Chapter Update - May 2019
Ann Gadwah
Happy Spring to everyone! The weather is getting warmer, and the Earth is beginning to wake back up. It is always a joy to hear the birds in the morning, the frogs at dusk and all the new life happening in between. And here at Sierra Club Connecticut, we have so much to celebrate.
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The legislative session is starting to come into the home stretch. One of the great bills to come out of committee is Senate Bill 232, AN ACT CONCERNING THE ALLOWABLE PERCENTAGE OF LEAKAGE FROM GAS PIPELINES and should be up for a floor vote soon. This bill is an important step in ensuring our existing fossil fuel infrastructure is as efficient and safe as possible and that ratepayers aren’t stuck with the bill for fixing these leaks. Please ask your legislator to support it. For more information on the gas leak problem in Connecticut’s cities, please read Sierra Club Connecticut’s new 2019 gas leaks study and check out the article Fracked Gas News in this month’s edition of The Quinnehtukqut.
Photo: Earth Day tabling at Cheshire Academy
Photo Credit: Ann Gadwah
Sierra Club and our amazing environmental allies have been working together and with legislators to help craft a vision of what a New Green Economy could look like here in Connecticut. Sierra Club’s vision is that this bill will help combat climate change, create new, good-paying green jobs and help combat racial and economic inequality. It has been a wonderful experience collaborating on this bill, and we hope it will become a truly meaningful and significant piece of legislation that will benefit all of Connecticut for years to come.
We participated in many fantastic Earth Day events all over the state last month including in Hamden, Hartford, Farmington and New Milford. We attended a particularly exciting and informative local presentation, the Community Conversation on Intersectional Climate Justice held by the CT Roundtable for Climate and Jobs and the Glastonbury MLK Community Initiative. Sierra Club’s Larry Williams Jr., labor and environmental justice organizer, was a member of a panel that spoke regarding how to achieve more racial, economic and environmental justice here in Connecticut and how they can all connect. The chapter learned so much from Larry, and we know he will be a great resource and friend. If you would like to be a part of our soon-to-be-formed Environmental Justice Committee, please contact me at anngadwah@gmail.com.
Finally, we have some amazing events coming up that you can find out about at Sierra Club Connecticut’s Events & Outings. I am really excited about something truly special on May 18th - Celebrating Possibilities, A Benefit Concert. This show happening in West Hartford will feature local musicians playing pop, folk and classical music. All proceeds will go to the Sierra Club Connecticut. We hope to see you there!
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Once again, I want to take a moment to recognize our members and supporters here in Connecticut. I am always overwhelmed and humbled by the support of the people in our state. We are truly part of something special here. Thank you for being you!
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Ann Gadwah is Chapter Chair, Sierra Club Connecticut.
Photo: Larry Williams
Photo Credit: Taylor Mayes
Photo: Volunteer, Walter Grant, tabling on Earth Day at the UCONN Avery Point Earth day celebration
Photo Credits: Syma Ebbin