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DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
September 20, 2001
"Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too--" - On September 19, 1819, English poet John Keats, inspired by the beauty of the changing season, wrote "To Autumn," a three-stanza ode to the splendor, bounty, and melancholy of fall. Keats profoundly influenced American Transcendentalists like Henry David Thoreau.
Table of Contents:
[1] NEWS: Sen. Murkowski Backs Off Immediate Talk of Drilling in Arctic -- Sen. Inhofe Next?
[2] NOTES FROM THE FIELD: Sierra Club Celebrates a Victory Over Protection of the Grand Canyon
[3] TAKE ACTION: Protect Our Nation's Wetlands
[4] OFF THE BEATEN TRAIL: Sierra Club, Hybrids, and Sex Appeal
[1] NEWS: Sen. Murkowski Backs off Immediate Talk of Drilling in Arctic -- Sen. Inhofe Next?
On Wednesday, Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK), a leading proponent for opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling, addressed the Senate in response to media reports claiming he was considering attaching an Arctic-drilling amendment to the military spending bill. Murkowski, who is the ranking member on the Senate Energy Committee, publicly put the issue on the back burner after receiving negative attention for allegedly attempting to link the two issues.
"Let me take the floor to clarify a rumor that is circulating among some of the media that has been drawn to the attention of our office--that somehow the Senator from Alaska is in the process of offering an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill proposing the opening of ANWR. That is certainly not the case. It would be inappropriate and in poor taste," Murkowski said.
While it certainly would be "inappropriate and in poor taste," Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) appears ready to do exactly that. This bill could come up any day, so stay tuned for more.
Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), issued a statement of his own: "Responding to such terror by allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would be breathtakingly ineffective and irrelevant," he said, adding that improving the fuel economy of the country's transportation system would be more effective in reducing dependence on oil.
In this time of national tragedy, we should put aside narrow and divisive interests and focus on strengthening our national security and protecting the safety of all Americans. Now is the time for unity, not the pursuit of narrow ends.
To read more about the Arctic Refuge, go to: https://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/arctic
[2] NOTES FROM THE FIELD: Sierra Club Celebrates a Victory over Protection of the Grand Canyon
The Sierra Club Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter is celebrating a federal judge's recent decision overturning U.S. Forest Service approval of Canyon Forest Village, a proposed gateway community near Grand Canyon National Park. The proposed project would have placed a massive hotel and retail project on the cusp of the park. U.S. District Judge Paul Rosenblatt ruled that the Forest Service's environmental impact statement was deficient.
The Grand Canyon chapter had challenged original approval of the project, claiming it would threaten the existence of springs within the national park by pumping nearby groundwater. They ran ads in local media, generated postcards asking the Forest Service to consider alternatives, and consistently questioned the appropriateness of building a development of this size at the mouth of the Grand Canyon.
Sandy Bahr, conservation director for the Grand Canyon chapter, hailed the ruling as "a huge victory for the public and the protection of an important national resource."
Check out the article in the Arizona Daily Sun at: https://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=25598
[3] TAKE ACTION: Protect Our Nation's Wetlands
Your help is urgently needed to stop the latest assault on the nation's wetlands. The Army Corps of Engineers is surging ahead with a program that whittles away the nation's remaining wetlands.
Last year, after the Sierra Club helped generate 10,000 public comments, the Corps reformed its permitting process and increased protection for wetlands. Now, despite pubic support for protection, the Corps is proposing a return to weaker rules.
We must let the Corps know that we OPPOSE its efforts to weaken wetlands protection.
To find information on the Nationwide Permit program, and to send an official public comment in support of protecting our nation's wetlands, go to: https://whistler.sierraclub.org:8080/takeaction/cleanwater/index5.jsp
[4] OFF THE BEATEN TRAIL: Sierra Club, Hybrids, and Sex Appeal
Earlier this month, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that hybrid cars are catching on in the area. The cars have become so popular, in fact, that one-fifth of the nation's hybrid-car owners reside in the Bay Area. Perhaps, the Chronicle argued, that's because the eco-vehicles are sexy. And when the reporter needed an opinion on the sexiness of hybrid cars, he turned to the expert staff of the Club.
"If a guy's driving an Insight, you know he's a little more sporty," said the Club's Megan Fowler, former field media coordinator, of the two-door model.
Countered co-worker Kim Todd, associate editor of The Planet, "But if he's driving a Prius, he's better marriage potential. Though for real sex appeal, it's hard to beat a guy on a bicycle."
For the full article, go to: https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/09/09/MN122118.DTL
For more information on Sierra Club's Clean Car campaign, go to: https://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/cleancars/
"The Sierra Club extends our deepest sympathy to all whose lives have been touched by this tragedy. Right now, what's most important is that Americans stand together as one nation, giving support and consolation to our families, friends, neighbors and colleagues." --Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, in response to the national tragedy.
Table of Contents:
[1] Sierra Club Extends Sympathy to Those Touched by Tragedy
[2] NEWS: Comment Period on Wild Forest Proposal Ends (Again) -- Half a Million Ask for Forest Protection
[3] IN THE FIELD: "Old McDonald" Conference on CAFOs and Industrial Agriculture a Success
[4] Take Positive Action in a Time of Turmoil
[1] Sierra Club Extends Sympathy to Those Touched by Tragedy
On Wednesday, September 12, Executive Director Carl Pope issued the following statement in response to the national tragedy:
"The Sierra Club extends our deepest sympathy to all whose lives have been touched by this tragedy. Right now, what's most important is that Americans stand together as one nation, giving support and consolation to our families, friends, neighbors and colleagues. Our national a ttention must focus on helping those who've lost loved ones, on strengthening our security and on finding those responsible for this attack.
"Now is a time for mourning, for reflection and for solutions to the immediate crisis at hand. Our nation faces other long-term problems and challenges, but now is not the time for those debates. Only when the healing is underway and we have begun tackling the security challenges we face, will our nation be ready to focus again on other issues. When the focus returns to other longer-term issues, the Sierra Club will resume our national debate on those issues.
"It is not clear how best to advance the Sierra Club's mission in these new circumstances, and it will not be clear for some time. We need to bend our organizational efforts towards sorting out how we continue to provide the kind of environmental leadership this country continues to need, how we play our appropriate role in the broader national dialogue on how to respond to the events of Sept. 11.
"It is more important now than before that all Americans united around one of our nation's most important, most unifying values -- our love of this land, and our commitment to protect America's environment for our families and our future."
The Sierra Club removed from its web site and publications materials that no longer seemed appropriate in light of the national crisis; we postponed many activities out of sympathy and respect for the victims of the tragedy; we are in the process of identifying the most effective, sensitive, and appropriate strategies to exercise the leadership which our members have historically provided for this country.
For more information on Sierra Club's response, go to: https://www.sierraclub.org/update.asp
[2] NEWS: Comment Period on Wild Forest Proposal Ends (Again) -- Half a Million Ask for Forest Protection
On Monday, Sept. 10, the Forest Service closed the second comment period over a Clinton-era ban on road building and logging on 58.5 million acres of roadless national forest land. In just 60 days, the Forest Service received close to 500,000 comments, with the vast majority calling for full protection of wild forests.
"We know we are sorely losing the numbers count," admitted the executive director of the Montana Wood Products Association.
The new comments bring the total number of letters and comments by the American people to an estimated 2 million. The American people have spoken once, and they have spoken again. The question remains; will President Bush and Chief Bosworth listen?
In five weeks, the newly submitted comments should be analyzed. A decision by the Bush Administration will follow.
For more information on our efforts to protect wild forests and end commercial logging on federal lands, go to: https://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/wildforest/
[3] IN THE FIELD: Kentucky Hosts "Old McDonald" Conference on Animal Factory Pollution and Industrial Agriculture
Over the weekend of Sept. 9, Sierra Club organizer Aloma Dew helped put on "Old McDonald vs. Industrial Agriculture -- Farmers, Safe Food and the Environment," a conference to create public awareness of animal factory pollution and form networks and support among citizens.
More than 180 people attended the weekend conference and were treated to a keynote speech by farmer/philosopher/writer Wendell Berry. He challenged farmers and environmentalists to unite around common interests and responsibilities, and work together against industrial agriculture.
For more information on our campaign to stop animal factory pollution, go to: https://www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/
[4] IF ACTIVISM HELPS YOU HEAL: Protect the Wasatch-Cache National Forest
For some of us in a time of national turmoil, activism helps give us grounding. Here's one way to help protect America's forests.
The U.S. Forest Service is currently devising a forest management plan for the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in northern Utah. This beautiful forest has some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the intermountain west. Five species of wildflowers are unique to the area and its wild forests provide habitat for moose, elk and beaver. Unfortunately, the Wasatch-Cache has suffered from extensive logging, grazing, oil development and roadbuilding. Now, the oil industry and off-road vehicle users are working to increase new road construction.
Forest protection and restoration should be the long-term focus of management, not continued subsidized development and road construction. You can help by sending a letter to the Forest Service, urging them to adopt the following: -- End the commercial logging program as proposed in Alternative One; -- Protect ALL remaining roadless areas from road construction and development; -- Recommend the Mt. Naomi Roadless Area for Wilderness Designation; -- Restore damaged forest areas and watersheds; and -- Support proposed restrictions on snowmobile use.
Send your letter by Nov. 1, 2001 to: Wasatch-Cache Planning Team 8226 Federal Building 125 South State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84138
Find out more information, go to: https://utah.sierraclub.org/ogden https://www.fs.fed.us/wcnf
"He's given away $33 billion in tax credits to big oil." - Steve Ember, Sierra Club volunteer, tabling at a concert (quoted in a New York Times story on rock stars opposing Bush's energy plan)
Table of Contents:
[1] Take Action -- Stop Bush Energy Plan Corporate Giveaways
[2] Rock Stars Join Sierra Club in Opposing Bush Plan
[3] "Want My MPG" Makes Letters Page
[4] Efficient Californians Avoid Black Outs
[5] Only Four Days Left for Wild Forest Comments
[1] Take Action on the Bush Energy Plan: Stop Corporate Giveaways
The Bush energy plan now before Congress is a huge giveaway to big oil and big coal, and consumers and our environment will pay the price.
The plan adopted by the House of Representatives provides $33 billion in handouts to the oil companies and other polluting industries. Some examples (includes authorizations and credits):
--Coal Total: $5.8 billion --Nuclear Total: $2.7 billion --Oil and Gas Total: $21.2 billion --Utilities Total: $5.9 billion
Instead of lowering fuel costs, increasing energy efficiency or expanding the use of renewable power, the Bush bill increases pollution, opens special places like the Arctic Refuge and other lands to oil drilling and other destructive activities and leaves consumers to pick up the tab.
We can't afford this kind of pay-off to Bush campaign bankrollers. We need a balanced energy plan based on energy efficiency, renewable energy and responsible additions to supply. Speak out by sending a letter to the editor of your local newspaper calling for an end to corporate give aways.
Go to https://www.sierraclub.org/energy/bush_plan/editor.asp
[2] Rock Stars Join Sierra Club in Opposing Bush's Energy Plan
Take a variety of impassioned rock stars, an illogical Bush Energy Plan, add former Sierra Club president Adam Werbach and what do you get? An organized effort called Save Our Environment using concerts and celebrities to mobilize thousands of fans to save the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and fight the administration's energy proposals. From Mike D of the Beastie Boys to David Crosby to Alanis Morrisette, a variety of musicians are speaking out at their concerts and encouraging their fans to get active. Sierra Club President Jennifer Ferenstein briefed Alanis Morrisette before her Alaska concert and Sierra Club volunteers have been tabling at concerts gathering 500 to 600 signatures per event.
To find out more, see https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/06/arts/music/06ROCK.html?0906inside
[3] Volunteers Turn Web site into Headlines
Robert Reeves of Santa Clara got results out of the Sierra Club "I Want My MPG" Web site. Reeves personalized a sample letter to the editor on the site and sent it off to the San Jose Mercury News, which printed it in full.
On the site, you can use the mpg calculator to find out how much you would save if if new fuel-economy standards were in place. And write a letter to your local paper. You can get a free "I Want My MPG" bumperstrip. Tell your friends.
See https://www.sierraclub.org/iwantmympg/
[4] Californians Prove Energy Efficiency Works
Californians took energy efficiency seriously this summer. Fun facts: --4.3 million customers qualify for rebates --Californians consumed 8.9 percent less electricity during peak hours compared with a August one year ago (when it was hotter) --In July, 4.3 million residential users reduced their energy load by at least 20 percent compared to a year ago.
Thousands of Sierra Club members in California have pledged to reduce their energy use by 20% this summer.
To find out more about how to reduce energy use, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/energy/conservation/index.asp
[5] Deadline Coming for Wild Forest Comments
Sept. 10 is the deadline for comments to save our last pristine wild forests. Tell U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth to protect these areas for hiking, hunting, camping, and clean water.
Send a personalized letter by visiting https://whistler.sierraclub.org:8080/takeaction/wildlands/index4.jsp
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