Ever been to the Grand Canyon? That big gaping hole in the ground in northern Arizona? The one that is so pristine, so stunning, and with a scale that is so breathtaking you can’t help but feel moved. And yet there are still a good chunk of folks who want to set up a uranium mine and logging operation along the rim of the park.

Thankfully, The Sierra Club is spearheading efforts to establish the greater Grand Canyon area as a national monument to protect it from being scarred and polluted. Here’s their take on the issue:

“The Grand Canyon watershed is home to a unique array of native wildlife, hundreds of creeks and springs that millions of people rely on for drinking water, and thousands of acres of ancient forest — including the Southwest’s largest unprotected old-growth ponderosa pine forest.

Tribes in the area, especially the Navajo Nation, Havasupai, Hualapai, and Hopi, have come together to help protect a region that is sacred. Right now, this natural and cultural treasure faces threats from many fronts — from unsafe uranium mining to devastating logging practices. There’s only one way to preserve the sanctity of these 1.7 million acres for generations to come: name it as a national monument.”

Seems like a no-brainer to me. If you feel the same, sign the petition here >