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DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
July 12, 2005
"If we can work with Ford to make their Mercury Hybrid a hit, Ford will be convinced that you can make money and make a vehicle that's clean." - Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming program. The Sierra Club applauds the launch of Ford's new hybrid, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV, and encourages Ford to put this gas-saving technology to work in all of their vehicles. https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dyj1,o7l,18yy,bkog,dazy,eylb
1. ACCOUNTABILITY: ExxposeExxon
2. LANDS: Democracy in the Forests
3. TAKE ACTION: Tell your Senators and Representatives to protect communities by voting NO on CAFTA
4. TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Representative to Support Amendments to the Water Resources Development Bill
1. ACCOUNTABILITY: ExxposeExxon
A coalition of groups, including the Sierra Club, launched campaign today to educate the public on ExxonMobil's destructive environmental record. The campaign, "ExxposeExxon," will reveal the truth about the world's largest and most profitable oil companies' actions, including actively lobbying Congress to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, attempting to avoid paying all the damages due to those harmed by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, and funding organizations that work to discredit the science behind global warming. ExxposeExxon urges the public to encourage ExxonMobil to change its policies by refusing to buy the company's products, refusing to invest in the company and refusing to take a new job with the company.
Get involved in the ExxposeExxon campaign at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dyj1,o7l,4ud9,1j3n,dazy,eylb
Read the New York Times' article on the campaign at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dyj1,o7l,5b3b,icwv,dazy,eylb
2. LANDS: Democracy in the Forests
Last week, a federal court struck down Bush administration rules which had exempted large numbers of Forest Service decisions, including many timber sales, from public comment and appeal. The court affirmed the purpose behind the 1992 Appeals Reform Act, in which Congress had directed the Forest Service that it must keep its decisions subject to public comment and appeal. Ruling on a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club and coalition partners, the judge decided that the rules were "manifestly contrary" to the 1992 Act. "We're pleased that the court did the right thing by standing up for government transparency in decisions that affect our natural heritage," said Matt Kenna, an attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center, who represented the conservation groups.
Learn more about this victory in our National Forests at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dyj1,o7l,hp4g,2xtk,dazy,eylb
3. TAKE ACTION: Tell your Senators and Representatives to protect communities by voting NO on CAFTA
The expansion of NAFTA to Central America - an agreement called CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement) - is expected to be voted on in Congress next week. CAFTA threatens the ability of communities in the United States and throughout Central America to enforce environmental protections and safeguard their people and environments.
Tell your Senators and Representatives to protect communities by voting NO on the Central America Free Trade Agreement at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dyj1,o7l,91n0,apxu,dazy,eylb
4. TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Representative to Support Amendments to the Water Resources Development Bill
The House is expected to vote tomorrow on the Water Resources Development Act, which will authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to re-engineer waterways, coasts and harbors. These projects, typically based on faulty economic analysis, often inflict tremendous damage on the natural environment. Two amendments will give Congress the opportunity to hold the Corps accountable for one of their biggest proposed projects: massive new locks and dams on the Mississippi River.
Send a message directly to your Representative urging him or her to support the amendments to the Water Resources Development Bill at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dyj1,o7l,9svv,ioji,dazy,eylb
"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." - Senator Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day and lifelong defender of our environmental heritage, who passed away Sunday at age 89. Thanks, Senator Nelson.
1. AIR: Yellow Cabs Go Green
2. LANDS: America's Great Outdoors in Your Backyard
3. TAKE ACTION: Supreme Court
4. TAKE ACTION: Protect our National Forests from Commercial Logging
1. AIR: Yellow Cabs Go Green
New York's yellow cabs are going green. Last week, the City Council approved the "Clean Air Taxis Act" to jumpstart the conversion of New York City's taxi fleet to less-polluting, more fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles. Since New York's taxi fleet has approximately 13,000 cabs, the move would immediately help reduce the city's crushing air pollution burden, while also providing a boon to New York City's cabbies, who currently spend $100 a day on fuel. Hybrid cars get almost double the miles per gallon as standard models. Once this new legislation is signed by the mayor, the Taxi and Limousine Commission will be required to approve at least one model of hybrid vehicle for use as a New York City taxicab.
Read the Sierra Club's press release at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dtho,o7l,74ve,etwt,dazy,eylb
Read the Associated Press article "NY Hails a (Hybrid) Cab" at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dtho,o7l,e8pc,h3az,dazy,eylb
Read the editorial supporting hybrid taxis in the New York Times at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dtho,o7l,c0n9,c8mm,dazy,eylb
2. LANDS: America's Great Outdoors in Your Backyard
All across America, communities are working to protect, conserve, and restore wild lands and neighborhood special places. Some of these places are spectacular national landscapes, others are small local treasures. Each of them requires urgent and bold action. Sierra Club's "America's Great Outdoors" highlights places of national significance and profiles areas chosen by citizen conservationists in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that are threatened, but can still be saved if we can summon the foresight and will to act now.
Find a special place in your state that is in danger and learn how you can help at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dtho,o7l,iro5,d6b0,dazy,eylb
3. TAKE ACTION: Urge President Bush to Pick a Consensus Candidate for Supreme Court
Never before have the courts played such an important role in protecting our clean air, drinking water, and special places. And when it comes to appointing a new Justice of the Supreme Court, the stakes for the country could not be higher. Contact your Senator and ask him or her to urge President Bush to nominate a mainstream candidate who will uphold environmental protections at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dtho,o7l,8py,7wew,dazy,eylb
4. TAKE ACTION: Protect our National Forests from Commercial Logging
>From the Alabama National Forests to West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest to Virginia's George Washington National Forest, the Southern Appalachians are home to over one-half million acres of Forest Service roadless areas. Each year they are visited by millions of Americans. However, all of America's National Forests are now under threat, including those special places in Appalachia. With its recent repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and attacks on forest protection regulations, the Bush administration has opened the door to logging, roadbuilding, and other destructive activities in our National Forests.
Congress must protect and restore America's National Forest heritage and ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy our National Forests. The National Forest Protection and Restoration Act, to be introduced soon by Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), proposes to end the federal commercial logging program and to redirect federal funding into a pro-active forest restoration program.
Send a fax directly to your Representative urging him or her to support the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act at: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dtho,o7l,4e24,23ja,dazy,eylb
"Since the election of Ronald Reagan, the nation has approached energy policy in the same ambivalent way it has approached sex education: some people think it is indispensable; others think it is none of the government's business." - Matthew L. Wald in the New York Times
(1) LANDS: Playing Doctor
(2) ENERGY UPDATE: Abuse of Power
(3) TAKE ACTION: Vote to Protect Public Health and Forests
(4) TAKE ACTION: Vote NO on CAFTA
1. LANDS: Playing Doctor
Just before the Bush administration relaxed rules for cattle grazing on public lands, it doctored sections of an environmental impact study to downplay the effects of grazing on water quality and wildlife, including endangered species. "This is a whitewash. They took all of our science and reversed it 180 degrees," said Erick Campbell, one of the retired scientists who helped write the unedited version of the report. According to a recent L.A. Times story, the original environmental analysis draft warned that the new rules would have a "significant adverse impact" on wildlife, but that phrase was removed. The bureau now concludes that the grazing is "beneficial to animals."
Read the LA Times article "Land Study on Grazing Denounced" by Julie Cart: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dpii,o7l,furr,fmv3,dazy,eylb
2. ENERGY UPDATE: Abuse of Power
Thanks to the thousands of you who took action to support clean energy solutions and oppose the Energy Policy Act of 2005. America deserves an energy policy that cuts its dangerous dependence on oil, cleans up the environment, and enhances national security. Unfortunately, today the Senate passed an energy bill that funnels billions of taxpayer dollars to polluting energy industries, opens up our coastlines to destructive oil and gas activities, and fails to address global warming. But the fight is not yet over. The Senate now has to reconcile its version of the bill with a much-worse House version. We'll continue to keep you updated on this issue...
Read Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope's statement: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dpii,o7l,j3cb,407o,dazy,eylb
3. TAKE ACTION: Vote to Protect Public Health and Forests
Tomorrow, your Senator is expected to consider the FY 2006 Interior and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Urge them to provide sufficient funding to protect our environment and public health while opposing spending on programs that would do harm to our natural resources and communities.
Contact your Senator via phone or email and tell them to SUPPORT: Senators Sununu and Bingaman's amendment to stop taxpayer subsidies for Tongass National Forest logging roads and Senator Boxer's amendment to place a moratorium on EPA's consideration of unethical and unscientific testing of pesticides on humans.
Get your Senator's contact information: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dpii,o7l,16rx,kl1v,dazy,eylb
4. TAKE ACTION: Vote NO on CAFTA
The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is an expansion of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. CAFTA's environmental provisions are weak, unenforceable, and full of loopholes, and do not require any country to adopt or maintain a clear set of basic environmental laws and regulations. Central America has incredible biodiversity which could be threatened by CAFTA.
Tell your Senators and Representatives to vote "no" on CAFTA and that the NAFTA model should not be expanded: https://info.sierraclub.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=arz,dpii,o7l,91n0,apxu,dazy,eylb
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