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The Cascade: The Great Falls Group Newsletter Fall 2013
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 Calendar |
Upcoming Programs--Everyone Welcome!
September 12: Sierra Club and Coalition Activist Night, 7 pm to 9 pm, Falls Church
September 13: Movie Night: Bidder 70, 7:30 pm, Oakton
September 14: Sustainability Fair, 11 am to 2 pm, Herndon
September 14: Native Plant Sale, 8 am to noon, Vienna
September 15: Vienna Home and Garden Tour, 1 pm to 4 pm, Vienna
September 19: Solar Energy on Schools and Other Local Issues, 7 pm to 9 pm, Reston
September 20 to 22: Virginia Sierra Club Annual Gathering, Fort Valley
September 20 to 21: Virginia Environmental Assembly, Virginia Beach
October 3: Climate Reality Update, 7 pm to 9 pm, Oakton
October 25: 7th Annual Energy Summit, 6 pm, Ashburn
November 6: Climate Discussion Series, Location TBD
More information.
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Tar Sands and Climate Action Party Draws out Climate Activists
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 | Canadian tar sands facility.
Photo by Kris Krug.
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On August 14, 2013, Sierra Club, in combination with other local environmental activist groups, hosted a Tar Sands and Climate Action Party. This was an opportunity for local environmentalists to learn about tar sands mining and what we can do to get the word out on its negative impact. After listening to several speakers and watching a TED Talk video with photos of environmental devastation at the Alberta tar sands mining project, attendees broke into to small groups to discuss strategies.
Environmental Damage from Tar Sands
First, Allison Chin, former Sierra Club President, spoke about environmental issues surrounding tar sands. Tar sands extraction uses extremely large amounts of water, only 10 percent of which can be returned to its natural source. The other 90 percent must be stored in toxic sludge pits that cover 176 square miles. This water use stresses local streams and water tables. Tar sands mining also destroys Canadian boreal forests and wetlands.
Chin pointed out that pipeline leaks also pose a hazard. Tar sands oil is very corrosive, and pipeline leaks are common. On March 29, 2013, Exxon's Pegasus pipeline ruptured in Arkansas, spilling thousands of barrels of heavy bitumen crude originating in the Alberta tar sands. Building another pipeline to carry this heavy bitumen crude could threaten America's agricultural heartland with similar leaks.
Tar sands development has a negative effect on the surrounding communities, such as
- Increased levels of sulphur, lead, nickel, and nitrogen in the air
- Compromised life and health of underprivileged native peoples
- Increased rate of respiratory illnesses, cancer, and autoimmune diseases
- Damage to the largest temperate rainforest in the world
- Reduction of bird populations
- High death rate for wildlife
 | | Northern Virginia Community College Green Club students at the party |
Extracting and refining oil from tar sands crude puts a lot of carbon into the air. A recent report* from environmental groups shows that, if approved, the Keystone XL pipeline would be responsible for at least 181 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent each year, an amount comparable to the tailpipe emissions from more than 37.7 million cars. (Learn more on the Sierra Club website and the Tar Sands Solutions Network website.
The Tar Sands Solutions Network has lots of photos, including some of the environmental devastation the mining causes and others of the beauty of the boreal forest, which is being cut down for tar sands mining.
Next, attendees watched a TED Talk by Garth Lenz called The True Cost of Oil. In his talk, Lenz showed photographs of the devastation already caused by extracting tar sands mining. The contrast between the beautiful pristine ecosystems and the environmental devastation already caused by the Alberta tar sands mining project was shocking. You can find Lenz's Ted Talk on the TED website.  | Andrea McGimsey
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What Activists Need to Do Next Andrea McGimsey, a former elected official on the Loundoun Board of Supervisors, spoke on the importance of grass roots advocacy and supporting President Obama's environmental plans. She emphasized the importance of showing up at meetings and responding to climate deniers. She stressed the need to build a lower carbon economy and society and urged attendees to commit to doing something every day to reduce carbon emissions. In discussing Obama's climate plan, McGimsey pointed out that the President said, "make me do it." She said that unless we become active in our jurisdictions and do something to advance carbon reduction, we won't make it. Obama's Plan to Fight Climate Change is available on the White House website. The three pillars of Obama's plan are - Cut carbon pollution in America by reducing carbon pollution from power plants; accelerating clean energy leadership; building a 21st-century transportation sector; cutting energy waste in homes, businesses, and factories; reducing other greenhouse gas emissions; and federal leadership.
- Prepare the U.S. for the impacts of climate change.
- Lead international efforts to address global climate change.
McGimsey pointed out one way to act locally: oppose Governor McDonnell's push for an outer beltway in Northern Virginia; the money would be better spent on much-needed mass transit. Many people don't know that the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has put together a climate change adaptation report that's available for free download. Personal Stories Next, Christine Elrod of the Herndon Environmental Network shared her personal story of her children, who have asthma. She recounted her many trips to the hospital for severe asthma attacks brought on by poor air quality.  | | Jerry Stephens |
Last, Jerry Stephens described his experience demonstrating at Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the company that did the environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline without disclosing it had a conflict of interest. The demonstrators peacefully demonstrated in ERM's lobby, and Stephens and others were arrested. He told the group, "Activism is my rent for living on this planet." Act on Climate After meeting in break-out groups, attendees collected some ideas on steps to take to stop the Keystone XL pipeline and act on climate change: - Meet with our local officials. Go to town hall and Board of Supervisors meetings, and meet with our local officials. Personal stories are particularly effective, and group efforts are, too, even from homeowners' associations or other community groups.
- Contact our federal representatives. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) supports the Keystone XL Pipeline; we can contact Sen. Warner and ask him to oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline and support President Obama in reducing carbon emissions from power plants.
- Work with our places of worship. Addressing climate change is a moral imperative.
- Use Garth Lenz's TED Talk video, The True Cost of Oil, to educate others.
- Write letters to the editor.
- Volunteer with organizations like the Sierra Club to collect signatures opposing the Keystone XL pipeline or supporting President Obama's plan on climate change.
- Use our online profiles on Facebook or Twitter to get the message out. Follow #ActOnClimate on Twitter, and use it in our posts.
 A follow-up meeting is planned for September 12 in Tysons Corner. (See Calendar for details.) * Learn more in Cooking the Books: How the State Department Analysis Ignores the True Climate Impact of the Keystone XL Pipeline By Linda Brown and Carol Anne Hall
Photos from party by Jennifer Sarff
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Did You Miss These Local Sierra Club Programs?
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Movie Night: Tapped
On Monday, July 15, I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Tapped: The Movie hosted by the Sierra Club Great Falls Group. I had seen the film before, but it was just as riveting the second time. If you have any doubts about the toxic effects of bottled water on the planet and its denizens, I highly recommend you watch Tapped.
It is estimated that by 2030 two-thirds of the world will be bereft of clean drinking water. That's shocking! Water should be a basic human right, yet it is a resource we often take for granted in America. We guzzle down millions of gallons of the manufactured catastrophe that is bottled water, rather than taking advantage of clean, safe tap water available in most areas. Incidentally approximately 40 percent of bottled water is just filtered tap water, packaged in an environmentally unfriendly and health-damaging way and sold at a massive markup.
Tapped the Movie: Official Site -- Lots of resources, video clips, and a map of bottled water extraction and/or bottling sites across the United States. (There are three listed for Virginia.)
Tapped: Even More Arguments Against Bottled Water -- Review at My Plastic-free Life
In case you are curious about the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) position on bottled water regulation, you can read about it on the FDA website. It doesn't sound much like the Environmental Protection Agency's stringent regulation of tap water.
Support Local Action!
Some of us are working on a draft Fairfax County policy to ask our county supervisors to support a prohibition of the purchase of bottled water by the County. In addition to the health and environmental benefits, cost savings could be significant when comparing the use of tap water to the purchase of bottled water. The current water rate in Fairfax County is under $3 per 1,000 gallons compared to a cost of approximately $2,560 for the same amount of bottled water.
By Christine Elrod of Herndon Environmental Network. Reprinted with permission from HEN House, the blog for Herndon Environmental Network.
Movie Night: Carbon Nation
On Friday, June 21st, the Great Falls Group cohosted Carbon Nation, a feature-length documentary about climate change solutions. Compelling and relevant, it illustrated how solutions to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues.
Here are some of the voices heard in Carbon Nation:
Cliff Etheredge, a wind farmer and West Texas cotton farmer, organized 500-acre farmers into Peak Wind, one of the world's largest wind farms. His town (Roscoe, TX) was dying, but many people are now returning to Roscoe to work on the wind farms.
Dan Nolan, former army colonel, talked about the Green Hawks, who are leading the Pentagon's move towards energy efficiency and sustainable power. To reduce at-risk convoys transporting diesel fuel for generators in Iraq and Afghanistan, Green Hawks support energy efficiency and on-site wind and solar power.
Bernie Karl has found a way to create geothermal power from 165-degree water, rather than 250- to 400-degree water. At most oil wells, 95 percent of the liquid drilled from the ground is hot water that is about 165 degrees.
Richard Branson, founder and CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airways, is leading the hunt for a biofuel replacement for jet fuel and offering $25 million for the first scientist who can demonstrably remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
R. James Woolsey, former CIA director, is a vocal proponent for the plug-in hybrid car. He considers America's addiction to oil as the biggest threat to our national security.
Thomas I. Friedman, author, reporter, and columnist, believes that going green will save U.S. companies billions of dollars and spur a new set of industries worth possibly trillions of dollars.
These and other voices are inspirational, optimistic, solutions-based, nonpreachy, and nonpartisan. They show that tackling climate change boosts the economy, increases national and energy security, and promotes health and a clean environment.
This movie night was cosponsored by Sierra Club Great Falls Group and the Climate Action Group at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax.
By Linda Brown
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Sierra Club Partners -- 350 Loudoun
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Sierra Club has been working with other local environmental groups on common goals. One of them is 350 Loudoun, which shared this report on its activities.
 | | 350 Loudoun booth at Lucketts Fair with educational kiosk |
350 Loudoun is the newest environmental organization in Loudoun County. It is a grassroots organization focused on one issue, climate change. We formed after the Earth Night (April 21, 2013) screening of Bill McKibben's new documentary Do the Math. The film was debuted in three locations in Loudoun County. Several people who viewed the documentary began meeting in May to "do something" about climate change.
Despite its short history, 350 Loudoun has been very active, meeting twice a month to plan outreach and activism activities. The group created a mission statement:
"350 Loudoun is a local chapter of Bill McKibben's national organization 350.org. 350 Loudoun is dedicated to building an awareness of human-induced climate change among the residents and businesses of Loudoun County. Through education, outreach, and civic action, 350 Loudoun aims to promote a sound understanding of human-induced climate change and its impacts on our economy, national security, public health, local community, and environment. Our efforts include working with elected officials to create a strong public policy response to climate change."
350 Loudoun sponsors several events/activities to accomplish its mission statement. Once a month, it sponsors a film or presentation at Rust Library in Leesburg to help people understand the complex issue of climate change. In June, Andrea McGimsey presented Al Gore's Climate Reality Project program. In July, Keith Thirion of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), presented the new documentary Chasing Ice, which documents shrinking glaciers. In August, the film Carbon Nation was shown. At each event, 350 Loudoun provides provocative handouts to challenge attendees about their energy use and climate change issues, as well as promote related events sponsored by other organizations.
To achieve visibility and raise the issue of climate change, 350 Loudoun has participated in local events, marching parades and participating in fairs. At fairs, we exhibit an educational kiosk for adults and renewable energy images face painting for children.
 350 Loudoun also plans and participates in climate change activism, and we participated in the following:
- "Walk for Our Grandchildren," sponsored by CCAN. One of our members walked the entire distance from Camp David, Maryland, to Washington, D.C. Other members participated as day walkers. We also honored the walkers with a rally at the Loudoun County Government Center and a pot luck dinner at a Leesburg middle school.
- Opposing the Outer Beltway/Bi-County Parkway proposed by VDOT. 350 Loundoun helped several Walk for our Grandchildren participants attend a Leesburg Town Council public input session on the outer beltway. That evening, the council adopted a motion to oppose the road.
- Keystone XL Pipeline protest march in Washington, D.C.
- Sit-in at the offices of Environmental Resource Management, which did the environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline without disclosing it had a conflict of interest.
- Sit-in at the U.S. State Department to protest the Keystone XL Pipeline.
- The 50th Anniversary March on Washington, joining the Sierra Club, on August 24.
Finally, 350 Loudoun attends each Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Public Input sessions to make statements on BOS agenda items that relate to climate change, call upon the BOS to implement the Loudoun County Energy Strategy approved and adopted on December 15, 2009, and update the BOS on current climate change thought.
In summary, 350 Loudoun is a new and energetic group committed to making a difference on the issue of climate change.
Learn more about 350 Loudoun on their Facebook page.
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Fairfax County Sierra Club Representatives Needed
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Do you want to have your ideas on the environment in Fairfax County heard?
If we work together, we can accomplish many positive changes within our home in Fairfax County.
We are inviting Sierra Club volunteers who are interested in making a difference in each of the Fairfax County Districts to identify issues they have and meet periodically with their supervisors to find helpful resolutions.
A number of members have already started this process, and we would like to expand to other Districts. If we can get more members involved in the meetings and discussing common issues with the Board of Supervisors, we would have a better chance of accomplishing these changes. This is intended to be a nonpolitical group.
You can find some of the previous issues discussed with the Supervisors on the Great Falls Group website.
We are planning a kickoff meeting or conference call with 1 or 2 representatives from each district to discuss a plan on how to accomplish this.
If you have visited your supervisor before, we would certainly like to hear about your experience.
If you would like to find out who your supervisor is and what district you are in, please visit the Fairfax County Neighborhood Mapping Tool, and enter your address.
Please contact Norbert Pink if you want to take part in this effort or if you have any questions.
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Great Falls Group is on Facebook
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Like us on Facebook--Sierra Club Great Falls Group Page
http://www.facebook.com/GreatFallsVaSierraClubChapter We are looking for a lead Facebook Administrator. If you have a passion for the environment, time to volunteer, creative writing skills, and a Facebook account, you may be the person we are looking for to join our Facebook Team! You will not be alone--we are a TEAM and will all work together to manage the Great Falls Group Facebook page. If you'd like to help, contact Susan Bonney.
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Get Outdoors with the Sierra Club
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Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) is a special activities group of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. It organizes hikes and events year-round for the general public on behalf of the Sierra Club's Washington, DC, Chapter and the Maryland and Virginia Chapters' Washington-suburb groups. Volunteer leaders conduct the events, many of which include conservation, educational, or historical elements. For information about SCPRO and its upcoming events, visit the SCPRO Events website. To obtain a free calendar subscription, inquire about becoming a SCPRO outings leader, or get answers to other questions, write to [email protected].
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Great Falls Group Executive Committee
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The monthly meeting of The Great Falls Group's (GFG) Executive Committee is usually held on the last Monday of the month, beginning at 7:30 p.m., and is open to all Sierra Club members. Contact Linda Burchfiel for meeting times and location.
Officers:
Chair Linda Burchfiel 703-506-4310 [email protected]
Treasurer Joe Apple 703-860-1254 [email protected]
Secretary Volunteer wanted
Committee Chairs:
Chapter Delegate Joe Apple 703-860-1254 [email protected]
Conservation Steve Bruckner 703-883-3622 [email protected]
Membership Norbert Pink 703-264-7445 [email protected]
Education Volunteer wanted
Political Bob Pearson 703 690-3071 [email protected]
Programs Susan Weltz [email protected]
Outreach Susan Bonney 703-821-5587 [email protected]
Communications Linda Brown [email protected]
Committee Support:
Webmaster &
Listserv Linda Stevens [email protected]
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Calendar
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Thursday, September 12, 7 pm to 9 pm, Sierra Club and Coalition Activist Night
Continuing the Pressure on Tar Sands and Climate Action
7:00 pm pizza, with activism from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA
Enjoy pizza and follow up on local environmental groups' collective actions to stop the expansion of tar sands production and stop projects like the Keystone XL pipeline. Help preserve the positive actions set at the August 14 party (see story above) by the local environmental community, and keep the pressure on President Obama to reject climate disaster.
Friday, September 13, 7:30 pm, Movie Night: Bidder 70
Cosponsored by the Climate Action Group at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax and Sierra Club Great Falls Group
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA
This documentary relates the saga of Tim DeChristopher, who brazenly bid $1.7 million to win 12 land parcels at a federal oil lease auction. With no intention of paying--and determined to protect the land--the activist begins a long legal battle.
Saturday, September 14, 11 am to 2 pm, Sustainability Fair
Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, VA
Come and have fun on the farm while learning about sustainability and renewable energy! Join family and friends for free carousel and hay rides, field games, arts & crafts, lots of kid-friendly tables, and demonstrations. Sponsored by Katydids, Inc., and The Three Birds Foundation, a nonprofit focused on renewable energy, student engagement, and community identity. Contact: [email protected] or telephone 703-689-3104.Saturday, September 14, 8 am to noon, Native Plant Sale
Vienna Community Center Parking Lot, 120 Cherry Street, SE, Vienna, VA
Native plants are easy to care for, consume less water, and many are deer resistant. And fall is considered a great time to plant because there is less heat stress for your new plants. To protect your trunk--and to reduce the use of new plastic, it is suggested that you bring bags or boxes to use for carrying your plants home. Credit card, cash, or check accepted.Sponsor: Town of Vienna, Parks & Recreation Department
Sunday, September 15, 1 pm to 4 pm, Vienna Home and Garden Tour Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street, SE, Vienna, VA
This tour will highlight some of Vienna's most sustainable homes and gardens and give the public a firsthand look at what residents are doing to improve their properties with long-term sustainable changes. You are invited to visit all or some of these properties to learn more about using reclaimed items in your renovation, energy efficiency, geothermal heating and cooling, native plants, and gardening with deer. Free event!
Sponsor: Town of Vienna, Community Enhancement Commission
Thursday, September 19, 7 pm to 9 pm, Solar Energy on Schools and Other Local Issues Reston Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, VA
Joe Plummer will report on his campaign to get solar panels on Fairfax County public schools, and Conrad Meehan will update us on his efforts to get a Renewable Energy Demonstration Park in the Lorton area. (See more on this Green Energy Corridor project in Lorton in the Summer 2012 issue of The Cascade.) If we support their goals and want to see progress, we need to tell our Supervisors. Joe and Conrad will provide short scripts so we can make quick calls to our Supervisors and leave messages in support of their plans. Hot pizza served at 7; program starts at 7:15.
Contact: Linda Burchfiel at [email protected] or 703-506-4310
Friday September 20, to Sunday, September 22, Virginia Sierra Club Annual Gathering 2013 Caroline Furnace Camp, 2239 Camp Roosevelt Road, Fort Valley, VA
Located in the heart of the George Washington National Forest, the gathering will have a fun, relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere--to include a Friday sing-along and dancing on Saturday night. Cabins are rustic but have heat and bathrooms, and you can tent camp if you like. Programs will feature special guest Dan Chu, Director of Sierra Club's Our Wild America Campaign. He will speak about this campaign, which respects the 120-year heritage of the Sierra Club as an organization that enjoys, explores, and protects the wild places of our planet. And Ben Greenberg will preview his upcoming book, Natural Virginia, with nature photos from across the Commonwealth. Cost varies for adults, students, and children--as well as for overnight and day passes. Price covers lodging, meals, and weekend activities (unless otherwise noted). Space is limited, so register today!
Friday, September 20, to Saturday, September 21, Virginia Environmental Assembly Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Conservation Network invites you to come and hear presentations about the local benefits of clean water, which will be followed by a Friday evening reception honoring local conservation heroes. On Saturday, there will be workshops that feature Hampton Roads leaders in energy efficiency, climate resiliency, and community planning and alternative transportation.
Registration: Fee is $45. See www.vcnva.org or call 804-644-0283.
Thursday, October 3, 7 pm to 9 pm, Climate Reality Update Oakton Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton, VA
Andrea McGimsey will give Al Gore's Climate Reality presentation, which was originally seen in An Inconvenient Truth. Andrea's presentation has been updated with the latest science and climate impacts from around the world, includes a brief review of President Obama's climate plan, and ends with actions you can take to make a difference. Andrea is a former member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, where she led local, regional, state, national, and international efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Hot pizza served at 7, program begins at 7:15.
Friday, October 25, 6 pm, 7th Annual Energy Summit
(Doors open at 6 pm; program begins at 7 pm)
George Washington University, Ashburn Campus, 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn, VA Sponsored by Sustainable Loudoun Featured speaker: Kent Klitgaard, professor of economics at Wells College in Aurora, New York, founding member, along with Charles A. S. Hall, of the Biophysical Economics Society. He and Hall coauthored Energy and the Wealth of Nations. We are reaching biophysical limits in the form of peak oil production, rising energy prices, falling energy quality, declining energy returns on investment and the build-up of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, along with a whole host of other biophysical limits (water shortages, ocean acidification, food security, etc.). We need a public dialog on how we can design a system that reduces waste, resource depletion, conspicuous consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions without paying the price of rising unemployment and diminishing opportunities.
Free Admission, alternative energy vendors, wine, food Cosponsors: GWU, REHAU, CCAN, Corcoran Winery, Loudoun 350
Wednesday, November 6, evening, Climate Discussion Series
Rapid Arctic warming and extreme weather events in mid-latitudes: Are they connected? Jennifer Francis earned a B.S. in meteorology from San Jose State University in 1988 and a Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Washington in 1994. As a professor at Rutgers University since 1994, she has taught courses in satellite remote sensing and climate-change issues, and also cofounded and codirected the Rutgers Climate and Environmental Change Initiative. Presently she is a research professor with the Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences and studies Arctic climate change and Arctic-global climate linkages. She and her husband circumnavigated the world in a sailboat from 1980-1985, including Cape Horn and the Arctic, during which her interest in weather and the Arctic began.
Francis will discuss analyses that demonstrate links between recent warming in the Arctic with changes in mid-latitude weather patterns. Evidence suggests that Arctic amplification has contributed to an increase in large-scale wave amplitude and slower zonal winds. Both of these trends in turn contribute to persistent weather patterns in mid-latitudes, such as the mid-Atlantic region where we live. Prolonged weather conditions are often associated with extreme weather, such as droughts, cold spells, heat waves, and flooding, which have become more frequent in recent years. Free Admission Cosponsors: GWU, REHAU, CCAN, Corcoran Winery, Loudoun 350
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The Cascade is published by the Great Falls Group of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Beginning 2012, it is being published electronically. We reserve the right to edit all submissions, both editorial and advertisements. The views expressed are those of the authors and may not be those of the Sierra Club. Email articles, photos, questions, or comments to [email protected].
Visit the Great Falls Group website.
Subscribe to our listserve at http://virginia.sierraclub.org/greatfalls/greatfallsnews.html
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Linda Brown, Editor
Sierra Club Great Falls Group, Virginia
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