A fantastic update sent in from the Charles Ashley Anderson regarding the inspirational work getting done out in Utah 
Hello, fellow Utahns,
This communique is meant to provide some exiting and inexplicably timely information about US environmental legislation and Utah Representative Jim Matheson, who hails from, as Stephen Colbert would say, “The Fightin’ 2nd!”
Jim Matheson sits on the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. So why does that matter? Let’s start with a story.
Last month, thousands of students from all over the world converged in Washington, DC to attend Powershift ’09, the largest conference ever on the issue of climate change and a renewable energy economy. For three days the DC Convention center was the de facto world headquarters of the green, or environmental, movement. Come with me to opening night…
Imagine a blimp hangar sized room with 12,000 bright-eyed young people, their green t-shirts invoking a shimmering field of clovers. Five Jumbo Trons televise the speakers as they take the podium, one after another: Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior. The Administrator of the EPA. Powershift organizers fresh off of leading Obama’s campaign. Rocky Anderson. Van Jones.
The speakers are varied but their message is unified and clear: we need to come together not only as Americans, but as members of the great symphony of life itself, to push for meaningful renewable energy legislation THIS YEAR. Van Jones reassures us that we need to pour our souls into this, that we are no less than the ambassadors of future generations, that the entire human drama has led up to this moment…and as Rocky puts it, we need to proceed as if it is a matter of life and death because it IS a matter of life and death. We all agree. Hundreds of environmental, social, humanitarian, and other types of organizations swing into full gear.
Back to the present. As we speak, the Eyes of the World are watching our efforts to put that legislation together.
When this bill is written, like all legislation, it will first go through the appropriate committee for revision and approval. The 19 members of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment will have first crack at it. One of those 19 people is — and this just in from the Redundant Department of Redundancy — Jim Matheson.
If you reside in his district, you sit on that committee.
We need to do all we can to participate in assuring that our precious renewable energy bill is as strong as it can possibly be (in my opinion, that would mean no “clean coal”, “CCS” or nuclear, and an unequivocal cap on emissions with set dates for achieving deep reductions, etc.) I have been talking to the leaders of the Energy Action Coalition, who created the Powershift conference, and I have assured them that Utah will rise to the challenge. As our Representative, Matheson needs to hear our opinions on this global issue, loud and clear. It is our responsibility to each other and democracy, and to the environment itself, to become educated about the Bill, about the issues involved, and to arrange to meet with the Congressman and include him in the conversation. It is equally important that we raise awareness. Join me in making it a personal goal to make “House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment” a household phrase in Utah by the end of this congressional recess. It won’t happen without your help!
Congress’ spring recess is from April 3 through April 20. There are some meetings being arranged right now, and I hope that as more are sought and confirmed, they will be posted wherever this message appears. Please spread this crucial information, along with whatever needs to be added, to any groups that you think might care about the environment. Right now, the SLC Chapter of High Road for Human Rights is composing a letter inviting the Congressman to sit down with as many of us as possible, at a time and place of his choosing, to talk about the upcoming session. We want this to be an inclusive, civil, informed discussion, and these aspirations will be passed to the Congressman in our letter. As soon as we receive a response from the Representative’s scheduler, we will send the news out over the networks.
Many of you already know about these issues, but many more do not. Please join in assuring that no matter what happens, our faithful Representative knows that when he acts in committee back in DC, he will be accompanied by an unblinking, pan-organizational eyeball of thousands of politically aware constituents. There’s a mouthful of a visual. Glad I don’t have that job 
[BREAKING NEWS] McDermott bill 3-24-09.pdf <—— Google that so I don’t have to attach something to this email. I literally got this while I was typing. It is apparently what the legislation regarding the “cap and trade” issues looks like right now. This is totally in your jurisdiction if you live in Matheson’s district, and if you do not, a similar bill will need to pass the Senate, and that brings all of us together. If you are a wonk it’s time to get your wonkiness on and if you aren’t, well, read your first bill now and become one. No time to lose!
Please add personal notes as you forward this along. Thank you, and stay tuned for developments as they occur!
Charles Ashley Anderson Co-Chair, SLC Chapter High Road for Human Rights c.ashley.anderson@gmail.com
