by Organizing for Action – San
Monday, May. 27, 2013 at 2:20 PM
ofasgv@gmail.com
As wildfire season commences in California, a local group of citizens is stepping forward on May 29 to ask Rep. Judy Chu of Pasadena to address the cause of the increase in fires by taking a leadership role in Congress on climate change legislation and resources, including ending the sequester which harms California's ability to combat fires..
Location: Rep. Judy Chu's office at 527 S. Lake Street, Pasadena CA 91101
Last year, wildfires burned 9.3 million acres of land — the third-most since 1960 — and more than 4,400 structures.
State firefighters have responded to about twice the average number of wildfires so far this year – more than 1,100 in all – and it's only May. We have a long, hot summer ahead with dry conditions due to drought, with Los Angeles County having received only 25% of its normal rainfall.
There have been 1,569 wildfires in California so far this year. That is 85 percent more than average.
More than 40,000 acres have burned in California this month alone.
California spends $800 million on fighting wildfires each year and these events are projected to increase 50 percent across the United States under a changing climate, over 100 percent in areas of the West by 2050 as projected by some studies.
The 2009 Station Fire alone in the Angeles National Forest cost $95.5 million dollars to fight. The recent Springs Fire cost more than $10 million to fight, scorching 28,000 acres and burning 25 buildings while threatening nearly 4,000 homes.
Earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown said California would have to grow accustomed to more forest fires as a consequence of climate change.
Automatic, across-the-board spending cuts caused by Congressional inability to deal with the sequester is forcing the Agriculture Department to shed 500 firefighters and 50 engines — roughly a 5 percent decline for each category — when we actually need an INCREASE in resources that corresponds with the increasing number of fires that harm individual homeowners and businesses at a cost of billions to the state's economy.
Volunteers from Organizing For Action will be gathering at Rep. Chu's office on Wednesday morning after being addressed by climate change activists who will speak about the harm wildfires are doing to the economy of California and to request that Rep. Chu lead on climate change issues in Congress.
Wednesday, May 29 Schedule
10:00 – 10:30 Address by Climate Change Activists
10:30 – 11:00 Meet with representative of Dr. Chu's office
About Organizing for Action – San Gabriel Valley Chapter
The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Organizing for Action is comprised of volunteers throughout Glendale, Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley who are committed to moving the country forward on important issues which we have been organizing around and promoting. Most recently, hundreds of volunteers in nearly two dozen states have been gathering in backyards and living rooms to plan rallies, press conferences, and meetings with lawmakers—all aimed at changing the conversation on climate change, and encouraging individual members of Congress to act. In all, volunteers have already held 99 meetings in communities across the country, with more to come. When it comes to climate change, too many lawmakers refuse to accept the science—and the danger—we face. We can't make real progress on this issue until Congress is forced to acknowledge the problem, and in the coming weeks OFA volunteers are planning for some serious on-the-ground action to do just that.