Upcoming Earth Day Events

 Founded on April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day marked the birth of the modern environmental movement. Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, developed the idea in response to the destruction caused by a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969. An estimated 20 million people participated and paved the way for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That number has grown over the decades, as citizen gather around the country to celebrate the planet and share information--and solutions-- to environmental concerns.


MBCA will have displays at two local Earth Day events, also including displays and information about the Morongo Basin Dark Skies Alliance (MBDSA):

Morongo Valley Spring Festival
Saturday, March 31, 10 AM – 3 PM
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Education Center (and also Covington Park)

Yucca Valley Conservation Fair and Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 21, 9 AM – 2 PM
Yucca Valley Community Center
Say Hi, and also get your Landscape Tour Tickets!

Take action on Green Path and energy in the desert

Action notice from California Desert Coalition:

Take Action Now
4 Minutes From Now You Can Have Sent Important Letters
to STOP Green Path North

In the next few minutes you can help STOP Green Path North by sending the following new letters directly from our website.

Send a Letter - Effect Renewable Energy Policy in the New Administration -- go to http://www.cadesertco.org/effectrep.php

As part of transition planning for the new administration, President-elect Obama has formed an Energy and Environment Policy Team, who is seeking suggestions on what the new administration should do on this important issue.The new administration is committed to moving forward on renewable energy development, a goal that CDC supports if done in a truly green way. However, with big energy corporations pushing to destroy millions of acres of California Desert, as well as desert communities, with their utility-scale energy projects and unnecessary transmission lines, it is important that our voices be heard. We believe you will find our letter informative. It describes a better way to develop renewable energy while leaving our communities intact and preserving pristine desert for future generations to enjoy.

Send a Letter - Support Proposal to Protect California Desert -- go to http://www.cadesertco.org/supportproposal.php

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, which is threatened by Green Path North transmission lines and a new energy corridor, is one of the areas included in a proposal initiated by the California Wilderness Coalition. The proposal recommends designating much of this preserve as a wilderness area and further recommends that Big Morongo Canyon Preserve be added to Joshua Tree National Park. These additional protections would make it much more difficult to get approval for an inappropriate Green Path North transmission line and energy corridor through Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. This proposal is supported by the Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, who see these added protections as a way to ensure necessary protection for the preserve. Other sensitive areas of the California Desert threatened by utility-scale energy projects are also included in the proposal. Please add your voice to the support for this proposal.

Thank you for your continuing support.

CALIFORNIA DESERT COALITION
www.cadesertco.org

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North, Morongo Valley.

Bats as neighbors

Last week a rare rabid bat was found in Morongo Valley, according to the Hi-Desert Star.

Bats are an important part of the ecology of the Morongo Basin, helping to control insect populations and even scorpions. Learn a whole lot more about bats on the Joshua Tree National Park Website.

Bat World-Mojave in Joshua Tree is a rehabilitation facility for bats. View their Website here, and read about the importance of the Inland area as a "migratory freeway" for bats here.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Wildlife page of the MBCA Website, including referrals for issues with both wild and domestic animals.