This nation is home to some of the most spectacular natural places in the world. Whether it’s the beautiful forests of the New Jersey Highlands or the breathtaking expanse of the Grand Canyon, we are blessed with amazing natural wonders all over this country.

Too often, the places we hold dear have been threatened by special interests – and were protected when we came together and stood up to protect them.  Already, potential nominees of President-elect Trump’s Administration for key environmental positions look like could be taking us backwards.  

Mining companies are planning more than 8,000 uranium mines around the Grand Canyon. These mines would tear up the landscape, destroy hundreds of Native American cultural sites, and could poison the drinking water supplies for 25 million peoples.

Uranium mines left a similar scar across the New Jersey Highlands – before citizens banded together to stop this destructive practice. Now, we’re fighting to stop uranium mining at our national icons like the Grand Canyon – and stand up for the Highlands. We need to come together to stop the rollbacks of the Highlands Act by the Christie Administration

Before President-elect Trump enters the White House on January 20, President Obama can take action to create a new national monument to permanently protect 1.7 million acres of land around the Grand Canyon from toxic uranium mining. The uranium mines in the Highlands –including the remains at Allamuchy Mountain – are ugly reminders of why we need to protect our national icons.

Join us for a hike for the future to show that you want to stand up for the environment -- regardless of who is President – here in New Jersey and wherever our natural icons are threatened. We’ll gather this Saturday, Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Sussex Branch Parking Lot in Allamuchy Mountain State Park, located at the intersection of Continental Road and Waterloo Road in Stanhope.