Join us in protecting the public health, land, air, and water of the Rio Chama Watershed.
As the world continues to evolve rapidly in 2021, Rio Arriba Concerned Citizens has also taken a look at our own service and has refined its Mission. Please join us in celebrating and protecting the pristine and beautiful Rio Chama Watershed!
Mission Statement
We are a grassroots organization that defends against Oil and Gas development in the Rio Chama Watershed, NM while educating and advocating for sustainable, safe energy and income sources in our region.
Our Considerations Are:
- To inform and educate our community on current issues that affect public health, safety, land, air and water quality in the Rio Chama Watershed.
- To promote the Rio Chama Watershed as a model for sustainable development and renewable energy.
- To stand for the “Frontier District” as designated in the Rio Arriba County Oil and Gas Ordinance (2009). This district is east of the Continental Divide and home of the Rio Chama Watershed.
- To maintain a relationship with Federal, State, and County decision-makers to provide information and education concerning Oil and Gas development and promoting Green Energy to the wider community.
Our Latest Newsletter
Our Mission to Protect the Rio Chama Watershed
As the world wakes up in 2021, Rio Arriba Concerned Citizens has also taken a look at our purpose and our service, and has refined its mission.
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President Biden declared Oct. 11 as Indigenous People's Day, but will his words and actions line up over time? This article from Frack Free Four Corners. Read on.
..."The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN)—a broad alliance of tribes, Indigenous rights groups, labor organizations, and others—said in a statement that since taking office earlier this year, "Biden has consistently fallen short of protecting the water that sustains all life on Mother Earth and continuously failed to honor our treaties."
..."Specifically, IEN pointed to the president's refusal to block Enbridge's Line 3 replacement project, which Indigenous groups have worked tirelessly to stop for years in the face of brutal police repression and arrests. Oil started flowing through the sprawling pipeline—which could have the equivalent climate impact of 50 new coal-fired power plants—earlier this month, and its opponents have vowed to keep up their legal and on-the-ground fights as the Biden administration continues to defend the tar sands project."
"If President Biden was committed to honoring the treaties and strengthening sovereignty, he would implement a policy of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent by executive authority and act swiftly to mitigate the climate chaos that has engulfed our communities by ending the anti-Indigenous U.S. legacy of fossil fuel extractivism," IEN said. "We have had enough of your empty words. Our communities need clean water, land returned, divestment from the fossil fuel industry, and healing from residential school traumas."
"Proclamations don't erase the police surveillance of Indigenous peoples standing for our land and water, beatings, and imprisonment for those trying to stop pipelines, fracking, [liquefied natural gas], uranium, and other extractive industries from devastating our ecosystems and our bodies and violating our rights," the coalition added. "No proclamations needed until there is justice for the original stewards of these lands."
Indigenous Coalition to Biden: Communities Need Clean Water and Climate Action, Not 'Empty Words'
www.commondreams.org
"Biden has consistently fallen short of protecting the water that sustains all life on Mother Earth and continuously failed to honor our treaties." This news from September 28th in the Carlsbad Current Argus. Many thanks to any who contacted our Senators and the New Mexico lawmakers who reached out to both NM Senators on September 18. One has to wonder - where does Senator Ben Ray Lujan stand? Read on.
From the article: New Mexico’s senior U.S. senator voiced support last week for removing federal “subsidies” to the oil and gas industry in response to calls from environmental groups and state lawmakers.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) filed a letter Sept. 23 in response to one he received in August from a coalition of advocacy groups including policymakers State Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-16), Rep. Andrea Romero (D-46) and Santa Fe City Councilwoman Renee Villareal.
They argued Congress should remove tax and other financial benefits dubbed “subsidies” received by the oil and gas industry to reduce fossil fuel development and curb the associated pollution.
Heinrich in favor of ending tax benefits to oil and gas, cites pollution in New Mexico
www.currentargus.com
The senator asserted in his letter the U.S. could spend up to $649 billion on oil and gas subsidies, based on data from the International Monetary Fund.Sustainable Good News Sunday begins with the notion of Zero Waste. Humans are currently producing over 1 billion tons of rubbish per year worldwide and the number is only going to grow. Read up on how to reduce waste at home. Then, a new discovery found by Lancaster University studying two solar parks, found they produced 'cool islands' extending around 700 showing they could impact ecological processes – including productivity, decomposition, and ultimately the carbon balance. Next, researchers at North Carolina State University have created a soft, stretchable device that converts movement into electricity and works in both dry and wet environments. Finally, an article presenting often asked questions to those curious about installing solar panels for their home. If you are curious how to convert your energy needs to solar, how they are installed, how long panels will last, and other key aspects when converting to solar energy – this is a great article. Enjoy! (links in comments section)