October 21, 1997
"It's never too late - in fiction or in life - to revise."
-- Nancy Thay
Contents:
In the Main Ring: Exotic Pest Threatens America's
Forests Take Action
#1: Stop Trade Threat to Our Forests
Take Action #2: Takings Vote Expected on Thursday
Sierra Club
celebrates the Clean Water Act Anniversary Outside the
Beltway:
Sprawl in California
Global Warming I: Cool it, Mr. President Global
Warming II: Playing
Hot Potato
EXOTIC PEST THREATENS AMERICA'S NATIVE FORESTS
Forest activists. You can run, but you can't hide. Sooner or later,
a dangerous, new exotic pest from Europe was going to invade our
ancient forests. That pest has arrived: its called... the World
Trade Organization (WTO).
Next month, the Council of the Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) will meet in Rome to adopt new plant health and safety rules
that will limit how countries regulate products, such as raw logs and
food, that may carry exotic, invasive species. These new rules will
be enforceable through the WTO, where our protections can be
challenged as "barriers to trade."
Already, our forests have suffered extensive damage from exotic
pests. The American chestnut and native elm species on the East
Coast were virtually wiped out by exotics. As raw log and chip
imports increase, the threat grows. In December 1994, a shipment of
untreated wood chips from new Zealand spilled in the Willamette
national Forest while being transported to Prineville, Oregon. The
chips had to be vacuumed from the forest floor to prevent potential
infestation.
Infestations by exotic pests have eliminated wildlife habitat,
threatened native biodiversity, induced increased pesticide use, and
inflicted serious economic damage. When all types of invasive exotic
species are considered -- including aquatic organisms and feral
mammals as well as plant pests and weeds -- they contribute to the
endangerment of 42% of the American species listed under the ESA.
Next to habitat loss, invasive species are the second biggest threat
to native biodiversity.
Most harmful exotics are due to unintentional "hitchhiking" on
imports. As trade grows, you would think the US government would
strengthen safety precautions on our borders. Right? Wrong!. Under
pressure from such industry trade associations as the American Forest
and Paper Association which dominate the closed-door US trade
advisory system, the US government is supporting the new, weaker
plant health standards in the FAO.
At next month's meeting, the FAO will consider revisions to the
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The revised
Convention will govern what plant and animal health and safety
standards that party states may enact to protect their agricultural
and natural resources from damage by exotic insects, plant diseases,
and invasive plants. The proposed revisions will be enforceable by
WTO sanctions.
The new rules will open wide our borders to invasive pests. Framed
without public input or an environmental impact statement, the new
rules reject the precautionary principle and require economic
justification for controls on pest, ignoring the difficulty of
predicting the ecological consequences of introduced species.
As if this weren't enough, the Clinton Administration recently agreed
to legislation (HR 2621) authorizing "fast-track", no-amendments
approval of new trade agreements. Among other troublesome
provisions, this proposed legislation authorizes new talks in the
World Trade Organization to further limit animal and plant health and
safety laws as potential trade barriers. Perversely, the legislation
also encourages trade agreements that "optimize the use of the
world's resources." You can read this to mean increasing raw log
imports, as if our forests weren't sufficiently threatened already by
exotic pests.
TAKE ACTION! Send a letter to the editor today.
TAKE ACTION #2: House to Vote on Take Your Rights Bill
CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY -- US Capitol Switchboard:
202-224-3121
Tell your Representative to oppose H.R. 1534, because this bill
would:
*Override local zoning laws that balance everyone's property rights;
*Harm homeowners and undermine environmental, health, and safety
protections;
*Expand opportunities to sue local governments; and,
*Expand federal court authority over local issues and increase the
workload of an already overburdened federal judiciary.
TAKE ACTION: Takings Bill Goes Before the House Floor
On Oct. 22, the full House of Representatives is expected to begin
debate on "take your rights" legislation with votes expected on
Thursday. Time is of the essence in combating the Private Property
Protection Act of 1997, H.R. 1534, introduced by Rep. Gallegly
(R-CA). Takings legislation usually calls for taxpayer payment to
developers and others when they claim that an environmental or public
health protection reduces the value of their private property. H.R.
1534 would be no less destructive than the compensation and
assessment bills that have been introduced in many past sessions of
Congress.
H.R. 1534 would allow those with a so-called takings claim to proceed
directly to the Court of Federal Claims bypassing the state courts and
locally elected officials. Proponents of H.R. 1534 claim that this
scheme would simplify access to federal courts, but what they fail to
publicize is the Pandora's box of problems that would result. Far from
simplify matters, both bills would literally turn local zoning
disputes into federal cases. The result would undermine a wide
variety of local, state and federal protections for people,
neighboring property and the environment and destroy local land use
planning that balances everyone's rights.
Tuesday, Oct. 21, the National Governors' Association, National
League of Cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors announced their
opposition to H.R. 1534. Yesterday, Rep. Boehlert (R-NY) circulated
a Dear Colleague letter to fellow Republicans calling on them to
oppose the bill.
Please urge your Representatives to join the parties listed above and
the 37 state Attorneys General, International Municipal Lawyers
Association, and Judicial Conference of the U.S. and environmental,
citizen, and labor groups who oppose these bills.
Sierra Club Celebrates the Clean Water Act's 25th Anniversary
In celebration of the Clean Water Act anniversary, Sierra Club held
press events in over a dozen locations throughout the country, here
are some initial stories from those events. Starting on October 16,
newspapers across the country have covered events held by the Sierra
Club highlighted the Clean Water Act's successes and called for
further action. The Sierra Club, State PIRG's, Izaak Walton League
and other groups released the Clean Water Network Report, "A
Prescription for Clean Water".
From the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, where many people believe
the Clean Water Act was born by fire in June 1969, members of the
Sierra Club, Ohio PIRG, and other environmental groups celebrated the
25th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. The Cuyahoga River,
infamous for the fire which was set off by massive amounts of
pollution dumped in for decades, became the sight for a celebration
of sorts. "The Clean Water Act is more of a band-aid then a cure"
said Amy Simpson, Director of Ohio PIRG. Brett Hulsey of the Sierra
Club's Great Lakes Program warned that focusing only on what goes
directly into the water might be ignoring a major source of the
problem. "Ohio companies legally dumped, in 1995, 20 million pounds
of cancer-causing, birth defect causing, hormone-disrupting chemicals
into the air and water...and what goes up must come down.."
Other birthday events included an event sponsored by the Ozark
Chapter. On October 16, Sierra Club, along with other local
environmental groups held a press conference at Eagles Bluffs in
Missouri. The event was a celebration of 25 years of improvement,
but it is clear that much more needs to be done. While the coot is
just one of the waterfowls that have been able to take advantage of
the reduction of toxic chemicals in Eagles Bluff, unfortunately much
work still remains. Ozark Chapter member, Chris Hayday states, "We
are still facing dire problems...the laws would do an adequate job
provided they were enforced." So true Chris, if only Missouri
state officials agreed with you! A big thanks goes out to Terri
Fulsom for organizing this success event.
Sprawl in Sacramento
Saturday was a warm, sunny day in Modesto and 120+ people turned out
to "Rally for the Valley." The theme was preventing sprawl and
preserving agricultural lands, and it certainly hit a nerve with many
local folks.
Speakers included Mike Fuller, our EPEC organizer; Rudy Platzek,
retired and visionary planner; Denny Jackman of Growth:Orderly,
Affordable, and Livable; and a local Native American leader. The
Community Alliance with Family Farmers speaker had a family emergency
so Mike conveyed his thoughts. The focus was on maintaining livable
communities...quality of life and quality of environment...and
keeping agriculture/open space/habitat.
The event was preceded by great local coverage on cable TV and the
Modesto Bee, as well as a short editorial comment saying it was "the
place to be" this weekend for folks concerned about growth in
Saturday's Bee. Showing up to capture the event were cable channel
17, Channel 3 out of Sacramento, and the Modesto Bee.
Refreshments made from organic sweet potatoes and locally grown organic
almonds were donated from local farmers. The stage was well-decorated
with hay bales, pumpkins, and a huge "Rally for the Valley" banner.
The local Yokuts Group did a brisk business in calendar sales while
folks milled around waiting for the speakers to begin.
Every single door hanger packet with 100 door hangers each was
snatched up by the crowd for a total of 10,000 door hangers
distributed in central Modesto with a message to the Mayor on
attached postcards.
Altogether it was a totally successful event, with many folks echoing
the thoughts of Rudy Platzek that this should be just the
beginning...with many "Rallies for the Valley" up and down the Central
Valley in future years to carry out the work of preserving the entire
valley from sprawl and pollution.
Congratulations to Mike Fuller, EPEC organizer; Warren Alford, Mother
Lode Chapter staffer who put in lots of time in the final weeks to
help make a successful event; Jackie McCort and Mike Paparian who
were heavily involved in early planning; and a special thanks to
Yokuts Group leaders including Tommi Lou Carrosela, Kathy Wiese, Gail
Stream and many others who helped make a very successful event.
GLOBAL WARMING I: COOL IT, MR PRESIDENT
Will Clinton Protect Kids, the Environment?
It's now down to crunch time folks: President Clinton is expected to
announce the US proposal for an international treaty to curb global
warming Wednesday (10/22) at 2:30 PM (EST.)
Exactly what the President will announce remains to be seen. Rumors
are rampant, but it appears that pressure from activists like you has
succeeded in killing the most abysmal of the proposals Clinton's
economic advisors have put forward. Whether or not Clinton will do
the right thing, and take strong action, remains to be seen.
During his trip to Latin America last week Clinton was both cool and
hot on the issue. In Brazil Clinton said he would take "a strong
position", but followed it up by saying "I expect to probably be
criticized by all sides." (Rueters, 10/14)
Extra heat was applied to Clinton this week by an Energy Information
Administration report on US greenhouse gas emissions that found that
in 1996 pollution in the US surged 3.4%, one of the highest jumps
ever recorded. The report highlighted the failure of Clinton's
voluntary Climate Change Action Plan. It also points out the failure
of the US to meet the obligations President Bush agreed to at the Rio
Earth Summit in 1992, and which Clinton re-affirmed in 1993 --
reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.
The US is currently on line to be 13% above 1990 levels in 2000.
Despite the failure of Clinton's past voluntary efforts, most US
polluters still oppose strong action. "We believe you have not
maximized the voluntary programs yet" (John Cushman, New York Times,
10/20).
Everything - every ecosystem, every species, every community, and
every person - will be affected by Clinton's decision. Thus far his
advisors have urged him to adopt extremely week proposals. The best
of the worst would seek to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions at 1990
levels by the year 2010, through risky pollution trading and
borrowing schemes.
A recent letter singed by the CEO's of 17 environmental
organizations, Including the Sierra Club, warned the President that
any plan which did not substantially cut global warming pollution
below 1990 levels, beginning in the year 2005, would not suffice to
protect the environment.
GLOBAL WARMING II: PLAYING HOT POTATO
Op-ed Urges Clinton to Show Leadership
It's time for Clinton to stand up to polluters said an editorial in
Saturday's Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The editorial warns that if
Clinton truly worries about his place in the history books, he had
better take real action to curb global warming.
The Star-Tribune argues that the success of the Kyoto global warming
conference "hinges on the leadership of the United States, the
world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases." The paper labels a
current proposal which limits greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels
by 2010 and includes cost caps as "pallid." Such a policy would
"simply stretch a deadline the United States should already be close
to meeting": the Earth Summit accords. Also, it is a much "meeker"
proposal than those advanced by other developed countries.
The Star-Tribune cites a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists
which shows that we can cut carbon emissions "10% below 1990 levels
by 2010, and still reduce annual energy costs by 530$ per household,
creating nearly 800,000 new jobs." The editorial also cites the
Department of Energy report's conclusion that "20% reductions can be
achieved at no cost with existing energy-saving technology."
October 20, 1997
"Our life is fritted away with details...simplify, simplify."
HD Thoreau
Contents:
TAKE ACTION I: Call your Representative urging them to support Rep.
McKinney's no Commercial logging bill to be introduced in the House.
TAKE ACTION II: Support International Family Planning
IN THE FIELD: ESA Rollout in the press
IN THE FIELD II: Utahns organize against a multi-lane highway
TAKE ACTION I: Call your Representative urging them to support Rep.
McKinney's no Commercial logging bill to be introduced in the House.
A recent Washington Post editorial argued that "we are at a point in
the exploitation of this resource where the duty of the government is
to preserve what remains." Well, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
(D-GA) is taking that advice to heart. She is set to introduce the
"National Forest Protection and Restoration Act" next week, and there
is still a little time to help get members of Congress to cosponsor
this landmark forest protection bill.
McKinney's bill will stop commercial logging on our National Forests,
end the federal timber sales program and redirect Forest Service
subsidies to fund worker retraining and create new jobs restoring our
forests.
Act now! Call and urge your representative to support this
legislation by co-sponsoring Rep. McKinney's bill to end the timber
sales program on our federal public lands. Ask them to please
protect our children's National Forests and provide a lasting legacy
for future generations. Rep. McKinney is trying to finalize the list
of cosponsors this week, SO PLEASE MAKE YOUR CALL TODAY and urge your
Representative to contact McKinney's office right away. (Jayme Roth
of McKinney's staff is the contact).
TAKE ACTION II : Support International Family Planning -- Halt Paltry
House Funding
The House and Senate Conferees are still stalled on the foreign
operations spending bills but an agreement could be reached at any
time and both the House and Senate leadership are prepared to move
the finished conference report to the floor as soon as possible. We
must act now to press for the highest possible funding levels.
The House (H.R. 2519) and Senate (S. 955) spending levels for
international family planning are far apart. The House has agreed to
spend a miserly $385 million while the Senate has agreed to spend
$435 million. Both funding levels are far below what is needed to
ensure access to family planning and reproductive health centers for
women in the developing world.
Population stabilization is an integral part of environmental
sustainability. Population pressures contribute to global warming,
deforestation, air and water pollution. Family planning helps to
improve maternal and child health.
ACT NOW TO SUPPORT THE SENATE'S FUNDING LEVEL. Email or fax the
Senate conferees listed below and ask them to:
1) Maintain the highest possible funding levels for international
population assistance at $435 million.
2) Reject any restrictions on the funds.
Senate conferees:
Ted Stevens (R-AK) (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-224-2354),
Mitch McConnell (R-KY), (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-224-2499),
Arlen Specter (R-PA), (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-228-1229)
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) (E-mail: none), Fax: 202-224-1966 ),
Judd Gregg (R-NH), (E-mailbox@gregg.senate.gov>, Fax: 202-224-4952)
Richard Shelby (R-AL), (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-224-3416),
Robert Bennett (R-UT), (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-224-4908)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT), (E-mail:,
Fax: n/a),
Robert Byrd (D-WV), (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-228-0002),
Daniel Inouye (D-HI), (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-224-6747),
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), E-mail:
,
Fax: 202-224-9707)
Tom Harkin (D-IA), (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-224-9369),
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-224-8858),
Patty Murray (D-WA) (E-mail:,
Fax: 202-224-0238).
IN THE FIELD: ESA Rollout in the press
Raving reports continue to come in about Sierra Club's fall benchmark
events and the release of a joint report by Sierra Club and US PIRG
called "Wildlife Needs Wild Places." Press reports have come in from
the St. Louis Dispatch, Modesto Bee, and North County Times that
mention the release of the report and the related local issue. For
example in California, "Wildlife Need Wild Places, found that 70
percent to 90 percent of the state's coastal sage scrub - much of it
in San Diego and Orange counties has been destroyed." "We're sort of
a national hot spot." said Bill Evans, a member of San Diego's Sierra
Club chapter. "We've got it all right here - beaches, lagoons,
valleys, mountains and deserts. There's so many different types of
habitats and each of then is facing problems." In the St. Louis Post
Dispatch, "We in the St. Louis region play an unfortunate role in
species decline,"...Regional land development has continued 10 times
faster than population growth."
IN THE FIELD: Utahns organize against a multi-lane highway
About 275 Utahns rallied Saturday morning at the State Capitol to
protest the proposed multi-lane, 120-mile long Legacy Highway.
Featured speakers included three area farmers whose farms are
threatened by the proposed freeway. Thanks to the skillful
organizing of Utah EPEC staffer Marc Heileson, it all came together
on a bright October weekend morning. Farmers, transportation
planners and environmentalists gathered to express their concerns
about the urban sprawl and the loss of farm land and wetlands that
would result if the Legacy Highway is built.
Three local television stations plus the Brigham Young University TV
station, a Salt Lake newspaper, and a radio reporter with feeds to 14
Utah radio stations all covered the event.
Thanks go to Scott Endicott, Ann Ahlander, Teri Underwood, Jen
Gilmore and student groups at BYU, the University of Utah and Salt
Lake Community College for helping to set up, staff the tables and
make the rally such a success. And though she could not be present
because of a prior Sierra Club commitment, special thanks go to the
Utah Chapter's Conservation Chair and top anti-Legacy Highway
volunteer, Nina Dougherty, for taking the lead on this campaign and
really making it all possible.
