In the continued effort to help save New York's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the Adirondack Council has joined a broad coalition of organizations to launch a major advertising campaign urging state lawmakers to restore money to the EPF.  The campaign includes billboard, online and print advertisements, including personal ads slated to appear in papers across the state. The ads ask state leaders to demonstrate their love for New York by supporting the Environmental Protection Fund. Ads are available at www.KeepProtectingNY.org.  "We Love New York" is the first high profile advertising campaign ever mounted by the state's environmental groups, which believe the Governor's proposed budget cuts are unfairly and irresponsibly harsh on environmental programs that protect public health and safety.  The advertising campaign began on March 4th and will run through the end of state budget negotiations. The budget is due to be approved by April 1st, but disagreements between the... Read More

In the continued effort to help save New York's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the Adirondack Council has joined a broad coalition of organizations to launch a major advertising campaign urging state lawmakers to restore money to the EPF.  The campaign includes billboard, online and print advertisements, including personal ads slated to appear in papers across the state. The ads ask state leaders to demonstrate their love for New York by supporting the Environmental Protection Fund. Ads are available at www.KeepProtectingNY.org.  "We Love New York" is the first high profile advertising campaign ever mounted by the state's environmental groups, which believe the Governor's proposed budget cuts are unfairly and irresponsibly harsh on environmental programs that protect public health and safety.  The advertising campaign began on March 4th and will run through the end of state budget negotiations. The budget is due to be approved by April 1st, but disagreements between the... Read More

In the continued effort to help save New York’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the Adirondack Council has joined a broad coalition of organizations to launch a major advertising campaign urging state lawmakers to restore money to the EPF.   The campaign includes billboard, online and print advertisements, including personal ads slated to appear in papers across the state. The ads ask state leaders to demonstrate their love for New York by supporting the Environmental Protection Fund. Ads are available at www.KeepProtectingNY.org.   "We Love New York" is the first high profile advertising campaign ever mounted by the state's environmental groups, which believe the Governor's proposed budget cuts are unfairly and irresponsibly harsh on environmental programs that protect public health and safety.   The advertising campaign began on March 4th and will run through the end of state budget negotiations. The budget is due to be approved by April 1st, but... Read More

In the continued effort to help save New York’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the Adirondack Council has joined a broad coalition of organizations to launch a major advertising campaign urging state lawmakers to restore money to the EPF.   The campaign includes billboard, online and print advertisements, including personal ads slated to appear in papers across the state. The ads ask state leaders to demonstrate their love for New York by supporting the Environmental Protection Fund. Ads are available at www.KeepProtectingNY.org.   "We Love New York" is the first high profile advertising campaign ever mounted by the state's environmental groups, which believe the Governor's proposed budget cuts are unfairly and irresponsibly harsh on environmental programs that protect public health and safety.   The advertising campaign began on March 4th and will run through the end of state budget negotiations. The budget is due to be approved by April 1st, but... Read More

... Read More

In the continued effort to help save New York's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the Adirondack Council has joined a broad coalition of organizations to launch a major advertising campaign urging state lawmakers to restore money to the EPF.  The campaign includes billboard, online and print advertisements, including personal ads slated to appear in papers across the state. The ads ask state leaders to demonstrate their love for New York by supporting the Environmental Protection Fund. Ads are available at www.KeepProtectingNY.org.  "We Love New York" is the first high profile advertising campaign ever mounted by the state's environmental groups, which believe the Governor's proposed budget cuts are unfairly and irresponsibly harsh on environmental programs that protect public health and safety.  The advertising campaign began on March 4th and will run through the end of state budget negotiations. The budget is due to be approved by April 1st, but disagreements between the... Read More

In the continued effort to help save New York's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the Adirondack Council has joined a broad coalition of organizations to launch a major advertising campaign urging state lawmakers to restore money to the EPF.  The campaign includes billboard, online and print advertisements, including personal ads slated to appear in papers across the state. The ads ask state leaders to demonstrate their love for New York by supporting the Environmental Protection Fund. Ads are available at www.KeepProtectingNY.org.  "We Love New York" is the first high profile advertising campaign ever mounted by the state's environmental groups, which believe the Governor's proposed budget cuts are unfairly and irresponsibly harsh on environmental programs that protect public health and safety.  The advertising campaign began on March 4th and will run through the end of state budget negotiations. The budget is due to be approved by April 1st, but disagreements between the... Read More

Over the weekend,Conservation Alliance co-founder and Patagonia's founder Yvon Chouinard, appeared on an American Express commercial for their members project with Takepart.com.

"We're part of nature, and as we destroy nature, we destroy ourselves," Yvon said in the video.

The dam that's featured is the Matilija Dam, an outdated monstrosity that sits 18 miles upstream from Patagonia HQ on a tributary of the Ventura River. With its crumbling concrete and silt filled reservoir, Matilija Dam no longer serves any beneficial purpose. Its removal would allow native Southern Steelhead trout to once again use the river to spawn, and give local beaches a much needed boost in sediments (more sand) from the steep canyons of Matilija Creek.

If successful, it would be largest dam ever removed in the United States. Yvon is clear in the video that he is a "dam buster" and said: "When you take out a dam, that's a real victory. A concrete victory so to speak."

All proceeds that Yvon receives from the commercial will be divided between five of environmental groups of his choice: Concervacion Patagonica, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Freedom to Roam Coalition, Native Fish Society and Conservation Alliance grantee Save our Wild Salmon!

Keep up the great work Yvon and Patagonia!

 

Next Friday, March 19, volunteers from local outdoor recreation businesses in Ventura, Calif. will get their hands dirty in an effort to clean-up the Ventura River and Surfers Point Beach. This event will kick off the 2010 Backyard Collective season!

Organized by ConservationNEXT (a program of The Conservation Alliance) with help from the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Deckers, Horny Toad and Patagonia (all Conservation Alliance members), the Backyard Collective is a roving volunteer event that brings together outdoor industry employees and Conservation Alliance grantees for a day of hands on environmental stewardship.

The CEO’s of each of the three participating companies will kick the day off before getting down to work cleaning up the beach and the river. Volunteers will be rewarded for their hard work with an after party including refreshments, music by Todd Hannigan, and food catered by Spencer Makenzie’s Fish Company.

“The Backyard Collectives are a great way to bring outdoor industry companies together to help with an environmental service project in their own backyard. And these types of events can make a huge difference,” said Deanna Lloyd – ConservationNEXT board member and employee at The Forest Group. “This group of volunteers will be making a significant contribution to the overall maintenance and beauty of this area.”

The event will also feature a volunteer fair at which Conservation Alliance grantees and local environmental organizations will share information on their current conservation initiatives.

The Conservation Alliance launched ConservationNEXT in August, 2008 to connect individuals in the outdoor industry with the work of organizations that receive financial support from the Alliance. ConservationNEXT provides people with opportunities to take online action in support of conservation. The Backyard Collective moves that action to the field, and helps people get their hands dirty in their own communities.

Stay tuned to learn about Backyard Collectives coming to your neck of the woods!

 

 

In the spirit of Conservation Alliance's Backyard Collectives, comes another great idea for community outreach...The Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. The annual event each January kicks-off the national tour to over 90 cities nationwide. 80% of these venues are hosted by environmental organizations who receive a grant from Patagonia to help pay for the turn-key, festival kit. The festival was started by fellow Conservation Alliance grantee, The South Yuba River Citizens League. SYRCL is now sharing their success with other grassroots groups in forming a network of host partners connected by a common goal of using film to inspire local activism! Learn more about hosting a tour venue, grant guidelines and how to apply @ http://wseff.org/grant.  Take a virtual tour of one festival venue hosted by the Access Fund at Clif Bar headquarters in Berkeley, CA.

Thanks to Susie Sutphin, Tour Manager, for this content.