Tree Thieves on the George Washington Memorial Parkway
By Meghan Violet
Great Falls Group Newsletter Editor
In early October, Glenn Tobin walked beside the Potomac River and found “that the forest was missing in several places”. A forest he loved and protected for years, removing invasive plants from trees that were now “just gone—acres of it”. What had once been a mature hardwood forest was now filled with empty spaces, and “to have it suddenly gone” he said “it's like I lost a friend”. |
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After discovering the sudden loss of native trees, Tobin began informing fellow environmental advocates who got involved to help. Without public discussion or performing a federally required environmental assessment, the National Park Service began removing trees along the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) to create “better views” for drivers. It is troubling that an organization whose apparent mission is to preserve natural resources would instead destroy those very resources to create potentially dangerous and distracting vistas. In response to overwhelming opposition, the project was halted in mid October, and remains paused while the Park Service scrambles to examine their wrongdoings.
Full Article |
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Before tree removal: September 8, 2024
Photo credit: Glenn Tobin |
After tree removal: October 13, 2024
Photo Credit: Glenn Tobin |
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Your Voice Can Shape Virginia’s Climate Action
WHEN: Friday, January 10 at 7:00PM
WHERE: Social Hall, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton.
Virtual Option: RSVP Here to secure your Zoom link.
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Join Act for Climate Today! (ACT!) to learn about key climate and environmenal legislative issues in the 2025 VA legislative session. Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw and Virginia League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Mike Town will be among the legislators and climate advocacy leaders who will discuss how we can become meaningfully involved and act to influence passage of positive laws. The legislature will take up bills on data centers, electrical energy generation, transparency, building energy efficiency, renewable energy access, and more. More speakers to be announced soon. Climate-friendly snacks will be served.
Why this matters: The legislature will decide on issues critical to our future:
- Holding data centers accountable for their environmental impact
- Advancing renewable energy
- Improving building energy efficiency standards
- Electrifying transportation and expanding EV infrastructure
- Eliminating harmful plastic pollution
CONTACT: actforclimatetoday@gmail.com
SPONSOR: Act for Climate Today! (ACT!) of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax
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Volunteering is good for the environment!
We have new opportunities for volunteers in the Sierra Club Great Falls Group. See nine ideas here to find some that are a fit for you. Local volunteering
for the environment helps you and your community by:
- Cutting down on emissions by traveling close to home
- Giving you a sense of belonging in your own community
- Opening you socially to more people in your area
- Supporting local projects and people
- Teaching you more about your community and other ways to help
- The personal connections you can gain from volunteering locally can open you up to a wide range of advantages.
Not only will you make new friends but you’ll also be able to develop relationships in the long-term for as long as you live in the area. You learn more about what’s going on in your area, like events, groups and clubs, and more.
See the opportunities
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For the GFG weekly environmental events email, join the listserv here and select subscribe (or unsubscribe).
Sierra Club Outings |
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| The MeetUp group for Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) is a special activities section of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. The group organizes hikes and other events in Virginia, DC and Maryland. No Sierra Club membership is necessary to participate. SCPRO welcomes all people on a variety of outdoor adventures, nature walks, conservation outings, and exploration of our natural and regional history. Join SCPRO MeetUp here |
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Ivy Main, Renewable Energy Chair for Sierra Club's Virginia Chapter
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Power for the People Virginia
Recent posts from Ivy Main's blog on energy-related matters in Virginia.
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