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DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
April 3, 2003
"You can't go to Wal-Mart and get another planet." -Marilyn T. Welles, Salt Lake City resident, during one of EPA's recent public meetings regarding the Bush Administration's plan to weaken the Clean Air Act
(1)POLITICAL/SPRAWL: New Mayor in Madison
(2)NATIONAL FORESTS: Future Forest Fires
(3)ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Toxic Fish (5)TAKE ACTION: No New Exemptions for Department of Defense
1. New Mayor in Madison
The candidate with "more creatively placed consonants in his name" won the mayoral race in Madison, WI. Dave Cieslewicz, the candidate preferred by the Wisconsin Sierra Club, won in the close race by only two percentage points. Cieslewicz is the current executive director of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, a popular statewide smart-growth organization, and plans to make affordable housing, land use, transportation, and the environment among his top priorities.
Read the full story from the Wisconsin State Journal: https://www.madison.com/wisconsinstatejournal/local/45792.php#Top
2. Future Forest Fires
Forest fires are bound to happen this summer in the American west. The Denver Post recently wrote an editorial on the benefits of fighting fire with fire. The Sierra Club couldn't agree more. Controlled fires (also known as prescribed burns) are important because, in the short term, they reduce fuels that feed large forest fires while, in the long term, they restore the forest to a more natural state.
Read the Editorial here: https://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E417%257E1275885%257E,00.html
3. Toxic Fish
In a recent victory for Sierra Club Environmental Justice activists in Memphis, the city has decided to put up a fence around a poisoned pond next to a Superfund Site. Previously, signs that said "Do not eat fish from this pond" didn't do enough to deter fishermen from casting their lines. Although some fishing enthusiasts may be discouraged, the fence will prevent any chance of eating fish contaminated by the toxic waste.
Get the local angle from Memphis Commercial Appeal at: https://www.gomemphis.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_1857887,00.html
4. TAKE ACTION - No New Exemptions for Department of Defense
The Bush Administration is proposing that the Department of Defense be exempt from our country's environmental laws.
Why? Read more and TAKE ACTION here: https://whistler.sierraclub.org/action/tamain?alid=252&st=curr
"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." - Mark Twain
(1)WILDLANDS: Early Earth Day Event Takes to the Streets
(2)AIR: Communities want their Clean Air
(3)POLITICAL: A Citizens' Declaration
(4)CORRECTION to the March 27 edition
(5)TAKE ACTION: Tell Ford Motor Company to Help Cut Our Dependence on Oil
1. Early Earth Day Event Takes to the Streets
In Salt Lake City, over 130 Utah Wilderness Activists rallied to protect Utah's Red Rock Wilderness from the threat of oil development. Following the kick-off event, 80 activists knocked on doors to talk to their neighbors about protecting Utah Wilderness from the Bush Administration's oil drilling policies. Utah citizens were given the opportunity to fill out postcards to their local congressman, to place an "Earth Day" lawn sign in their yard, and to become a volunteer to help protect Utah's Wilderness.
Read about the event in a local paper here: https://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,480032190,00.html Stay tuned with all the latest Sierra Club Earth Day Activities here: https://www.sierraclub.org/earthday2003/
2. Communities want their Clean Air
Concerned about new changes to the Clean Air Act will threaten health and safety, local residents turned out to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hearings yesterday in North Carolina, New York, Michigan, Texas, and Utah. Many asked the same question: why is the Bush Administration allowing industry to pollute more when we actually have the existing technology prevent air pollution? Under pressure from the coal industry and polluting companies, the Bush Administration plans to eliminate the New Source Review program, which makes older power plants and refineries install modern pollution control technology when they increase emissions of dangerous air pollution.
Here are a couple of articles as a result of the hearings: https://newsobserver.com/news/story/2397449p-2232890c.html https://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0304/01/b01-124841.htm
3. A Citizens' Declaration
The outbreak of war is not the end of our campaign for peace. It's only the beginning. Join us in signing the Citizens' Declaration to reaffirm our commitment to addressing international conflicts through the rule of law and the United Nations. The online declaration is organized by MoveOn and Win Without War.
To sign the declaration, visit: www.moveon.org/declaration/
4. Correction
The March 27 edition of 'Currents' accidentally repeated an error from a newspaper article about EPA Administrator Whitman's visit to Arizona. Both the article and 'Currents' failed to distinguish between harmful ground-level ozone pollution and the beneficial stratospheric ozone layer. We apologize for any confusion.
5. TAKE ACTION - Tell Ford Motor Company to Help Cut Our Dependence on Oil
Making our cars and trucks go farther on a gallon of gas is the biggest single step to cutting our dependence on oil and curbing global warming. Now more than ever we need to implement the solutions and technology that exist today to start saving oil. Ford and the other automakers have the technology to make all new cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks average 40 miles per gallon. Taking this step would save more oil per day than we currently import from the Persian Gulf. But Ford and the other U.S. automakers have kept this fuel-saving technology on the shelf. It is time to tell Ford to do its part to cut America's reliance on oil by boosting fuel economy to 40 miles per gallon. Tell Ford Motor Company to Help Cut Our Dependence on Oil,
TAKE ACTION HERE: https://whistler.sierraclub.org/action/?alid=248&st=curr
"We must come to see that the end we seek is a society that can live with its conscience...How long must justice be crucified and truth buried? Glory, hallelujah." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 38 years ago today, after leading 25,000 marchers to Montgomery to protest the denial of voting rights to black Americans
(1)LEWIS & CLARK: On Tour
(2)FACTORY FARMS: Sid Vicious
(3)PSA: Primetime
(4)TAKE ACTION: Arctic Accountability
1. On Tour
Elizabeth Grossman, author of the new Sierra Club book, "Adventuring Along The Lewis and Clark Trail," has hit the trail herself. Having just embarked on a multi-state book tour through Lewis and Clark country, Ms. Grossman is encouraging people to explore and protect the mountains, rivers, prairies, and forests made famous by the Corps of Discovery 200 years ago. The book will help modern-day explorers hike, paddle, backpack and bike in Lewis and Clark's famous footsteps.
See if Elizabeth Grossman is coming to your town: https://www.sierraclub.org/lewisandclark/bicentennial/book_tour.asp
2. Sid Vicious
A State Representative in Texas wants to make it harder for citizens to fight factory farms from polluting their backyards. Representative Sid Miller, from the dairy-producing area of Texas, has introduced two bills that would discourage the public from voicing potential health hazards associated with factory farms and make it more difficult for factory farms to be challenged. The Lone Star Sierra Club disagrees with these bills and is standing up for the rights of citizens.
Read the entire article from Texas: https://www.wacotrib.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2003/03/07/1047018600.00353.1522.1114.html
3. Primetime
Have you seen the latest Public Service Announcement from the Sierra Club? If you haven't, check it out online. The PSA offers a glimpse of outdoor recreation without the outdoors and makes a compelling case for why we need to protect what's left.
Check out the PSA here: https://www.sierraclub.org/spotlight/
4. TAKE ACTION - Arctic Accountability
The Arctic is saved for now, but there will always be more votes. Send a letter to your Senators encouraging them to vote against drilling in the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge in the future.
https://www.sierraclub.org/action/?alid=231&st=curr
"I'm mad enough to eat nails right now." Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) after losing the vote to drill in the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge
(1)WILDLANDS: Arctic Victory!
(2)NATIONAL FORESTS: California Clear-Cuts
(3)POLITICAL: Statement of Sierra Club President Jennifer Ferenstein on Iraq War
(4)TAKE ACTION: Support Yellowstone Snowmobile Phase Out
1. Arctic Victory!
Earlier this week, the Senate voted to remove from the Bush Administration's Budget Bill a provision that would have allowed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This vote, which came down 52-48 in favor of protecting the Arctic, was a major test and we won!
Thank you to all those who contacted your Senator on this crucial vote for one of America's natural treasures.
Read the latest from the Philly Inquirer: https://www.philly.com/mld/philly/5433331.htm
2. California Clear-Cuts
The US Forest Service announced its most recent plan for the Sierra Nevada forests. The plan would double the amount of logging and ease rules on grazing practices intended to protect wildlife. The new plan must undergo an environmental review and the Bush Administration will make a final decision in the fall. Look for a strong outcry from the spotted owl, among others, if this plan is carried out.
Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle: https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/03/19/MN188986.DTL
3. Statement of Sierra Club President Jennifer Ferenstein on Iraq War
"The Sierra Club opposes the United States' military action against Iraq. We urge all parties to follow a path to peace by ceasing hostilities immediately and allowing U.N. inspectors to disarm and destroy any Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. The best way to support American troops, save the lives of innocent Iraqis, and prevent further environmental devastation, is to halt the fighting and proceed immediately with a peaceful, lawful, UN-sanctioned disarmament.
"Disarmament and destruction of any Iraqi weapons of mass destruction through resumed rigorous United Nations inspections will accomplish the international community's goals without risking more lives, endangering the environment or increasing anti-American sentiment among the Iraqi people and others throughout the world.
"While honest people can disagree about the primary reasons for this conflict, no one can disagree that Iraq is strategically important to our country and the world because of its oil reserves. No matter how long the conflict lasts, we will find ourselves in a similar situation again unless the U.S. and other nations act decisively to cut our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels.
"We can do better, if our leaders will lead. The simplest step would be to require that we reduce our country's dependence on oil by using existing technology to make new cars and SUVs go farther on a gallon of gas. We can also invest in increasing our reliance on wind and solar power, using technologies that generate energy more effectively than ever before. We can implement solutions that will save oil and save lives.
4. TAKE ACTION - Support Yellowstone Snowmobile Phase Out
The Bush Administration is allowing snowmobiles to continue use and possibly increase in Yellowstone National park.
Act now by contacting your Representative to support the Yellowstone Protection Act, which will enact the Park Service's original plan, to phase out snowmobiles from Yellowstone.
Take Action here: https://www.sierraclub.org/action/?alid=216&st=curr
"If we're an arrogant nation, they'll resent us. If we're a humble nation, but strong, they'll welcome us." - Governor George W. Bush, in the 2nd Presidential Debate, responding to Moderator Jim Lehrer's question: "How would you project us around the world as president?", 10/11/2000
(1)WILDLANDS: The Arctic
(2)NATIONAL FORESTS: Irresponsible Logging
(3)SPRAWL: Leaving Takings Behind
(4)TAKE ACTION: Save the Arctic!
1. The Arctic
As early as tomorrow, Congress will be voting on a back-door amendment to the Budget Bill to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Like the Sierra Club, newspapers nationwide agree that it makes no sense to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They also agree that the issue has nothing to do with national security or balancing the budget, and everything to do with the oil industry's power and influence inside Congress and the White House. A far better and more effective way to reduce our dependence on oil would be to make our cars and trucks run further on a gallon of gas.
Read a few editorials on the subject: https://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/opinion/0303/14oil.html https://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/editorial/104756016659300.xml?oregonian?ede https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42988-2003Mar17.html
2. Irresponsible Logging
The Clearwater National Forest in Idaho has billed Plum Creek Timber Company for $11 million because they are at fault for starting two fires in 2000. The fires were started by logging activities on the Company's land, and flames eventually spread to the National Forest. According to Clearwater officials, the specific problem was that Plum Creek's logging equipment was not being operated and maintained properly.
These examples from Clearwater National Forest underscore the role that poor forest management and logging operations in starting or fueling unnaturally large fires. New Bush Administration policies would give companies like Plum Creek even greater freedom to log irresponsibly on our National Forests, putting even more communities at risk of fire.
Read more here: https://www.sierraclub.org/logging/
3. Leaving Takings Behind
The Arizona State government twice voted down a bill to expand the definition of takings, thereby decreasing the ability of cities, towns and counties to make sensible choices for open space. The bill also would have taken away the right of communities to regulate their own land use. The Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club worked hard to prevent this bill from passing and succeeded!
Read more about livable communities here: https://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/community/
4. TAKE ACTION - Save the Arctic!
The Senate is going to vote tomorrow (Wednesday) on whether to remove revenues from drilling in the Arctic Refuge from the Federal Budget Bill. The vote is extremely close and will come down to one or two votes. Please contact your Senators and tell them that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is too important to become just a dollar number in the Federal Budget Bill. Government scientists estimate that there is a 6 month supply of oil, and industry leaders admit that no new oil would be available for 10 years. America needs real energy solutions that will provide sound, long term savings such as increasing fuel efficiency in America's cars and trucks.
Take Action here: https://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/arctic/budget_bill_2003.asp
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