Central New Mexico Group

During March 2013, Bernalillo County has scheduled many events. Plus, it’s also time to apply for the Master Naturalist Program. Please see the attached Open Space Program of Events for a complete listing of the County’s Open Space activities this year. You can sign up for the workshops this month at bernco.gov/openspace.

Master Naturalist Program
Accepting applications now until March 29. The training will take place this June and July at Bachechi Open Space (9521 Rio Grande Blvd. NW)

The state of New Mexico and PNM announced Friday afternoon that they had struck a deal with the EPA to close units 2 and 3 of the four-unit San Juan coal plant and put pollution controls that are less expensive but less effective on the remaining two units to reduce nitrogen oxide. Below is the Sierra Club's response.

Thousands of activists have joined our campaign transition away from coal at San Juan and everywhere to protect our children from health-damaging pollution and disastrous climate consequences. If this deal goes through, you have succeeded in shutting down nearly 900 megawatts of coal -- enough to power 900,000 homes. No jobs will be lost, and PNM will invest at least $1 million into the Four Corners area for economic development.

However, the deal specifies only natural gas as a replacement power, not renewables or efficiency. The Sierra Club will continue to work to clean up the air in the Four Corners area and across the country.

A NEW TWIST ON RECYCLING

There’s a fun new activity on NASA’s Climate Kids website. Instead of just emptying the paper-shredder receptacle into the recycle bin, recycle it yourself! Make your own recycled paper greeting cards—and then plant them! This “seed paper’ activity is easy and fun, and produces a greeting anyone would find endearing for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Visit climatekids.nasa.gov/seed-paper.

Check out these great sites for kids:

Upcoming Sierra Club N' Beer events in the Central Group in 2013

Feb 21
April 18
June 20
Aug 15
Oct 17
Dec 5

Check back for details.

Protecting New Mexico Water
Renee Blake, Public News Service-NM

(01/28/13) SANTA FE, N.M. - The Citizens Coalition (made up of Amigos Bravos, the Rio Grande chapter of the Sierra Club and Caballo Concerned Citizens) is troubled by the direction being taken by the New Mexico Environment Department and the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) in connection with groundwater. Two industries, in particular, are the focus of recent concerns: the dairy industry and the copper industry.

Zero Waste is a concept based on nature. Nature doesn't generate waste or pollution. What is waste for one organism is food for another.

Zero Waste focuses on reducing waste by reusing products and composting rather than recycling.

The Sierra Club Policy
The Sierra Club adopted a Zero Waste policy in 2008. It addresses not only the qauntity of waste we generate but also its toxicity and its important link to corporate responsibility and climate change.

Brian Johnson, longtime Sierra Club member and once a local backpack-outings leader, has launched a new venture, Less Traveled Trails, to initiate a new series of backpacking courses.

The venture, in conjunction with Santa Fe Community College, Ghost Ranch Conference Center and the U.S. Forest Service, will consist of classroom sessions and backpack trips that will be beneficial for both novice and experienced backpackers. Either learn for the first time about being self-sufficient on overnight trips or put into practice new techniques for ultra-light backpacking.