Northern Access Pipeline - Updates and Actions - Feb.21 at 6PM

Rep. Higgins to Introduce McMurray at Endorsed Candidate Event

The Sierra Club Niagara Group is holding an Endorsed Challengers Meet & Greet Rally which will be FREE and open to the general public. This is an opportunity to hear each candidate briefly describe his/her platform and their views on a variety of environmental topics.

As a highlight of the event, Congress Member Brian M. Higgins has been confirmed to introduce candidate Nate McMurray, who is running for U.S. Congressional District 27.

Friday, October 12, 5pm-7pm, UAW Region 9 Hall, 35 George Karl Blvd, #100 (just off Wehrle Drive, near Transit), Williamsville, NY  [Map]

Besides meeting the candidates, attendees will have an opportunity to donate money and/or volunteer for those campaigns which they choose to support. FREE food and beverages will be available.

Turnout in New York’s September 13^th primary was almost triple that of the 2014 primary for governor.  Interest in this year’s elections is sky high with both the U.S. House of Representatives and the NY State Senate in play.  Excitement is building and a big crowd is expected for this event.

Candidates who will be featured at the Meet & Greet Rally are listed below.

Name                                      Race

Nate McMurray                       (US Congress, District 27)

Joan Elizabeth Seamans       (NY Senate, District 61)

Carima El-Behairy                   (NY Senate, District 60)

Karen McMahon                     (NY Assembly, District 146)

Patrick Burke                          (NY Assembly, District 142)

Michelle Roman                      (Mayor of Lockport)

Luke Wochensky                    (NY Assembly, District 147)


Watch this Video shared by Bill Nowak:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1107460882712472/

(After opening the link, click the Speaker symbol to hear the sound)

Environmental Group to hold Public Event for Endorsed Political Candidates

Sierra Club Niagara Group is holding an Endorsed Challengers Meet & Greet Rally which will be FREE and OPEN to the general public.

The Meet & Greet Rally is an opportunity to hear each candidate briefly describe their platform and views on a variety of environmental topics.

Candidates to be featured at the Rally, along with the offices they are seeking, are shown below:

The Rally will be held on Friday, October 12, 5 PM - 7 PM, at UAW Region 9 Hall, 35 George Carl Boulevard, just off Wehrle Drive near Transit Rd. [Map]

Food & Drink will be provided

This will be one of the most important elections of our time. Control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the New York State Senate is up for grabs. 

We need to elect strong leaders who will stand up for the people and for justice, who will fight to cut pollution and protect public health, and who will help create new, well-paying jobs in a clean energy economy.

New York State needs Commitment to Renewable Energy

By Geovaira Hernandez

On Sept. 8, thousands of people worldwide united for a day of action around climate and economic justice. Rise Up for Climate, Jobs and Justice events, like the one we helped organize in Buffalo at Canalside – which drew several hundred residents – arrived ahead of the Global Action Climate Summit this week in San Francisco.

The summit brings together elected officials, labor unions, thought leaders and nongovernmental organizations to discuss the Paris climate goals, and how to accelerate efforts to reduce global emissions.

Not surprisingly, considering its intent to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris agreement and its assault on basic environmental protections, the Trump administration will not participate in the summit.

With hopes of federal action on climate now dashed, groups like PUSH Buffalo, the Communications Workers of America and the Sierra Club are working in coalition with others across regions and states to pressure elected officials to commit to a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels toward an economy powered by 100 percent renewable energy.

In Washington State this fall, residents will vote on Initiative 1631 which, if passed, would generate $1 billion of revenue annually through a corporate polluter fee. The revenue would be used to fund climate solutions that benefit the most environmentally overburdened communities.

Earlier this week, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that sets California on a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. This is a huge development, and the first law of its kind enacted by a state legislature in the U.S. Importantly, progress in each of these areas wouldn’t have happened without sustained grassroots leadership from so-called frontline communities.

California’s commitment to 100 percent renewable energy sets a compass point for the rest of us to follow. Now, we’re demanding that elected leaders in New York deliver on a progressive climate justice agenda that includes not only a commitment to 100 percent renewable energy but prioritizes clean energy investments in frontline communities and creates good paying, green jobs.

As members of the statewide New York Renews coalition, we’re calling specifically for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to pass the Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA) in 2019 and to support a corporate polluter penalty and reinvestment policy like the one being advanced in Washington State. Together these moves would position New York as a true global climate leader accountable to a progressive populism that is now rising all around us.

Geovaira Hernandez, climate justice organizer at PUSH Buffalo, co-authored this with Lynda Schneekloth, of Sierra Club Niagara Chapter, and Debora M. Hayes, area director, Communications Workers of America.

This article was published as an op-ed in The Buffalo News

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SEE ALSO: 

- NY RENEWS: Cut Pollution, Fund Solutions for NY

- NYS Assembly Passes Climate Bill Promoting Renewable Energy, Green Jobs, and Community/Worker Protections

Presentation: PROTECTING OUR WATERS -- From the Lake of Betrayal to Defend the Ohiyo

The Sierra Club
Climate and Clean Energy Writers Group

Thursday, April 19, 2018 

 PROTECTING OUR WATERS

From the Lake of Betrayal to Defend the Ohiyo

By Caleb Abrams, Onödowa’ga:’ (Seneca) filmmaker and multimedia artist

Caleb’s presentation and discussion will cover impacts on water and the Seneca people from the displacement and damage caused by the Kinzua Dam to nuclear waste at West Valley. He will give an overview of the now successful Defend the Ohiyo campaign to protect the Allegheny River from a proposed frack waste facility at the river’s headwaters in Coudersport, PA. With local interest now reinvigorated towards clean-up of Cattaraugus Creek, join us and learn how to support this effort.

6:00-7:30 PM
Crane Branch Library
633 Elmwood at Highland
2nd Floor Meeting Room

Free and open to the public – writers and non-writers alike

PRESENTATION: Sustainable Investing - Do Your Savings Reflect Your Values?

Eco-Friendly Electric Buses for Buffalo?

Sierra Club Niagara Group is advocating for the NFTA to purchase ELECTRIC BUSES, which have zero emissions and so are more eco-friendly than the existing buses.

The group is hosting a consultant to make a presentation about assisting transit agencies with the transition to electric buses on Thursday, June 8th, 6:00pm at the Crane Branch Library in Buffalo.

An electric bus will be on display at the Allentown Art Festival and the Elmwood Farmers' Market on Saturday, June 10th.  

Learn more about electric buses, and how you can get a ride on one, at the event described below.

Join the People's March for Climate, Jobs & Justice - Hop on the Buffalo Bus to DC!

GET ON THE BUS!

PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH WASHINGTON, DC - 4/29

WE MADE HISTORY IN NYC - 400,000 STRONG - LET’S DO IT AGAIN! 

EVEN BIGGER THIS TIME – WITH VOICES TOO STRONG TO IGNORE!

 

Join the March for Climate, Jobs & Justice 
in WASHINGTON DC

 

RIDE THE BUS FROM BUFFALO!

On the 100th Day of the Trump Administration, we will be in the streets of Washington DC to show the World and our leaders that we will RESIST attacks on our People, our Communities and our Planet.

For more information, visit NiagaraSierraClub.com

and PeoplesClimate.org

Free Film: CONTAINMENT - Nuclear Waste - What Can Governments Do to Protect Living Things Now?

Come See a Free Film: CONTAINMENT

Open to the Public
6:30PM, TUESDAY, February 21st
DAEMEN COLLEGE ~ Schenck Hall (Rm. 107)
4380 Main Street, Amherst [Map]

Panel Discussion after the Film:

 Hosted by:
Sierra Club Niagara Group
with NIRS, CEC, SNI/WaterWalkerz,  
Daemen College Global & Local Sustainability Program, and Paul A. Saffrin Center for Sustainability & Civic Engagement

PROGRAM: Kids Speak Out for a Sustainable World

Learn about sustainability from those who will 

inherit and extend our environmental movement !!!  

Bring the whole family. This program is free and open to all.

PUBLIC MEETING: Northern Access Pipeline Coalition

TALK: Are Electric Buses Right for Buffalo and WNY?

Top Clinton Ally Speaks Against Oil Pipeline at Canisius College Event

Clinton Surrogate Jennifer Granholm comes out against Dakota Access Pipeline

"We ought to be doing everything we possibly can to keep fossil fuel energy in the ground and developing the renewable side."

Buffalo, NY — Former Michigan Governor and co-chairwoman of Hillary Clinton’s presidential transition team Jennifer Granholm spoke out against the Dakota Access Pipeline during a clean energy jobs event at Canisius College on Tuesday. 

"Hillary Clinton may want the climate movement to 'get a life,' but clearly her surrogates are willing to stand with us", said Jason Kowalski, spokesperson for 350 Action. "Electing Hillary Clinton will help empower ‘keep it in the ground’ allies like Granholm to stop dangerous fossil fuel projects like Dakota Access."

Native organizers at Standing Rock have been met with militarized law enforcement this week, but remain committed to stopping the pipeline.

VIDEO (1 min.) - Granholm responds to a question about the pipeline:

Video link at YouTube: https://youtu.be/ftsuX44dEUA

TRANSCRIPT:

Question - Sara Schultz, Sierra Club Niagara Group: A question a lot of people want to know — do you stand with the Standing Rock Sioux in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline?

Jennifer Granholm: Yes, I do. I do. And you know, here’s what I think. In all things, we should be erring on the side of generating more renewable energy rather than generating more fossil fuel energy, and pipelines facilitate the generation of fossil fuel energy. We are seeing that the costs of renewables are dropping to grid parity and below, especially wind in particular is very, very cheap. We ought to be doing everything we possibly can to keep fossil fuel energy in the ground and developing the renewable side. 

National Sierra Club President to Speak at Awards Dinner

Sierra Club Niagara Group 

2016 ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER

Open to the Public

GUEST SPEAKER: Aaron Mair, President of the National Sierra Club

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

WHERE: Temple Beth Zion (auditorium), 805 Delaware Ave., Buffalo - See Map for location and Metro Rail Stations


AARON MAIR, President of the National Sierra Club, is from Schenectady, NY. He is an epidemiological-spatial analyst with the New York State Department of Health. Mair has spent over 30 years fighting for environmental and social justice and is a passionate and energetic speaker.

There will be a multi-course buffet dinner with donations for beer and wine servings. Ticket prices: $45 for those who can afford to support our fundraising efforts, and $25 for those who are students or on a fixed income. 

To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE

Awards to Local Leaders:

This year's recipients of the Bruce Kershner Award for Conservation are:

• PAUL DYSTER, Mayor, City of Niagara Falls
• THOMAS DESANTIS, Senior Planner, City of Niagara Falls
• BOB BAXTER, Niagara Heritage Partnership for their work on the restoration of the magnificent Niagara Gorge and the removal of the Robert Moses Parkway.

The Blake Reeves Award for Environmental Leadership is being awarded to individuals or organizations that have exhibited strong leadership in addressing a critical environmental issues. This year, the following union leaders will receive the award:

• TODD HOBLER, Vice President of 1199 SEIU Healthcare Workers United East for his leadership to protect Seneca Lake and in forging an alliance between 1199 SEIU and the Sierra Club in our campaign for climate justice
• DEBORA HAYES, Area Director of the Communication Workers of America WNY District office for her leadership within CWA in building a partnership between her International Union and the Sierra Club in our fight for climate justice.

 

Rally & Press Conference: Stop the Fracked Gas Pipeline

Climate Justice Coalition of WNY 

Northern Access 2016 Pipeline 
Press Conference and Rally 

Friday 4:00 pm in Wheatfield, NY  

PLEASE JOIN US! 

RALLY & PRESS CONFERENCE IN WHEATFIELD 

2251 Liberty Drive, Wheatfield, NY 

Friday, September 30, 2016 at 4:00 PM 

We will gather at the proposed site of the dehydration station to show Western NY stands together to say NO to National Fuel’s proposed Northern Access Pipeline

We have worked for months to connect the pieces of National Fuel’s proposed Northern Access 2016 Pipeline scattered throughout Western NY. We have found residents in Pendleton and Wheatfield spending endless hours and energy to protect their neighborhoods and families from the dangers of compressor and dehydration stations. We have found residents in Elma unaware of the significant expansion of a compressor just feet away from their homes.

All along the the 97 miles of pipeline are stories of farmers and landowners being threatened by National Fuel with eminent domain proceedings. We see grave threats to our precious waterways all through the beautiful landscape of WNY as this project would cross 180 streams and 270 wetlands before the fracked gas makes its way under the Niagara River and into Canada.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AS DECISIONS COULD BE MADE THIS FALL WE NEED YOU!

IT IS TIME TO STAND TOGETHER, SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND SAY: 

We will come together to call on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Governor Cuomo, and the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation to say NO to this project. This project is solely for the profit of National Fuel. There is no need and necessity for this project that warrants endangering our communities, our precious water, air and natural environment.

Concerned Western NY residents
Wheatfield Action Team
Pendleton Action Team
WECAP
Sierra Club Niagara Group Contact: niagarasierra@gmail.com

TALK: Tribes Take Action Against Pipeline Project to Protect Their Water and Sacred Land

Agnes Williams, Coordinator at Indigenous Women's Initiative, will speak about the 200 tribes that have united to resist the Dakota Access Pipeline

Annual Awards Dinner to Honor Local Environmental Leaders and Feature President of National Sierra Club - Open to Public

Special Event ~ Please join us!

2016 Sierra Club Niagara Group 

Annual Awards Dinner

Saturday, October 15, 2016, at 6 pm

Temple Beth Zion (auditorium), 805 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo [Map]

With Special Guest Speaker 

Aaron Mair, President, National Sierra Club

Aaron is from Schenectady, NY, and is an epidemiological-spatial analyst with the NewYork State Department of Health. His background and experience includes more than three decades of environmental activism and over 25 years as a Sierra Club volunteer leader where he has worked diligently for environmental justice.

The program honors local Environmental Leaders in government and labor including Paul Dyster (Niagara Falls Mayor),  Thomas DeSantis (Senior Planner of Niagara Falls), Bob Baxter (Niagara Heritage Partnership), Todd Hobler (VP of 1199 SEIU Healthcare Workers United East) and Debora Hayes (Area Director of the Communication Workers of America). 

We are offering a multi-course buffet dinner with cash bar. We have two ticket prices: $45 for those who can afford to support our fundraising efforts, and $25 for those who are students or on a fixed income. More dinner details here.

RALLY: Stop a Fracked Gas Pipeline - Preserve Waterways and Wetlands

Stop the Northern Access 2016 Pipeline

 
WHAT: Rally at National Fuel Headquarters

WHEN: Wednesday, July 27, 3pm - 6pm

WHERE: 6363 Main St., Williamsville

The Pendleton Action Team and the Sierra Club Niagara Group are joining up to fight the building of a 96 mile fracked gas pipeline, compressor and dehydration stations proposed by National Fuel for Western NY.

Earlier this year, NYS DEC officials rejected the Constitution Pipeline Project, citing damage that it would do to water supplies along the pipeline route.

On that basis alone, the proposed Northern Access Project should not be permitted since it would cross 180 streams, 270 wetlands and 7 ponds in Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Erie Counties.

To add insult to potential injury, the gas would not only cross the Niagara River, it will be exported to Canada.

Furthermore, we need to incentivize infrastructure for Clean, Renewable Energy, not for dirty fossil fuels that cause carbon pollution and global warming.

Check out the Pendleton Action Team on Facebook for more information.
Visit  niagarasierraclub.com for info on our next meeting in August.
Information on the proposed pipeline and associated infrastructure can be found at National Fuel. 

Conservationist of the Year - Lynda Schneekloth

By David Kowalski
Conservation Committee Member
Adirondack Mountain Club - Niagara Frontier Chapter (ADK-NFC)

The ADK-NFC Conservation Committee honored Lynda Schneekloth with the “Conservationist of the Year” award at the Chapter's Annual Meeting and Picnic on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Lynda Schneekloth was a founder of the Friends of the Buffalo River, which later became Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. She continues to serve as a Board member to this day.  She also serves as Advocacy Chair of the Western New York Environmental Alliance, and is Professor Emerita of Architecture and Planning at the University at Buffalo. Lynda recently completed two terms as chairwoman of the Sierra Club Niagara Group. In her various leadership roles, she is frequently sought out by news media to comment on environmental issues.

In 2015, Lynda Schneekloth took the local lead in the global fight against climate change, initially enlisting help of Sierra Club members. It was a seminal year for climate action. In June, Pope Francis published an Encyclical letter addressed to all people about climate change and the injustices it creates. In December, the U.N. International Conference on Climate Change was slated to take place in Paris.

Building on the Pope's powerful messages, and in preparation for the Paris talks, Lynda wanted to raise awareness about the urgency to address global warming pollution and climate change, and the need for a justice-based transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy.

Lynda Schneekloth led the effort to create a Western NY campaign called Rise Up for Climate Justice. What was new and different about the campaign was that it was not targeted exclusively to environmentalists. It was for everyone, since climate affects everybody and everything. The campaign successfully engaged not only environmentalists, but also faith groups, indigenous peoples, students, unions, artists, social/economic justice groups and politicians.

Representatives of all of these diverse groups spoke at, and participated in, a Rally for Climate Justice held in Niagara Square. About 400 people attended the rally. 60 organizations, unions and churches as well as over 2300 people signed a Climate Justice Pledge calling for bold climate action by elected officials and all people.

Lynda wanted to send the pledges to the U.N. Climate Conference in Paris. She arranged to have the names of signatories printed on a continuous paper roll. With the help of a shortened curtain rod, Lynda made and attractive metal scroll. When unwound, the paper was 42 feet long!

So how would the scroll get to Paris, get inside the high-security Climate Conference, and into the hands of someone who mattered? Well, Lynda is a professional planner. At a ceremonial Gathering of 200 people, Lynda presented the scroll to UB Law students who happened to be going to the Paris Climate Conference with their professor. They brought the scroll into the Conference, and somehow connected with the Executive Director of the National Sierra Club. The students told him about the significance of the scroll and the diversity of pledge signers. The Executive Director accepted the scroll and said, "This is how we will win."

Minutes after receiving the scroll from the representatives of Buffalo, the Sierra Club Executive Director was slated to meet with John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State and top climate conference negotiator, to convey to the U.S. Delegation the hopes of the American people. And because of Lynda's scroll and her leadership, the voices of Western New Yorkers were heard in Paris!

The Paris talks were successful in that over 190 nations agreed that it was time to take action in order cut global warming pollution. The Rise Up for Climate Justice campaign ended in 2015, but much more work needed to be done to fight climate change. The campaign evolved into a coalition, which includes members of the diverse groups cited above. In 2016, Lynda took on the leadership of the new coalition, the Climate Justice Coalition of WNY.

The 2016 Conservationist of the Year Award was presented to Lynda Schneekloth on behalf of the Adirondack Mountain Club - Niagara Frontier Chapter for:

"Conceiving and executing a successful campaign that inspired diverse groups of people to call for action on climate change and for a just transition to renewable energy, and her ongoing leadership of the Climate Justice Coalition of Western New York."

About the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK-NFC): ADK-NFC, with some 1000 local members, subscribes to and supports the mission of The ADK, both in the Adirondack Forest Preserve and in Western New York including Allegany State Park. Components of the mission include conservation, advocacy, recreation, education and stewardship. Join us to support this mission and to share our joy and knowledge of outdoor activities. Visit our website at ADK-NFC.org

EVENTS: Vigil for Explosion Victims - Gas Pipeline Meeting - New Yorkers for Clean Power

Climate Justice Coalition of WNY
  3 Opportunities to be Engaged

 

Vigil to Remember Victims of Lac Magantic

When: Wednesday, July 6 from 5 PM to 6:30 PM

Where: People's Park on Main St, near Jewett Pkwy. (next to railroad tracks and near the Tri-Main Building). People's Park is adjacent to the railroad tracks that course through Buffalo's Parkside Community. Those tracks carry manifest trains that sometimes have 20+ DOT-111 tanker cars carrying explosive Bakken crude oil.

Why: On July 6, 2013, an unattended bomb train rolled down a 7 mile long hill and derailed at 60 MPH in downtown Lac Megantic Quebec, killing 47 people, and two others, who committed suicide at a later date -- one was a first responder who had pulled the body of his ex-girl friend from the ashes.

Explosive Bakken crude oil is carried daily through Buffalo by rail.

Names of the victims of Lac Megantic will be read to remind people that it's not a matter of if a similar accident will happen again, but when.

Sponsors: WNY Drilling Defense, Environmental Justice Task Force of WNY Peace Center and Sierra Club Niagara Group.

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facebook.com/RiseUpforClimateJustice
Twitter.com/RU4CJBuffalo
 niagarasierraclub.com

Funded in part by grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the Sierra Club Niagara Group

 Our mailing address is:
niagarasierra@gmail.com