Natural Legacies Gala

Call me a dork but I like to vote. Receiving my voter pamphlet in the mail this weekend reminded me how lucky we are to be able to vote and how much voting matters. Or rather, how much policy can matter. The right policy.

With the flip of a switch, elected officials can give tax breaks to oil companies, or rescind them. They can create incentives for solar power and spur whole new clean energy industries like Germany did. They can ban dangerous chemicals and toxins from our products, or turn a blind eye. They can raise fuel economy standards to 40 mpg levels so that we no longer have to import any oil from the Middle East and use associated military might. And they can pass bills like the Wilderness Act and create land and marine reserves for generations to come. We note that the Grand Canyon had to be saved from flooding by a proposed dam.

This is why I was so excited to receive an invitation to the upcoming California League of Conservation Voters annual Environmental Leadership Awards Gala. It is entitled Natural Legacies and will be a celebration of individuals and organizations who are true conservation heroes. Exploiting natural resources for profit is easy. Saving pristine places from sprawling development is hard work. I am thrilled to see a whole night dedicated to conservation legacies.

California League of Conservation Voters
26th Annual Environmental Leadership Awards Gala
Natural Legacies

WHEN:
Friday, May 9, 2008
6:00 pm Cocktail Reception
7:00 pm Dinner & Awards Program

WHERE:
Hyatt Regency
5 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco

FEATURING:

• Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Leon Panetta
• Steve McCormick, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation and The Nature Conservancy
• Michael Mantell, Resources Law Group
• Julie Packard, Monterey Bay Aquarium, David and Lucile Packard Foundation 

RSVP:
800.755.3224, ext. 305
www.ecovote.org/conserve/

The gala will honor three visionary conservationists: Steve McCormick, Michael Mantell, and Julie Packard. These environmental leaders have preserved natural treasures across California and the world. This is sure to be an uplifting night filled with unrestrained applause and hope.

If I had a billion dollars, this would be my dream. To save and help restore forests, wetlands, river canyons, open spaces, and endangered animals for future generations to explore, enjoy, and cherish.

p.s. For time-strapped California voters, the CLCV recommends a No vote on Proposition 98 and a Yes vote on Proposition 99. When it comes to the always mind-binding eminent domain issues, I do what they say because the CLCV researches in depth and is the guru of all things green on the ballot. The out-of-state property rights extremists are at it again. They spend millions of dollars to put these dangerous eminent domain props on the ballot. They sound good in the one sentence, but in reality they would erode environmental protection for clean air and water, compromise local land planning, and eliminate rent control. Don’t these guys have anything else to do?  Imagine the land they could save if they put those millions into creating a natural legacy. Maybe we can invite them to the gala on May 9.  www.ecovote.org

There is a national League of Conservation Voters too!  www.lcv.org