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The Heartland Sierran The Newsletter of the Thomas Hart Benton Group of the Sierra Club http://missouri.sierraclub.org/thb Keystone XL: What Can You Do To Be Heard? Vol. 26 No. 2 May – October 2013 Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the Planet By David Mitchell The Keystone XL is part of a pipeline system being constructed by the TransCanada Corporation for the transport of “dilbit” (diluted bitumen, aka tar sands slurry) from Alberta to refineries in trade- free zones on the Texas gulf coast. In order to cross the U.S. border, the Keystone XL must receive a Presidential permit. One problem with “dilbit” is that it is a granular slurry, as opposed to “regular” oil, and it wears down pipelines over time, leading to leaks. Additionally, James Hansen, formerly NASA’s preeminent climate scientist, has warned that the planet can’t handle all the carbon that would be put in the atmosphere by the tar sands from Alberta being burned. Michael Brune, the Executive Director of the National Sierra Club, has stated the Keystone XL must be stopped. The Sierra Club, 350. org, and other organizations held a rally in Washington DC on Feb. 17, 2013 to protest the Keystone XL, and a crowd of 40-50,000 showed up. It was the biggest environmental rally in history to date. However, it will take a massive, ongoing movement to counter the power of the fossil fuel corporations, who have much Keystone XL, continued on page 3 Energy Efficiency Cam- paign top Priority for 2013 By David Anderson, Chair During the next few weeks you have an opportunity to help you environment and your pocketbook at the same time. The Missouri Public Service Commission is working on a new master plan that will cover Kansas City Power and Light. We want the Commission to include strong provisions for energy efficiency in the plan. The traditional business model for power companies was based largely Energy Efficiency, continued on page 3 Book Review by Robbie Meyer, Sierra Club member Self-taught oceanographer and environmentalist Capt. Charles Moore takes the reader into an ocean of plastic that has been accumulating since the dawn of our throwaway culture in the 1950s. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area approximately 600 miles north of Hawaii and approximately 200,000,000 squares miles in size has been the focus of his studies for the last two decades. Moore describes the area as Plastic Ocean a “plastic soup” in that it is not dense, yet covers this vast area of the ocean surface, held in place by circular currents called gyres. According to Moore and others, our oceans have been used as a global dumpster by aircraft carriers, merchant ships, cruise ships and fishing ships, the latter of which have dumped tons of used netting and plastic buoys, causing the death of innumerable marine creatures. Ultimately, however, it is the world of plastic in our everyday lives that truly feeds and supports this ever-growing continent of refuse threatening radical destruction to our oceans. The greatest concern at this point is the threat to marine life: seals, seabirds, turtles, dolphins and whales that see this floating debris as food. There is a species of albatross, for instance, which has come close to extinction due to its heavy consumption of bright bottle caps. In the ocean plastic undergoes a process called photodegradation which causes it to become brittle and break down, resulting in small colorful pieces that mimic food. This process could potentially pollute our human food web as we consume fish who have consumed plastic. Moreover, in the process of photodegradation, after many years the plastic actually turns to a dust which is then picked up by the wind and blown across the earth’s surface, in Plastic Ocean, continued on page 4
Transcript of The artland Sierran - Sierra Club Home Page: Explore ... · The Keystone XL is part of a pipeline...
TheHeartland Sierran
The Newsletter of the Thomas Hart Benton Group of the Sierra Clubhttp://missouri.sierraclub.org/thb
Keystone XL: What Can You Do To Be Heard?Vol. 26 No. 2 May – October 2013
Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the Planet
By David MitchellThe Keystone XL is part of a
pipeline system being constructed by the TransCanada Corporation for the transport of “dilbit” (diluted bitumen, aka tar sands slurry) from Alberta to refineries in trade-free zones on the Texas gulf coast. In order to cross the U.S. border, the Keystone XL must receive a Presidential permit.
One problem with “dilbit” is that it is a granular slurry, as opposed to “regular”
oil, and it wears down pipelines over time, leading to leaks. Additionally, James Hansen, formerly NASA’s preeminent climate scientist, has warned that the planet can’t handle all the carbon that would be put in the atmosphere by the tar sands from Alberta being burned.
Michael Brune, the Executive Director of the National Sierra Club, has stated the Keystone XL
must be stopped. The Sierra Club, 350.org, and other organizations held a rally in Washington DC on Feb. 17, 2013 to protest the Keystone XL, and a crowd of 40-50,000 showed up. It was the biggest environmental rally in history to date. However, it will take a massive, ongoing movement to counter the power of the fossil fuel corporations, who have much Keystone XL, continued on page 3
Energy Efficiency Cam-paign top Priority for 2013By David Anderson, Chair
During the next few weeks you have an opportunity to help you environment and your pocketbook at the same time. The Missouri Public Service Commission is working on a new master plan that will cover Kansas City Power and Light. We want the Commission to include strong
provisions for energy efficiency in the plan.The traditional business model for
power companies was based largely
Energy Efficiency, continued on page 3
Book Review by Robbie Meyer, Sierra Club member
Self-taught oceanographer and environmentalist Capt. Charles Moore takes the reader into an ocean of plastic that has been accumulating since the dawn of our throwaway culture in the 1950s. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area approximately 600 miles north of Hawaii and approximately 200,000,000 squares miles in size has been the focus of his studies for the last two decades. Moore describes the area as
Plastic Ocean a “plastic soup” in that it is not dense, yet covers this vast area of the ocean surface,
held in place by circular currents called gyres.
According to Moore and others, our oceans have been used as a global dumpster by aircraft carriers, merchant ships, cruise ships and fishing ships, the latter of which have dumped tons of used netting and plastic buoys, causing the death of innumerable marine creatures. Ultimately, however, it is the world of plastic in our everyday lives that truly feeds and
supports this ever-growing continent of
refuse threatening radical destruction to our oceans.
The greatest concern at this point is the threat to marine life: seals, seabirds, turtles, dolphins and whales that see this floating debris as food. There is a species of albatross, for instance, which has come close to extinction due to its heavy consumption of bright bottle caps. In the ocean plastic undergoes a process called photodegradation which causes it to become brittle and break down, resulting in small colorful pieces that mimic food. This process could potentially pollute our human food web as we consume fish who have consumed plastic. Moreover, in the process of photodegradation, after many years the plastic actually turns to a dust which is then picked up by the wind and blown across the earth’s surface, in Plastic Ocean, continued on page 4
The Heartland SierranP.O. Box 32727
Kansas City, Missouri 64171The Heartland Sierran, the newsletter of the Thomas Hart Benton Group of the Sierra Club, is published quarterly for members in western Missouri.
Executive CommitteeDavid Anderson, Chair, (816) 678-4359, [email protected] Mitchell, Vice Chair, (816) 753-4671, [email protected] Wawrzinek, Secretary, (816) 517-5244, [email protected] McBroom, Tresaurer, [email protected] Brown, [email protected], (816) 737-2804Michael Reed, [email protected]
CommitteesConservation, David MitchellEducation, Population & Consumption Patty Brown Membership, Ellen BrennemanOutings, Michael Reed, Political, Programs, Urban Issues Claus Wawrzinek Newsletter Editor, Ellen BrennemanNewsletter Mailing, Dennis Gredell, (816) 926-1067, [email protected] Vehicles, Tom Kutscher
Monthly presentations are held the first Tuesday of the month at the Discovery Center, 4750 Troost unless otherwise indicated. Programs are open to the public and begin at 7 p.m.
Executive Committee meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month at Central United Methodist Church. For information: call Claus, 816-517-5244.
Upcoming PresentationsMay 7 (Tue) Vision Metcalf, Imagine your Town with a Vision of its Own. Please see page 4 for more details.June 4 (Tue) To be determined, please check Meetup or our website.July No program
Sierra Club OutingsWe are now on Meetup! Sierra Club Outings We now have our most recent outings on our Meetup Sierra Club Outings Group. Please visit us there for the most up-to-date information on any outings: Meetup.com/KC-Sierra-Club-Outings
Heartland Sierra Club Friends We are now listing Sierra Club events and social activities on Meetup. Please join us if you like: Meetup.com/KC-Metro-Sierra-ClubApr 19-20 (Fri-Sat) Flint Hills, KS. Camping at Chase State Lake, music and fried catfish at Emma Chase Cafe on Friday night, backcountry hike at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve on Saturday. Renée Andriani, (913) 488-4445, [email protected].
Apr 27 (Sat) Tour Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site, Sedalia, MO. Tour this castle-like building built out of native rock from the estate grounds. The lodge was constructed over three natural caves and is an example of the Arts and Crafts style of the early 20th century. We will then tour the grounds including short Stonyridge Trail which meanders along a wooded slope. After lunch (bring your own) we will hike the three-mile Radiant Trail which surrounds the property. Tour cost $4 + $4 requested donation. Eileen McManus, (816) 523-7823, [email protected].
May 4 (Sat) Hike the Indian Creek Trail This will be a round-trip bike ride that will start at the Corporate Woods trail head and go east on the Indian Creek Trail and will cross into Missouri. From there, we will connect to the Greenway Trail and will end at Blue River Road. We will eat lunch at the
park by lakes close to Blue River Road. Total time for this outing will be approximately 4 hours. John Haynes, [email protected], (913) 742-0100.
May 11 (Sat) Wildlife Walk - Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty MO. A casual walk through a variety of habitats. 3-3.5 miles. $2 donation requested. Michael Reed, [email protected].
May 18 (Sat) Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Columbia, MO. Explore a wide diversity of natural and cultural resources. Some of Missouri’s finest examples of karst topography, restored grasslands, forests and streams rest within park boundaries. Bring a sack lunch to eat on the trail. $5 donation requested. Eileen McManus, (816) 523-7823, [email protected].
Jun 8 (Sat) Bike Ride to Powell Garden, Kingsville, MO. Cycle 25 miles of rolling
hills and rural settings from Blue Springs to Powell Gardens. We will lunch at Café Thyme, followed by a hike through the gardens. A trailer for bikes and car rides will be available for our return. $5 donation requested. Paul Gross, (816) 985-2339, [email protected]
Jun 8-9 (Sat-Sun) Overnight canoe/kayak trip. Join us on a less-traveled stream within a 4-6 hour drive from KC. Enjoy the campfire as we camp along the
river Saturday night. Some experience required. Canoe rental may be available,
depending on the river. Water conditions at trip time will determine the river. Terry DeFraties, [email protected], (913) 385-7374 (texts are blocked).
Jun 15 (Sat) Long Branch State Park, Macon, MO. Hike through a native prairie, into a savannah and on to woodlands. The Bee Trace Peninsula contains the 384-acre Bee Trace Natural Area offering impressive views of these different terrains plus views of the lake. Bring a
sack lunch to eat on the trail. $5 donation requested. Eileen McManus, (816) 523-7823, [email protected].
For outings after June 15, please check Meetup or our website
Richland Creek Wilderness - north central AR Photo: Paul Gross
“The earth has music for those
who listen.”— George Santayana
on increasing the production and consumption of electricity. The higher the consumption of power by customers, the higher the revenue for the power company. A power company could increase its profit margin by increasing the efficiency of its internal operations, but the efficient use of electricity by its customers did nothing for a company.
The Missouri Legislature recently changed the laws governing the rate structures of power companies in Missouri. There are now incentives for power companies to promote energy efficiency. Power companies in the St. Louis area have been much more aggressive in promoting energy efficiency than Kansas City Power and Light. So far KCP&L has come up only with weak provisions and seems content to continue in its traditional mode of simply burning more coal to produce more power.
THB has made the campaign to
Energy Efficiency, continued from page 1 encourage KCP&L to do more regaring energy efficiency one of its priorities for 2013. We are not asking KCP&L to cut into its profits--we simply want then to get out of their comfort zone and adopt new strategies that are demanded by new conditions.
Energy efficiency doesn’t get the attention of various emerging renewable energy technologies, but make no mistake--it is the cheapest form of energy both economically and environmentally.
We can push KCP&L in the right direction, but the THB SIERRA CLUB NEEDS YOUR HELP. At the least please contact us and we will send you a postcard that you can sign and return to us for submission to the Missouri Public Service Commission. If you have a bit more time we could really use your help in collecting more signatures. Contact David Anderson at [email protected] or 816-678-4359 for more information. �
Congressional influence.President Obama has delayed a
decision, but his decision may come sometime this summer. Even if the pipeline is approved, there are steps you can support, such as carbon “fee and dividend,” divestment from fossil fuels, and ending fossil fuel subsidies.
What can you do?1) The Missouri House has passed a
resolution strongly urging construction of the Keystone XL, and it is now in the Missouri Senate. Contact your local Senators expressing your strong opposition to this resolution.
2) Take the time to respond to alerts regarding the Keystone. Both the Sierra Club and 350.org send out these kinds of alerts.
3) 350.org has a current open letter to President Obama focusing on his pledge to move this country towards a clean energy future, as well as expressing the strongest possible opposition to the Keystone XL project. There must be a massive outpouring of e-mails to the President. Get on 350.org, endorse this open letter, and make your voice heard.
4) The Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) trains volunteers to lobby members of Congress regarding the climate crisis. They support a national policy of “fee and dividend,” which they feel will
allow the American economy to move towards a sustainable path. Their website has a wealth of information, including the details of the policy they promote, and they are strongly endorsed by James Hansen. For the local CCL group, contact [email protected].
5) 350.org has also begun a push for various entities to divest their investment portfolios from fossil fuel corporations. The Kansas City-based 350 group is called ReEnergizeKC, whose primary targets are the Keystone XL and the Flanagan South pipelines (the Flanagan South pipeline would go through large parts of Missouri). More volunteers are needed to work on the issue of divestment. Local contact for this group is [email protected].
6) When any rally focusing on the Keystone XL, or advocating for a clean energy economy, appears on your radar screen, attend if at all possible. It is critical that citizens commit to expressing their voices in a mass movement aimed at the transformation of this economy to a sustainable one. This kind of action, along with a host of others, will be needed to overcome the power of the fossil fuel corporations. �
Keystone XL, continued from page 1
Hydroponic Farm coming to Kansas City
In an exciting step forward for KC, BrightFarms, a firm that got its start planting rooftop gardens in New York, will open a $4 million, 100,000-acre hydroponic greenhouse in KC this year. The location will be just next to the Heart America Bridge and Berkley Riverfront Park. The operation will produce a million pounds of fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs annually, in an “environmentally and logistically friendly way,” according to the KC Star. BrightFarms is planning similar ventures in Philadelphia, St. Louis, St. Paul, MN, and Brooklyn, NY. For more information, see http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/22/4137736/new-york-firm-plans-to-build-hydroponic.html �
Brookside Farmers’ MarketSat 8am - 1pm after April 20
Minor Park, Red Bridge, East of HolmesSat 8am - 12:30pm, May 4 to Oct 12
Bad Seed, 1909 McGeeFri 4pm - 9pm May 3 - Nov. 22
Waldo, 303 W. 79th at Habitat RestoreWed 3pm - 7pm May - Sept.
Westport, Westport Rd. & WyomingWed 4:30pm - 7:30pm, May 1 - Oct. 16
Downtown City Market. 20 E. 5th St.Sat 6am-3pm; Sun 8am - 3pm
March - Oct.Niles Garden Market, 1911 E 23rd St.
Tue 4pm - 6:30pm June-Oct.Briarcliff Village, Thu 3pm - 7pm
Additonal information on KC area farmers’ markets can be found at
http://www.kcfoodcircle.org
Local Farmers’ Markets Open Soon!
Sierra ClubThomas Hart Benton Group P.O. Box 32727Kansas City, MO 64171-5727
Non-Profit Org.US Postage PAIDKansas City, MOPermit No. 2514
NEWSPAPERDATED MATERIAL
effect “plasticizing” the land as well as the ocean.
These facts, plus the fact that there are some 50,000 different types of plastic, produce an overpowering situation. In one 3-day study in the Los Angles/San Gabriel river basin area a few years ago, Captain Moore and his fellow researchers were able to account for 2.3 billion pieces of trash or close to 30 tons of plastic debris headed out to sea–and this goes on day after day after day all over the world.
Thanks to the efforts of people such as Captain Charles Moore and countless other researchers who are gradually raising public awareness, some ideas are starting to emerge on how to minimize our plastic footprint. There are advances in several areas: “Green chemists” are working on forms of bioplastic, including one variety that will be marine-degradable. Most large ships are now equipped with incinerators capable of burning plastic trash. Some cities and even countries have banned the use of plastic bags.
This book will hopefully cause the
Plastic Ocean, continued from page 1
reader to look at his/her life in relation to use of plastic, and to consider that every purchase becomes a moral decision taking into account the environmental impact of the materials that we put into our shopping baskets. �
Vision Metcalf is a 20-year plan to improve the Metcalf corridor in Overland Park from Johnson Drive in the North to 113th Street in the South. The Plan aims to make the entire corridor less dependent on cars and more friendly to people. This effort in sustainable development is unique in Kansas City area. The City of Overland Park developed tools that help guide future
Presentation: Vision Metcalf, Imagine your Town with a Vision of its Own
development along the entire corridor about one mile on either side.Currently the Metcalf corridor is primarily
car oriented. Walking and biking along the corridor is not a vi-able mode of transportation. Distances between des-tinations are
too large for the average person to consider getting out of their vehicles. Most people will consider the corridor an eyesore.Sustainable development principles can save a municipality a lot of money in the long run by reducing the need to drive, mixing live, work and play all in close proximity.Join us and find out how Vision Metcalf works. Our monthly presentation is on May 7 at the Discovery Center at 7 pm. �
A large-scale visual preference study was conducted as an early part of Vision Metcalf.Images: Vision Metcalf, City of Overland Park, KS
We now have most of out outings and events on social media. Please look for us there.
Sierra Club / Thomas Hart Benton Groupfacebook.com/THBSierraClubHeartland Sierra Club Friendsmeetup.com/KC-Metro-Sierra-ClubKansas City Area Sierra Club Outingsmeetup.com/KC-Sierra-Club-Outings
Visit our websitemissouri.sierraclub.org/thb
August Heartland Sierran will be Online edition onlyThe Heartland Sierran will be skipping the print edition of the August - October 2013. We will send out an electronic newsletter instead. You can also look for us online at missouri.sierraclub.org/thbThe next printed edition will be in November later this year.
Take a Hike with us!
