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NM Tribes Talk Climate with White House

New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
Washington, D.C. - Native American leaders from New Mexico and across the country have been in Washington, D.C. this week for the White House Tribal Nations Conference, and climate change is one of the big topics of conversation between the Obama administration and tribes. John Antonio is the Governor of Laguna Pueblo - he says New Mexico's Pueblos and other Tribes have a lot to lose in a rapidly changing climate, "Wildlife populations, you know watersheds, we have springs, and things like that, and of course with any change in the climate we start to lose a lot of the water resources."

According to Antonio it just makes sense that tribes have a seat at the table when it comes to climate change, because tribal lands are often the most affected. He says he and other tribal leaders are also looking to the White House and Congress for support for clean energy projects on Indian lands.  Antonio says nuclear power is often floated as one way to reduce carbon emissions, but he says it's a bad deal for tribes, "It's a direct threat to the water resources." Antonio added that many uranium mining and milling operations are located near reservations where there are plenty of renewable power sources, too, "....in terms of the renewable energy, we have the potential - great potential - to provide solar energy."

Rep. Mimi Stewart and Others Pushing Congress on Climate Bill, Clean Energy

New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
Washington, D.C. - Albuquerque state Representative Mimi Stewart was in Washington late last week to help put the heat on Congress as it considers a climate and energy bill. They're looking to "clean up" energy policy in DC. Stewart joined other state lawmakers from around the country in Washington late last week to announce the formation of a new coalition pushing for action on clean energy and climate change. She's part of the Coalition of Legislators for Energy Action Now or 'CLEAN.' "The message is about clean energy and jobs and energy dependence and... and national security."

Stewart says it's not unusual for states to lead the way for the federal government, and New Mexico is already out in front of some policies like a renewable energy standard for utilities. She hopes Congress will take its upcoming debate on climate change and energy seriously. Some opponents of the bills in Washington say they could be devastating to the economy and low-income families, while supporters say inaction would be even more devastating, especially for a state like New Mexico already struggling with climate-related issues like drought and wildfires. Stewart says part of their message is that clean energy isn't just a "green" issue, it's also about national security and our dependence on energy from other, sometimes not-so-friendly countries,  "We need to move away from energy dependence on foreign countries that don't have the same values we do."

 

It's National Weatherization Day - But Some New Mexicans Are Shivering

New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
Las Vegas, NM - It's National Weatherization Day, but many rural New Mexicans don't have much reason to celebrate. Local groups say weatherization programs aren't reaching households that need the help the most. As cold weather settles in on the Land of Enchantment, some local groups are using the day to highlight households that could use help sealing up their homes for winter, but have a hard time finding assistance.

Lloyd Goding is with Sustainable Las Vegas, and he says rural New Mexicans often have trouble accessing the weatherization programs they hear mentioned in the news,  "We have a stock of older homes that need a lot of work to improve their energy efficiency. We don't have the resources, most of us, to even qualify for tax credits."  He notes that programs should be put in place to help bridge those gaps, save money for those that need the most help and reduce carbon emissions. Goding's group, along with others (including the Sierra Club, Community Action New Mexico and Interfaith Power and Light) are holding an event today (Friday) in Las Vegas that includes an energy audit of a local church and a demonstration of weatherization measures on a home in town. The event begins at 10 am at St. Paul's Peace Episcopal Lutheran Church, Faith Hall (located in back of the church) 810 8th Street, Las Vegas, NM.

Kira Jones with Community Action New Mexico says weatherization and efficiency are among the best and easiest ways to reduce energy bills and climate change pollution, and there are many reasons the state's rural residents need help making those improvements, "Some of the state's highest poverty levels and extreme temperatures, and often very limited to none at all community-based resources for bill assistance."

Award Winner: NM Kids Need a Leg Up, Not Cut-backs

New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
Santa Fe - The budget the Governor is considering includes many cuts to public services that affect New Mexico children, and one recent award winner who has spent decades working with New Mexico families says that's the last thing kids in the state need. Angie Vachio founded the Peanut Butter and Jelly therapeutic preschool (now better known as PB&J) in Albuquerque, and was awarded the first-ever Patty Jennings Citizen Advocacy Award in a ceremony last week. She says the state and communities have a role to play in keeping kids off drugs, out of trouble and on the path to success that starts in early childhood,  "From good preschools to really good early experiences in child care, just nourishing young families."

Vachio received the award at the New Mexico Voices for Children "Spirit of Hope" event. New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Petra Jimenez-Maes was also honored with the first annual Alice King Public Service Award.

Governor Richardson has asked for input from the public on the budget proposal passed by lawmakers last week. While the budget does not include major cuts to K-12 education that had been threatened, it does make across-the-board cuts to many other public services affecting children in the state.  Vachio says programs that give parents the skills they need, starting at the time of the birth of their child, can be a big help, and some similar programs that are voluntary have been successful in New Mexico - but she'd like to see all families get the same leg up on parenting,  "Every newborn baby in New Mexico needs to be offered home-based visitation to really help parents and help a healthy attachment and bonding between babies and their moms and dads."

For more information visit http://nmvoices.org .

New Mexico Making Big Moves Before Climate Action Day

New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
Santa Fe - October 24 is a Day of Climate Action worldwide, and in New Mexico a number of events are planned - but some big players in the state have already made a stand recently on the issue.  Last month, PNM announced it would not renew its membership in the US Chamber of Commerce because of the organization's aggressive push-back against climate change legislation. Don Brown is a PNM spokesperson,  "We've had a productive relationship on other issues, but again climate change for us was so important that we decided to focus our efforts with those allies who support similar legislation in Congress."

Conservation groups like the Sierra Club say the move sends the right message on climate change, but they worry that PNM will not meet the required state renewable energy standard and the group would like to see more support for initiatives like rooftop solar. Brown says PNM is working to roll out more renewable sources over time, and points out that no new coal power plants are currently planned by the company.

A number of events are planned for the Climate Day of Action in New Mexico, including a three-and-a-half mile walk in Albuquerque, a festival at Albuquerque Academy and events featuring citizens speaking out on the need to confront climate change. Shrayas Jatkar with the Sierra Club says they're hoping to have over 300 people read statements,   "Really making the point that we need to get serious and get started right away in terms of reducing our emissions and solving climate change."

Click to Download the flyer about the three-and-a-half mile walk in Albuquerque.