Dear Audubon Friends,
After Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring raised major alarms on the deadly impacts of DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) on nature, children, and adults, a massive environmental movement was launched across the country. Audubon members and supporters were a critical part of this successful grassroots movement and DDT was finally banned in 1972. We remain incredibly proud of those historic efforts that banned this dangerous pesticide and brought Ospreys and other raptors back from a dramatic population decline.
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We’re sounding the alarm again on dangerous pesticides.
Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) are pesticides used by municipalities and pest control companies to control rodent populations. They are often deployed in black bait boxes placed near homes, grocery stores, daycares, and other locations. But we have hard evidence and research that indicates rodenticides also are infecting and killing raptors at alarming rates. SGARs are not a long-term solution and there are far safer alternatives for biodiversity and local communities.
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Representative Rebecca Kislak and Senator Melissa Murray have introduced legislation (H-7783 | S-2745) that would ban second generation anticoagulant rodenticides across Rhode Island.
This conversation on rodenticides has been growing louder throughout the United States. The state of California has already banned them, and many cities and towns in the northeast are following suit. Rhode Island has an opportunity to lead on this concern before it’s too late.
We know rodenticides are a major environmental concern, and that many of our members and supporters have already been engaged in community efforts advocating against them.
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Join us at the upcoming Senate Hearing on S-2745, an act that would ban rodenticides in Rhode Island.
THIS WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2024
4:00 - 9:00 pm
Rhode Island State House
82 Smith Street Providence, RI 02903
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Even if you cannot attend in person, sign up to receive information on how to submit testimony!
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Then, join us to organize in your community:
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To help your efforts, we’ve scheduled four opportunities within the next several weeks to connect with you and connect you with other advocates. During these meet-and-greet organizing meetings, we’ll review what’s worked locally as well as discuss how you can plug in to the efforts at the State House to support our top priority legislation to ban rodenticides in Rhode Island.
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| Rodenticide Ban Meet & Greet Organizing Meetings
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March 21st 6:30 - 8:30pm: Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol RI
- March 26th: 6:30 - 8:30pm: Powder Mill Ledges, Smithfield RI
- April 1st: 7pm - 9pm: Virtual (Zoom)
- April 13th: 10am - 12pm: Virtual (Zoom)
RSVP: Contact PWheeler@asri.org with the date(s) you would like to attend!
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I’m looking forward to continuing our historic work together.
Let’s fly,
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Phoenix Wheeler (they/them)
Director of Advocacy
P.S. To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re giving away a limited number of free copies of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and hosting a book club to discuss how her groundbreaking work is still relevant today!
JOIN US! You can learn more by emailing PWheeler@asri.org.
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Advocacy Activities in the Wild |
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Pollinator Virtual Organizing Meeting
Saturday, March 30th, 2024; 10:30am - 12:00pm; VIRTUAL on Zoom
Join Audubon to discuss local advocacy efforts to support pro-pollinator activities including recent rules on pesticide use.
Email KSchortmann@asri.org to Register
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Advocacy 101 Virtual Lunch and Learn
Hosted by RIEEA
Thursday, April 18th, 2024; 12 - 1 pm; VIRTUAL on Zoom
Join Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Director of Advocacy Phoenix Wheeler for a virtual training on environmental advocacy.
Register Here
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Transforming the Landscape
Saturday, April 20th, 2024; 9 am - 4 pm
Rhode Island College, Donovan Dining Center
600 Mount Pleasant Ave Providence, RI 02909
Join Audubon and learn how to build a sustainable community and support native pollinators by creating healthy wildlife habitat at home. Keynote speaker is Dr. Doug Tallamy. Audubon Director of Advocacy Phoenix Wheeler will be presenting.
Learn more and reserve your spot!
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Supporting the Green Bond
Executive Director Jeff Hall and Director of Advocacy Phoenix Wheeler recently testified at the House and Senate hearings to support adding $16 million to the Green Bond for farm and land preservation. Huge thank you to all the advocates who showed up! Stay tuned for future action items.
If you’d like an Air, Water, Land, Access shirt from Frog and Toad, we have a limited number available. Please contact Phoenix at pwheeler@asri.org to get yours.
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Protecting Ospreys in Narragansett Bay
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The Department of Environmental Management is considering several proposals to change the regulations on fishing of menhaden in Narragansett Bay. Audubon Director of Avian Research Dr. Charles Clarkson submitted written testimony on the importance of menhaden on the local ecosystem and Director of Advocacy Phoenix Wheeler spoke at the public meeting in support of keeping the regulations as is. Additionally, Audubon collected and submitted testimony from local Osprey groups. We are keeping a close eye on the RI Marine Fishery Council’s decision on April 1st and the subsequent decision by DEM on whether to change the regulations.
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Osprey with menhaden by Thomas Doeppner
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If you have any local concerns you’d like to bring to Audubon’s attention, please visit our website to alert us of the issue.
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The America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act
Introduced by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), the ACT Act reauthorizes funding for programs to conserve wetlands across the country and North America as well as local conservation efforts, partnerships to protect fish habitats, and more. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to move it forward.
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12 Sanderson Road Smithfield | Rhode Island, RI 02917 US
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