"We have to take a whack at it."

-- Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) on his plans to take up global

warming legislation

In this issue

1) Victory: Say "Cheese" for Clean Cars
2) Take Action: Protect Borderlands from the Border Wall
3) New Report: Smart Choices for Biofuels
4) New Book: Blacks Living Green

1) Take Action: Say "Cheese" for Clean Cars
On March 5, the EPA will hold a hearing in Washington, DC to consider granting California a waiver to implement clean car standards that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and trucks. Fourteen other states have adopted CA's standards and are also waiting for the green light. These states cover 40% of the U.S. auto market. Enacting clean car standards would make a huge dent in our global warming emissions

While you may not be able to fly your private jet to the hearing, there's still a way for you to be in the room. Just take a picture of yourself, your family and friends, holding car keys and email it to us. At the hearing we'll present 1,000s of photos with this message: EPA Holds the Keys to Clean Cars!

EPA Holds the Keys to Clean Cars

2) Take Action: Protect Borderlands from the Border Wall

Border wall in Arizona's San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area

The U.S.-Mexico borderlands region contains a large number of Wilderness Areas, National Parks, National Monuments, National Wildlife Refuges and National Forests. But the border wall threatens these valuable pieces of America's wild legacy and the communities living in the region.

As the U.S. economy struggles, the Department of Homeland Security is still pushing ahead with costly border wall construction. The border wall cuts through critical wildlife corridors, hinders economic growth and destroys cultural sites.

Urge new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano to suspend border wall construction and to review the entire border wall project!

Photo Credit: Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club

3) New Report: Smart Choices for Biofuels
First generation biofuels, namely corn-based ethanol, have had significant negative environmental and social impacts, but with Congressional mandates calling for 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022 it’s clear that biofuels will be a part of our energy future.

A new report, released by the Worldwatch Institute and the Sierra Club, maps out how next generation biofuels, like cellulosic ethanol can help us reduce our dependence on oil and curb global warming, without harming our communities or environment.

Learn more about "Smart Choices for Biofuels." (PDF)

4) Books: Blacks Living Green
As Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope points out in his foreword to Sharon T. Freeman's new book, Blacks Living Green, America's first African-American president also promises to be America's greenest-ever president.

Freeman's book tells the personal and inspiring stories of black Americans -- from parks advocates to Jackie Robinson's coffee-farming son -- for whom "the green light went on." Pick up your copy today then read our interview with Dr. Freeman.

Sierra Club
85 Second St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
insider@sierraclub.org
http://www.sierraclub.org/