News

Speak up

The Toastmasters organization claims public speaking is the most universal phobia on the planet. Mouths dry up, knees knock, hands shake, voices squeak. It’s almost time for the Nevada State Legislature to begin, and it’s important to know that everyone has the right to testify before a legislative committee about proposed bills and laws. Here are 12 tips for speaking before legislators. 1. People don’t have to be lobbyists to speak before the legislature. Nevada has an open meeting legislative process, and folks can attend any or all committee meetings. Public testimony is allowed at most hearings. 2. Find out when and where the bill will be heard. Go to www.leg.state.nv.us or call the Legislative Message Center at (800) 9782878, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 3. Get copies of everything beforehand and thoroughly study all relative information. Copies of bills, resolutions and journals can be picked up in the Public Bill Room on the first floor of the Legislative Building, Room 1201, or by calling (775) 684-1387. 4. Be on time. Sign in upon arrival and indicate on the sign-in sheet an intention to testify. One small but important detail, make sure to print so it’s easy to read. 5. Arrive with copies of the testimony for the committee members, so they can read it later. Spoken comments should just be the highlights of the testimony to save time—no one is allowed to speak for hours. 6. Be patient. The bill’s sponsor will be allowed to speak first and then testimony will be heard in the order on the sign-in sheet. 7. Begin by addressing the chair and the committee members and then give your name. For example: Madam Chair, members of the (actual name of the committee) Committee, my name is John Longwinded from Reno, Nev. I am representing myself, and I am/am not in favor of this bill because ... 8. Be courteous and brief. Try not to repeat testimony that someone else already provided, and remember to hit salient points. Leave the history to the written statement. 9. Be prepared to answer questions, but don’t worry if you don’t have an answer. Just say you don’t know. 10. Demonstrations, applause or addressing the committee members or witnesses from the audience are prohibited. 11. Committee members will come and go during these meetings. Don’t take offense. Members might have another meeting to attend. 12. Don’t expect any action to be taken right away. If the chair doesn’t announce a date for a vote or for further meetings, first go to the internet and search for that bill. If that doesn’t help, check back with committee staff or the Legislative Message Center at (800) 995-9080 or (800) 978-2878 toll free, or direct at (775) 684-6789 for locals.

UNR farm meeting moved

The Reno City Council was slated to vote on rezoning 104 acres of the University of Nevada, Reno farm station on Jan. 30. That item has now been moved to March 27. Farming activist Wendy Baroli and other proponents see this as another opportunity to reach out to council members to let them know that there are strong feelings against this proposal in Reno.

“It’s so much more than just a parcel of land— it represents the legacy of farming and ranching in Nevada, and it is the best use of open space in that area,” Baroli said. “Please tell the Reno City Council how you feel about the UNR farm station right now, today!”

The mailing address to reach the Reno City Council is P.O. Box 1900, Reno, NV 89505. Letters can also be faxed to (775) 334-2097. Email addresses:

Mayor Robert Cashell: cashellr@reno.gov

Hillary Schieve: schieveh@reno.gov

Jenny Brekhus: brekhusj@reno.gov

Sharon Zadra: zadras@reno.gov

Oscar Delgado: delgadoo@reno.gov

Dwight Dortch: dortchd@reno.gov

Neoma Jardon: Jardonn@reno.gov

—Tracie Douglas

Silent no more

Members of the Northern Nevada Native American community join a worldwide movement

“We respect our Canadian brothers and sisters, and we want them to know that we by love them, that they are one of us, Tracie Douglas and that we support them” said Lois Kane, local Native American activist and supporter of Idle No More Reno. “But that’s just the beginning step of what Idle No More (INM) is doing for all Native American people.” Following the grass-roots model set in Canada, Kane is excited by the ability to use INM to bring her people together to help explain issues facing all Native Americans and indigenous people worldwide. What began with four women in Canada has now traveled around the world,

“It really should be called Silent No More. We’ve been silent for way too long. We need to make our wishes known and provide feedback on all issues, especially those that may harm the Earth and the people. We are a peaceful people—we will always deliver our message in a peaceful way, and we have been inspired to stand up together.”

providing other indigenous people with the tools to come together to act, teach, and stand strong for the principles of their cultures.

Kane, a Paiute and Shoshone, and a resident of the Hungry Valley Reservation, explained that most of the history of Native Americans isn’t written in books and is becoming lost.

“It’s time for us to stand up and encourage our people, and especially our kids, to be proud of their heritage and language—to be proud of who we are,” Kane said.

Kane was there for the first INM flash mob of about 200 people that was held at Legends in Sparks. When approximately 350 supporters showed up to sing and dance at Meadowood Mall on Dec. 26, 2012, they were faced with harassment from mall security.

“They tried to intimidate us into leaving by telling us we were trespassing,” said Kane. “At first no one knew what to do, because we are not combative people. Then I started singing, and everyone started to join in singing, drumming and round dancing.”

After the round dance, they left the mall without further issue. The round dance comes from Nevada Paiute, Wovoka, who prophesied a peaceful end to white expansion while preaching goals of clean living, an honest life, and Native Americans working together.

Tony Vail, general manager for Meadowood Mall, said, “Meadowood Mall is private property, and all people are invited to Meadowood Mall to enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment. Activities that disrupt mall business or threaten the safety of persons or property are not permitted in the mall. Flash Mobs are not allowed at the mall, and the participants in the Flash Mob on December 26th were simply asked to disband and discontinue their activity.”

Idle No More Reno held its latest event near the downtown Reno Arch, on Jan. 19, where they felt welcomed.

“The Reno Police came out and told us they were glad we were there and that they supported us—it was a much nicer welcoming than we got at Meadowood Mall,” said Kane.

Just as Occupy Wall Street ignited an international protest movement against social and economic inequality, INM is giving indigenous people a platform to gather together to speak out about the importance of protecting the planet. Idle No More was started by four Canadian women in November 2012 as a way to start rallies and teach-ins about a Canadian bill called C-45, which could conceivably make changes to the Indian Act, and could alter land and waterway use.

The movement quickly grew with the use of social media and flash mobs of dancing and singing native people. Eventually, huge groups marched on Parliament, asking for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to meet with chiefs of the native tribes in Canada.

One outspoken woman, Chief Theresa Spence, even began a hunger strike on Dec. 11, 2012, as a way to bring attention to C-45, as well as other issues facing all Indian people in Canada. Spence ended her hunger strike on Jan. 24 and is currently hospitalized until she regains strength.

Lois Kane believes teaching young Native American children to be proud of their heritage is imperative. Dolly Padilla and Colby Astor listened while Kane talked about the important role Idle No More plays by bringing the native people in Reno together to support issues important to both Shoshone and Paiute traditions.

Support comes in different forms

Shayne Del Cohen has long been an activist for Native American rights, and has been adopted by local Shoshone and Paiute tribes. She has watched as INM quickly spread and is pleased to see Native Americans come together. Del Cohen, a Jewish woman from Oakland, Calif., points out that air, water and animals don’t recognize borders, and that INM is bringing indigenous people from all over the world to work together. She explains

that Native Americans face a list of challenges when it comes to speaking out. High on that list is poverty.

“When you don’t have money for internet services, you can miss out on what is happening right this minute,” she said. “If you don’t have the right clothes or understand protocol for making speeches to government officials, it’s hard to get into the right places to be heard. With Idle No More, the people don’t feel so isolated. They are becoming energized and are coming together. The movement is waking the people up and is teaching them that is it OK to ask questions.”

Here to stay

“Idle No More will never die,” Kane said. “The Indian people are not going to be silent anymore. Our people are waking up to seeing the injustice toward people and the land. We have to help and this is how we are going to make a difference.”

Kane was quick to point out that the INM efforts began with women and have been strongly supported by young people, from teenagers to those into their 30s. She also recognized that the internet and Facebook have played a large role in reaching so many people.

“Internet service is expensive for a lot of us, but it allows us to quickly reach a lot of people, who then tell others where and when things are happening,” she said. “That is how we’ve been able to get so many people to come to the round dances in Reno.”

According to Kane, Native Americans are taught to think seven generations ahead so that all generations are provided with clean air, water and food.

“This is not just an Indian issue,” Kane said. “All living things are affected by the poor choices of corporations and governments when it comes to harming the land.”

Kane believes this platform will continue to be used by Native Americans, because it provides a link to their brothers and sisters, firsthand. She says that the nature of the American Indian has been to be quiet and accept things as they are presented. That is changing.

“It really should be called Silent No More. We’ve been silent for way too long. We need to make our wishes known and provide feedback on all issues, especially those that may harm the earth and the people. We are a peaceful people. We will always deliver our message in a peaceful way, and we have been inspired to stand up together.” Ω

Demolition team

Workers put the finishing touches on the cleanup after the demolition of the YMCA building near Reno High School. The old building was torn down beginning Jan. 9 and will make way for a $12.5 million, 50,000-square-feet Boys and Girls Club planned to open in summer 2014.

Forget the ‘deal of the day’! Visit www.newsreview.com

Promises to keep

Environmentalists were pleased but skeptical when President Obama once again referenced the necessity of combating climate change in 2013. In his inauguration speech on Jan. 21, Obama said, “Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But American cannot resist this transition. We must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries. We must claim its promise. That’s how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure, our forests and waterways, our crop lands and snow-capped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.”

But for many sustainability organizations, including the Sierra Club, the words are not enough. Obama has been quiet on opposing issues such as the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport natural gas from Canada to Texas, and drilling for fossil fuels in the Arctic despite the potentially devastating impact on the region.

In a blog post written by Sierra Club director Michael Brune, he announced the Sierra Club’s endorsement of peaceful civil disobedience, stating “For civil disobedience to be justified, something must be so wrong that it compels the strongest defensible protest. … We’re issuing a challenge to President Obama. ... We need the president to match them with strong action and use the first 100 days of his second term to begin building a bold and lasting legacy of clean energy and climate stability.”

However, some critics pointed out that the Sierra Club’s actions haven’t matched up with its mission, including an upcoming rally set for Feb. 17 on the National Mall inWashington, D.C. The rally is dubbed #ForwardOnClimate and is intended to be “the largest climate rally in history.” According to the website, the rally will not include “direct action, civil disobedience or civil resistance. ... We will have permits and work openly with the police about plans for the rally.”

One commenter replied, “That’s it?How ... safe.”

View Brune’s blog post and comments at www.bit.ly/1457EU9.

Nevada LEEDs

Nevada ranked among the “Top 10 States for LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]” in 2012 according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Well, technically, the state is number 11, but while the list also includes Washington, D.C., the District of Columbia was not classified as a state on the rankings.

“In a state that is still reeling from the economic downturn, it is a great pleasure to see Nevada ranked among the top states for LEED-certified projects,” Dave Ray, president of Nevada’s USGBC chapter, said in a prepared statement. “The diversity of the state’s 2012 projects is impressive, with not only municipalities, casinos and convention centers participating, but small businesses, utilities and transportation hubs as well.”

According to the infographic on the USGBC website, Nevada has 29 LEED certified projects in 2012, which equals 3.7 million sq. ft certified. Projects included the NOW Foods distribution center in Sparks, LEED Silver; North Las Vegas City Hall, LEED Gold; and the Green Flag Facility at Nellis Air Force Base, LEED Silver.

—Ashley Hennefer

ashleyh@newsreview.com

ECO-EVENT

The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences will host a talk by U.S. Geological Survey experts Dale A. Cox and Michael Dettinger. Cox and Dettinger will talk about the impact of an ARkStorm scenario on the Lake Tahoe region. An ARkStorm, also known as a “superstorm,” is considered a hypothetical scenario but scientifically possible. No-host bar opens at 5:30 p.m., and program will begin at 6 p.m. Suggested donation is $5. For more information, contact tercinfo@ucdavis.edu.

Got an eco-event? Contact ashleyh@newsreview.com. Visit www.facebook.com/RNRGreen for more.