The leaves are down, it’s cold (deep freeze cold here in the Catskills!), and the holidays are right around the corner.  Just like that, it’s Thanksgiving again.

The year has flown by, as the Catskill Mountainkeeper team has been busy working hard to protect and strengthen some of the things that we’re all most thankful for – the health of our communities, the integrity of our ecosystems, and vibrant local economies that provide jobs and healthy food for area residents. 

Will you join us by making a donation to ensure that we can continue to be a leader in these important efforts, on behalf of the Catskills and New Yorkers everywhere?

As we at Catskill Mountainkeeper look back on 2014, here’s some of what we’re thankful for:

- The moratorium on fracking in New York has held, and the state’s highest court ruled in favor of towns’ right to use local authority to keep fracking out of their borders.

- The science against fracking is gaining momentum, and shining an ever-brighter light on the many ways it threatens the health of our communities and environment.

- The anti-fracking movement continues to grow. The Peoples’ Climate March in New York City in September drew over 310,000 people to oppose short-sighted policies that favor the profits of the fossil fuel industries over the health of our planet.

- Renewable energy technologies like solar continue to become mainstream, with more New York homeowners, businesses and public institutions embracing clean, sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

- Agriculture is again on the rise in the Catskills, with area farmers and food producers supplying a growing portion of the food we consume locally, as well as in larger downstate markets. 

- More people are coming to the Catskill Park and surrounding areas to hike the many trails, boat on and fish in our waters, and enjoy the one-of-a-kind natural beauty.

We’re thankful for a lot this year. But we can’t slow down now. It’s more important than ever that we keep up the fight against fracking, and continue to help build a Catskills and a New York where our economies, ecosystems and communities are working in harmony.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to support Catskill Mountainkeeper in this important effort, and help us to ensure that next year we all have even more to be thankful for.

On behalf of the Mountainkeeper team, thanks for all you do.