Center for Biological Diversity
Pop X
No. 65, April 16, 2016
Public Lands for All

I've been thinking a lot about the lands we all own -- more than 600 million acres in the United States. Like a lot of people, I was stunned and angered by the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon earlier this year. Equally frustrating is the movement in Congress to turn over public lands to those who view them solely as a source of profit.

These incredible wild places are national treasures, especially as havens for wildlife, clean air and water, and those of us looking to escape an ever-crowding world. They deserve better. That's why people around the country will be holding events this month to stand up for America's public lands. Read on to find out how you can support the movement.

This Earth Day the Center's also giving away 25,000 Endangered Species Condoms to highlight the need to safeguard reproductive rights to protect women, families and the environment. In recent years there's been an unprecedented wave of attacks on access to contraception, family planning and reproductive healthcare. Hundreds of volunteers will be giving away free condoms and talking about 5 reasons to support reproductive rights.

For the wild,
Stephanie Feldstein Stephanie Feldstein
Population and Sustainability Director
P.S. Today's world population is: 7,412,744,062. We can still save room for wildlife -- spread the word and share the newsletter below.

Food Waste Is Wasting Wildlife

Food wasteEvery year Americans throw out $218 billion worth of food, and all that waste comes at a steep cost to wildlife: 21 percent of fresh water and 18 percent of farmland in the United States are used to produce food that's never eaten. Food waste is a major contributor to climate change and over the past 50 years, greenhouse gas emissions from food waste have increased more than 300 percent. If current trends continue, the climate impact of food waste will rise another 400 percent by mid-century. Food waste can also change the diet and behavior of wild animals and increase human-wildlife conflicts.

More than 80 percent of food waste happens in the home or in supermarkets, cafeterias and restaurants, and much of that waste is caused by misperceptions about food. By standardizing date labels and shifting away from superficial expectations about what we eat, we can keep millions of tons of it out of the landfill and reduce the environmental impact of our food system.

Check out the Center's new food waste campaign, learn how to eat weird to save wildlife, and if you're in New York City, join us at the Feeding the 5000 event on May 10 in Union Square. (For information about this event, email Stephanie Feldstein.)

 
 
Crowded Planet video Olive Garden restaurant
New "Crowded Planet" YouTube Channel

We're excited to introduce "Crowded Planet," a Center YouTube channel bringing the population and overconsumption conversation to a new audience. Starring population organizer Leigh Moyer, the brief videos will tackle some of the biggest issues no one is talking about, such as the connection between safe sex and saving the planet; how livestock has grown to outweigh wildlife; and why not all renewable energy is created equal. Watch and share our first installment, "How Can You Save Endangered Species...in Bed?" and subscribe to the Crowded Planet channel for new monthly videos.

Demand #GoodFoodNow

The "Good Food Now" campaign urging Olive Garden and other chain restaurants to offer healthier food that's better for workers, animals and the environment is heating up with a growing petition, a national call-in day last month, and increased social media pressure. Olive Garden's parent company is the largest full-service restaurant employer in the United States, serving more than 320 million meals a year -- leaving a serious footprint on the planet and the restaurant industry. Join the groundbreaking coalition of environmental, social-justice and animal-welfare groups by sharing the #GoodFoodNow message on social media.

 
Help #ProtectPublicLands -- Take Action
Yosemite National Park Event map I Heart Public Lands graphic

America's public lands are under attack by those who want to hand them over to private industries for grazing, mining, logging and other development.

From coastal cleanups to family hikes, thousands across the country will be celebrating public lands next week -- find an event in your area or start your own.

Shout your love for public lands and urge others to help protect them by joining our Thunderclap social media campaign.

 
 
The Fight to Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground

Keep It in the Ground rallyFor the energy revolution and the race against climate change to succeed, we need to transform where our energy comes from. That means a swift transition to a just and fully renewable energy system while keeping fossil fuels in the ground.

A study released last year by the Center determined that stopping new federal fossil fuel auctions on lands and offshore areas controlled by the U.S. government would keep up to 450 billion tons of greenhouse gases from polluting the atmosphere. Since then hundreds of people have shown up at rallies opposing Bureau of Land Management fossil fuel auctions across the country.

Several auctions have been canceled as the "Keep It in the Ground" movement continues to grow. Earlier this month Alaskans rallied to protest a proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling in the Arctic region, Cook Inlet and Gulf of Mexico. And in Texas the BLM withdrew nearly all of the acreage slated for an April 20 federal fossil fuel auction -- reducing the land up for auction from 36,000 acres in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma to just 2,036 acres.

Learn more about the Keep It in the Ground campaign and sign the petition telling President Obama that our public lands and climate aren't for sale.
 
Photo credits: Stephanie Feldstein staff photo; food waste courtesy Philip Cohen/Flickr; "Crowded Planet" video still, Center for Biological Diversity; Olive Garden restaurant courtesy JRoberts/Flickr; Yosemite National Park courtesy Jeff Miller/Flickr; public lands events map, Protect Your Public Lands; "I Heart Public Lands" graphic, Center for Biological Diversity; "Keep It in the Ground" rally photo, Valerie Love/Center for Biological Diversity.
 

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