September, 2009

Stunning Wilderness Photography: View the results of our Wilderness photo contest!

The results are in! To honor the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act on Sept. 3, we asked for your best original photos from excursions in nature and you did not disappoint. From stunning vistas to wildlife in action, the winning shots of our photo contest capture truly inspirational moments offered by our nation’s wild places. Check out the stunning 45 finalist photos below. more

Senate Introduces Climate Bill: Clean Energy Jobs Act Builds on House Momentum

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Building on the momentum generated by passage of a comprehensive energy and climate bill (H.R. 2454) in the House in late June, the Senate today introduced its own clean energy jobs bill — the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act — at a Capitol Hill event this morning. more

Who’s behind the bogus climate ‘science’ campaign?

An article in today’s Washington Post calls attention to the latest industry front group of climate-change deniers. According to the Post, the men behind the campaign are H. Leighton Steward, a veteran oil industry executive and Corbin J. Robertson Jr., chief executive of and leading shareholder in Natural Resource Partners, a coal resource owner that lets other companies mine in return for royalties. more

Reality check on fossil fuel subsidies

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The problem of global warming is, first and foremost, a problem with how we use energy and the land. If we want less global warming pollution, we need more low- or no-carbon energy sources. The reverse is also true: we should expect our global warming problem to get worse as long as we bias the energy markets in favor of the highest-polluting fuels. more

The Wilderness Society joins Dave Matthews Band Eco-village

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If you happened to be at the Dave Matthews Band concerts in New Jersey this past weekend, you may have noticed hundreds of fans sporting “I Like it WILD” buttons, courtesy of The Wilderness Society. On September 19 and 20, The Wilderness Society joined the Dave Matthews Band “Eco-village,” at the concerts in Camden. There, we were part of a collection of environmental and social justice groups that reach out to fans at every Dave Matthews Band show. more

Get Out! Enjoy Public Lands Day, Sept. 26

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Fall is officially here. Summer’s sticky afternoons are being replaced by crisp autumnal breezes, and fresh cider greets you after an afternoon walk in the woods. What’s not to like? Earlier this month President Obama declared September Wilderness Month, and called for Americans to get outside and enjoy our treasured landscapes. If you have yet to do so, there’s still time — and this weekend is a perfect opportunity. Why? Saturday, Sept. 26 is Public Lands Day. more

My afternoon as a Polar Bear

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There was a bit of hesitancy in communications director Kathy Westra’s voice last Thursday when she asked me how I would feel about wearing a polar bear costume to an outdoor mid-day rally at the Department of the Interior to raise awareness about oil drilling in Arctic waters. As a communications intern new to Washington, I jumped at an opportunity to draw attention to myself, and I then proceeded to research the issue more in-depth, so I would know why I was wearing this enormous furry outfit in the noonday Washington heat. more

Gale Norton: Was She a Shill for Shell on Shale?

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A remarkable news item surfaced this past week that Gale Norton, President George W. Bush’s first Secretary of the Interior from 2001-2006, is under a federal criminal probe due to her potentially inappropriate, unethical, and illegal relationship with Royal Dutch Shell over the federal lands that a Shell subsidiary was awarded for oil shale development when Norton was Secretary. more

The National Parks: An Interview with Ken Burns

Get ready to be inspired. Ken Burns’ six-part documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea begins airing on PBS this Sunday, Sept. 27. With breathtaking visuals, the documentary tells the rich story behind the creation of our national parks, a tale filled with drama, conflict, inspiration and humanity. more

Helping Ken Burns uncover National Parks' diversity

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Our own Frank Peterman had a hand in helping documentary maker Ken Burns find  one of the interesting characters portrayed in Burns’ much-anticipated series on national parks (The National Parks: America’s Best Idea), to begin airing on PBS on Sept. 27. more