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DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
July 21, 2000
''We're definitely No. 1 in No. 2.'' - Reggie James, director of Consumers Union in Texas, referring to a report issued by the Sierra Club and Consumers Union which showed that farms in Texas generated more animal waste than those in any other state
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURED ACTION ITEM: International Family Planning Debate Continues into Conference Committee
1) URGENT ACTION: Human Rights and the Environment I - Mexico
2) URGENT ACTION: Human Rights and the Environment II - Russia
3) TAKE ACTION: Help Curb Sprawling Development
4) TAKE ACTION: Protect Our Wild Heritage - Stop Logging Our National Forests
5) TAKE ACTION: Write the EPA about New Diesel Regulations
6) TAKE ACTION: Protect Our Water from Animal Factories
FEATURED ACTION:
International Family Planning Debate Continues Into Conference Committee
International family planning funding continues to be contentiously debated within the House and Senate foreign operations appropriations. Late last year, Congress and the White House imposed restrictions on U.S. family planning assistance overseas. The policy, the Global Gag Rule, disqualifies overseas family planning associations from receiving U.S. funds if they, with their own money, lobby to change laws on abortion or provide abortion services in their own countries where it is legal to do so.
On July 13th, the House of Representatives defeated an amendment offered by Reps. Jim Greenwood (R-PA) and Nita Lowey's (D-NY) to remove the Global Gag Rule from the Fiscal Year 2001 Foreign Operations bill (H.R. 4811). By a narrow margin of 206-221, the House voted to maintain the restrictions. In the House, the bill passed with funding levels of $385 million for international family planning assistance and $25 million for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). These represent no increase from the funding levels of last year.
The Senate passed their Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2001 (S.2522) with increased funding levels and removed the Global Gag Rule restrictions from the legislation. The Senate requested $425 million for international family planning assistance through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and $25 million for UNFPA.
Now, the House and Senate versions will go to a conference committee. The joint committee of Representatives and Senators has to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the foreign appropriations bills, and send it on to the President. At that point the President can either sign the bill into law or veto it. President Clinton has threatened a veto if the Global Gag Rule restrictions and low funding levels remain.
TAKE ACTION: Contact Senators Leahy (D-VT), Inouye (D-HI), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Harkin (D-IA), Mikulski (D-MD), and Murray (D-WA) on the conference committee who are supportive of the Senate version. It is necessary for these Senators to voice strong support for the Senate language and funding levels. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121.
Tell them: U.S. funding for voluntary family planning and other reproductive health programs not only save lives and improves human health, but also helps slow population growth and protect the environment. Attempts to interfere with the delivery of these vital health services undermine the prospects for conserving natural resources, protecting wildlife habitat, and ultimately, for ensuring a healthy and prosperous future for our children.
1) TAKE ACTION: Human Rights and the Environment I
URGE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SIGN ON TO REP. PELOSI'S LETTER TO MEXICAN JUDGE ON BEHALF OF RODOLFO MONTIEL AND TEODORO CABRERA
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is circulating a letter addressed to Judge Maclovio Murillo Chavez on behalf of Mexican environmental defenders Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera. Montiel and Cabrera have been imprisoned since May 1999 for their efforts to stop forest destruction in Mexico's Southern Sierra Madre. Montiel and Cabrera were detained by soldiers in Mexico's 40th Infantry Battalion and were subsequently beaten and tortured, a charge confirmed in a news report by the Mexican National Commission on Human Rights.
Judge Murillo is expected to rule on Montiel and Cabrera's case in late August. Rep. Pelosi's letter expresses concern about the arrest and the legal proceedings against Montiel and Cabrera and urges Judge Murillo to remain impartial in rendering his judgment in the case. Please take a moment to contact your Congressional Representative to urge him/her to sign on to Rep. Pelosi's letter. The deadline for signing on has been extended to Friday, July 28, at 5:00 p.m. Please have your Representative contact Jonathan Stivers in Rep. Pelosi's office at (202) 225-4965.
For more information, please contact Sam Parry at (202) 547-1141, or sam.parry@sierraclub.org. You can also visit our Web site at www.sierraclub.org/human-rights.
2) TAKE ACTION: Human Rights and the Environment II
IN A SHOCKING NEW DEVELOPMENT, RUSSIA'S PROSECUTOR GENERAL APPEALS NIKITIN'S ACQUITTAL AGAIN
Former Russian navy captain, Aleksandr Nikitin, whose contributions to a groundbreaking report documenting the risks of radioactive contamination of the Arctic Ocean from decaying Russian nuclear submarines made him a target of Russia's secret police, will have to defend himself again before the Russian Supreme Court.
In a Kafkaesque tactic, the Russian Prosecutor General has appealed the decision of a three judge panel of Russia's Supreme Court to uphold Nikitin's acquittal citing, among other issues, the absurd notion that Nikitin's human rights have been so harshly violated that his trial was not a fair one. The full Russian Supreme Court will review Nikitin's case on August 2, 2000.
Please take a moment to write to Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing your support for Nikitin and criticizing the obvious scare tactics employed by the Prosecutor General. Send your letters to the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC.
President Vladimir Putin c/o Ambassador Yuri V. Ushakov Embassy of the Russian Federation 2650 Wisconsin Ave, NW Washington, DC 20007 p: (202) 298-5700 f: (202) 298-5735
3) TAKE ACTION: Help Curb Sprawling Development
Call, write, or email your Senators and tell them to cosponsor S. 1558, the Community Open Space Bonds Act.
On Tuesday, July 25th the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on the Community Open Space Bonds Act. This bill, introduced by Senators Baucus (D-MT) and Hatch (R-UT) will help local communities by financing smart growth measures, revitalizing urban areas and removing open space from the path of development. Tell your Senator their support is needed so that communities can participate in a voluntary program allowing them to carry out their own conservation priorities by using zero interest bonds to purchase open space, protect water quality, improve access to parks, and redevelop abandoned industrial city centers.
For more information on this bill as well as a sample letter and email visit https://www.sierraclub.org/takeaction/sprawl/
4) TAKE ACTION:
PROTECT OUR WILD HERITAGE - STOP LOGGING OUR NATIONAL FORESTS
Protecting forests make environmental and economic sense. The Forest Service predicts that in the year 2000, recreation, hunting and fishing in National Forests will contribute 38 times more income to the nation's economy than logging, and will create 31 times more jobs. More than 3,000 species of fish and wildlife and 10,000 plant species -- including 230 endangered plant and animal species -- rely on National Forests for habitat.
The National Forest Protection and Restoration Act would eliminate the commercial logging program on federal public lands, promote restoration, and help communities that receive logging revenue develop a more diverse and stable economy.
** Call your Member of Congress through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to cosponsor HR 1396, the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act. **
5) TAKE ACTION: Write the EPA about New Diesel Regulations
You know that big, dirty cloud that comes from the tailpipes of buses, trucks and construction equipment? That's soot and other cancer-causing particulates being pumped into the air because diesel fuel is so dirty. Diesel trucks also spew smog-forming pollution that envelops our cities in a clouded haze. The EPA is proposing new standards to help clean diesel exhaust and is accepting public comments now through August 14, 2000.
TAKE ACTION: Write the EPA and voice your support for cleaning up dirty diesel exhaust. Your support is vital as the EPA is facing stiff opposition from the petroleum, trucking and diesel engine industries. Tell the EPA that sulfur can and should be virtually eliminated from diesel fuel. Also state your opposition to a phase-in period for new diesel engines. The new proposed standards will take effect in seven years giving engine manufacturers plenty of time to implement the new technologies.
Talking Points on Dirty Diesel:
* Smog sends more than 150,000 Americans to the emergency room each year and 40,000 Americans die prematurely from breathing particulate pollution. Diesel pollution is also linked to 125,000 cases of cancer each year.
* Diesels produce 27% of the smog-forming pollution and 15% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, yet only 2% of all vehicles on the road run on diesel fuel.
* A single diesel truck can produce as much pollution as 150 cars.
Please write your comments today! When writing, be sure to reference docket number: A-99-06.
Comments are due August 14 and should be sent to:
Margaret Borushko- Docket no. A-99-06 US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Transportation and Air Quality 2000 Traverwood Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48105
6) TAKE ACTION: PROTECT OUR WATER FROM ANIMAL FACTORIES
The EPA is in the process of developing a "Guidance Document" for a permitting system for large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). These massive animal factories have fouled America's water and air from coast to coast, and have run family farmers off the land. Several court cases have clearly found that these facilities, including land application of wastes, are to be regulated under the federal Clean Water Act.
But the US EPA seems not to understand the import of the court decisions or the impact of the CAFOs on water quality. There are three major positions that the Sierra Club (and allied groups) has been asserting:
1) Every CAFO with more than 1000 "animal units" (2500 hogs, 30,000 chickens, and 750 dairy cows) must OBTAIN a federal wastewater discharge permit.
2) The permits must contain binding, enforceable and water-quality protective conditions.
3) CAFOs must land apply wastes at agronomic rates, as determined by a soil test and the optimal rate of growth (or production) of the specific crop. (EPA is proposing to allow rates of application based on "soil assimilation" which essentially means wastes can be applied right up to the point where runoff occurs).
Please call EPA Administrator Carol Browner at 202-564-4700 (FAX - 202-501-1450) and urge her to issue a Guidance Document incorporating the above points.
To: Sierra Club Leaders
From: Bruce Hamilton, Conservation Director
Today the Board voted to endorse Al Gore for President and to embrace
specific steps to clean up American politics. Below is the Club press
release followed by the Board resolutions, and a comparison of Gore
and Bush.
Thanks to all of you who participated in the helpful internal process.
FYI 39 Chapters supported a Gore endorsement and 1 supported a Nader
endorsement. The Political Committee voted unanimously to support a
Gore endorsement. These actions led up to the Board action this
weekend detailed below.
For Immediate Release Media Contact:
July 22, 2000 Allen Mattison, 202-675-7903
SIERRA CLUB:
ELECT AL GORE; CLEAN UP AMERICAN POLITICS
WASHINGTON - The Sierra Club today endorsed Vice President Al Gore to
be the next President of the United States.
The Sierra Club Board of Directors also voted today to clean up
American politics by: including serious third party candidates,
including Ralph Nader, in the Presidential debates; getting big money
out of politics by closing loopholes in current campaign-finance laws;
establishing effective spending limits; adopting public financing for
Senate and congressional candidates; and supporting the
free-television-time proposal developed by the Alliance for Better
Campaigns.
"The Sierra Club endorses Vice President Gore because he is committed
to cutting air and water pollution and protecting our nation's
treasured forests and wildlands," said Dr. Robert Cox, Sierra Club's
volunteer President. "As Vice President, Al Gore helped strengthen
clean air health standards, sped clean up of Superfund toxic waste
sites, reduced automobile tailpipe pollution, and protected America's
spectacular landscapes. This is the kind of leadership the American
people are seeking in our next President.
"Governor Bush, on the other hand, has said that if he's elected, he
will weaken toxic-waste clean-up standards, allow oil drilling in the
Arctic Refuge, and increase logging in National Forests," Cox
continued. "When it comes to protecting our environment, Al Gore is
by far our best shot at a President committed to a sustainable future,
tested as a political leader, and qualified to lead America into the
next century."
The Gore endorsement capped a 6-month process in which the grassroots
organization surveyed each of its chapters and thousands of its
volunteer leaders. Thirty-nine chapters, representing 413,854
members, favored a Gore endorsement; one chapter, with 3,006 members,
supported an endorsement for Ralph Nader; 16 chapters, with 138,236
members, did not respond.
"When the Sierra Club asked our local chapters and thousands of
volunteer leaders whether to endorse a Presidential candidate, the
response was overwhelming: They want Al Gore in the White House,
protecting America's environment," Cox said. "Our members believe that
a vote for Gore is the best way to protect our families from pollution
and safeguard our nation's landscapes for future generations to enjoy."
The Sierra Club Board of Directors recognized consumer-advocate Ralph
Nader's record of work for the environment, but emphasized the urgency
of defeating Texas Governor George Bush as an additional reason for
endorsing Vice-President Gore.
"Our members looked at the records of all the candidates," said Cox.
"We looked at their positions, their records, and their experience.
Al Gore is our overwhelming choice."
The Sierra Club, with over 600,000 members, is the nation's oldest and
largest grassroots environmental organization. The Board voted to
endorse Vice President with 12 in favor, two against, and one
abstention.
Resolution endorsing Gore:
"The Sierra Club endorses Al Gore for President of the United States.
We will do everything in our power to help Mr. Gore win the
presidency. Mr. Gore has a long history as an advocate for the
environment and we look forward to his Presidency and a new beginning
for strong environmental protection in this country."
Resolution on cleaning up politics:
"Working on the current election is not enough. The single-round,
winner-take-all political process has problems. We support
alternative electoral methods that better reflect the diversity of
public opinion. We need to get big money out of politics by closing
loopholes in current campaign finance laws, establishing effective
spending limits, and adopting public financing for Senate and
congressional candidates. We support the free television time
proposal developed by the Alliance for Better Campaigns. It is
unrealistic to believe that such changes can be accomplished in this
election, which will be over in a few months. It's too large a job,
and the time is too short.
"Important issues relating to globalization, trade agreements,
democracy and the environment have been raised in a substantive way by
Ralph Nader. Sierra Club supports many of Mr. Nader's environmental
and campaign finance reform proposals. While the Sierra Club does not
endorse Ralph Nader in this election, we believe that serious third
party candidates, including Mr. Nader, should be included in
presidential debates."
# # #
COMPARISON OF VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND GOVERNOR BUSH
ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
_________________________________
ISSUE: TOXIC POLLUTION
GORE
· Expanded Community Right to Know program requiring companies to
report toxic chemical emissions.
· Sped up and increased Superfund cleanups.
BUSH
· Seeks to weaken Superfund cleanups.
· Texas leads the nation in injecting toxic waste into underground
wells, disposing 60% more toxic waste into injection wells than any
other state.
_________________________________
ISSUE: CLEAN AIR
GORE
· Strengthened soot and smog clean-air health-standards, fighting
legal challenges to those protections.
· Adopted strictest ever emissions standards for cars, SUVs and light
trucks.
· Required elimination of 90% of sulfur from gasoline.
· Called on power plants to cut their air pollution and global warming
emissions.
· Proposed slashing sulfur levels in diesel fuel.
BUSH
· Texas leads the U.S. in toxic industrial air pollution, but Bush
chose not to require outdated facilities to clean up.
· Texas state officials sought to weaken Clean Air Act.
· Houston passed Los Angeles last year as America's smoggiest city.
· When came to office in 1995, cancelled auto emissions testing
program in Houston.
_________________________________
ISSUE: CLEAN WATER
GORE
· Expanded funding for clean water programs.
· Proposed slashing arsenic levels in drinking water.
BUSH
· Proposed weakening Texas clean-water standards.
· Texas leads the U.S. in violation of clean water discharge
standards.
_________________________________
ISSUE: PROTECT WILD LANDS
GORE
· Has a stronger position than the Administration on protecting
roadless, wild areas of our National Forests. Called for an end to
all logging in those unspoiled places and immediate protection for the
Tongass National Forest in Alaska.
· Enacted the California Desert Protection Act, largest public lands
protection bill ever in the lower 48 states.
· Opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
· Created or expanded 10 new National Monuments to protect landscapes
threatened by development.
· Reduced logging in National Forests by 80% since 1993.
· Extended offshore oil leasing moratorium in California and Florida
for 10 years.
· Proposed Lands Legacy Initiative.
· Supports expanding the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
BUSH
· Seeks to increase logging in National Forests.
· Would allow oil companies to drill in Arctic Refuge.
· Aims to reverse President Clinton's plan to protect wild, roadless
National Forest areas.
· Opposes newly created National Monuments.
· Supports funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
_________________________________
ISSUE: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
GORE
· Supports McCain-Feingold bill to ban soft-money donations to
political parties.
· Supports quasi-public financing of Congressional elections.
BUSH
· Opposes McCain-Feingold reforms.
· Opposes public financing of elections.
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