Jan - Feb 2002
Sierra Student Coalition Initiative: The Public Lands Action Summit

Who?

•  High school and college activists who care about wildlands and want to fight for their protection. By attending the Summit, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to help win permanent protection for these magnificent and threatened lands. You’ll learn how to work with media, talk with your elected officials, and plan a long-term campaign to win their support for wildlands protections. When the weekend is over, you will take these skills home with you, to help better your community.

What will we focus on?

• The Summit will focus on three of the most vital public lands battles in the nation:

1. 9.1 million acres of Utah’s spectacular redrock canyon country, under attack by mining and off-road vehicle abuse;
2. The coastal plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, threatened by oil drilling – and home to polar bears, caribou, and the Gwich’in First Nation.
3. Our remaining national forest heritage, owned by all Americans and endangered by commercial logging and road-building.
4. This event will be the perfect opportunity for you or your Group to discuss local issues with your Congressperson or Senator, so come prepared. Last year we had a Group hand-deliver over 200 letters to their Representative!

When?

•  March 1st-5th, Friday evening through Tuesday evening. Participants will schedule meetings with their Representatives and Senators for Monday and Tuesday, the 4th and 5th.

Where?

• Washington, D.C. (food and lodging included with registration fee)

Why?

• The Public Lands Action Summit is still being talked about with starry-eyed glee by last year’s participants. This is the only event where students can come together and learn the key issues and skills in the Wilderness Movement from national environmental leaders – both students like you and top environmental organizers on Capitol Hill. At the end of the Summit, participants will be empowered to achieve lasting change for the environment. And in meetings with Congress on Monday and Tuesday, they’ll immediately test their skills and win new support for wilderness protection!

Less than a year ago, 150 students from 36 states descended on Washington, D.C. They came from high schools and colleges, from cities, suburbs, and small towns.

Thanks to our energy and passion, 10 new Representatives and Senators became new cosponsors of our wilderness bills. We took the fight back home, waging strategic campaigns to get even more cosponsors. We did great work, but we haven’t won yet. Now it’s a new Congress, and it’s time for Round Three.

To get more info or to register for the Public Lands Action Summit call 1-888-JOIN-SSC or print the registration form online at the Sierra Student Coalition's website: www.ssc.org.