and interesting. In general, letters should be under 200 words, 150 or less is best.  Stay focused on one main point - in this case, urging our delegation to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act.  Get to the main point in the first two sentences. 

  6. Write the letter in your own words. Editors want letters in their papers to be original and from a reader. Write the letter in your own words. 

  7. Read these 5 pointers for talking Climate & Energy from the Sightline Institute.

  8. Follow-up with Montana's delegation. If your letter is printed, clip out your printed letter and send it to the elected officials you mentioned with a brief cover note. This way you can be certain that your elected official sees it.

  9. Contact the newspaper if your letter doesn't run. If your letter doesn't appear, contact the editor after a few days to ask whether it will run.

You may find it a little intimidating to write a letter to the editor. Don't be afraid to ask for help -- contact Amy Cilimburg if you'd like specific ideas or help with your letter. 406-465-1141.
You can also download a helpful "How To" guide HERE >>

MONTANA NEWSPAPERS:

Thanks for speaking up for clean energy, jobs and reduced pollution!

Montana Audubon is working with a collaborative group of conservation groups and advocates as part of the Clean Energy Works campaign. The more diverse voices the better!

Contact Amy Cilimburg.  406-465-1141

back to top

 

montana business leaders

 
We are working on a collaborative effort to find business leaders and business owners who support and encourage the emerging clean energy economy. We have developed a letter to present to our state and federal legislators by the end of February 2009. Can you lend your voice. To read and sign the letter, go to Climate Solutions HERE >>

Our partners include Climate Solutions, Montana Conservation Voters and the Pew Environment Group.

back to top

 

"parade" of real montanans

ACTION is now in the Senate, and they need to hear from us. Big oil and coal spent millions lobbying to weaken and stop the bill. This will only increase as we get closer to a vote in the Senate. There's one powerful way to beat them: join the parade of real people telling Senators Baucus and Tester why they want a strong energy and climate bill. Bills being drafted in the Senate include key provisions for funding wildlife adaptation and protection.

pikaPlease join Montana Audubon, Climate Solutions, and other groups across the State who are asking people to visit the local office of our senators any time this September or October -- deliver the message that you want a strong global warming bill this spring - 2010. 

Bring and leave behind a drawing of your favorite bird, a photo ofwildlife threatened by climate change (like this pika) , family photo (with a note like "Keep Winter Cold"), a letter, postcard or other keepsake to our Senators that explains the reason you support comprehensive climate and energy bill this spring.  keep winter cold

When we are done, Senators Baucus and Tester will have a powerful stack of reasons to support clean energy and green jobs.

We have an historic opportunity to stabilize the climate, protect birds and wildlife, build the new clean energy economy, save Americans money and create good paying jobs.  Who could argue with that?  If you'd like more information on these legislative solutions go HERE >>

back to top


 

REPOWER, REFUEL, REBUILD AMERICA


President Obama has made it clear that renewable energy, green jobs, and solving climate change are at the top of his list for putting our country back on the right track. In his own words, "Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all. Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response. The stakes are too high. The consequences, too serious." But as he often said, the change we all desire cannot be his responsibility alone. We all must help.

We'll be working in 2010 to let out Senators know that we stand with them in solving our climate crisis. And we'll be working hard to educate our friends and neighbors about the urgency, cost of inaction and opportunities ahead.

See ideas below and check back often for action ideas. If you are an Armchair Activist we can keep you informed - low email traffic - only when we need you!

Read a great article by Bill McKibben that inspires action HERE >>


<< Go Back

back to top

 
Home Contact Us Home / About Us / Birds & Science / Issues & Action / Centers & Education / Birdwatching / Publications / Support Us / Contact Us
©2008 Montana Audubon / Site by Small Dog Solutions