Stop Coal, Save Our Slopes, Protect Our Water (AGAIN)

It's an enormous injustice that Albertans have to mobilize all over again against coal projects in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountain and the prevention of selenium poisoning our water but the good news is there are a number of great Calgary/Alberta organizations stepping up (AGAIN) to the problem. Here's a few ways you can help (and we'll add as we go)

Take the first step by signing the Save Our Slopes Petition which automatically sends a letter to Alberta’s Energy Minister, Shadow Energy Minister, Premier, Leader of the Opposition and your local MLA demanding that the coal moratorium be reinstated immediately. This campaign currently has 17,690 supporters(!) and our next goal is 25,000! Join us & sign the petition to let this government know you don't want coal defacing our eastern slopes & polluting our drinking water. It's a good place to start your advocacy but there's more!

In addition, consider writing an email of your own courtesy of our great friends at Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA), both to Energy Minister Brian Jean who's ramming this disaster through as hard as he can as well as your MPs & MLAs. The more this government hears back from YOU via its representatives at every level the better. Use AWA's content or create your own!

What else? LOTS! AWA held a #DayOfAction to #StopCoal with a Feb 10 phone call blitz to the Alberta government but every day is a good day to call up the government that's supposed to work for you (not foreign billionaires) and tell them what you think about their really bad coal plans. They think we're too lazy & distracted. They need to HEAR us. There's great content you can borrow on the Day Of Action page and above are some phone numbers and email addresses for you!

Also, if you've still got one of those Protect Our Water signs stored away from the last time the Alberta government tried to do this (and we all STOPPED them) it's time to put it out on the front lawn again. There's a lot going on these days which is EXACTLY why this government is trying to sneak it through NOW. Albertans need to see it. Don't have a lawn sign yet but want to use that front yard to do some good & raise awareness? Hit up our friends at Alberta Beyond Coal & they'll get you hooked up!

Want to do MORE? Good! Because THERE'S MORE! Why not bring a pal (or pals!) to a brand new film by our incredible friends at CPAWS Southern Alberta about exactly this topic? Check out the official premiere of Dry Horizons on Feb 25 in Calgary and March 12 in Bragg Creek! 

You can also get caught up on the entire background to this Alberta government's big disastrous move on coal in the January episode of the Climate Lens, featuring Rancher Laura Laing on the struggle to Stop Coal, Save Our Slopes and Protect Our Water. 30 minutes & you'll be right up to speed (and by all means please share far and wide)

Another thing you can do is ARM YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE for when you're talking with friends, family or even your elected representative. Don't let anyone tell you Albertans want coal mining on our eastern slopes. Recent polling shows a STRONG MAJORITY are against it.

Read about (and share!) this open letter to the Alberta Energy Regulator (of which YOUR Calgary Climate Hub is a co-signee) that has been rolling over for polluting industries at every turn and failing Albertans for a long time. We're calling for the immediate resignation of the President & CEO and all AER Board members. The job is an important one and we need someone to actually DO it. 

Other co-signers:

• Alberta Wilderness Association
• Environmental Defence Canada
• Keepers of the Water
• Council of Canadians, Edmonton Chapter
• For Our Kids Alberta
• Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project
• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Northern Alberta
• Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

That'll get you started and there's more to come, so watch this space!!!