June 1st marks the start of hurricane season. The agencies that provide long-range weather forecasts predict a very difficult season. So, it’s possible that another Hurricane Sandy or Hurricane Katrina will hit the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic Coast before November.

What can Sierra Club groups do in this situation? On Cape Cod and the Massachusetts islands, Sierra Club people have learned a few things from recent experience. Keep in mind that hurricanes aren’t the only environmental  problems that Americans face during the warm weather season. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, massive power failures, and crop failures are also on the list. The following suggestions may be helpful.

EMERGENCY SERVICES: If you’re a Sierra Club leader, it’s helpful to know the first aid basics. Red Cross certification means that you’ve completed training that most people understand and respect. Contact local emergency services agencies including the Red Cross. Ask, “How can I be helpful?     What kind of training do I need?” First aid training is useful. Also, volunteer to help with shelter management, during emergencies.

The important thing is to “be prepared.” Get your training now, before the emergency develops. For security and safety reasons, and other reasons,  agencies like the Red Cross want to know something about their volunteers.    If you volunteer to help with shelter operations, you’ll probably be asked to participate in a criminal records check. You’ll probably be asked to carry a Red Cross photo identification, during your hours of service.

ANIMAL RESCUE: In your town, who cares for wildlife and domestic animals during emergencies? Check with local agencies. Again, if you want to get involved, there will probably be a need for a background check and some basic training.

PUBLIC EDUCATION: What’s happening in your local environment? How does climate  change impact on your community? On Cape Cod and on the islands, families are worried about the expansion of Lyme disease season and the arrival of new problems, including the arrival of West Nile virus. We’ve had some community exhibits that include information about what happens as “climate change comes home.” The sign for our exhibit says, “Your Health and Safety in a Changing Environment.” (The message appears in several languages.)

Taking the information to environmental groups may be helpful. However: At this point, it’s very important to start reaching out to people who, usually, don’t have much involvement with groups like the Sierra Club. Try to connect with senior citizens, religious groups, human services providers, etc.

Our local Sierra Club group is involved in volunteer trainings on May 29th and May 30th. We work with county health workers and the Red Cross  to prepare for the warm weather season. Also, we’ll have some events in early June that alert people to the start of hurricane season.

(sumitted by Bob Murphy, chairman, Sierra Club Cape Cod and Islands  Group.)

If the releases of greenhouse gases are the basic cause of global climate change (true I think), then unquestionably the threat is due to activities of mankind.  And no amount of cap and trade legislation, blocking of tar sands pipelines, tweeking of gasoline consumption per mile, etc. is going to accomplish any significant improvement.  If it is people who cause greenhouse gas emissions, it follows that more people on the surface of this planet will lead to even more greenhouse gas emissions. 

If we can not (or will not) take action to slow down the rate of population increase, we are destined to see even more and bigger storm Sandys in our future.  Completely aside from the issue of global climate change, over population is a root cause of almost every threat to the environmental attributes we hold dear.  Hardly a week goes by that I do not receive a solicitation to “Save the ?????” where ????? is whales, old growth forests, tropical reefs, orangutans, scenic vistas, sea otters, wild salmon, polar bears or ice caps.  In my opinion, a rapidly advancing world population increases the threat to every ?????.

Lumberjacks and timber barons do not go into old growth forests just to hear the roar of chain saws, they go there because an ever growing population pays them well to do so.  The orangutan is not threatened by a native of Borneo with a new chain saw, he is threatened by the third son of a New Jersey banker who wants a teak deck on his new boat.

Homo sapiens is the only species capable of developing endangered species lists — and the only species dumb enough to breed ourselves onto an endangered species list.

Donald E. Proctor

Sumner, Washington

The droughts in Oklahoma are getting worse each year.

We all need to realize that we are not our own entity separate from nature; our futures are linked. Therefore it is in our best interest to take care of what we have. The only things we have.

I am a biologist with an invested interest in our planet’s wildlife (as should everyone else on this planet). Climate change is having severe and well-documented impacts on the phenology of many species. We need to slow this thing down fast!

I’m concerned with the amount of pollution we are emitting and with water conservation.

I attended the People’s Summit in Copenhagen in Dec. ‘09 and listened to panel discussions/presentations each day. South Pacific Islanders and First Nation People living in mountain regions were rightly asking where is the leadership from the developed world, particularly from the U.S.  to implement a plan to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 

These community leaders had a strong conviction and were speaking from the hearth without being disrespectful to developing nations. 

Their testimony moved me and has helped me speak with more conviction and passion when I suggest action on climate change.  

What changes have you seen? How has climate change impacted you?

As a child, I took family vacations each summer at the Jersey Shore. Hurricane Sandy literally wiped out dozens of these treasured beach communities.

Why do you fight climate change? Why is this issue important to you?

While climate change affects us all, it disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable. We have a moral responsibility to care for our planet and for each other.

What changes have you seen? How has climate change impacted you?

-Change in growing zones commonly accepted + implemented by seed companies

-Pets didn’t get fleas over the winter, now year long problem

-Historied drought last summer with crop loss

Why do you fight climate change? Why is this issue important to you?

The significance of the impact of climate change will be borne by our children. I want to leave a different legacy.

I grew up with consistently cold, beautiful, snowy winters. I am seeing that change. I’m also seeing my fellow college age peers suffer from poor diet & lack of affordable education. Many things must change for us to fix our nation.

To me, the fight for a good environment coincides with the fight for better equality of opportunity, clean elections, and a stronger economy. By the way, Mr. President, there is an agricultural system used by Mark Shephard in Viola, WI that can reverse agriculture’s impact on climate change & withstand changing weather patterns by providing our staple food crops with perennial plants, mob stock with various animals. PLEASE see his book “Restoration Agriculture” for details & push this system in the name of climate- control!! I firmly believe it to be an important part of the solution (& it’s economically viable).

What changes have you seen? How has climate change impacted you?

Climate variability as evidenced by extreme seasonal weather events that lie outside the historical record eg 50 degree days in January in Wisconsin; extreme rain or drought during summer. These variations from norm affect the cycles of plant and animal life.

Why do you fight climate change? Why is this issue important to you?

Minimizing the increases in green house gases can reduce the likelihood of cataclysmic events and allow us to ameliorate the potential for extreme hazardous events. We are one people on the earth and must think of how these changes will affect the future habitability and continuance of all living beings and species.

What changes have you seen? How has climate change impacted you?

I am from Togo, a West African country, bordered at the south by the Atlantic Ocean. Three roads constructed on the south of the country were already taken by the Ocean and no one knows if the fourth road would be taken too, as the ocean is keeping coming.

Why do you fight climate change? Why is this issue important to you?

I have been the founder of an environmental association named Jeunes Verts Togo (Young Green Togo) that is (illegible) the local population and has been provided environment education to this population since 2009. Jeunes Verts Togo (Young Green Togo) also act in reforestation and restoration of affected area due to climate change (high dry/ erosion/ etc.) The association also set up some environment clubs in many high school and this is providing education (Green alternatives) to young people. We believe in green alternatives and we trying our best to make the change happened.

What changes have you seen? How has climate change impacted you?

Our CSA farm (Community Supported Agriculture) always gives us ramps (wild leeks-a spring ephemeral) in the first box or 2 of the season. Last year (2012) in Wisconsin, we had a VERY weird winter. We had 2 weeks in the 40’s in Feb. when it should have been in the 20’s or 30’s, followed by the regular freezing temps. The apple trees bloomed out of season & the buds froze, cause a huge failure of the apple crop. And the ramps came & went 2 weeks before our first CSA box in April or May.

Our 28 year old daughter was born January 23, 1985. When she was little the Kites on Ice event happened her birthday weekend & we would have her party there-on the ice outside of Monona Terrace. The winters got warmer, & the ice more precarious, so they moved the event to the Memorial Union. Then, there wasn’t good ice for that, so they stopped having it.

In the 1980’s people could do winter sports on the ice nearly all of December. Now the lakes barely freeze for the ice fishers before Christmas.

The maple sugaring season was short last winter (2012), with only about ⅔ the regular yield.

Why do you fight climate change? Why is this issue important to you?

It’s a social justice issue-the worst effects on the poorest people- Biodiversity is important for resilience & survival- & we’re losing it rapidly -the human spirit, to be healthy needs access to wild places.