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| Environment Action Alerts for November, 2005 |
ACTION ALERT: FORWARD WIDELY! Stop Colombia's Ancient Rainforest Give Away By Forests.org, project of Ecological Internet, Inc. November 1, 2005 TAKE ACTION Insist Colombian government not change forestry laws to follow failed industrial rainforest timber harvesting model http://forests.org/action/alert.asp?id=colombia A new destructive Forestry Law proposed in Colombia (Ley Forestal) would cause much damage to Colombia's natural ecosystems by putting rainforests into the hands of commercial interests. Colombia?s forests are to be given over to the same companies that have razed the tropical forests of South-east Asia and threaten virtually all remaining large rainforests wherever they are found. Colombia is a mega-diversity country in terms of biodiversity with large tracts of intact rainforests. The controversial legislation would be a tremendous setback for Colombia?s environmental policy; harming the country?s forests and biodiversity, and the collective social, economic and cultural well-being of communities who collectively own and manage forest areas. About a quarter of Colombia's national territory is designated as indigenous territory by constitutional law. The new Forestry Law does not consider interests of these local communities, and is therefore suspected to be a ruse to give forests away to private interests that would convert natural forests to plantations under the guise of "reforestation". Local peoples view these forests as habitat and not something to be exploited merely as a source of timber. The government is keen to promote the economic exploitation of forests, arguing that the sector is underdeveloped. The new law is tantamount to handing over the country?s forests to trans-national timber companies, overtly favoring the timber industry and forest plantations. For the future of Colombia?s forests, the proposed Ley Forestal should not be approved. Please respond to this alert requesting that appropriate changes be made to the proposed "Ley Forestal" to ensure it does not cover natural forest and lands that are collectively owned by indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities; and that it is restricted to forest plantations. Please take action now at: http://forests.org/action/alert.asp?id=colombia |
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It's not too late to stop this attack on the Refuge.
The Arctic Refuge is home to more than 250 animal species, including wolves, grizzlies, caribou, and millions of migrating birds. Unfortunately, it is also the target of an intense, relentless lobbying campaign by oil industry allies in Congress. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, some members of Congress are trying to push Arctic Refuge drilling as the answer to America's energy problems. But the truth is, even if oil is found in the Arctic Refuge, it would take ten years to get to consumers, and would reduce gasoline by only a penny a gallon in 2025.We must address the underlying problem of US oil imports, but not by opening up this sensitive natural treasure to drilling. We must focus on conservation and on alternative fuels. Drilling in Alaska simply won't help enough. We've spoken with you before about ANWR. You know the issues, and you know the dangers. We have one last chance to stop this drilling. Please make the most of it! Thanks for all you do. Ron Zucker |
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The Boreal Forest of Canada is one of the largest unspoiled forests remaining on Earth covering more than 2.3 million square miles. Many species inhabit the Boreal ecosystem including bears, wolves, woodland caribou, wolverines, and an astonishing number of songbirds. More than 300 bird species regularly breed in the Boreal Forest and their survival depends on the health of this ecosystem. Many species of Boreal-breeding birds are already listed in Audubon?s WatchList, including Canada and Bay-breasted Warblers, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Rusty Blackbird. Despite this incredible variety of plant and animal species, less than 10 percent of it is strictly protected from development, while more than 30 percent has already been slated for logging, energy production and other development. It is clear that if we want to protect bird life, we must protect the Boreal Forest. You can help by taking part in the Boreal Day of Action on November 3rd and sending a message to the Canadian government urging it to implement the Boreal Forest Region Conservation Framework. Please take action now. |
Send a letter to your governor to ensure that the integrity of science education is upheld in your public schools! Recently, a trial over "Intelligent Design" began in Pennsylvania, where schoolteachers are rebelling against a school board decision that forced them to teach creationism alongside evolution in their biology classrooms. While religion has its place in our society, the lines between religion and science should not be blurred in the minds of our children. In an increasingly globalized world, without a quality science education children are at a competitive disadvantage before they even enter the work force! And by ignoring America's rich multicultural demographic in favor of promoting a single religion's creation story we are leaving children unprepared to understand and appreciate the richness and diversity of human culture. For the sake of the next generation let's keep religious indoctrination out of our public science classrooms. Act Now!  Jenny McKinleyCare2 & ThePetitionSite Team |
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The long-awaited final land management plans for the four national forests of southern California were released by the Forest Service on September 22, 2005. The management plans affect more than 3.5 million acres of public forests, guiding decisions on everything from protecting plants and wildlife and providing recreational opportunities to deciding where potentially damaging development and off-road vehicle trails can be placed. What can you do to help protect our national forests now that the final plans have been released? You can send a letter to Regional Forester Bernie Weingardt, the top Forest Service official in California, challenging the Forest Service's decision to cede much of our precious forests to off-road and development special interests and asking for improved protection for the plants and animals that inhabit these breathtaking public lands. A Center staffperson will collect your letters and hand-deliver them to Mr. Weingardt. You can take action on this alert via the web at: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/socalforests/8gxg5d2f5x7nj8? Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/socalforests/forward/8gxg5d2f5x7nj8? We encourage you to take action by November 16, 2005 Southern California's National Forests at Risk INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB: If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this alert by going to the following URL: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/socalforests/8gxg5d2f5x7nj8? Your letter will be addressed and sent to: Regional Forester Bernie Weingardt ----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME---- Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], As someone who enjoys and deeply values the natural beauty of Southern California's national forests, I believe that protecting and restoring these forests is a great legacy for future generations. I urge you to change the forest plans in the following ways: .Recommend more wilderness and wild rivers for permanent protection. Without more wilderness, the Forest Service leaves the plants and animals of the forests at risk from toll roads, hydroelectric dams, mining, oil wells, power lines, and cell towers. .Prohibit an expansion of off-road vehicle trails and do not legalize illegal trails. Trespassing, erosion, fire risk, loss of wildlife, pollution, noise and harm to the experience of most other forest users make poorly managed off-road use one of the key threats to our forests. .Designate the more ecologically sensitive areas as Critical Biological Zones and increase protective standards for riparian areas, old-growth forests, oak woodlands and other rare habitats from damage due to roads, unsustainable recreation, logging, domestic livestock grazing and additional negative impacts. I am looking to you to take a leadership role in protecting our forests and better serving the majority of forest visitors. ----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT---- |
As early as tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill to "reconcile" or adjust the federal budget. Deep within this budget bill, there are disastrous provisions that will seriously undercut the federal stewardship of our natural heritage. The "mining" section of the House Budget Reconciliation bill puts millions of acres of Western public lands up for sale and actually weakens an antiquated 133-year old law governing mining activities on federal lands. Should the provision championed by Rep. Pombo (R-CA) become law, wilderness study areas, roadless forest lands, areas in National Parks and other treasured places could be turned over to mining companies, oil and gas companies and other developers. If you think that Teddy Roosevelt had it right when he fought to protect some 230 million acres of public lands, SPEAK OUT NOW to make sure your Representative votes "no" on this outrageous land grab legislation. You can take action on this alert via the web at: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/publiclands/d6duun4q5x7nbe? Visit the web address below to ask your friends to help stop the Western land grab. http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/publiclands/forward/d6duun4q5x7nbe? We encourage you to take action by November 11, 2005 Stop the Fire Sale of Western Public Lands INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB: If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this alert by going to the following URL: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/publiclands/d6duun4q5x7nbe? Your letter will be addressed and sent to: Your Congressperson ----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME---- Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], I am writing out of grave concern with the so-called mining provisions in the House Budget Reconciliation bill that will soon reach the House floor. These ill-considered provisions end a decade-long ban on forced sales of public lands to US and foreign mining companies. They also require the Department of Interior to sell additional federal properties -- without any opportunity for public input and without regard for the public's desire for recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection or other uses. Adding insult to injury, the provisions also prohibit the collection of royalties on mineral resources taken from federal lands. I value the nation's public lands and, as a taxpayer, I object to the give-away of valuable minerals to special interests. I want to see the nation's natural heritage preserved and protected for myself, my family and future generations of Americans, so I urge you to vote "no" on any version of the budget or any other bill that includes this major give-away of irreplaceable natural resources. Thank you for your consideration of my views. ----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT---- |
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This week will likely see votes in both the House and Senate that will profoundly impact the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR. Both houses of Congress are expected to take up the final Budget Bill, and industry lobbyists are working around the clock to make sure that measures are included which will open the pristine wilderness to drilling.
Rebecca Young,
