Letters to the Editor (or LTEs) are great opportunities to make our voices heard on climate, and decision-makers in Sacramento are particularly attuned to constituent opinions in their hometown papers. That’s why 350 Bay Area Action volunteers have been turning to this time-honored tool to advance climate action.
AB 2649 (Cristina Garcia), which would set in motion regulations to increase the beneficial climate impact of natural and working lands, faces a tough fight in the Senate. That’s why volunteer Christine Stevens submitted this letter to the East Bay Times explaining the bill and advocated for its passage:
We are all seeing the devastating effects of climate change, breathing smoky air and hearing reminders to use less water.
The California Legislature has an opportunity to pass Assembly Bill 2649, which would for the first time set legal requirements for increasing the ability of natural and agricultural land to remove carbon dioxide from the environment.
The bill, written by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, has passed the state Assembly and is currently being heard in the state Senate in preparation for a vote. The bill promotes composting and other farming practices that promote soil health and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, which are themselves a source of nitrous oxide, a dangerous greenhouse gas.
Please urge your state senator to support AB 2649.
Another recent successful LTE was written by Radhika Srinivasan, a new volunteer in Contra Costa County. Published in the East Bay Times, her letter explains the importance of AB 2146 (Bauer-Kahan):
When I see bees, butterflies and birds in my garden, I know they bring more than joy to me. They also have an important role in the food that we rely on.
Now it is upon us to protect them from harmful pesticides called “neonics” used in lawn and garden products. Just one square foot of grass treated with a typical lawn product can kill one million bees and contaminate soil and water. Neonics have also been found in the bodies of about half the American population, with the highest levels in children. This is avoidable, with the use of nonsynthetic or less harmful synthetic substitutes.
With more damage done every day, California must act to pass AB 2146 which will ban harmful and unnecessary uses of these pesticides in products used in nonagricultural settings. Talk and write to your legislator to support AB 2146.
Submitting LTEs to your local paper is a quick and easy way to amplify your voice for climate action. See these websites for tips on writing LTEs for the climate. The submission pages for the San Francisco Chronicle, the East Bay Times, and other local newspapers are just a click away!
