Sierra Club monthly program: Borderlands
Details
Happy Hour /food and beverages (http://www.scholzgarten.com/menus-and-specials.html): 6-7 pm
Socializing and informal discussions on current events: 6-7 pm
Announcements and program begin at 7 pm
Program: Borderlands
The Sierra Club's Borderlands (http://www.sierraclub.org/borderlands) Team seeks to restore and protect the lands that have been damaged by failed border policies. More than 600 miles of border walls and barriers have been constructed in all four states along the US-Mexico border. This has meant dire consequences for vast expanses of pristine wildlands, including wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and national forests. Julie Shipp will give a presentation about what the Borderlands team does and their actions this year, including a lobby trip to DC, to protect wildlife on the US-Mexico Borderlands.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/9561480
Along with allies in Congress, we are seeking the repeal of the waiver authority granted by section 102 of the REAL ID Act. Currently, we are asking Congress to support the Border Security and Accountability Act of 2015, which would establish a humane and accountable border security strategy, strengthen border security and economy, reduce wasteful spending and improve efficiency, repeal homeland Security’s unconstitutional authority to waive ALL laws on the border, restore transparency and accountability in border enforcement, reduce border crossing deaths, prioritize consultation with border communities, strengthen cooperation with Mexico, and combat human smuggling.
The Borderlands Team consists of members from across the U.S., from both northern and southern border states. Scott Nicol (McAllen, TX) and Julie Shipp (Austin, TX) co-chair the Borderlands Team with Sierra Club staffer Dan Millis in Tucson, AZ. Julie has been with the team for four years and has been the co-chair for two of those years. She is an archaeologist working at an environmental compliance firm in Austin, and loves hiking, kayaking, and backpacking.
Consider biking, carpooling, or taking Cap Metro (http://www.capmetro.org/planner) to the meeting. Free parking is available after 6pm on San Jacinto and nearby streets.