DATED MATERIAL DO NOT DELAY Nonprofit Organization-Sierra Club U.S.Postage PAID The Jersey••••••••••• IERRANIERRAN Vol. 34, No. 2 SS 23,000 Members in New Jersey April-June 2005 Sierra Club Rallies in Jon Corzine Endorsed Defense of Arctic for Governor By Rich Isaac, Chapter Political Chair Refuge — Once Again In its earliest ever endorsement for ing government — giving citizens a an open statewide seat here in New voice, and to working towards strong or at least 25 years (since Ronald Jersey, the Sierra Club has voted to sup- implementation of the State’s Highlands Reagan’s presidency from 1980 to port U.S. Senator Jon Corzine’s candida- law. He strongly supports family plan- F1988) environmentalists have cy for Governor. ning programs, the use of alternative opposed the use of a 5% portion of the Senator Corzine has demonstrated energy, and protecting New Jersey citi- northern Alaska coastline for oil explo- national leadership in protecting the zens from exposure to toxics. He is also ration and production, on grounds that its environment. He would bring his integri- very committed to making New Jersey a use for calving by native species, especial- ty and leadership to the Statehouse. leader in efforts to reduce global warm- ly caribou, entitled it to protection. The Corzine skillfully moved the Highlands ing, and the Club looks forward to work- area is within the Arctic National Wildlife Stewardship Act through the Senate. ing with him on an array of measures to Refuge, and borders Canada’s Yukon This important initiative, signed into law deal with this very critical issue. Territory, which has protected its share last Fall, is bringing $110 million to pro- A Call to Arms – and Legs! of the calving grounds. tect the Highlands region. He sponsored Before making our endorsement, we Many Club members in New Jersey the “Save America’s Forest Act” — to sent issue-questionnaires to all anticipat- recently had the opportunity to see pho- prohibit clearcutting of forests and pro- ed candidates, both Republican and tographs of this pristine environment, tect our nation’s Democrat, invit- presented by touring Alaskans and Native wildlands — as ing them also well as legisla- for an interview Americans indigenous to the region. Tina and Dennis Schvejda accompany Jillian Morrissey of Caribou Commons and Warren Smith, a Gwich’in native from Old Crow, tion to establish by our Political a Gwich’in, Warren Smith, along with our Alaska, at one of the presentations opposing oil heritage areas and Executive Conservation Director Dennis Schvejda exploration in the Arctic Refuge. in NJ. He voted Committees. and former Chapter Chair Tina Schvejda, against energy The Senator gave six presentations to 650 folks in dis- links section for many additional sites.) programs that submitted to a tricts represented by Congressmen And visit our NJ Chapter alert website: pollute, and has long interview Ferguson, Frelinghuysen and Garrett. http://alerts.sierraactivist.org/. prevented oil on Jan 29. None There were also two presentations in Dennis Schvejda, our Sierra Club “man drilling both in of Sen. Southern New Jersey and one in nearby in Washington,” reports that new legisla- Alaska and off Corzine’s possi- Pennsylvania. The slide show included tion (S. 261/H. R. 567) to permanently pro- our New Jersey L to R: Senator Corzine, Political Chair Rich Isaac, ble opponents views of the oil production area near tect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has coast. He has Chapter Director Jeff Tittel, Highland Park Mayor Meryl responded, and Prudhoe Bay, dramatically demonstrating 22 Senate cosponsors and 112 House supported mass Frank, Congressman Frank Pallone, and Chapter Chair none have ever Ken Johanson. the incompatibility of oil production with cosponsors, including (from New Jersey) transit in New been endorsed natural habitat.. Senators Corzine and Lautenberg, and Jersey, and worked to reinstate the by the Club. With so much at stake, we Since President Bush has rekindled the Congressmen Andrews, Holt, Menendez, Superfund program (for toxic cleanups especially need our grassroots to help attempt to open the area to the oil indus- Pallone, Payne, Saxton and Smith. The in NJ), and to strengthen the Clean Air make sure we have a friend in the try, this is a time to remind our federal “missing” Congressmen are LoBiondo, Act, opposing the Bush Statehouse next January. We would very legislators of the folly of an energy poli- Garrett, Ferguson, Pascrell, Rothman and Administration’s rollbacks. The League much appreciate volunteers donating cy that encourages more consumption Frelinghuysen. Some of these “missing” of Conservation Voters awarded Sen. their time, not to mention their arms and (and production) to the essential neglect legislators received Club endorsement of Corzine a three-year score of 94%, one legs and hearts, to help distribute Sierra of conservation. There is more back- their 2004 re-election campaigns: of its highest. Club campaign literature and yard signs, ground information and instruction on LoBiondo, Pascrell and Rothman. These Corzine is committed to stopping and to do “tabling” to distribute compari- what we should be reminding our three have all opposed drilling the ANWR sprawl in NJ, to protecting our water son charts at various events. If you’re Congressmen at the following website: in the past. It is probably time to remind and air resources, to protecting our interested in helping out, for even just http://www.alaskawild.org/ (Visit the them of our sentiments. K coast from over-development, to reform- one afternoon or morning on a weekend, please contact Richard Isaac, at (h) 973- 716-0297, or [email protected] An Interview with Ken Johanson, Chapter ExCom our Newly-elected Chapter Chair election results When did you My first forays into the environmental always felt a need to be actively involved The Oct-Dec issue of this Newsletter first become movement involved other organizations. in the decision-making process, whether included a Chapter ballot for the elec- interested in the I stuffed envelopes, performed trail main- at work or in my outside activities. The tion of four (of the nine) at-large mem- environmental tenance and even did some pro bono Sierra Club has provided me, as well as bers of our New Jersey Executive movement? legal work. However, there was some- many other like-minded volunteers, with Committee (ExCom). About 150 bal- I think I’ve thing missing. I found that while these the opportunity to satisfy that need. lots were cast. The following four (in always had an other organizations do fine work, they are alphabetical order) were ultimately appreciation for largely staff driven. Then I discovered the What do you hope to achieve as Chair elected for two-year terms: the natural envi- Sierra Club. I attended a Group ExCom of the New Jersey Chapter? George Denzer • Ken Johanson ronment and a meeting and was pleased to find that vol- I think my number one goal is not to Lee Snyder • Bonnie Tillery concern for the unteers were running the meeting. The break anything. Under the able leader- creatures that share the planet with us. Group Chair at the time asked me if I ship of Sunil Somalwar, our past Chair, However, like many others, I was wrapped would be interested in serving on the and Jeff Tittel, our Chapter Director, I up in my career and was slow to recognize Chapter Legislative Committee. I agreed to believe the Chapter is in good shape. NSIDE THIS ISSUE... that unless we change our ways mankind give it a try. At my first meeting I remem- Nevertheless, there is plenty to be done. I will destroy the very things we all rely ber sitting around a table with the Chapter I hope to support the Chapter in what- How to Report Endangered Species................2 upon in order to survive. I think the realiza- Director and other members of the ever way I can in achieving our legisla- Population Issues Report.................................2 tion began to hit home when I left the Committee discussing what position to tive, regulatory and conservation objec- Resolutions Passed by Chapter ExCom..........2 practice of law and began to focus more take on a pending brownfields bill. When I tives, including of course the repeal of Cartoon, Editorial, Chair’s Message.................3 on some of these larger issues. It was then realized that I was actually able to influ- the Fast Track law. And with the envi- Report from Washington -- and Trenton...........4 that I began to reach out to different envi- ence Chapter policy on a pending legisla- ronment under unprecedented attack at National Sierra Club Summit: September........4 ronmental groups and to begin getting tive initiative, I was hooked. the national level, I believe it is more Commentary: Population & Global Warming....5 involved in the movement. important than ever that we take steps Group News..................................................6-9 What motivated you to assume a lead- to increase our membership, that we Outings .....................................................10-12 How did you first get interested in ership role within the Chapter? step up our efforts to get our message Membership Form..........................................12 the Sierra Club? Maybe it’s a character flaw, but I’ve (continued on page 2) QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB — CHAPTER WEBSITE: NJSIERRA.ORG 2 The Jersey Sierran: April-June 2005 Threatened or Endangered POPULATION ISSUES REPORT: Population Potpourri Species? — Report Your By Bonnie Tillery, our Population Issues Coordinator The Sierra Club is concerned about trol, the following day bishops backed Observations to DEP population issues because we recognize off on condom support, emphasizing by Steve Knowlton, Conservation Chair of our Jersey Shore Group that a growing human population puts “abstinence or fidelity to a single part- tremendous pressure on the world’s nat- ner as the most effective way to hinder he State will protect threatened or 2.5(d)), the presence of wetland-associat- ural resources.