Redrock Report: Earth Week Edition
Happy Earth Week! Here at SUWA we remain laser-focused on defending Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument from congressional attacks. But this week we’re also celebrating the power of our collective action, which is fueled by our love for this magnificent landscape.
Please continue to speak out for Utah’s wild places in any way you can, and if you live in Utah, see below for some local opportunities to support the Protect Wild Utah movement, celebrate Earth Day, and help shape a better future through civic engagement. Thanks for all you do!
Latest Updates on Grand Staircase-Escalante and the Congressional Review Act
Boundary Waters Suffers Major Blow, Grand Staircase-Escalante Could Be Next
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First, the bad news. Last week, the U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to pass H.J. Res. 140, which overturns the 20-year mining ban in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota, the most visited wilderness area in America. As you know, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument faces a similar threat (undoing of the monument management plan) using the same legislative tool: the Congressional Review Act (CRA). If this obscure law can be weaponized against public lands in Minnesota and Utah, it can happen anywhere in the country.
“Today is a tragic day for the Boundary Waters and all who care about stewarding public lands and wilderness,” said SUWA Executive Director Scott Braden in a recent press statement. “Using the Congressional Review Act to undo protections is a short-sighted mistake—whether it’s the Boundary Waters or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Congress should stop attacking cherished public lands.”
Our work to protect Grand Staircase-Escalante is unwavering—and now with more clarity than ever before. You’ve heard us say this before and it remains true: SUWA has never backed down from a hard fight, and we’re not going to start now.
Photo © Dave Freeman
Outcry Grows Over Misuse of CRA
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The good news is that there is widespread and growing opposition to use of the CRA against Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We’ve seen statements, letters, and resolutions from the Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition; the Navajo Utah Commission; local businesses; outdoor companies; faith leaders; the town of Boulder, UT; and more than 125 local, state, and national organizations (a compilation can be found here). Meanwhile, the Salt Lake Tribune, Grand Junction Sentinel, Idaho Statesman, and Durango Herald have all editorialized in support of the monument.
Your Involvement Remains Critical
We know we’ve been asking a lot of you lately, but now is not the time to let up. If you’ve emailed or called your members of Congress, please encourage friends and family to do the same. Write or call again yourself, submit a letter to the editor, meet with your elected officials, view and share our Grand Staircase-Escalante StoryMap, or create artwork celebrating the monument and send it to loveforgse@suwa.org. No matter where you live, our Grassroots Organizing Team can help you find the most effective ways to take action. Click here to learn more.
Live in Utah? Get Involved Locally
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Attend a Candidate Debate for Utah’s New 1st Congressional District
Utah’s elected officials at the federal Level—our senators and representatives—have the power to determine what happens on our treasured public lands. With new maps being used for U.S. House races this November, your vote in the congressional elections could matter more than ever. If you live in the new 1st District (which covers most, but not all, of Salt Lake County), we encourage you to join SUWA and our partners at Stewardship Utah for a 1st District Candidate Debate in Salt Lake City this Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day) from 6:00 – 8:30 pm. Click here to learn more and RSVP.
Take Part in a Clean-Up Day on the Navajo Nation
Join us on Saturday, April 25 for a trash clean-up on the Navajo Nation! SUWA is partnering with C 4Ever Green to show care for the natural world this Earth Week. Meet us at the Red Mesa Chapter House (155 Red Mesa Rd #35, Montezuma Creek, Utah) at 8:30 am. We’ll spend the morning cleaning up and share a meal together in the afternoon. A group of us will be camping out in the Bluff area the night before. Email Mimi (mimi@suwa.org) or Nicole (nicole@suwa.org) for more information and to let us know you’re coming. Carpooling is encouraged.
Participate in the Earth Action Rally at the State Capitol
On Sunday, April 26, from 1:30 – 3:30 pm, Salt Lake Valley residents will gather on the Utah State Capitol steps for this year’s Earth Action Rally: Our Power, Our Planet. Local issues on this year’s agenda include air quality, the shrinking Great Salt Lake, nuclear energy, data centers, and more. Come listen to speakers, chat with local nonprofits, enjoy musical performances, and connect with your community to create change.
Act Locally, Give Locally
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This year, communities across Utah are coming together for UTAHGIVES—a 24-hour celebration of generosity that puts the spotlight on nonprofits doing the essential work that makes this state stronger. Across Utah, from Logan to Moab to St. George, people are supporting what they love and showing up for the places and organizations that matter to them. SUWA is proud to be part of this community event on Thursday, April 30!
Early giving is already open. From now through April 30, please visit our our UTAHGIVES page and make your gift. Then tell a friend! Every donation, whatever the size, is a direct investment in the Protect Wild Utah movement. Thank you!
