Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will be visiting Glacier Thursday morning (Aug 25th) to talk to Park officials about climate change. Quiet! Glacier petition signatures, comments and an update will be emailed to Secretary Jewell and other government and state officials this week - in celebration of the NPS centennial. The petition and Quiet! Glacier efforts will be active until we reach our goal of eliminating the commercial helicopter overflights. The commercial overflights in Glacier not only impact the natural sounds resource, they also contribute to the destruction of the glaciers they seek to tour, by adding to greenhouse gases, which are known to be causative factor in climate change. On behalf of more than 31,000 petition signatories from all 50 states, US Territories and 40 countries around the world, thank you for signing this petition and spreading the word! There is more to do! Friends for a Quiet! Glacier Coalition website: http://quietglacier.wix.com/coalitioninformation Friends for a Quiet! Glacier Coalition ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES CONSERVATION CONGRESS FLATHEAD AUDUBON SOCIETY FRIENDS OF THE WILD SWAN GREAT OLD BROADS FOR WILDERNESS HEADWATERS MONTANA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ESTES PARK LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MONTANA MONTANA ECOSYSTEMS DEFENSE COUNCIL MONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL PARK CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION NORTH FORK PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION RESTORE THE NORTH WOODS SIERRA CLUB SWAN VIEW COALITION WILD SANCTUARY WILDERNESS WATCH WILDWEST INSTITUTE YELLOWSTONE SAFARI COMPANY -------------------------------------------- To recap Quiet! Glacier Coalition Open Letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell: The NOISE pollution • Glacier National Park has been under attack from serious pollutants for decades. • The loss of glacial ice to global air pollution, for instance, is well documented, but the assault by noise pollution has been flying under the radar, and is contributing to the demise of Glacier Park’s heritage of wild nature and resilience, protected for all people of the world to discover. • Glacier’s solitude has been shattered by hundreds of helicopter overflights, and the incessant noise pollution endured by wildlife and visitors is destroying what Glacier stands for – it is the pinnacle of natural beauty and tranquility. This is a pollution issue, not an aviation issue. The numbers • A small number of people adversely affect the majority of visitors’ experience. • When we talk about commercial helicopter overflights being an inappropriate use, (unless they are for rescue, research or necessary park administration), we are talking about a ratio. • There are a small number of private, for-profit operators imposing noise pollution on hundreds of thousands of visitors and on all wildlife in a land that is supposed to be protected and preserved as the proposed wilderness it is, for future generations—and for all. This is a matter where an overwhelming majority of the visiting public is adversely affected by the actions of an extreme few. Noise pollution is one of the most controllable kinds of pollution. The solution is simple. Stopping the overflights stops the pollution! The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and World Heritage Site surely warrants our highest standard of respect and stewardship. Preserving the sanctity and quiet of special places is a priority of National Park Service. And it is a priority for the majority of visitors – Montanans, Americans and people around the world. Please encourage others to sign the petition or write a letter! Thank you!