Greetings from the Connecticut Chapter. I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. As the year continues to challenge us and shake our faith, I look to those who have come before us to give us the strength and perseverance to carry on the torch they lit. The light of justice will burn on as we honor the memories of John Lewis, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and so many others who fought for this nation to live up to its founding principles and its promise of freedom for all people. 

 

Here at Sierra Club Connecticut, we continue to work on stopping the polluting and unnecessary Killingly fracked gas power plant. Our fossil fuel economy is not only unsustainable for the health of our planet, it is a horrible injustice to the communities and people who have borne the brunt of its pollution and climate disruption. And the Killingly plant would be no different — it would gravely affect the surrounding areas, commit us to fossil fuels for another 20 years, and pump more climate disrupting methane gas into our atmosphere. We must move away from the fossil fuel economy for good. 

 

We look forward to creating a just, equitable, sustainable, green economy here in Connecticut and throughout the country — an economy that works for all people, where all communities are invested in and there is access to high paying, family sustaining jobs; a world where our energy comes from clean, renewable sources, where healthy food is available and affordable to all, where clean air, land, and water are a reality for all communities. We will be advocating for and supporting a Green New Deal in the 2021 legislative session. We hope you will too. 

 

Although the challenges of COVID-19 have made in-person meetings and outings difficult for now, we continue to share information via virtual means. Keep up to date with our Events & Outings Calendar. As soon as it is safe to gather in groups, we will begin a new outings program here at Sierra Club Connecticut. Connecticut’s parks and public spaces belong to everyone, and we are going to make sure this finally becomes a reality. 

 

As election season continues, we are in the midst of endorsing candidates that we believe will fight for a clean environment and a more just, equitable society. Please go to our website to see all Sierra Club Connecticut’s endorsements for the 2020 election. We also have been advocating to ensure voting is accessible to everyone. We must ensure everyone has an equal access to the voting booth, so we may become a society representative of all people. 

 

So I’ll end with a reminder to vote. This election is so vital to the health of our planet and our nation. So keep the faith. It may seem like things are bleak and the bad guys continue to win, but brighter days are ahead of us. We must do all the good we can now and in the coming weeks. Trust in each other. Help each other. Work together to create those brighter days we all know is possible. As Victor Hugo wrote so long ago, “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” Let’s help that sun rise together. See you next month. 

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Ann Gadwah is Chapter Chair and Political Chair of Sierra Club Connecticut.