On March 9, we held our Sierra Club SSJ 2024 Strategy Session. We had a group of 12 members, exchanged numerous ideas, and developed three major goals for the year under the leadership of Susannah Randolph, the Sierra Club Florida Chapter Executive Director.

Our top three goals for 2024 include: 

1.)  Environmentally Just Siting for Smart Growth Management and Land Use 

2.)  Restoring Our Rivers and Springs 

3.)  Reducing Energy Burdens in Gainesville and Reducing Carbon Emissions in Florida

We would like to see more members involved - so you are invited to join us at the SSJ Strategy Next Steps meeting on Sunday, April 7, 2024 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm, at Millhopper Library, 3145 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, where we plan to hash out the details on attaining our goals this year.

This is an in-person meeting only. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. To attend you can register here or email maryvonne.deven@gmail.com.  

Thank you for your interest. 

By Maryvonne Devensky, SSJ Executive Committe Chair
In the 2023 legislative session, a draconian bill (HB1645) was passed which transferred control of Gainesville’s locally controlled utility, GRU, from the City Commission to an Authority appointed by the Governor. 
On March 21, a group of community organizations including the Sierra Club SSJ, the League of Women Voters, and Alachua County Labor Coalition asked the Gainesville City Commission to amend the City Charter so that the control of GRU be decided by voters. At the meeting, all six Commissioners present voted for city staff to draft an ordinance for control of GRU to be decided by a vote by Gainesville residents in the November election.

This is a major victory for home rule as we do not want our municipal utility to be controlled by Gov. DeSantis with his anti-environmental policies. Last year, DeSantis vowed to withdraw from global climate change pacts and end all commitments to cut net greenhouse emissions to zero, while greenlighting more pipelines and allow mining and extraction of oil, gas, and coal on federal lands.

This is the text I read to the City Commission:                      
“Dear City Commissioners and Mayor Ward, 
My name is Maryvonne Devensky, and I am the Chair of the Sierra Club Suwannee St Johns Group. I am also a Gainesville resident and a GRU customer. 
In October 2018, the City of Gainesville became the fifth city in Florida to sign Sierra Club’s “Ready for 100” resolution committing to 100% renewable energy and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Today, our group continues to work on how to best reduce energy costs and emissions for GRU customers and act upon this important commitment for a livable future. 
Sierra Club members care about conserving energy and maintaining excellent water quality. We also want GRU to fully consider the energy burden for all GRU customers. 
Therefore, we support the call presented by Janice Garry to restore local democratic control of the GRU Authority. The new Authority members should reflect the interests of all the residents served by GRU, including those with high energy burden. 
Today you have the power to initiate this change in the Charter. Thank you.” 

I personally thanked the members of the Commission for their time and their energy to deal with this issue in these difficult times. 

The Commission voted 6/6 to direct staff to draft an amendment the City Charter to create a more democratic board governing GRU. 

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The Energy and Climate Action Team is currently working on three campaigns:

Sound interesting? It is! Come get local answers to a global question as we explore impacts of climate change in N. Central Florida, then create and expand on solutions in Alachua County. Register for the meeting and we'll send you a zoom invite. Or reach out to Jyoti Parmar at jyoti.parmar@sierraclub.org or (908) 720-6584.

Authors: Seldom, Eva & Logan, Alan (2012) 

While based on scientific research, the authors may very well confirm what many of you intuitively realized. You may have sensed that being out in nature is good for your health. Yet you may not have suspected how important it really was.

Seldom and Logan’s research used EEGs, EKGs, TRSS, MRIs and studies using controls to outline how important nature is for our mental and physical health when compared to an urban environment. Turns out that chemicals called phytoncides as well as negative ions are emitted from the natural environment helping to reduce stress. Even DHEA, an important neurotransmitter is elevated when in a forest. They note that our ability to synthesize DHEA declines as we age.

The Japanese refer to the experience of walking in natural environments as “forest air bathing.” They are careful to protect and use their forest lands which make up some 64% of Japan.

Urban environments generate stress and too often lack access to healing properties in nature. The authors emphasized that there has developed a disassociation with nature. Nature based recreation has decreased 50% in the last 40 years. Too much “screen time” whether TV, over using the web, checking emails or playing computer games is beginning to negatively affect our cultural IQ.

This has been a reversal of the trend during the 20th century when our general IQ was increasing. This is referred to as the Flynn effect, named after James Flynn who first documented this. This disassociation from nature goes way beyond simply the health of individuals, it affects the very structure of social interaction.

The authors indicate that culturally we are becoming more narcissistic and less empathetic. As they state, “nature ...can help keep anger and impulsivity in check.” Maybe our Congress should have a nature retreat!

Culturally, we are stressed ranking, 5th out of 151 nations. Happiness seems elusive. They cite that 75% books with happiness in the titles have been published since 2000. Nature should be considered a vital form of medicine.

The good news is that there are things one can do to benefit from what nature provides. Take a walk in the woods, or park, perhaps with grandchildren. Get a pet. Place a plant in your office or home. Try to get a window room in the hospital if ever there. Your recovery can be enhanced dramatically. Evaluate your screen time. Carefully, assess your diet habits and especially avoid processed foods. Read this book and follow its prescription for the sake of your own health and our cultural’s health.