Earthhope Action Network Environmental Action Alerts for July, 2005

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Environment Action Alerts for July , 2005

Bush: No Right-Wing Extremist Supreme Court Nomination	Reduce Marine Life Destruction Gulf of Mexico	Draft Bill Takes Aim at Endangered Wildlife
Home Depot and Its Toxic Choices	End Old-Growth Woodchip Market in Tasmania	Join Us in Challenging Exxon
Action: Dying Wildlife, Oil Spills, High Gas Prices	Recent Victories from Campaign Against Coca-Cola	Hit Exxon Where It Hurts
Act Now! Speak Out for Alaska's Wild Future

from The Green Party July 6, 2004

When the news came last Friday that Sandra Day
 O'Connor -  not William Rehnquist - was retiring from the
 Supreme  Court, I'm sure you were as shocked as I was. 
 
 Now, for the first time in over a decade, there's a 
 vacancy on the Supreme Court. And unless we act
 quickly, it will likely be filled by a right-wing extremist
 bent on eroding the rights and freedoms we hold dear. Sign
 here: http://www.care2.com/go/z/25621
  
 As you read this, the Religious Right is hard at
 work,  determined to see that President Bush nominates the
 most conservative candidate he can find to replace her.
 So, we have no time to lose. We must gear up for one of the
 most critical battles we've faced in our lifetimes - our 
 cherished environmental laws, civil liberties and a
 woman's right to choose now hang in the balance.
 
 It's time to tell President Bush to act in the best 
 interests of all Americans by nominating a moderate,
 
 consensus choice to the Supreme Court: http://www.care2.com/go/z/25621
  
 A fair and independent judiciary is one of the
 hallmarks of a great democracy. Only nominees who can
 demonstrate fairness, compassion, and wisdom to the highest
 degree  should be nominated and appointed to the Supreme Court.
 
 Sign the petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/25621
 _________________________________________________
 
 Thank you for taking action today!

from The Ocean Conservancy July 6, 2004

 Please take action to protect the Gulf of Mexico
 marine ecosystem by reducing the wasteful killing of red snapper and other
 marine life in shrimp trawl nets.
 http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=8AavIpiPg89YLyu0lMxHTw
 
 Right now the federal government is deciding whether or not
 to help reduce the destructive killing of red snapper and
 other ocean life by shrimp trawl nets in the Gulf of Mexico. 
 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimates that the
 severely depleted red snapper population in the Gulf is less than 
 ten percent of historic abundance.  In response to a petition
 submitted by the Coastal Conservation Association NMFS is taking
 public comments on whether to address the killing of young red snapper
 in shrimp trawl nets.
 
 Please respond to this action alert immediately and urge NMFS to solve
 this problem by implementing measures to reduce this inadvertent loss
 of ocean life in shrimp trawls. Comments are due by July 11, 2005.
 
 Take Action!
  
 http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=8AavIpiPg89YLyu0lMxHTw
 
 For background information on this issue please see
 our Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Action Alert.
 http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/R?i=8AavIpiPg89YLyu0lMxHTw

from Defenders of Wildlife July 7, 2004

Save our endangered wildlife from extinction: Send a fax to your Representative. Tell your family and friends.

Legislation that would tear apart protections for our endangered wildlife may be on the verge of being introduced by Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA), Chair of the House Resources Committee. Defenders got a hold of the proposed bill, and it is scary.

In the words of Jamie Rappaport Clark, former Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and now Executive Vice President of Defenders, the draft bill "takes a wrecking ball to the whole Endangered Species Act" by changing its mission, disabling enforcement tools, and providing extensive loopholes for corporate special interests.

Please take action today to stop this bill in its tracks!

This is the moment you've helped us prepare for. We've put our allies in Congress on alert, we've started mobilizing grassroots in target districts, we've placed public service announcements to educate Americans about the importance of saving our wildlife, and we've reached out to diverse groups that understand the importance of saving our wolves, sea otters, bald eagles, manatees, and so many more creatures from extinction.

The time has come for an all-out effort to stop this disastrous bill and protect our wildlife from extinction! You have sustained us this far. We need your help again today. Please send a fax today to tell your Representative that Rep. Richard Pombo's (R-CA) draft legislation is unacceptable:

Please take action today to stop this bill in its tracks!

Once you've taken action, we need your help to spread the word. PLEASE pass this on to at least three of your friends!

How bad is this legislation? It's even worse than we feared. All of the gains we've made since the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973 are at stake and accelerating extinctions would be certain. We've conducted an analysis of the draft bill prepared by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA). Our concerns include:

• The draft bill abandons the national commitment to bringing declining species back from the brink of extinction and recovering them to the point where they no longer need the Act's protection.
• It opens a giant loophole that allows legal appeals during every step of the endangered species conservation process. Irresponsible developers, timber and mining interests and other resource exploiters would be able to tie the process into knots and avoid any meaningful implementation and enforcement.
• It allows federal agencies to ignore their responsibility to protect threatened and endangered species.
• It includes an onerous "takings" provision which requires the federal government to pay landowners for the costs of complying with the law, a terrible precedent to set with regard to environmental protections.
• The proposed bill sets the year 2015 as the expiration date for the Endangered Species Act, setting a timetable for ending protection of our endangered species!

Don't let this happen. Send your representative a fax now at:

http://www.saveesa.org/action.html

Remember, the Endangered Species Act in place today has been very successful at preventing the extinction of many magnificent creatures. Since 1973, only 9 out of the 1800 animals protected by the Act have been declared extinct. The Act can be made to work better for all and we are striving to achieve that. Pombo's bill would make it better only for developers at the expense of saving species and our heritage. For more information on the Act and our analysis of the draft legislation, visit http://www.SaveESA.org

Thank you so much for your caring and support for our wildlife. Together, we are their voice.

Sincerely,
Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

Defendersof Wildlife is a leading national conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and 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 more than 475,000 members and supporters.

©Copyright Defenders of Wildlife 2005

Defenders of Wildlife
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

from Defenders of Wildlife July 8, 2004

Home Depot and Its Toxic Choices

Campaign Logo

Home Depot – the nation’s largest hardware chain – doesn’t offer their customers much of a choice when it comes to animal and kid-friendly lawn and garden care. The chain doesn’t offer enough natural alternatives to the toxic pesticides it stocks on its shelves. And many of the chemical lawn pesticides Home Depot offers are not only toxic to birds, bees, fish and other wildlife, but also harmful to children, pets and water quality. Let Home Depot know that toxic pesticides aren’t the only choice for lawn and garden care. Take action now…

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

As a member of the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns, Defenders needs you to help us pressure Home Depot to carry a full range of alternatives to toxic pesticides. As the largest supplier of lawn and garden products in the country, Home Deport must do more to support sustainable land practices that won’t pollute our environment, threaten our wildlife or harm our families.

We need to urge Home Depot to do three things:

1) Carry a full range of natural, non-toxic lawn and garden products.
2) Train staff to be knowledgeable about non-toxic alternatives.
3) Reconsider the sale of “weed and feed” – a particularly toxic product.

Please sign the letter below and deliver it to the Customer Service desk at your neighborhood Home Depot. We need to deliver as many letters as soon as possible. If you don’t know where a Home Depot near you is located, go to http://www.HomeDepot.com and click on store locator.

Thanks for supporting natural and safe lawn management products for yards across America!

P.S. If you are able to deliver your letter, please email pesticidefree@defenders.org so we know how many letters have been delivered.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Store Manager:

I am a regular customer at Home Depot and a supporter of the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns. I was very pleased to recently learn that Home Depot was asked by Defenders of Wildlife and Beyond Pesticides on behalf of the Coalition to carry a full range of natural, non-toxic lawn and garden products, to train staff to be knowledgeable about non-toxic alternatives, and to reconsider the sale of “weed and feed.” It is currently impossible to shop at Home Depot and purchase the full array of products needed to maintain a natural lawn or garden. I would very much like to see not just one or two natural lawn and garden products on your shelves – but a full range by Spring 2006. In addition to carrying these products, I would like Home Depot staff to be able to offer advice on the use and benefits of natural lawn and garden care. As a do-it-yourselfer, I would also appreciate written materials that provide instructions on how to create and maintain a natural lawn.

I would like to shop at Home Depot for all my lawn and garden products, so I will be watching to see if more non-toxic products become available and if efforts are undertaken to train your employees and provide good materials. I urge you to work with the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns to help make this a reality.

Thank you for listening to my concerns and please convey my support to your corporate headquarters.

Sincerely,

BACKGROUND:

In April 2005, the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns publicly called on Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement to start selling a full range of natural, non-toxic lawn and garden products. They also asked the companies to train their staff to be knowledgeable about natural lawn care, to provide do-it-yourself natural lawn materials, to reconsider the sale of "weed and feed," and to work with the Coalition to make it all happen.By June 2005, the Coalition had heard back from the companies. Both essentially said they already carry natural lawn products and that product mix per store depends on demand. Our information tells us that neither company does any market research to determine demand but instead determines demand solely upon sales. Our response?

We understand that the company stocks the shelves depending on demand, but we also understand that the demand level is artificially skewed. The natural product(s) are completely eclipsed by the vast amount of toxic products, and customers are often referred to toxic products because staff do not adequately understand or know how to explain natural lawn and garden care.

Given the inaction of these companies, the Coalition is asking customers to speak up for natural lawn and garden care products and information.

To learn more about the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns, please click here (http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/birds/pesticides.html).

Defendersof Wildlife is a leading national conservationorganization recognized as one of the nation's mostprogressive advocates for wildlife and habitat andknown for its effective leadership on saving endangered species such as brown bears and graywolves. 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 more than 475,000 members and supporters.

If you don't have web access, send a separate e-mail to Denlines@den.defenders.organd put the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

CopyrightDefenders of Wildlife 2005

from Forests.org July 9, 2004


TAKE ACTION 
Tell Nippon Paper Group to Stop Buying Old-Growth
Comment Form: http://www.np-g.com/e/csr/ideology/materials_form.html
Background: http://www.np-g.com/e/news/news05061701.html

Japanese company Nippon Paper Group is following the
lead of a key rival by reviewing its policy for purchasing woodchips
from old growth forests. Nippon is the latest customer of Tasmanian exporter
Gunns Ltd to consider new policies after Mitsubishi Paper Mill moved to
reject woodchips derived from Tasmania, Australia's old growth and
high-conservation value forests late last month. The Earth's forest conservation
movement has a unique opportunity to follow up upon our recent victory in
Tasmania – taking the next step to transition the paper industry to a No
Old-Growth stance. Nippon is carrying out a public consultation on
their raw materials policy which would provide the opportunity it needs to
follow the lead of Mitsubishi and dump Tasmanian old growth woodchips.
Comments are being taken only through a form on their web site, where
they ask for the "Main Point" and "Reason or Background" in regard to their
raw materials procurement policy. Below are suggestions for the
basic message we should be trying to communicate, which you can copy and
paste, but please add your own language if possible. 

Provide comments before July 19th on Behalf of
Tasmanian Old-Growth at:
http://www.np-g.com/e/csr/ideology/materials_form.html

Main Point:
I am very upset that Nippon is still buying
woodchips sourced from the old growth
forests of Tasmania. Nippon should
immediately stop buying woodchips 
sourced from all old growth and other high
conservation value forests. To keep up with 
your competitor Mitsubishi, you must adopt a 
no old-growth forests use policy.

Reason or Background
A broad global consensus has emerged that industrial
logging of old-growth, and other endangered forests, is
antiquated and no longer acceptable. Ancient forests are 
required to maintain local as well as global ecological 
sustainability. Industrial development of Tasmanian and
other endangered forests irrevocably diminishes
them. To protect the Earth and all her life, the world's 
remaining old-growth must be protected from
commercial scale development. World Heritage-class Tasmanian 
and other old-growth forests should not be fodder for woodchips.
Businesses that fail to heed this message will feel the pain of
market rejection.

More alerts at http://forests.org/action/

Networked by Forests.org, a project of Ecological Internet, Inc.
http://forests.org/action/
gbarry@forests.org

from Union of Concerned Scientists July 12, 2004

 Exxpose Exxon!

 For years, one company has led the charge to deny
 the existence of global warming and fund $15 million in junk
 science to cloud the policy debate. One company has refused to invest
 serious funds in clean energy technologies, despite raking
 in record profits at the expense of the American consumer. One
 company has persisted in pushing to open the Arctic National
 Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, when all other companies have
 pulled out of the pro-drilling coalition.
 
 Today, we are joining our colleagues in the
 environmental and public health communities in an unprecedented
 campaign to Exxpose Exxon. We invite you to join this effort by
 sending a letter to ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond--it's time to
 reject the reckless energy policies of the past and start
 moving America toward a cleaner energy future! 
 
 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://ucsaction.org/campaign/7_12_05_exxon/w3idbkx4l55mb8m?
 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
 Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your
 email program.
 
 ----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----
 
 Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
 Mr. Lee Raymond, CEO ExxonMobil
 
 Dear Mr. Raymond,
 
 Our country is overly dependent on oil. This has
 serious consequences ranging from rising gasoline prices
 that burden every American to global warming that threatens
 current and future generations. This addiction to oil represents
 a failed energy strategy, one that your company not only
 supports but has helped to develop. I am most disturbed by:
 
 * ExxonMobil's active support of drilling in the
 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; 
 
 * ExxonMobil's efforts to block meaningful action to
 cut global warming pollution and its funding of junk science to
 hide the real facts about global warming;
 
 * ExxonMobil's decision to forgo investment in clean
 energy solutions--despite your record profits at a time of
 rising gasoline prices; 
 
 * ExxonMobil's failure to pay all of the punitive
 damages awarded to fishermen and others injured by the 1989
 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
 
 ExxonMobil represents yesterday's energy policy. I
 would rather spend my money and time moving forward, not
 backward. Therefore, I will not purchase ExxonMobil's gas or products,
 invest in ExxonMobil stock, or work for the company. 
 
 Sincerely,

 
 cc:
 Exxon Executives 
 Your Congressperson 
 Your Senators 
 
 Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
 http://ucsaction.org/campaign/7_12_05_exxon/forward/w3idbkx4l55mb8m?

from Defenders of Wildlife July 12, 2004

Dear DEN Activist,

It hasn't been too long to forget the Valdez. And it's definitely not too early to worry about the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other endangered habitats.
Take Action Now
Click here to send a free message telling ExxonMobil's CEO Lee Raymond that you won't buy the company's gas until it cleans up its act!

Exxon's 1989 tanker spill dumped millions of gallons of crude oil into the waters of Alaska's pristine Prince William Sound, killing hundreds of thousands of seals, otters, birds, fish and whales. Unfortunately, sixteen years later ExxonMobil still hasn't cleaned up its act. It's still supporting policies that put wildlife and wildlife habitat at risk.

The time has come to hold this multibillion-dollar corporation accountable. Visit http://www.defenders.org/exxposeexxon/ to find out what you can do.

ExxonMobil is spearheading efforts to open America's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. It is sabotaging efforts to slow global warming and refusing to put its huge profits to good use developing clean, renewable energy or supporting fuel efficiency. The company is still trying to get out of paying the full amount it owes fishermen and Native Americans hurt by the 1989 Valdez spill -- despite raking in a historic $25 billion profit last year.

It's time to hold ExxonMobil responsible for putting corporate profits over protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat. That's why Defenders of Wildlife has joined with other leading environmental and public interest advocacy organizations to form the Exxpose Exxon Campaign. The Campaign works to educate and activate Americans about the corporation's efforts to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, prevent action on global warming, and encourage America's oil dependence.

Help us show ExxonMobil that profits and conservation can go hand in hand. Please visit http://www.defenders.org/exxposeexxon/ and fill out the form to tell the company's CEO Lee Raymond that you won't purchase the company's gasoline or products, invest in its stock, or work for the company until it changes its ways.

Thanks for supporting wildlife-friendly business practices.

Sincerely,

Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

Defendersof Wildlife is a leading national conservationorganization recognized as one of the nation's mostprogressive advocates for wildlife and habitat andknown for its effective leadership on savingendangered species such as brown bears and graywolves. Defenders advocates new approaches to wildlifeconservation that protect species before they becomeendangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit501(c)(3) organization with more than 475,000 members and supporters.

Defendersof Wildlife
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

from India Resource Center July 12, 2004

It has been a busy and productive time for the International Campaign Against Coca-Cola. Check out all the latest on the website, www.IndiaResource.org

Coca-Cola Threatens Top Indian Photographer with Lawsuit - http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2005/1077.html
Coca-Cola has threatened one of India’s leading photographers with a lawsuit if he doesn’t immediately take down a large billboard he has set up in the middle of Chennai. Check out the image that is bothering Coca-Cola by visiting the link above.

Bhopal Survivors Draw Parallels to Coca-Cola Campaign - http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2005/1079.html
The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal has responded to a Wall Street Journal article, where our claims of drawing parallels to Bhopal were termed ‘outlandish’.

Coca-Cola Backs Out from Sponsoring Live 8 - http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2005/1073.html
The campaign was shocked to learn that Live 8 organizers were talking to Coca-Cola for sponsorship. Our quick reaction led to Coca-Cola walking out. And Coca-Cola being banned from the Make Poverty History march in Scotland, with close to 300,000 people. See our initial press release at http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2005/1072.html

Coca-Cola Placed on Probation By University of Michigan - http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2005/1074.html
In a major victory for the campaign, the prestigious University of Michigan has placed Coca-Cola on probation for its crimes in India and Colombia. This is the result of the dynamic student activism in the US that has emerged to support communities in India and Colombia.

Support US!! - http://www.indiaresource.org/donate/index.html
We depend on the general public such as you to sustain our work. Consider making a donation online- its secure.

Take Action! - http://www.indiaresource.org/action/faxcoke.php
Tell Coca-Cola to STOP Destroying Lives, Livelihoods and Communities in India

from Greenpeace July 12, 2004

I wrote to you a couple of weeks ago about headlines nationwide exposing ExxonMobil's influence on the Bush administration and America's global warming policies. More than 13,000 of you told President Bush what you think of Exxon, and asked him to support a strong global warming proposal at the G8 Summit.

But last week, President Bush kept listening to Exxon instead of you, as he crushed efforts by world leaders to take real action to solve global warming.

Well, enough is enough. Now it's time to go straight to the source of the problem: Exxon.

TAKE ACTION! Tell Exxon's CEO to get out of the Stone Age and embrace clean energy technology.

Today, Greenpeace helped launch a new nationwide campaign with leading environmental and political groups, to create a force so strong, that even the world's largest oil corporation can't ignore our voices. It's time to hit this fossil fuel dinosaur where it hurts most: its bottom line.

Send Exxon's CEO the only message he can understand: You will NOT buy Exxon or Mobil gasoline, you will NOT invest in Exxon stocks and you will NEVER take a job with Exxon.

I need each and every one of you to be a part of this movement, and to spread the word to your friends, your family and everyone you know.

Thank you,

Kert Davies
Research Director

P.S. Tell us what you think of ExxonMobil, visit our discussion center.

Project Thin Ice Competition

By telling Exxon's CEO to get out of the Stone Age, you'll earn 150 points as part of our Project Thin Ice competition. And for every friend that takes the action, you'll earn ANOTHER 150. This week's winner will choose between an ecotourism trip for two to Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador or Peru. And don't forget, the overall competition winner will earn a spot on a Greenpeace ship tour.

3 Ways to Help

1: Donate Now
Help Greenpeace Take a Stand. Become a Member Today.

2: Take Action
Visit our Action Center and take action today.

3: Tell a Friend
Forward this message to a friend. Help spread the word.

My Story

"With a family of only one brother, it is very difficult to try and protect the coastal line from the sea waves. During neap tides, which occur three days in a row every month, my brother has to stay up all night fighting against the waves and try to stack together boulders to protect the house from eroding away. This is also happening to all our neighbors, as the government could not afford to protect the coastal lands where people live.

"In my heart, I know that I still want to live in Kiribati. But I may not be able to, because of the likelihood of my island disappearing under water as a result of global warming."

--Koin, Kiribati

How has global warming affected your life? Tell us YOUR story.

Read more testimonials.

Project Thin Ice Competition Winner

Congratulations! Sara Staricha earned a solar backpack for taking steps to stop global warming, compliments of Reware. The pack has an intergrated solar panel to charge electronics.

from Campaign for America's Wilderness" July 12, 2004


 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently
 evaluating its long-term land use plan for over 7.1
 million acres of public lands and valuable wildlife
 and recreation resources in eastern Alaska. This
 plan will establish the direction for federal land
 management decisions on these rivers, lands, and
 resources for the next 20 years or more!
 
 Now is the time to make your voice heard! The 90 day
 public comment period will end July 28, 2005!
 
 http://action.leaveitwild.org/ctt.asp?u=3018384&l=99338
 
 America's public lands affected by the plan include
 a range of scenic Alaskan landscapes, stretching
 from the southern slopes of the Alaska Range to the
 Chugach Mountains, and the Talkeetna Mountains to
 the Wrangell Mountains, including portions
 accessible from the Glenn and Richardson Highways
 and the Denali Highway.
 
 The BLM's preferred plan would open 3.9 million
 acres to oil and gas leasing (55 percent of the
 entire planning area) and 6 million acres to hard
 rock mining (85 percent of the planning area). This
 radical plan would significantly and permanently
 change the landscape and would result in
 deterioration of wildlife habitat, traditional
 recreation opportunities, and the area's natural
 beauty.
 
 Due in part to a lack of support from Alaska State
 officials, wilderness inventories were not conducted
 as part of this planning process. Although there are
 areas that possess remarkable wilderness
 characteristics, designation of wilderness areas is
 not considered in any of the BLM's proposals.
 
 The BLM needs to know that you care about these 7.1
 million acres of public lands and valuable resources
 in eastern Alaska. Join us in submitting comments to
 BLM to share our vision of how these public lands
 should be managed for the enjoyment of future
 generations of all Americans.
 
 Take action today!
 http://action.leaveitwild.org/ctt.asp?u=3018384&l=99338
 
 
 Thank you,
 
 Mike Matz
 Executive Director
 Campaign for America's Wilderness
 http://action.leaveitwild.org/ctt.asp?u=3018384&l=99338

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