***All in-person Cape Fear Sierra Club events are currently cancelled. Stay up-to-date on virtual meetings and important community news below! Stay safe!***
SEPTEMBER UPDATES
Monthly Meeting
“Protecting Sea Turtles and Other Treasures of Our Coast”
From May to August, loggerhead and green sea turtles crawl up Masonboro Island Reserve's beaches to lay their eggs. The NC Coastal Reserve is involved in monitoring and protecting the turtles. The NC Coastal Reserve is a network of 10 protected sites spanning more than 44,000 acres of estuarine land and water. Elizabeth Colhoun, Stewardship & Education Specialist for the Coastal Reserve, will talk about the sea turtles of Masonboro Island and the Reserve’s other important projects protecting the treasures of our coast.
Please join us on ZOOM
Monday, September 20, 2021
6:30 – 8 pm.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87448422927
Meeting ID: 874 4842 2927
JULY UPDATES
In person outings are Back
Join us for our Wednesday Walkers
When: JULY 14, 2021 AT 9 AM EDT – 10:30 AM EDT
Where: Halyburton Park, 4099 S 17th
Wilmington NC
More at our Facebook page
MAY UPDATES
"Clean Transportation, The New Administration and NC"
Join us on Mon, May 17, from 6:30 - 8 pm, via Zoom, to hear about how the Biden administration’s policy proposals, including the Infrastructure and American Jobs Plans, further the important goal of clean transportation. The speaker is Rebekah Whilden, Campaign Representative with the national Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign. Ms. Whilden will discuss the overall goal of clean transportation, the new policy proposals, how they could impact North Carolina, and how you can help.
Please join the May 17th meeting by using the link below.
Meeting ID: 886 7459 4209 Passcode: 861773
Plant-Based Meal of the Month!
A tested and delicious plant-based meal to your inbox each month, with ingredients you can find at any grocery store!
This month we are featuring:
Loaded Guacamole Potato Cups!
These roasted potatoes filled with protein-packed guac are sure to be a hit. With common ingredients like corn, black beans, and tomatoes, you won't need any specialty items to whip up this meal. Try them for dinner or offer them as finger foods at your next outdoor gathering. As always, let us know if you make this recipe and how it turns out!
APRIL UPDATES
CFSC Earth Day Program!
“Inclusive Access So Everyone Can Enjoy Nature,” via Zoom, on Monday, April 19, 2021, 6:30-8 pm.
We all need nature. Getting outdoors improves our mental, physical, and social health. Because of differing physical abilities, many of us experience barriers to full enjoyment of the beautiful outdoors. Creating inclusive access to natural spaces while protecting the environment is an important goal. Please join us for a panel discussion of the challenges and strategies for responsibly increasing inclusive access to nature, here in the Cape Fear and more broadly.
Our panelists are:
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Chris Helms, Superintendent, Carolina Beach State Park
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Abigail Krump, Audubon Dangermond GIS Fellow
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Freya McGregor, Coordinator, Birdability
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Marci Mowery, President, Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
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Dwayne Patterson, Director, North Carolina State Parks
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Virginia Rose, Founder, Birdability
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Lorraine Woodward, Advocate and Local Businesswoman
The panel moderator is: Virginia Holman, Author and Founder, Island Wildlife (Cape Fear Chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation).
To attend the April 19th program, use the link below:
Plant-Based Meal of the Month!
A tested and delicious plant-based meal to your inbox each month, with ingredients you can find at any grocery store!
This month we are featuring:
Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes!
These sweet potatoes are topped with oven-roasted chickpeas tossed in savory spices with fresh tomatoes and a tasty garlic herb sauce. This meal is vegan, gluten-free, and bursting with flavor. We'd love to hear if you give it a try!
A Legislative Update from the NC Sierra Club
H 220, Assuring Choice of Energy Service, a fracked gas industry bill sponsored by Reps. Arp (R - Union), Saine (R - Lincoln) Szoka (R - Cumberland) and Miller (R - Brunswick, New Hanover), was approved by the House this week with a vote of 78-41 mostly along party lines, with many Democrats voting no. The bill would prevent communities from choosing strategic electrification of buildings and neighborhoods to reduce fossil fuel use, a trend in parts of the country.
Rep. Deb Butler (D - New Hanover) asked great questions about the bill in Commerce Committee. And please thank Rep. John Autry (D - Mecklenburg) for speaking against the bill and in favor of local government options to address climate change in the House debate. Rep. Autry proposed an amendment that would have prevented local governments from effectively banning utility-scale solar, which some N.C. counties have done, but it was not approved. H 220 next goes to the Senate.
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Opportunity for Action: Please ask your senator to oppose H 220 to protect community options to address climate change. Use our action alert to contact your senator and share it with your contacts so they can do the same!
H 444, PFAS Mitigation Measures Cost Reimbursement, sponsored by Representative Butler, would require Chemours to pay for filtering Wilmington-area drinking water that the corporation contaminated with PFAS - so-called "forever chemicals." Currently, customers downstream of the facility in Wilmington and surrounding areas will end up paying for the technology required to remove the dangerous chemicals from their drinking water. If this bill becomes law, Chemours and other polluters would be responsible for the costs associated with removing forever chemicals from drinking water. We agree with Representative Butler that polluters should pay for cleaning up their messes! H 444 was assigned to the House Rules Committee.
Courtesy of Cassie Gavin, Director of Government Relations, NC Sierra Club. Thank you Cassie!
MARCH UPDATES
A Message From Our Friends at Dogwood Alliance
Our forests are pivotal to solving the climate crisis. Click here to learn how to take action and press Governor Cooper to implement forward-thinking solutions.
March Program: Local Composting and Alternatives to Plastic
Monday, March 15th from 6:30pm-8:00pm
Waste and its disposal is a pressing local environmental issue. Please join us to hear from Riley Alber, founder of the Wilmington Compost Company, and Joe Suleyman, Director of Environmental Management for New Hanover County. They will discuss local waste management practices, the benefits of local composting as an alternative to landfill disposal, and available plastics alternatives. Learn what you can do to be part of the waste solution!
To attend the program, use the link below:
Join Zoom Meeting
Plant-Based Meal of the Month!
We're starting something new! A tested and delicious plant-based meal to your inbox each month, with ingredients you can find at any grocery store!
This month we are featuring:
10-Minute White Bean and Artichoke Toast!
A quick recipe to whip up for a healthy lunch or as a side dish with dinner. Featuring fresh basil, vitamin-filled spinach, and protein-rich white beans, you're sure to feel full and healthy after making this tasty treat!
Should Our Forests Be Destroyed For EU Fuel? See Burned: Are Trees The New Coal?
You’re invited to a screening of the video – Burned: Are Trees the New Coal? Movie & Discussion on March 10, 2021 at 12:30 pm to 2 pm EST via Zoom. This showing is sponsored by Tuesdays Watching Tillis and 350 Triangle.
Burned tells the little-known story of the accelerating destruction of our forests for fuel and probes the policy loopholes, huge subsidies and blatant greenwashing of the burgeoning bio-mass power industry. The film follows a dedicated group of forests activists, ecologists, carbon scientists and concerned citizens who are fighting to establish the enormous value of our forests, protect their communities, debunk this false solution to the climate crisis, and alter energy policy both in the US and abroad. It’s not too late.
Joining us to help us delve deeper into this issue will be Dr. John Taggert, Associate Professor in the UNCW Department of Environmental Sciences. During the question and answer period several others knowledgeable about various aspects of this issue will also join us.
Register in advance!
Action Alert! Protect North Carolina’s Groundwater From Harmful “Forever Chemicals"
From our friends at North Carolina Coastal Federation:
The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources is accepting comments on proposed revisions to the N.C. Groundwater Quality Standards through March 16, 2021.
The NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC) has proposed a new standard for two of the many PFAS that threaten groundwater across the state. But the available science supports – and other states have adopted – stronger groundwater standards, not just for these two toxics but for other similar toxics. Even low levels of "forever chemicals" can harm the liver, kidneys, thyroid, and immune system, and interfere with the development of children exposed in the womb and through their mother’s milk.
We need you to ask the EMC to issue strong standards that will truly protect our groundwater. Comments may be submitted by email to Ms. Bridget Shelton at GWTriRevComments@ncdenr.gov. All comments must be received by March 16, 2021 to be considered in the review of the proposed changes.
Read over suggested talking points and learn more about GenX from Coastal Fed.
FEBRUARY UPDATES
February Program: Growing Our Urban Forest
A robust urban forest enhances the quality of life for present and future generations. Join Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo and Alliance for Cape Fear Trees President, Connie Parker, for a presentation on the significance of trees in our urban environment. Mayor Saffo will discuss the Wilmington Tree Initiative’s partnership with the community to develop our urban forest by planting over 1000 trees. Ms. Parker will talk about the aesthetic, cultural, and environmental importance of urban forestry and what you can do to help.
Attend “Growing Our Urban Forest,” via zoom, on Monday, February 15, from 6:30 - 8 pm, by using the link below:
We look forward to seeing you on the 15th!
NC Marine Debris Symposium Feb 10-12
Check out this online event for community members and social entrepreneurs wanting to grow their plastics network, learn from national and global experts, and pitch ideas for funding opportunities for plastic waste reduction.
Visit their website to see the program schedule and register!
Swine Waste Biogas Should Not Be Considered Green Energy
Smithfield contract growers have requested a permit change for hog waste lagoons in their production operation. The change would allow for a covered lined lagoon where methane can be captured. This permit change does not limit the ultimate practices of spraying the untreated hog waste over nearby fields and impacting nearby homes. After the methane is captured, it is burned to produce carbon dioxide, and the nitrogen and phosphorus remain concentrated in the waste. Many of these production facilities are close to our rivers, which are severely impacted by remaining compounds in the waste even after the methane is captured. The secondary lagoons are just like what we currently have — an unlined and uncovered waste lagoon still subject to overflow into our rivers and streams.
This process of methane capture does little to control the problem of toxic stench drifting into nearby homes. The argument is valid that release of the carbon as carbon dioxide after burning the methane has less impact on greenhouse gases than methane. The impacts of the hog waste remain the same. We still have the environmental toxins of untreated hog waste. Other states have more stringent laws concerning hog waste. As concerned citizens, we can reduce hog waste and associated problems by adopting a more plant-based diet, thus reducing demand for animal products.
For further reading:
Sierra Club Guidance/Position and information
Article by Kemp Burdette of Cape Fear River Watch
Although the comment period has passed, here is a link at NC DEQ for more information
Tree Planting Volunteers Needed
Join Alliance for Cape Fear Trees in planting trees throughout Wilmington on Saturday, February 6th and Saturday, February 20th. It will be a fun way to help our local ecosystem and enjoy community and the outdoors while staying safe with Covid protocols.
Get more information or sign up to volunteer here!
JANUARY UPDATES
Cape Fear Sierra Club MLK Program:
Environmental Justice in Southeastern NC
Please join us, via zoom, for our annual MLK Program on Monday, January 18, from 6:30 - 8 pm. We are excited to present a moderated 3-speaker panel on some of the most pressing Environmental Justice issues impacting our region, including industrial animal farming (CAFOs) and the wood pellet industry. Our speakers are:
Devon Hall, Executive Director of Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help (REACH)
Belinda Joyner, Environmental Justice Advocate and Organizer with Clean Air Carolina
Naeema Muhammad, Organizing Co-Director for North Carolina Environmental Justice Network
Our moderator is Ashley Daniels, NHC resident and Environmental Justice Advocate
To attend this important program, just use the zoom link below:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85640359547?pwd=emZuZExhV2VaZnJsL01ZWXRJQlJjQT09
We look forward to seeing you there!
It's Veganuary!
Curious about incorporating more plant-based foods into your life? With animal agriculture wreaking havoc on forests, waterways, and communities, consuming less meat and dairy is a great way to help combat climate change.
Veganuary focuses on giving vegan eating a try for the month of January. Their website has a ton of resources including recipes and nutrition information. The Cape Fear Sierra Club website also offers answers to frequently asked questions and suggestions on how to get started.
Interested, but not quite ready to jump in? Design your own plan! Pick just one week instead of a month. Or dedicate this month to learning and be ready to go come February! As with all of the environmentally-conscious choices we make, each little bit adds up. Each day following a vegan diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 40 lb of grain, 30 sq. ft of forest, 20 lb of CO2, and the life of one animal.
The Wood Pellet Industry Is Still Causing Harm
VICE News shares the stories of community members affected by the wood pellet industry in Northhampton County and Robeson County. Watch this short video to learn more about current facilities in NC and the harm they bring to both communities throughout the southeast and our environment.
Tree Planting Volunteers Needed
Join Alliance for Cape Fear Trees in planting trees throughout Wilmington on January 16th and February 6th. It will be a fun way to help our local ecosystem and enjoy community and the outdoors while staying safe with Covid protocols.
Get more information or sign up to volunteer here!
DECEMBER UPDATES
The Cape Fear Group will not hold a monthly meeting in December. We hope you enjoy your holiday season and look forward to getting 2021 off to a great start with your help !
NOVEMBER UPDATES
WE DID IT!
Our future looks brighter already with the recent election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. To those who had the hard discussions with neighbors, worked the phone banks, sent out letters, volunteered at the polls, and most of all, voted, THANK YOU. We are exuberant at the idea of making bigger environmental strides than ever with the support of an administration who cares about this planet as much as we do. The climate change fight is far from over, but let's look to the future as we make this planet great again!!!
Upcoming Chapter Meeting: NC Legislative Update
Please join us for our annual NC Legislative Update from Cassie Gavin. Ms. Gavin is Director of Government Relations for the NC Chapter of the Sierra Club. An attorney, Ms. Gavin represents Sierra Club at the NC General Assembly. She will provide a summary of the major environmental policy accomplishments and challenges this past year and a preview of the coming year, including impacts of the recent election.
The event is on Monday, Nov 16 from 6:30 - 8pm. Please use this zoom link to attend.
Meeting ID: 875 4186 8928
Passcode: 727918
Find your local Zoom number
Help Keep Hog Farm Giants From Polluting Our State Further
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is taking public comments on a draft air quality permit for the first project that relies on polluting industrial-scale pits of hog manure and urine to capture biogas by Align Renewable Natural Gas – a joint venture of industrial hog producer Smithfield Foods and energy giant Dominion Energy. The public can submit comments until November 20, 2020, and a virtual public hearing will be held on November 16 at 6pm.
This article from the Southern Environmental Law Center helps explain the situation and contains helpful links to summaries and talking points that can help in designing your comments. These operations change because of voices like ours. Use yours today!
Tree Planting Volunteers Needed
Join Alliance for Cape Fear Trees in planting trees on November 21st at Greenfield Lake. It will be a fun way to help our local ecosystem and enjoy community and the outdoors while staying safe with Covid protocols.
Get more information or sign up to volunteer here!
Check Out the NC Chapter's YouTube Page!
Find recordings of our past events and the events of other NC groups, as well as other exciting environmental information. Last week's Zoom meeting with Roger Shew is available for viewing now!
You can find their page here.
What do we do?
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We champion solutions to the climate crisis.
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We work for clean air, safe water, land protection, and a vibrant natural world.
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We fight for environmental and social justice.
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We believe in getting people outside to enjoy the outdoors.
Stand with us by contributing your comments and finding ways to take action HERE
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Help us spread the word.