Protect What We Love: Our Lands, Our Communities, & Our Future

Written By Gretchen Klens

Hello community,

As many of you may have heard, Congress is pushing forward a deeply destructive piece of legislation called the “Big Beautiful Bill”—a misleading name for a bill that would sell off millions of acres of public lands to extractive economies that are poisoning us, gut environmental protections, and slash vital social programs without alternatives in place. It prioritizes extractive corporate profit and tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy over the health of people, ecosystems, and the planet itself.

This is not good. This bill poses a direct threat to the lands we love, the communities we care about, and the future we hope to live in. Imagine a world where drilling and extraction expand, our air and water grow more polluted, and the forests that give us oxygen and solace are clear cut for profit. That’s the direction this bill pushes us toward—one rooted in short-term gain and long-term destruction— not care, connection, or collective survival.

I know many of us are short on time and energy—but speaking up matters a lot right now. Below is a letter you can copy, paste, and send to your U.S. Senators and Representative. It’s quick, clear, and rooted in love—for the Earth, for each other, and for what truly sustains us.

Let’s use our voices. Let’s protect what matters. Jah Bless.

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Subject: Oppose the “Big Beautiful Bill” – Protect Public Lands and People

Dear [Senator/Representative Last Name],

I’m writing as a resident of [Your State] who deeply opposes the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” I care profoundly about the health of our public lands, the well-being of our communities, and the future of the planet we all depend on. This bill undermines all of those things.

Public lands are not just landscapes—they are sacred, life-giving places that offer healing, belonging, and connection to everyone. They are where people gather, and where we remember we are part of something larger than ourselves. Selling them off to private interests for mining, drilling, and logging is not only shortsighted—it is dangerous and downright disrespectful. It threatens biodiversity, climate resilience, cultural sites, and the outdoor access so many of us cherish in [Your State] and beyond.

This bill is also devastating in its proposed cuts to programs that help people survive—healthcare, food assistance, education—all while giving more tax breaks to the wealthiest. That. is. not. leadership. It’s greed.

I urge you to take a stand for:

  • Protecting public lands for all people, now and for generations to come

  • Upholding strong environmental protections and democratic public input

  • Safeguarding essential social programs that reflect our shared humanity

  • Prioritizing access, health, and sustainability over top-heavy tax cuts

[Your State] deserves representatives who believe in the power of community, conservation, and care. Please vote no on this bill—and speak out boldly against it.

Thank you,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address, if desired]
[Your Email]
[Your Town], [Your State]

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If you live in NH like I do, here’s who you should contact:

Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Senator Maggie Hassan

U.S. Representative (NH has two):

  • Chris Pappas (NH‑1): DC – 452 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515, (202‑225‑5456); Manchester – (603‑935‑6710)

  • Maggie Goodlander (NH‑2): DC – 223 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515; Nashua – (603‑595‑2006)

Gretchen Klens