The regional process for developing a program to limit and lower global warming pollution is underway, and the next meeting of the full advisory committee of the Midwestern Governors Association will be meeting June 23-24 in Minneapolis. Please come as a public observer to show your support for a strong regional cap and trade program. Details on the time and agenda forthcoming.

Midwestern Governors Association
Greenhouse Gas Full Advisory Group Meeting
June 23-24, 2008

Crowne Plaza Northstar Hotel
618 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Fill out the registration form or RSVP to jheier@csg.org.

Write a Letter to the Editor

This is a simple, straightforward way to help get the word out about the urgent need to take action for Minnesota’s water, wildlife, and natural areas. The best letters are short (150 words or less) and personal in nature: simply talk about why protecting our natural resources is important to you! To find contact information for your local paper, check out the Minnesota Newspapers Directory.

Tips for Writing a Letter to the Editor:
Papers want letters about current issues. In a short time, a topic you care about can be shoved aside by other news. Responding quickly is important; it's best tie your concern to a specific story.

The Star Tribune has a form under the Opinion section: “submit a letter to the editor.” If the Star Tribune decides to run your letter the only way you will know is if you look in the paper or check online; the paper does not call to verify whether you are the letter writer. The Star Tribune prints some submissions in the paper and others as Netlets. Netlets can only be accessed online. They don't run every day. If you get “netletted” that is a good thing – people who read the paper online see your views. If it is about a topic that is still hot and you can rewrite it significantly you might want to try resubmitting. You could also work with a friend and have him/her submit it.  

The Pioneer Press has a link to an e-mail address under its Opinion section. Don't forget to put your name, address, and phone after the text. If the Pioneer Press is interested in your letter they will contact you by phone to make sure that 1) you submitted it, 2) you did not submit the letter to another publication, and 3) you live where you indicated you live. Don't take this to mean your letter will be in the paper the following day. It could appear a week or even two weeks later. Or it may not ever appear. It is often easier to get letters published in a smaller, local paper. Make sure you do not overlook these important publications.

Things to think about:
1. What kind of tone do you want? Even if the topic fills you with rage, think about what the paper will print. Passion is good but it must be meaningful and well...entertaining.  Irony, edgy humor, and pointing out the absurd can go a long way.

2. What is/are the most significant fact(s) about your issue? Do you have specific information that the public may not know? What should the public be aware of? Maybe a fact was presented in the third or fourth paragraph that merits attention – you might want to write a letter that addresses this fact. Maybe a story was buried. Letters with specific information tend to get printed more than letters with only opinion.

3. Keep it short. The semi-colon is your friend; be pithy.  You may have to eliminate a clever idea that you really love in order to create a stronger letter. Always be thinking “what's my point.” Don't be cute just to be cute.

4. Have fun. Don't be discouraged if you don't get a letter in right away. Think of it as therapy. It's also a very good way to create a “political journal.” If you copy your text before you submit it to the Star Tribune, you can generate an interesting collection of your perspective. Just because a letter doesn't get printed doesn't mean it has been ineffective; it may inspire an actual story.

5. Be aware publications limit the number of letters individuals can submit – one letter to the editor and one netlet per month.

Star Tribune

Pioneer Press

Tell Governor Pawlenty: Support Reserve Clean Energy

RIM Reserve Clean Energy (RIM-CE) is a working lands program designed to provide funding for farmers to speed the transition to diverse, sustainable, perennial energy crops, like prairie grasses, that would protect our state's great outdoors.

These crops require few pesticides and fertilizer and can absorb in their roots large amounts of global warming pollutants. This program will provide sustainable alternatives to risky fossil fuels, helping reduce our dependence on oil while supporting rural economies in Minnesota.

This action is especially urgent - the next time the program could request these crucial funds is in 2010! Take Action: Tell Governor Pawlenty to show support for this critical program at the highest level. Contact Governor Pawlenty today.

Tell Your State Legislators: Act Now on Global Warming and Support Cleaner Cars

The solution is clear: We can curb Global Warming while saving consumers money at the gas pump by adopting the Cleaner Cars standards. Scientists tell us we need to reduce greenhouse gases 80 percent by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. Take action today.

Tell Your State legislators: Act Now on Global Warming and Clean Energy

We need a regional plan to reduce the pollution that leads to global warming in order to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change. The solution is clear: We can save consumers money on energy bills and create a clean energy economy by limiting and lowering global warming pollution.

Our legislators need to hear that they cannot compromise our future by ignoring Global Warming. We need to make the reductions that science tells us are needed. We need to get started now. Take action today.

Find your state senator and representative with the Minnesota District Finder.