By Marilyn Shoenfeld

As I write this, the sun is rising over Canaan Valley, illuminating the little snow that is left. We have gone from 70 inches of snow to about five inches, with the streams overflowing and ice dams charging down rivers.

This letter is a plea for help. We need all of our members and supporters to stand up for the mission of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. Please pay attention to what is going on in the environmental world and act accordingly. You can participate in our action alert campaigns, donate money, join a committee, write a letter to the editor, or devise your own methods. Tell a friend or family member about our organization and encourage them to become a member. 

My topic today is “activism”—how do we get there, and what do we do? The definition is obviously changing as daily events overtake us. As someone recently said to me, “I am caught between reading the news and keeping my sanity.” Those of us at the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy are working on strengthening our internal policies, strategizing on how to respond to attempts to undermine the environment and claw back progress to circumvent the worst effects of climate change, and continuing on with our current activities. But we are going to have to go further to deal with new challenges, and that way is not clear. Malcolm X’s call to “act by any means necessary” comes to mind. We must do whatever is necessary to stand together to safeguard the environment; every wild place and species that remains is worth saving.

Many lawsuits are being filed, and protests are being held. Calls to Congress have been minimally effective, and no action is being taken in a timely manner to influence negative activities. Government processes are being overturned daily with no consequences. This is already affecting environmental policies and laying the groundwork for a lot more deregulation, which endangers our air, water, forests, and wildlife, as well as the government organizations that protect and manage them.

So, what can we do? The first thing is to take care of yourself. Stress and frustration are hard to control, so make an extra effort to do so. Then, be informed. Listen to and read reliable sources of information. Next, decide how you are going to act. You can join or become more active in organizations like WVHC, donate to groups like WVHC or others who are pursuing lawsuits, or try to rally your community. Make your voice heard. This is not the time to sit back and let others do the heavy lifting; we may never get back what we are losing.

I also want you to know that your membership donations support two lobbyists for the West Virginia Environmental Council annually. This is critical, as these dedicated individuals work tirelessly to ensure that our environmental concerns are heard at the State Capitol. We are asking for more donations to help us strengthen our legislative advocacy. The more we can put into these efforts, the better equipped we are to protect our mountains, rivers, and forests from harmful legislation.

Finally, I’m happy to share that we have a new webpage with information on how to contact your representatives at the West Virginia Legislature and in Congress. It’s easier than ever to find the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of those who make decisions affecting our environment. You can find it at wvhighlands.org/contact-your-representatives. Please take a moment to visit our website, look up your representatives, and reach out to them. Let them know your concerns and ask them to act in support of our shared goals. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you all—let’s communicate!