News Briefs/Announcements From SWEC

January 10, 2009

Ask Obama to stop the border wall

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is rushing to complete the border wall (this is not a fence!) in the next few months. The wall is being constructed through (or adjacent to) many areas that are important to wildlife, including national parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas. DHS has waived federal, state and local laws to expedite its construction. The wall is now being built along the Rio Grande River at the edge of Rio Bosque Wetlands Park in El Paso, cutting off access to the river and undoing many years of habitat restoration.

Please take a moment to send a brief email to President-elect Obama, asking him to halt construction of the border wall as one of his first official actions as president. Tell him you are opposed to any further construction until an analysis of environmental impacts and alternatives has been completed, as required by federal law. Send your comments to President-Elect Obama’s Transition Team at: www.Change.gov <http://www.change.gov/> . Go to the bottom of the page under “About this site” and click on CONTACT.

Thank you! For more info, contact Roger at roger@wildmesquite.org.

Lots of Volunteers Needed

SWEC is looking for volunteers in several areas:
Green Living Guide volunteers. Want to work on a project that will help people live more sustainably? Please join SWEC, Gila Resources Information Project and Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter for a kick-off planning meeting to develop a sustainability education guide for southern New Mexico and green expo planned for summer 2009. The guide and expo will help support a vision of sustainability for our communities, promote local and regional markets for green building and green businesses, and provide helpful information and tips. We will meet Wednesday, January 14th from 6:00 – 7:30 at the Sierra Club office at 300 N. Downtown Mall in Las Cruces (upstairs, above Ono Grindz restaurant, in the corner suite). For more information contact Lisa at intercambios@zianet.com or 575.993.9008.

Raft the Rio committee: help plan SWEC’s wildly popular and fun annual raft extravaganza on the Rio Grande (June 13). This event has the potential to become a major river festival. Contact Kate Mott at Kazanmott@aol.com.

On the River, For the River committee: help plan SWEC’s annual fundraising bash (October). By many accounts, one of the best fundraisers in the area! Contact Kate Mott at Kazanmott@aol.com.

Back by Noon Outings coordinator. SWEC is looking for someone to plan and host our popular Back by Noon Saturday morning guided natural history outings. This is a great job for a people person who likes to get outside and explore the area. Contact Kevin at swec@zianet.com.

Lecture: Human Response to Climate Change in the Southwest—Wed., 1/14

[Not a SWEC event]—The Southwest has one of the most detailed records in the world of both climate and culture change. Over the past 2000 years climate change is implicated in at least seven distinct changes in the trajectory of Puebloan cultural development. Come hear Dr. Eric Blinman talk about what we know about the history of climate changes and the cultural responses in the Southwest, and what it means for us today. Dr. Blinman directs the Office of Archaeological Studies, Museum of NM. He has been involved in archeology since 1967. The talk will take place at the NM Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces, on Wednesday, 1/14, at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Human Systems Research. Call (575) 524-9456 for more info.

You’ve won a new car

Wouldn’t it be great to hear those words? Somebody will, in SWEC’s raffle of a 2009 Toyota Prius hybrid. We are only selling 400 tickets at $100 each. Your chances pf winning are very good, but only if you buy a ticket. Drawing will be held on March 19 if we’ve sold all the tickets. All proceeds go to benefit SWEC. To get your ticket, call (575) 522-5552.

Written by admin · Filed Under Environment