from Hudson Valley Green Times

Written by Judith Wyman  catskillmtflower@msn.com  

ALL THAT GITTERS......IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED BELLEAYRE GOLF RESORT

     Dean Gitter, Catskill Corners developer from the town of Shandaken, has
proposed a project
for the town several hundred times the size and scope of Catskill Corners
and he is pushing with
all his might to make it happen.  He proposes three golf courses, three
resort hotels with a total of
550 rooms, 225 luxory homes, 80-100,000 square feet of retail space in the
form of a replica of a
local  nineteenth century town, clubhouses, an amphitheater, roads,
restaurants parking lots and
all the amenities typical to such a resort--all on 1900 acres of rugged
high-elevation,
heavily-wooded mountainside. He has several hoops to jump through before
this could become a
reality, yet there is no time to waste.  If this were to go through, it
would be a region-altering
development and very likely change the character of the Central Catskills
forever.  Is this smart
growth?
     To begin with, I see this as an environmentally irresponsible proposal.
Some people like to
play golf and they should be able to do so, but there are far more
appropriate places to build golf
courses than on mountains. Golf courses can create . open space. and
. wildlife habitat. in densely
populated areas and have very successfully reclaimed . brown sights. in
various parts of the
country.  This is something to applaud.  But, to build on high-elevation
mountain land--that is
densely wooded with mature trees, is a fragile ecosystem and wildlife
habitat, is home to bear,
deer, eagles, hawks, bobcats, coyotes, and numerous birds and small animals,
not to mention
possible old growth and rare plant communities--would be an irrevocable
assault to the mountain
and the Catskill Park in which it is located. Five hundred acres of
magnificent high-elevation
forest would be cut, bulldozed, and the mountain blasted to make way for
roads, building
foundations, parking lots, fairways and greens (which are notoriously toxic,
I might add). The
integrity of this pristine mountain landscape would be forever altered to
suit the needs of this
development
     There. s more.  What about the people and the character of the region?
Developer after
developer has promised rural areas that if they let them build whatever it
is they want to build,
their economic struggles will be over and everyone will have infinite
opportunities and live happily
ever after. In reality, what usually occurs is that large developments bring
with them complex and
costly situations that the rural communities did not forsee and are not
equipped to handle. In the
case of destination resorts, which this would be, what frequently happens in
the surrounding area
is that low and fixed income people are displaced as the cost of living goes
up, cultural uniqueness
is lost or altered as commercialization spreads, there. s a glut of
low-paying jobs which don. t
serve the needs of the community, and there. s a scarcity of affordable
housing because people
have to be imported to fill the low-paying jobs and need somewhere to live.
Resorts usually don. t
take kindly to sharing the wealth so tend to try to . hold. customers within
the resort to keep their
profits at a maximum. This can actually drain rather than uplift an area.
For example, the part of
this proposed development, the replica of the nineteenth century town, which
includes retail,
restaurants, a theater et cetera, is designed to . catch. the skiers and
concert-goers as they leave
Belleayre parking lot. How will that affect area establishments that
currently depend on that
business?
     Another claim made by developers and politicians is that by broadening
the tax base, taxes will
go down.  Does that ever happen?  Usually taxes go up as the demand for
services increases,
infrastructure needs expand and previously unseen costs surface. One example
is the increase in
traffic which impacts the quality of  life as well as costing the taxpayers
more for roads and
maintenance. This development predicts that it will generate a maximum of
500 vehicular trips
per hour upon completion which is a huge increase. Anyone who travels Route
28, just imagine
500 more vehicles per hour. What will be the cost not only in dollars but in
safety and quality of
travel?
     There are cultural and . quality of life. costs to the existing
community as well as monetary,
environmental, social and socioeconomic. Currently natives to the area,
transplants, and second
homers, all of various income levels, live together with a great deal of
harmony. What would the
introduction of an . upscale. golf  community, an enclave within the town
larger than either of the
two main Shandaken hamlets, do to the community character and social harmony
that exists at
present? Whether such a massive and consumptive enterprise could ever be
sustainable in this area
is also a question that needs to be addressed. Right now the  national
economy is booming and we
are seeing a steady rise locally. What if things take a downturn as is
predicted by most
economists?  Is an expensive golf resort, dependent on people having
disposable income,
something that supplies a true need in our area and could it survive a
change in the economic
situation?  If it were to be built and go belly up, then what? Would we
suffer like the Southern
Catskills has suffered from their large defunct resorts?
    Alf Evers, the venerable and insightful author of . The Catskills, From
Wilderness to
Woodstock. said, . There is too much emphasis on bigness everywhere......The
Catskills is a place
for intimate things..   Those of us who know and love the Catskills know how
right he is. Many of
us are working hard to replace the old economic development model (large,
land-gobbling,
polluting, corporate owned and unpopular with a growing number of
environmentally-conscious
people) with a new friendlier model. The new economic development model is
much smaller and
values qualities such as cooperation, diversification, decentralization,
interconnection,
sustainability, and integration with the community and the land. The new
model promotes
enterprises that blend with rather than dominate the landscape and existing
culture and for us that
means home businesses, cottage industries, internet commerce, crafts
collectives, historic building
renovation, the arts, and heritage and eco-tourism to name a few examples.
The town of
Shandaken has 84 square miles of  wild and mountainous . unspoiled. state
land, the beautiful and
winding Esopus Creek, wildflowers, wildlife, waterfalls, much history, a
rural pace, great people
and villages with character and authenticity. In this sprawling
commercialized world we live in,
what we have here is priceless. We must protect it with everything we have.

For more information email Judith Wyman at catskillmtflower@msn.com or call
914-688-7312

This project is just beginning the SEQRA environmental review process. We
implore you to
help by expressing your feelings, opinions and concerns, which WILL be
included in the
review if you write them to
ALEC CIESLUK
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
21 SOUTH PUTT CORNERS ROAD
NEW PALTZ, NY 12561
914-256-3014

from ENS News May 2, 2000

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE (ENS)
http://ens-news.com

                                         "We Cover the Earth For You"
******************************************************************

RADIOACTIVE WASTEWATER MAY BE PUMPED INTO DENVER'S SEWERS
By Brian Hansen
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-02-01.html

******************************************************************

INDIAN AMMUNITION DEPOT EXPLODES NEAR BIRD SANCTUARY
By Frederick Noronha
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-02-02.html

******************************************************************

ITALIAN GREENS LOSE ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-02-03.html

******************************************************************

NEW YORK FIGHTS ACID RAIN THROUGH CURB ON POLLUTION CREDITS
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-02-06.html

******************************************************************

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE AMERISCAN: MAY 2, 2000

Senate Fails to Override Veto of Nuclear Waste Bill

Mine Wastewater Dump Permit Challenged in Nevada

Court Overturns "Unreasonable" Summer Flounder Quota

Pesticide War Waged Against Longhorned Beetles

Banned Pesticide Still Contaminates Fresh Vegetables

Study Reduces Leakage Concerns At Yucca Mountain

Protein Helps Plants Fight Disease

Florida Man Charged with Dumping 100,000 Tires

Sea Shepherd Campaigns Against Faroe Islands Whale Hunt

Nature Conservancy Joins California College to Save Oceans

Alternative Fuel Vehicles Wheel Out for Tour de Sol

http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-02-09.html

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2000 All Rights Reserved.

******************************************************************

HEALING OUR WORLD: WEEKLY COMMENTARY
By Jackie Alan Giuliano, Ph.D.

STILL LAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS - THE MYTH OF PRODUCT SAFETY

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2000 All Rights Reserved.

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TO STATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

Pennsylvania DEP Secretary Seif Testifies on Ridge Administration Land
Recycling Program Successes at Congressional Hearing
For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/May00/02May0001.html

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from ENS News May 3, 2000

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE (ENS)
http://ens-news.com

                                         "We Cover the Earth For You"
******************************************************************

WHITE HOUSE REQUIRES NO TESTING OR LABELING OF BIOTECH FOODS
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-03-06.html

******************************************************************

U.S. NAVY SURROUNDS VIEQUES PROTESTERS
By Susan Soltero
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-03-01.html

******************************************************************

PEOPLE OF INDIA PARCH, PERISH IN SEVERE DROUGHT

By Devinder Sharma
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-03-02.html

******************************************************************

WARD VALLEY NUCLEAR WASTE CONTRACTOR SUES CALIFORNIA
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-03-07.html

******************************************************************

UNEP HANDBOOK EXAMINES ENVIRONMENT AND TRADE

By Dharman Wickremaretne
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-03-03.html

******************************************************************

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE AMERISCAN: MAY 3, 2000

Oil Company Moves into Fuel Cells

Logging Loses Ground in New Forest Management Plan

100 Groups Petition for BLM Wilderness Protections

Alabama Sturgeon Listed as Endangered

North Carolina Plans Land Conservation Actions

Ski Expansion Threatens Roadless Area in Oregon

Texans Honored for Promoting Wind Energy

Long Island Gains New State Park

Scientists on Scent of Better Coyote Management

Foam Used At Chernobyl Could Aid Nuclear Waste Management

Egg Hunt Aims to Reduce Canada Geese Population

http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-03-09.html

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2000 All Rights Reserved.

***************************************************************************
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TO NATIONAL AND FOOD EDITORS:

Center for Food Safety Reports New FDA Policy Fails to Require Testing or
Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods

FDA Decision Deprives American Consumers of Their Right to Know If Their
Food Has Been Genetically Engineered
For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/May00/03May0002.html

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TO BUSINESS, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

BP Amoco Invests in Innovative Green Power Marketer to Extend
Environmentally Friendly Energy Sales
For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/May00/03May0001.html

***************************************************************************
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TO ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTERS/NEWS EDITORS:

Minister Anderson Congratulates Lung Association On Its 100th Anniversary
For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/May00/03May0003.html

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from World Wildlife May 3, 2000

Changes to Trade Agreement Threaten North American Environment

Dear WWF Conservation Action Network Activist:

World Wildlife Fund and other organizations worked hard during
negotiations leading to the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) to ensure that increased trade among the United States,
Mexico, and Canada would not harm the environment.  As a result,
NAFTA provides for citizens to bring petitions alleging failures by any
of the NAFTA governments to enforce their environmental laws
effectively.  Past petitions, for example, have alleged that logging in
the United States was harming migratory birds and that mining in
Canada was damaging fish habitat.

Now, WWF has learned that for nearly 10 months the governments of
the United States, Canada, and Mexico have been secretly negotiating
changes to revise and weaken the citizen submission process. This
process is at the core of the environmental promises made when
NAFTA was signed and is essential to ensuring the environmental
rights of citizens under NAFTA.  Past revisions of the citizen
submission process took place with public participation and any future
revisions should also involve the public.  The citizen submission
process is the sole means by which ordinary citizens can seek
international redress if they believe environmental laws in North
America are not being effectively enforced by the three NAFTA
countries.

Please go to http://takeaction.worldwildlife.org/us/ to send free
messages urging the environment ministers of Canada and the United
States to halt the negotiations.   Please act now-before an important
June 11 meeting of the environment ministers-and send a clear
message that citizens are seriously concerned about the proposed
changes.  Because it is believed the Canadian government is taking the
lead in the negotiations, it is especially important to send a message to
the Canadian environment minister.

from League of Conservation Voters May 3, 2000

================
LCV-UPDATE 5/3
================

Senate upholds Clinton veto of bad nuclear waste bill by a three vote
margin

Yesterday (Tuesday, May 2) the U.S. Senate rejected a measure (by a vote of
64-35) to override President Clinton's April 25, 2000, veto of the nuclear
waste bill to send high-level nuclear waste to a permanent repository at
Yucca Mountain in Nevada.  NO is the pro-environment vote.  In what is
likely the last showdown of the year on the nuclear waste issue, proponents
of the bill were not able to garner the two-thirds support needed to
override Clinton's long promised veto of S. 1287.

S. 1287, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2000, threatens the
construction of a safe permanent nuclear waste facility by delaying the
setting of standards for radiation exposure at the proposed Yucca Mountain
facility and puts communities across the nation at risk from a transport
accident. In fact, the legislation would mandate up to 100,000 shipments of
nuclear waste, traveling through 43 states and within half a mile of 50
million Americans over 25 years beginning as soon as 2007.  The Nevada
Congressional delegation and the adminstration fought diligently to keep
nuclear waste out of Yucca Mountain and to ensure high protective standards
for radiation.

As noted in earlier LCV-Updates, the House and Senate approved this
controversial legislation to send high-level nuclear waste to a permanent
repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, but neither chamber passed the bill
with veto proof margins.

For more information, see LCV. s letter to the U.S. Senate at:  
http://www.lcv.org/actioncenter/letters00/S_5-1-00.htm

LCV encourages you to call or write your Senators about their vote on this
issue, thanking them for supporting the environment or objecting to their
anti-environment position. Check the list below to see how your Senators
voted.

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Address: Your Senator, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20515

Don. t know who your U.S. Senators are or how to contact them? Use the
Congressional look-up feature on LCV. s Web site at:
http://www.lcv.org/eyeoncongress/index.htm

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Key: + indicates a pro-environment vote, - indicates a vote against the
environment, ? indicates an absence, 0 indicates an ineligibility to vote.

Alabama
     Shelby (R)   -
     Sessions, J. (R)   -

Alaska
     Stevens (R)   -
     Murkowski (R)   -

Arizona
     McCain (R)   -
     Kyl (R)   -

Arkansas
     Hutchinson, T. (R)   -
     Lincoln (D)   -

California
     Feinstein (D)   +
     Boxer (D)   +

Colorado
     Campbell, B. (R)   +
     Allard (R)   -

Connecticut
     Dodd (D)   +
     Lieberman (D)   +

Delaware
     Roth (R)   ?
     Biden (D)   +

Florida
     Graham, B. (D)   -
     Mack (R)   -

Georgia
     Coverdell (R)   -
     Cleland (D)   -

Hawaii
     Inouye (D)   +
     Akaka (D)   +

Idaho
     Craig (R)   -
     Crapo (R)   -

Illinois
     Durbin (D)   +
     Fitzgerald (R)   -

Indiana
     Lugar (R)   -
     Bayh (D)   +

Iowa
     Grassley (R)   -
     Harkin (D)   +

Kansas
     Brownback (R)   -
     Roberts (R)   -

Kentucky
     McConnell (R)   -
     Bunning (R)   -

Louisiana
     Breaux (D)   -
     Landrieu (D)   -

Maine
     Snowe (R)   -
     Collins, S. (R)   -

Maryland
     Sarbanes (D)   +
     Mikulski (D)   +

Massachusetts
     Kennedy, E. (D)   +
     Kerry, J. (D)   +

Michigan
     Levin, C. (D)   -
     Abraham (R)   -

Minnesota
     Wellstone (D)   +
     Grams, R. (R)   -

Mississippi
     Cochran (R)   -
     Lott (R)   +

Missouri
     Bond (R)   -
     Ashcroft (R)   -

Montana
     Baucus, M. (D)   +
     Burns (R)   -

Nebraska
     Kerrey, R. (D)   -
     Hagel (R)   -

Nevada
     Reid, H. (D)   +
     Bryan (D)   +

New Hampshire
     Smith, R.C. (R)   -
     Gregg (R)   -

New Jersey
     Lautenberg (D)   +
     Torricelli (D)   +

New Mexico
     Domenici (R)   -
     Bingaman (D)   +

New York
     Moynihan (D)   +
     Schumer (D)   +

North Carolina
     Helms (R)   -
     Edwards, J. (D)   -

North Dakota
     Conrad (D)   +
     Dorgan (D)   +

Ohio
     DeWine (R)   -
     Voinovich (R)   -

Oklahoma
     Nickles (R)   -
     Inhofe (R)   -

Oregon
     Wyden (D)   +
     Smith, G. (R)   -

Pennsylvania
     Specter (R)   -
     Santorum (R)   -

Rhode Island
     Reed, J. (D)   +
     Chafee, L. (R)   +

South Carolina
     Thurmond, S. (R)   -
     Hollings (D)   -

South Dakota
     Daschle (D)   +
     Johnson, T. (D)   +

Tennessee
     Thompson, F. (R)   -
     Frist (R)   -

Texas
     Gramm, P. (R)   -
     Hutchison, K. (R)   -

Utah
     Hatch (R)   -
     Bennett (R)   -

Vermont
     Leahy (D)   -
     Jeffords (R)   -

Virginia
     Warner (R)   -
     Robb (D)   -

Washington
     Gorton, S. (R)   -
     Murray (D)   -

West Virginia
     Byrd (D)   +
     Rockefeller (D)   +

Wisconsin
     Kohl (D)   -
     Feingold (D)   +

Wyoming
     Thomas, C. (R)   -
     Enzi (R)   -


==========================================================
LCV-Update is brought to you by the League of Conservation Voters, the
nonprofit political voice for the national environmental and conservation
community. LCV is the only national organization dedicated full-time to
informing the public about the environmental records of federally elected
officials and candidates.

LCV publishes annually the National Environmental Scorecard, which rates
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Join LCV today! To find out more information about how to become a member
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fax: (202) 835-0491
email: lcv@lcv.org
==================================================================

from the Natural Law Party May 3, 2000

NATURAL LAW PARTY NEWS FLASH!


HAGELIN ADDRESSES CROWDS AT CONFERENCE ON
SCIENCE AND CONSCIOUSNESS

In a brief stop between a Reform Party convention in Las Vegas
on Sunday and a "Spirituality and Politics" public forum in
Philadelphia on Tuesday, John Hagelin addressed a major
international conference on "Science and Consciousness" in
Albuquerque on Monday, May 1.

Speaking to a packed auditorium of nearly 1000 conference
participants, Dr. Hagelin unveiled pioneering findings on
"higher states of consciousness" from his Brain Research
Institute. Using state-of-the-art brain imaging technologies
and brain electroencephalograph (EEG) measurements, Hagelin
outlined new breakthroughs in our growing ability to harness
the untapped resources of the human brain.  

As he announced these results of his 15 years' research on
foundational educational innovations and brain development,
Dr. Hagelin lambasted the current educational stagnation that
results in gross underutilization of the nation's greatest
resource--its human resource--the full brain potential of
students and future leaders. Dr. Hagelin explained that
effective education can and should harness the full creative
potential of the brain, expand human comprehension, and create
global citizens who are capable of fulfilling their aspirations
easily while contributing to the well-being of society as a
whole.

The thunderous response to his presentation resulted in a
packed follow-up session, in which Dr. Hagelin explained his
plan for a grassroots uprising--a political renaissance based
on revitalizing America from the "inside out." In addition to
education, Dr. Hagelin laid out his plan for a sustainable
future based upon the latest, scientifically proven innovations
in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, crime prevention,
preventive and complementary medicine, and other forward-looking
solutions to America's critical problems.

Hundreds of conference participants volunteered their time,
energy, and contact networks in order to build the Natural Law
Party nationwide and help Dr. Hagelin seize the Reform Party's
presidential nomination in its mail-in primary in July.


================================================================
For more information, please visit the Natural Law Party website
at:  http://www.natural-law.org

We would like our email postings to reach as many supporters as
possible. Please encourage your friends to subscribe so we can
quickly publicize late-breaking news through a powerful national
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To subscribe, please email us at subscribe@natural-law.org. If
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================================================================ 

from ENS News May 4, 2000

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE (ENS)
http://ens-news.com

                                         "We Cover the Earth For You"
******************************************************************

CONTAMINATED TEXAS AIR BASE BLAMED FOR NEIGHBORS' ILLNESSES
By Cat Lazaroff
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-04-07.html

******************************************************************

VIEQUES QUIET BUT NOT AT PEACE
By Susan Soltero
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-04-03.html

******************************************************************

VIEQUES BOMBING PROTESTERS REMOVED
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-04-01.html

******************************************************************

TROPICAL ATOLL BECOMES WORLD CLASS WILDLIFE REFUGE
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-04-06.html

******************************************************************

BIOTECH FOODS MEET STIFF RESISTANCE IN EUROPE
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-04-02.html

******************************************************************

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE AMERISCAN: MAY 4, 2000

Clinton Urged to Condemn Japanese Whaling

Pesticide Use On the Rise in California

Virginia Agrees to Sign Chesapeake Bay Restoration Plan

Groups Plan Suit to Protect Canada Lynx

BP Amoco Buys into GreenMountain.com

National Ignition Facility Gets New Budget, Timeline

Wetlands, Bird Habitat Get Millions for Protection

$9.9 M Settles Refinery Pollution Claims in Michigan

Natural Insecticides, Weedkillers Get Boost from Biopesticide Alliance

Sustainable Fisheries Summit Underway in Seattle

http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-04-09.html

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2000 All Rights Reserved.

***************************************************************************
                          SEND NEWS STORY TIPS TO news@ens-news.com
***************************************************************************

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TO BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

Summit Releases New Fire Technology Advancements to Enhance FlameOut(R)
Product
For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/May00/04May0003.html

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TO MEDICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

FREE Missouri Waste Reporting Software Available from Environmental Support
Solutions
For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/May00/04May0001.html

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TO BUSINESS AND MEDICAL EDITORS:

Maritime Executive Joins EnSolve Biosystems
For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/May00/04May0002.html

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from ENS News May 5, 2000

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE (ENS)
http://ens-news.com

                                         "We Cover the Earth For You"
******************************************************************

WORLD'S LARGEST TRANSBORDER CONSERVATION AREA
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-05-02.html

******************************************************************

RUSSIAN NUCLEAR SAFETY SHAKY, LEAKED REPORTS SHOW
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-05-01.html

******************************************************************

RENEWABLE FUELS BILL REPLACES MTBE WITH ETHANOL
By Cat Lazaroff
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-05-06.html

******************************************************************

VIEQUES ANTI-BOMB PROTESTERS VOW TO FIGHT ON
By Susan Soltero
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-05-03.html

******************************************************************

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE AMERISCAN: MAY 5, 2000

States Seek Power to Set Oil Tanker Standards

Atlanta Air Pollution Rivals Los Angeles

USDA Details Role in New Biotechnology Regulations

Bipartisan Bill Promotes Animal Testing Alternatives

California Slashes State Park Fees

Oregon Wildlife Refuge Gains Coastal Headland

Texas Honors Honda for Air Quality Gains

Rhode Island to Build Natural Gas Power Station

American Oceans Website Provides Runoff Advice

Getting Muddy in a Good Cause

http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2000/2000L-05-05-09.html

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2000 All Rights Reserved.

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                          SEND NEWS STORY TIPS TO news@ens-news.com
***************************************************************************

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    TRANSMIT YOUR PRESS RELEASE ON E-WIRE -- 1-888-764-NEWS
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from Global Response May 4, 2000

GR Action Alert #3/00
Protect Snow Leopard Habitat / Siberia
May-June 2000


"Building a road and pipeline through the Ukok Plateau will drive a stake
through the heart of an area that nature lovers, the Altai and other
indigenous peoples hold sacred.  It will be the end of the Ukok."
               --Mikhail Shishin, President, Fund for 21st Century Altai
(Russia)

     Russian environmental organizations are calling for international
support in their campaign to protect the Ukok Plateau in southern Siberia.
This high plateau provides critical habitat for one of the least studied
large predators in the world, the snow leopard, and many other endangered
species including the argali mountain sheep, dzeren antelope, black stork
and steppe eagle.  Its remarkable biodiversity is due to its complete
sequence of altitudinal vegetation zones from steppe, forest-steppe, mixed
forest, sub-alpine vegetation to alpine vegetation.  The plateau is the
source of major rivers that flow into Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and
China.  Archaeological remains are of great scientific interest, especially
since the discovery of a mummified Scythian "princess" in 1996.  Much of
the plateau is sacred to the indigenous Altai people.

      The Ukok Plateau's unique combination of biological diversity and
cultural value gained world recognition in 1998 when UNESCO's World
Heritage Commission included the plateau in the Golden Mountains of Altai
World Heritage site.  Within the Altai Republic (political division similar
to a state in the USA), the Ukok Plateau is protected as a "Quiet Zone,"
where economic development is prohibited.

      These designations are being completely ignored by Siberian
government officials.  In March 2000, the "Siberian Accord," an association
of Siberian government leaders, voted to approve road and gas pipeline
construction through the World Heritage Site
and across the pristine Ukok Plateau "Quiet Zone" into China.

      Russian scientists and environmental organizations were quick to
protest this plan.  In December 1999 they wrote a collective letter to the
"Siberian Accord," pointing out that the road/pipeline would irreparably
damage the unique ecosystems and cultural heritage of the Ukok Plateau.
They also warned that the project would incur enormous costs in both
construction and maintenance, since it would go through highland marshes,
tundra, permafrost areas and mountain passes at 2600 meters elevation.

      The scientists and environmentalists recommend a much less
destructive alternative route through Mongolia along existing roads.  The
"Siberian Accord" has given no response to this counter-proposal and has
created no opportunity for public input concerning the road and pipeline
projects.

Requested Action:

      Russian environmental organizations are proposing stronger
legislation to more effectively protect the Ukok Plateau.  But first they
need to avert the crisis posed by the "Siberian Accord" road and pipeline
project.  They ask Global Response members to raise an international outcry
to prevent this project from destroying natural and cultural treasures of
the Ukok Plateau.

****************************
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Snow Leopard

Hunted for their bones and fur and squeezed by intense human population
growth, snow leopards are endangered throughout their entire range in the
high mountains of Central Eurasia.  Researchers estimate between 4,000 and
7,000 snow leopards remain in the wild.  Their habitat is so rugged that
sightings are rare, contributing to the mystery of these beautiful animals.
Only about 5% of snow leopards' geographic range is currently protected.

With a thick coat to protect them from extreme cold and fur cushions on
their feet to help them walk on snow and rocks, snow leopards are well
adapted to their mountain environment.  Adults weigh between 60 and 120
pounds.  Their fur varies from white to cream to pale yellow or gray,
sprinkled with bits of charcoal-gray or black.  The thickly furred tail can
be as long as the leopard's body; it provides balance as the leopard jumps
and rushes after prey --  various kinds of sheep and goats, game birds,
hares, pikas and marmots.

Central Asian scientists regard the snow leopard as an "indicator species"
-- one that indicates the general health of a particular environment.
Since the snow leopard lives at the top of the food chain, if there are
abundant and healthy snow leopards in an area, the entire local ecosystem
is probably healthy, too.

International campaigns to protect snow leopards and their habitat are
coordinated by the International Snow Leopard Trust
(www.serv.net/islt/facts2.html), Sacred Earth Network (www.igc.org/sen/)
and the German Society for Nature Conservation (NABU:
www.nabu.de/index.htm)

*******************
REQUESTED ACTION:

Please write a polite letter to Russian government officials.

Express your awe and appreciation for the remarkable natural and cultural
treasures of the Ukok Plateau and the Altai Mountains World Heritage Site.

Express concern that pristine ecosystems, endangered species, sacred sites
and archaeological treasures will suffer irreparable damage if the Siberian
Accord brings industrialization to the region by building a road and gas
pipeline across the Ukok Plateau into China.

Urge Russian government agencies to conduct a full economic analysis on the
need, justification and costs of building the road and pipeline,  clearly
identifying the economic, social and environmental impacts and benefits of
the project for local communities.

Urge decision-makers to choose an alternate route for the new road and
pipeline, for example one following existing roads through Mongolia to
China.


ADDRESSES:

Victor Ivanovich Danilov-Danilyan
Chair, State Committee of Russian Federation for Environment
Protection
4/6 B.Gruzinskaya Str.
GSP Moscow 123812 Russia

Fax # +7(095)2546824

Semen Ivanovich Zubakin
Head, Altai Republic Government
16 Kirov Str.
Gorno-Altaisk 649000 Russia

Fax# +7(38822)95121

Vladimir Ivankov, General Director
Inter-Regional Association Siberian Accord
ul. Uritskogo 19
630099 g. Novosibirsk
Russia

Email:  root@sibsogl.nsk.su


*********************
This Global Response Action was issued in support of and with information
provided by The Fund for 21st Century Altai <katun@ab.ru>; Pacific
Environment and Resources Center (www.pacificenvironment.org); Sacred Earth
Network (www.igc.org/sen/) and International Snow Leopard Trust
(www.serv.net/islt/facts2.html).
*********************
--------------------------------------
GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental
activists.  In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace and
justice organizations around the world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops "Actions"
that describe specific, urgent threats to the environment; each "Action"
asks members to write personal letters to individuals in the corporations,
governments or international organizations that have the power and
responsibility to take corrective action.  GR also issues "Young
Environmentalists' Actions" and "Eco-Club Actions" designed to educate and
motivate elementary and high school students to practice earth stewardship.

P.O. Box 7490 Phone: 303/444-0306
Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490 Fax:   303/449-9794

To receive Global Response "Actions" and "Emergency Actions" by email:
Send a blank message to: globresmembers-subscribe@igc.topica.com

Visit our website at: http://www.globalresponse.org

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___________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics

from World Wildlife May 4, 2000

Boost Wildlife Funding

Dear WWF Conservation Action Network Activist:

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote next week on sweeping,
landmark legislation that would dramatically increase funding for
protection of America's wildlife and wildlands.  The environmental
community has worked hard for years to build support for this much-
needed bill.  Unfortunately, while much of the Conservation and
Reinvestment Act (CARA) would be extremely beneficial for wildlife
and land protection, it has a number of serious flaws, including the
provision of incentives for increased offshore oil development.  

We urgently need your help to solve the remaining problems with the
legislation.  Please go to http://takeaction.worldwildlife.org to send a
free message urging your representative to support any amendments
offered by Representatives Boehlert (R-NY), Markey (D-NY), and
Pallone (D-NJ) to correct the shortcomings and strengthen the bill.  
Please act now and ensure that this legislation is truly historic and
environmentally positive.

from Natural Law Party May 4, 2000

NATURAL LAW PARTY NEWS FLASH!


UPCOMING MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTH CAROLINA EVENTS

(1) MASSACHUSETTS/NEW ENGLAND NATURAL LAW PARTY CONVENTION
    ON MAY 7

Presidential candidate John Hagelin and Natural Law Party
Press Secretary Robert Roth (author of "A Reason to Vote")
will be the featured speakers at the Massachusetts/New
England Natural Law Party Convention on Sunday, May 7,
in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. They will address the
Convention by teleconference to give everyone an
inspiring, firsthand update on the ongoing "Spirituality
and Politics" tour with Neale Donald Walsch, to report
on other major NLP successes nationwide, to answer
questions, and to offer suggestions to candidates.

The Massachusetts Natural Law Party, which has organized
the event, warmly invites NLP colleagues and supporters
from all the other New England states to attend (see details
below).  Please also invite any friends or associates whom
you think might have an interest in the Natural Law Party.
Don't miss this exciting event! We look forward to seeing
you there.


  Location: Sturbridge, MA
      Date: Sunday, May 7, 2000
      Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
     Place: Sturbridge Host Hotel
            366 Main Street, Route 20, Sturbridge, MA
            (Across from the old Sturbridge Village)
  Speakers: John Hagelin and Robert Roth
Directions: Call (508) 347-7393
      Cost: $10 suggested donation (to help cover costs)
      RSVP: Kathleen Norbut
            (413) 267-3869
            Email: kcnorbut@yahoo.com
   Purpose: Inspiration, planning, candidates


(2) NORTH CAROLINA "SPIRITUALITY AND POLITICS" FORUM
    ON MAY 11

Presidential coalition candidate John Hagelin and bestselling
author Neale Donald Walsch ("Conversations with God") have
just extended their national "Spirituality and Politics" tour
to include a stop in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on May 11.
Here are the details:

  Location: Chapel Hill, NC
      Date: Thursday, May 11
      Time: 7:30 p.m.
     Place: Sheraton Hotel, One Europa Drive
            (1.5 miles south of Interstate 40 on
            Durham Chapel Hill Blvd.; one block east
            of Highway 15/501)
      Cost: $10/ticket in advance; $12/ticket at the door
            (students $5)
Directions: Call (919) 968-4900
      Info: Register online at www.spiritualityandpolitics.com
            or call 1-800-373-9664, ext. 471

John and Neale continue to draw sellout crowds and excellent
media coverage at their "Spirituality and Politics" forums
across the U.S. If you live near Chapel Hill, don't miss this
opportunity to hear these two fabulous speakers. We look forward
to seeing you there! 

================================================================
For more information, please visit the Natural Law Party website
at:  http://www.natural-law.org

We would like our email postings to reach as many supporters as
possible. Please encourage your friends to subscribe so we can
quickly publicize late-breaking news through a powerful national
email network.

To subscribe, please email us at subscribe@natural-law.org. If
you would prefer to be removed from this list, please email us
at unsubscribe@natural-law.org. (No message is necessary.)

from Defenders of Wildlife May 4, 2000

DEN ALERT:
TELL CONGRESS TO PROTECT PARKS, REFUGES AND FORESTS

We need your help on what could be one of the biggest environmental
votes of the year. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as Wednesday, May 10 on legislation to provide significant and permanent funding for programs to protect America's last remaining natural and historic treasures, scenic areas and wildlife habitat.  While the landmark levels of funding in the bill are badly needed for these conservation and preservation programs, the legislation has some serious problems that must be corrected.

The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) is considered by many
to be a visionary and bold law for conservation in the new century.
One of the cornerstones of the bill is a provision that would
permanently support the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF),
a funding source that is supports land acquisition for conservation
and recreation programs across the U.S. In the past, LWCF has helped
preserve such American treasures as Alaska's Denali National Park,
Yosemite National Park and the Florida Everglades.

However, the bill must be corrected before its final passage.  
Congressmen Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) are expected to offer a series of floor amendments
that will address specific concerns such as provisions in the bill
that give incentives for increased offshore oil drilling, delay or
prevent LWCF funds from being spent to protect our national parks,
wildlife refuges and forests and fail to ensure that state wildlife
funding would be spent to benefit all wildlife.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Please take a minute and send a free fax to your Representative
urging support the Boehlert-Markey-Pallone amendments so that
the final  bill genuinely protects our nation's special places. Feel
free to personalize your message. YOUR COMMENTS
ARE NEEDED ASAP!!

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to the web, simply click on the link below which
will take you to the DEN Action Center web site:

http://www.denaction.org

====================================================================
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put the
word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
====================================================================
To subscribe, visit Defenders' website at

                    http://www.defenders.org/den

or send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put the word SUBSCRIBE
in the subject line.  
====================================================================
If your e-mail address has changed, send an e-mail to
changeaddress@defenders.org and put your new e-mail address in the
subject line. Make sure you put nothing in the subject line other
than your new e-mail address.
====================================================================
Defenders of Wildlife is a leading national conservation organization
recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for
wildlife and its habitat and known for its effective leadership on
saving endangered species such as brown bears and gray wolves, Defenders
advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species
before they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit
501(c)(3)organization with nearly 400,000 members and supporters.

                       Defenders of Wildlife
                  1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 1400
                       Washington, DC 20005
                     http://www.defenders.org
                     http://www.kidsplanet.org

from Natural Resources Defense Council May 5, 2000

Natural Resources Defense Council's

EARTHSMARTCARS BULLETIN

NRDC's earthsmartcars campaign aims to convince U.S. automakers that the
key to cleaner cars (or 'earthsmartcars,' as we call them) is new
technologies. Just as computers have transformed the world, technology can
transform the auto industry.

May 5, 2000

******************************************

SPECIAL ALERT TO EARTHSMARTCARS SUBSCRIBERS

******************************************

**URGENT -- ACTION NEEDED: Tell the White House to stand firm on diesel
pollution reductions**

You've asked us to keep you informed about developments concerning cleaner
cars and cleaner fuels, so we are sending you this urgent alert letting
you know that your immediate action could make a big difference on the
following critical issue:

Within the next week, the Clinton administration is expected to announce a
rule to reduce pollution from the nation's diesel trucks and buses. The
rule will include reductions for both pollution from diesel's smog-forming
gases and fine particles that can lodge deep in lung tissue, contributing
to increased asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, cancer and emphysema.

One of the most important components of the new rule is its requirement to
reduce sulfur levels in diesel fuel, as sulfur inhibits the ability of
vehicles' advanced emissions controls to eliminate diesel's hazardous
compounds. NRDC and other environmental groups have called for a rule that
reduces sulfur levels by 97 percent, from a current cap of 500 parts per
million (ppm) to 15 ppm. The oil industry, however, is putting intense
pressure on the White House to adopt a rule with a national average of 30
ppm and a cap of 50 ppm, levels that environmentalists and public health
experts agree will not adequately clean our air or protect people's
health.

== What to do ==
Call the White House *today* and tell the Clinton administration not to
cave in to the oil industry, and to give us the strongest possible rule to
clean up diesel pollution. Specifically mention that the highest
acceptable cap on sulfur levels is 15 parts per million.

== Contact information ==
White House Comment Line
(202) 456-1414

== For background ==
Visit 'Exhausted by Diesel' at
http://www.nrdc.org/air/transportation/ebd/ebdinx.asp

...........

ABOUT OUR BULLETINS

This bulletin is distributed monthly by request to people who have joined
NRDC's earthsmartcars campaign by signing our petition urging automakers
to manufacture hybrid gasoline-electric cars. To sign the petition and
receive the bulletin, visit our website at
http://www.nrdc.org/earthsmartcars. To unsubscribe from EARTHSMARTCARS
BULLETIN, send a blank email message to
leave-earthsmartcars@earth.lyris.net.

Other NRDC Bulletins:

EARTH ACTION is sent biweekly and calls out urgent environmental issues
requiring individual action. To subscribe to EARTH ACTION, send a blank
email message from the email address at which you wish to receive the
bulletin to nrdc-action-subscribe@igc.topica.com. To unsubscribe from
EARTH ACTION, send a blank email message to
nrdc-action-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com.

LEGISLATIVE WATCH is sent biweekly when Congress is in session and tracks
environmental bills moving through Congress. To subscribe to LEGISLATIVE
WATCH, send a blank email message from the email address at which you wish
to receive the bulletin to nrdc-news-subscribe@igc.topica.com. To
unsubscribe from LEGISLATIVE WATCH, send a blank email message to
nrdc-news-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com.

CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT is distributed bimonthly to
members of NRDC's California Activist Network and provides action tools to
Californians and others concerned with protecting the state's natural
resources and the health of its citizens. To join the network, visit
NRDC's Save Wild California website at http://www.nrdc.org/wildcalifornia
or send an email message to
join-california-activist-network@earth.lyris.net. To unsubscribe, send a
message to leave-california-activist-network@earth.lyris.net.

...........

ABOUT NRDC

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit environmental
organization with 400,000 members nationwide and a staff of scientists,
attorneys and environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the world's
natural resources and improve the quality of the human environment.

For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of NRDC, please
contact us at:

Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-2700
General email: nrdcinfo@nrdc.org
Earthsmartcars email: earthsmartcars@nrdc.org

from Zero Population Growth May 5, 2000

Dear Margie Laupheimer,

I.  AND THE WEBBY GOES TO...
The International Academy of Digital Arts has nominated the
Action Network for a Webby in the "Activism" category
(http://www.webbyawards.com/nominees/2000/activism.html).

The Webbies are the Academy Awards of the web.

In addition, the Action Network has been nominated for the
Webbies' "People's Choice Awards".  Please vote for the
Action Network!

Just go to www.webbyawards.com/nominees/2000/activism.html,
click on "People's Voice Awards", and register and vote!


II.  APRIL 2000 ZPG LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
The new Legislative Update features important news about
the President's budget, an update on international family
planning, and important legislative information about late-
term abortions.

To read the update, go to
http://www.zpg.org/Action_alerts/alert21.html


III.  POPULATION WEB RADIO STATION GETS FACELIFT
Zero24-7, the web-only radio station sponsored by ZPG, got
a face-lift.  Visit their new website at http://www.zero24-
7.org.  Zero24-7 features zero commercials, zero radio
edits, and zero play lists.
To listen right now, go to http://www.zero24-7.org and
click on "Listen".

IV.  EARTH DAY REPORT
Earth Day on the National Mall in Washington, DC was a huge
success.  ZPG also had representatives in Boston, New York,
Chicago, Seattle, North Dakota, San Diego, San Lois Obispo,
Tampa, San Francisco, and other locations.

from Defenders of Wildlife May 5, 2000

DENlines Issue #14
Defenders  Electronic Network (DEN)
Friday May 5, 2000

1.      WOLVES: Alaska Legislature Reinstates Land-and-Shoot Hunting
2.      CONGRESS: House to Vote on Conservation Funding Bill
3.      ENDANGERED SPECIES: Wildlife Gains Made at International Meeting
4.      BIRDS: Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day
5.      WILDLIFE CALENDAR: Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds
6.      ECO TRIVIA: Fastest-Growing Plant
7.      THANK YOU: Send A Free Polar Bear E-Card to Your Friends

=================================================================     

1.      WOLVES: Alaska Legislature Reinstates Land-and-Shoot Hunting

Turning a deaf ear to the will of the Alaskan public, the governor,
and the state fish and game department, the state legislature voted
to reinstate the controversial practice of land-and-shoot hunting of
wolves. The action overrode a veto by Governor Tony Knowles,
effectively repealing an initiative passed by Alaska voters in 1996.
The legislature also passed a constitutional amendment that, if
approved by the public in November, would eliminate any future
wildlife-related ballot initiatives. Defenders is working with our
allies in Alaska to reinstate the land-and-shoot hunting ban and
defeat the constitutional amendment. Stay tuned we will need your
help on this issue in the coming months.

Click Here For More On This Story http://www.defenders.org/den/dl00014.html#akwolf


2.      CONGRESS: House To Vote on Conservation Funding Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as
Wednesday, May 10 on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA),
legislation to permanently fund programs to protect America's last
remaining natural and historic treasures, scenic areas and wildlife
habitat.  However, conservationists have specific concerns about
CARA. Provisions in the current version of the bill would give
incentives for increased offshore oil drilling, would delay or
prevent conservation funds from being spent to protect our national
parks, wildlife refuges and forests and would allow states to spend
wildlife funding on programs that would not benefit all wildlife.
Many of these concerns can be addressed by amendments expected to
be offered on the House floor by Representatives Sherwood Boehlert
(R-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and James McGovern
(D-MA). The Boehlert-Markey-Pallone-McGovern amendments could be one
of the biggest environmental votes of the year and strong support is
needed to ensure that CARA is truly an environmentally sound bill.  
To send a free fax to your representative urging support for these
important amendments, go to the DEN Action center at
http://www.denaction.org

3.      ENDANGERED SPECIES: Wildlife Gains Made at International Meeting

Conservationists won protections for a number of imperiled species
at the annual Convention on the International Trade of Endangered
Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) held last month in Nairobi, Kenya.  
Representatives from more than 150 countries met to vote on proposals
including lifting existing bans on the ivory and hawksbill-turtle
trade and protecting certain shark and whale species from commercial
fishing. Conservationists were generally satisfied with the decisions
reached at the meeting. Defenders of Wildlife's Carroll Muffett worked
behind the scenes with many delegates on the critical issues being
debated. Having just returned from Africa this week he offers this
"insider" report:

Click Here for More On This Story http://www.defenders.org/den/dl00014.html#species


4.      BIRDS: Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day

Have you noticed more birds in your neighborhood lately? Millions
of birds are making their annual migration from wintering habitat
in southern climes to summer breeding grounds in the United States
and Canada. On May 13, thousands of individuals will spend the day
at their local national wildlife refuge, park or forest to celebrate
International Migratory Bird Day with a variety of events. You can
take a nature walk to view and hear local birdlife, build your own
bird house, and learn more about how important migratory birds are
to the natural world and what can be done to protect them. To find
out what is planned in you neck of the woods visit  
http://refuges.fws.gov/Tango3/queryfiles/IMBDevents.taf?function=form.
Choose International Migratory Bird Day and search by state or
province.

5.      WILDLIFE CALENDAR: Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds

A flurry of activity occurs every May on the bayshores of Delaware,
Maryland and New Jersey as thousands of horseshoe crabs congregate
for their annual breeding season.  As far as the eye can see, a line
of male horseshoe crabs waits patiently for females to arrive. The
males will literally attach themselves to a female and fertilize
the tens of thousands of eggs she will lay and bury in the damp
sand of the low tide.  Mixed with sand to provide better camouflage,
there can be as many as 50 horseshoe crab nests in one square yard
of sand. After laying their eggs, horseshoe crabs return to the
open ocean, setting the stage for a buffet of mammoth proportions.
Migratory birds such as red knots, sanderlings and ruddy turnstones
stop over midway between their travels from South and Central
America to the Canadian Arctic to fuel up on the millions of crab
eggs, buried in the shores of the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays.
Some birds can double their body weight during such pit-stops,
consuming thousands of eggs each. Despite the feeding frenzy, a
healthy number of horseshoe crab eggs have in the past, managed
to survive to hatch and successfully reach adulthood. This balance
between bird consumption and horseshoe crab reproduction has thrived
until recently. But now, due to recent increases in the use of
horseshoe crabs as bait, numbers of spawning horseshoe crag eggs
have dramatically declined.  (Source: The Wildlife Year)

6.      ECO TRIVIA: Fastest Growing Plant

What plant grows the fastest?

A) Coastal Redwood B) Saguaro Catcus
C) English Ivy D) Giant Kelp

(Scroll down to the end of this e-mail for the answer)

7.      THANK YOU: Send A Free Polar Bear E-Card to Your Friends

In the six months since DEN was launched we have had a positive
impact on conservation issues ranging from supporting wolf recovery
in Yellowstone and the Southwest to protecting dolphins from lethal
fishing practices.  As a thank you for taking action and staying
informed on conservation issues, Defenders invites all DEN subscribers
to send a free polar bear e-card to your friends. The e-cards
feature a photo of a polar bear and a personal message from you.
Send your free polar bear e-card today and tell your friends about
DEN!

To send a free Polar Bear e-card go to:
http://congress.nw.dc.us/cgi-bin/ecard.pl?dir=defenders&group=polar



       * TELL YOUR FRIENDS!! FORWARD THIS ISSUE AND SPREAD
             THE NEWS ABOUT WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION *

====================================================================
To subscribe, visit Defenders' website at

http://www.defenders.org/den

or send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put
the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.  
====================================================================
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put the
word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
====================================================================
If your e-mail address has changed, send an e-mail to
changeaddress@defenders.org and put your new e-mail address in the
subject line. Make sure you put nothing in the subject line other
than your new e-mail address.
====================================================================
DENlines is a biweekly publication of Defenders of Wildlife, a
leading national conservation organization recognized as one of the
nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat and
known for its effective leadership on saving endangered species such
as brown bears and gray wolves, Defenders advocates new approaches
to wildlife conservation that protect species before they become
endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
organization with 400,000 members and supporters.

                       Defenders of Wildlife
                  1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 1400
                       Washington, DC 20005
                     http://www.defenders.org
                     http://www.kidsplanet.org
       
           Copyright (c) 2000 by Defenders of Wildlife.

TRIVIA ANSWER (D): It might surprise you to learn that the
fastest-growing plant never even gets a drop of rain. The giant
kelp, which can grow as much as two feet in a single day, thrives
in the Pacific Ocean along the west coast of North America . This
golden-brown seaweed can form strands stretching up to 200 feet in
length, forming an underwater forest that moves with the ebb and
flow of the tides. Root-like structures called holdfasts anchor the
plant to the rocky bottom but do not collect nutrients. Closely
related to algae, the kelp has adapted a unique transport system
to distribute nutrients throughout the plant, allowing it to grow
faster and larger than any of its relatives. A kelp forest provides
essential habitat for a number of marine species including sea
otters, sea lions and octopuses. (American Nature)

from Sierra Club May 5, 2000

SC-ACTION Vol. II, #202
     DEFENDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
     May 1, 2000


     Today's Quote:

     "But the possibility exists no matter how scary it may seem
     That paridise was once the world and it wasn't just a dream
     The earth was a heaven and we did not know there were rules
     for us to break But maybe now we'll find out too late what
     a clever hell we can make...woops"

     -Blues Travler

     ______________________________________________________________________

     Contents:

     1) FEATURED ACTION: Take action to reform the Army Corps of Engineers

     2) REPORTS FROM THE FIELD: Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt
        wants to save the San Francisco Peaks

     ******************Featured Action**************************

     1) URGE THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS TO REFORM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

     Over the decades, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has narrowed or
     dammed a large share of this country's large rivers and has helped
     drain millions of acres of wetlands.  The effects on fish and wildlife
     have been huge.  Environmentalists have long believed that many
     projects are driven by pork-barrel politics and the desire to help
     powerful special interests.

     Roughly two months ago, several newspapers disclosed compelling
     evidence that the Corps of Engineers had deliberately "cooked the
     books" to justify a $1 billion project to expand the barging system on
     the Upper Mississippi River. Other documents showed that the Corps of
     Engineers' top generals had launched an effort to grow the budget by
     50% without the approval of their civilian overseers.

     The good news is that the attention to these problems has produced
     proposals for major reforms. We urge you to write to President Clinton
     to urge him to implement these reforms that would order the Corps of
     Engineers to meet the same wetland protection standards as private
     developers and to pursue policies that are consistent with the rest of
     government.  We also urge you to contact your Congressman or Senators
     to urge them to support reform of the Corps of Engineers.
     **************************************************************************

     2) Sec. Babbitt wants to Save the Peaks

     The Navajo believe the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona have
     the power to heal both mind and body.  The peaks are also sacred
     ground to the Hopi, Zuni, Hualapai, Yavapai and five Apache tribes.
     But Arizona's mountain landmark is threatened.  Tufflite Inc. is
     currently mining this sacred site for pumice, used for stonewashing
     jeans.

     Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbit attended a rally Sierra Club
     organized with Tribal leaders throughout Arizona calling for a closure
     of the White Vulcan Pumice Mine.  About 170 people came to the mine
     site to be with Babbitt, including Tufflite miners, owners and
     lawyers.  Andy Bessler, with the Sierra Club's Save the Peaks campaing
     said the following about the rally, "We had good dialogue with the
     miners and currently they want $10 million to get out of the area.  It
     was truly inspiring to hear Babbitt call on all people to help s