Ian Somerhalder Tweets to Save the Redwoods, Petition Unveiled for CA Governor

by Jess Leber · 2011-06-28 12:29:00 UTC
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Did you know that 13,000 petition signatures, when printed, equal 260 feet of paper -- almost the same height of a mature old-growth redwood tree?

That was the symbolism unveiled on the steps of the California Capitol in Sacramento last Wednesday, as ralliers decried the state transit agency's plans to widen Highway 101 and destroy ancient redwoods in Richardson Grove State Park.

The rally went off without a hitch. According to Aliana Lee Knapp-Prasek, a Redway, CA resident who launched the Change.org action, two busloads of people met up and marched to Caltrans, some wearing bright orange vests and hardhats with "Eco Trans" spelled out on the back. There were banners, posters, puppets, animal costumes, drums and flutes. They converged on the building, chanting, and unrolled the petition in front of the building. (See a short write-up in The Sacramento Bee). A lead organizer of the Save Richardson Grove Coalition then met with aides in the Governor's office and delivered thousands of petition signatures and post cards asking that state officials prioritize timeless trees over a dubious highway widening.

You can see photos of the rally and petition unveiling here.

The case is also making its way through the courts, as a coalition of environmental groups and individual residents challenge the project on several grounds. Meanwhile, we hope that Governor Jerry Brown gets the message and uses his executive powers to finds a better way to preserve the "Redwood Curtain."

People in California care, but so do people all around the country who have experienced the awe of standing at the base of one of Richardson Grove's redwoods. Don't believe me? Check out some of the amazing comments on the petition, and keep signing to show your support.

Even celebrity activist Ian Somerhalder, of The Vampire Diaries fame, is jumping on board. Today, he tweeted the petition to his nearly one million twitter followers, writing: "I'm signing. People that think cutting ancient Redwoods is okay scare me."

Join him and help continue the momentum of the successful petition delivery by signing and sharing now.

Follow Change.org's Environment page on Facebook or Twitter.

Jess Leber is a Change.org editor. She most recently covered climate and energy issues as a reporter in Washington, D.C

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