For Immediate Release:
January 14, 2008 |
Contact: Gary Patton
916-313-4520 |
The Planning and Conservation League (PCL) and the PCL Foundation (PCLF) hosted their 2008 PCL Environmental Legislative Symposium, “State of Change: How Californians Can Change The World,”in Sacramento this Saturday, January 12th. The title says it all – change is what the audience wanted on many fronts: from improvements to our air quality to smarter land uses; from better policies at the state and local levels to stronger leadership from our state and national policy makers. That Californian’s want change was proven by the fact that this Symposium was a sold out event!
The Symposium began with a superb keynote from Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, who highlighted the need for swift reaction to the immediate and long term impacts of climate change. At lunch, the crowd was charmed by Attorney General Jerry Brown, whose quick wit and energy provided further momentum to advance Brown’s action agenda on global warming.
Gary Patton, Executive Director of PCL and PCLF, stated, that “this event was the most successful that PCL has ever had and demonstrates that this is the environmental event to attend! Ensuring that the environment has a voice in halls of the Capitol is critical, but knowing so much support is behind our efforts to improve and protect those resources makes the League’s voice much stronger.”
The multitude of “How To” workshops and policy panels provided grassroots activists, non-profits, attorneys, policy-makers and business leaders with the tools they need to be effective environmental advocates at the grassroots and statewide level. The complete program can be reviewed on the PCL website at www.pcl.org.
The League honored five individuals and organizations during the evening banquet, and most notably the audience was brought to tears during a speech made by one of the award winners. The 150 attendees were graced with the presence of Caleen Sisk-Franco, the leader of the Winnemem Wintu nation, who discussed the controversial raise of the Shasta Dam that would destroy the tribe’s homelands and ceremonial grounds. Sisk-Franco said of the proposal to flood the lands, “that’s not the environment, that’s my home. That’s not wildlife, that’s my family.” This very real threat epitomized the day – that we need to change our plans and our behaviors or forever lose our homes and families – wild and otherwise.
The Planning and Conservation League is a legislative advocacy group that has been at the forefront of environmental battles for more than 43 years. The PCL staff has created some of the most powerful environmental laws in California and its “League” of support organizations helps keep its work on the cutting edge. PCL’s sister organization, the PCL Foundation, provides research for legislation and educational community outreach.
The Mountain Lion Foundation is an organizational Board member of the Planning and Conservation League.
The Planning and Conservation League is a nonpartisan, nonprofit alliance of individuals and conservation organizations working at the state, local, and national levels to protect and restore California's natural environment. |
