Target: Joe Biden, President of the United States
Goal: Support restoration and renewed protections of Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine monuments.
The Trump administration oversaw an unprecedented attack on environmental protections. Several federally shielded natural monuments were slashed and open to exploitation by special interests. This ForceChange petition and this petition called for the reversals of some of the most destructive policies. Thanks to these and similar calls to action, the Biden Administration restored three of these amazing wonders to their former glory.
In an expansive proclamation, President Biden addressed the fates of Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments as well as the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine monument. All had experienced significant reductions in their mass by order of President Trump. These actions left the Utah monuments vulnerable to oil and gas drilling, while the marine monument was open to more invasive commercial fishing.
The president’s proclamation reinstated limits on fishing and drilling and also re-expanded the sizes of Utah’s spectacular public lands to 1.36 and 1.87 million acres, respectively. In remarks, President Biden said: “these protections provide a bridge to our past, but they also build a bridge to a safer and more sustainable future. One where we strengthen our economy and pass on a healthy planet to our children and our grandchildren.”
Sign the petition below to thank the president for fixing these grave mistakes that could have led to repercussions for decades.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Biden,
You likened the beautiful lands and waters under the government’s protection to “bridges” from our past to a more hopeful and sustainable future. Monuments like Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine are indeed integral reminders of the responsibility humanity holds to build a better future. How we treat these symbols of respect and reverence for nature will forecast how we will ultimately succeed or fail in confronting challenges like the climate crisis.
Thank you for restoring these natural beauties and for signaling a greater commitment to protecting the world we all call home.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: U.S. Bureau of Land Management
909 Signatures