home of the wildlife conservation environmental and freedom activist

========================================
NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists

January 16, 2002 (Happy New Year!)
========================================
In This Issue:

--Action alerts--

1. AIR POLLUTION: Thursday is White House Call-In Day to protect the
Clean Air Act!

2. NATIONAL FORESTS PROTECTION: Oppose the Bush administration's plan
to weaken historic protections for our national forests

3. WILDERNESS PROTECTION: Speak out to protect Utah's canyon wildlands

4. EVERGLADES RESTORATION: Tell the Army Corps of Engineers not to let
miners ruin the Everglades

======================================================
You will also find these alerts in NRDC'S Earth Action Center, which
includes tools for taking action easily online, at
http://www.nrdc.org/action

(Please do not reply to this message; see the instructions below for
how to unsubscribe or contact NRDC with questions or comments.)

=============
Action alerts
=============

1. AIR POLLUTION
Thursday is White House Call-In Day to protect the Clean Air Act!

The Bush administration is attempting to weaken and reverse a key part
of the Clean Air Act that requires the oldest and dirtiest power
plants, oil refineries and other industrial facilities to install
up-to-date pollution control devices when they increase their
pollution significantly.

The administration is currently unwilling to provide the public with
an official comment period to object to their plans, so tomorrow,
Thursday, January 17th, has been designated as "Call the White House
Day." Please use the toll-free number below to tell the Bush
administration to not roll back the Clean Air Act.

== What to do ==
Call the White House (toll-free!) on
Thursday, January 17th at
1-888-552-9406

Tell the operator you want President Bush and his administration to
enforce and strengthen, not weaken, the New Source Review rules of the
Clean Air Act.

If you like, you can also add any or all of the following points:

** The New Source Review program has forced polluting industrial
facilities to comply with the law and clean up hundreds of thousands
of extra tons of pollution in the air that we all breathe.

** The impact on our country's health and environment from weakening
these standards would be severe.

** President Bush and his administration should not reward polluters
(even if they did contribute to his campaign) by rolling back the
Clean Air Act, but should instead vigorously prosecute companies that
significantly increase pollution without updating their
pollution-control devices.

** The administration should commit that any changes to the New Source
Review program will not allow the air to be cleaned up any less than
the current rules require.

Please pass this message on to your friends -- tell them to call the
White House at 1-888-552-9406 on Thursday, January 17th!

2. NATIONAL FORESTS PROTECTION
Oppose the Bush administration's plan to weaken historic protections
for our national forests

In 2000, public comments sent by you and other activists helped
achieve the landmark rule adopted in January 2001 by the outgoing
Clinton administration that banned logging and roadbuilding in over 58
million acres of wild roadless areas in our national forests. Since
then, however, the Bush administration has launched a stealth attack
on the rule. Administration officials have delayed implementing the
rule, refused to defend a lawsuit brought by industry and its allies
challenging the rule, and issued new policies that gut the rule.

Our forest wildlands serve as vital habitat for threatened and
endangered species, provide priceless recreational opportunities, and
ensure clean drinking water. The Tongass National Forest alone, with
more roadless back country than any other national forest, spans 500
awe-inspiring miles of Alaska's coast and is home to towering groves
of ancient trees, the world's largest concentrations of grizzly bears
and bald eagles, and wild rivers that teem with salmon.

Although many of you submitted comments opposing a Bush administration
proposal issued last August that would weaken protections for roadless
areas, the administration has now issued a new set of guidelines for
the next 18 months that completely disregard those comments and strip
protections for roadless areas even further. These new policies would
return the Forest Service to its old decisionmaking process and allow
unchecked development on millions of acres in the Tongass National
Forest.

The Forest Service is accepting public comments on the new guidelines
through February 19th.

== What to do ==
Send a message to Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth before the
February 19th comment deadline, insisting that the Forest Service
reinstate protection for roadless areas in the Tongass and every other
national forest.

== Contact information ==
You can send an official comment directly from NRDC's Earth Action
Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action. Or use the contact information
and sample letter below to send your own message, and please include
your own reasons why protecting these last wild forest lands from
logging and other development is important to you.

US Forest Service - Content Analysis Team
Attention: Road Policy
P.O. Box 221150
Salt Lake City, UT, 84122
Fax:  801-517-1021
Email:  roads_id@fs.fed.us

== Sample letter ==

Subject: Interim Directives -- Protect Roadless Areas

Dear Forest Service Chief Bosworth,

I strongly oppose your current Interim Directives, which would exempt
roadless areas in the Tongass and other national forests from head
office review and from meaningful environmental protections. Exempting
our last unprotected wild forests from upper level review sends the
message that it's open season on these pristine wild areas, including
Alaska's incomparable, world-renowned Tongass rainforest.

I am also concerned that you did not review comments submitted in
response to the August 22nd directives before issuing new ones. More
than two million Americans have already gone on record supporting the
Roadless Area Conservation Rule and protection of roadless areas --
don't ignore this huge outpouring of public sentiment by allowing
local decisionmaking for the Tongass or any other national forest.
Implement the rule as adopted and protect our last wild forests.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

3. WILDERNESS PROTECTION
Speak out to protect Utah's canyon wildlands

Some of the most well-known canyons in Utah's redrock canyon country
are located in the San Rafael Swell region. To walk through the Navajo
sandstone canyons of this two million acre area is to virtually walk
through time, down into the layers of rock that have formed the
surrounding stark badlands. Home to pronghorn antelope, coyotes and a
host of other wildlife, the area contains extraordinary rock art and
rock formations as well as spectacular wildlands that are included in
America's Redrock Wilderness Act. Understandably, public use (and
abuse) of this increasingly popular area has skyrocketed in recent
years.

The Bureau of Land Management -- the federal agency in charge of these
lands -- is in the process of preparing a new management plan that
will control land use and resource decisions, including oil and gas
development, off-road vehicle use and livestock grazing, for the area
over the next 10 to 20 years. Even prior to the Bush administration,
the BLM in Utah was predisposed to promoting energy development,
ignoring ORV abuse and maintaining the status quo for livestock --
even at the expense of the environment. The first stage of planning
has just begun, and the agency is accepting public comments for this
stage until February 1st.

== What to do ==
Send a message to the BLM before the February 1st comment deadline,
urging the agency to protect the outstanding publicly owned resources
of this region from key threats.

== Contact information ==
You can send an official comment directly from NRDC's Earth Action
Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action. Or use the contact information
and sample letter below to send your own message.

Floyd Johnson
Assistant Field Manager
Bureau of Land Management
Price Planning Area
125 South 600 West
Price, Utah  84501
Fax:  435-636-3657

== Sample letter ==

Subject:  Develop a strong management plan that truly protects the San
Rafael Swell

Dear Mr. Johnson,

I urge the Bureau of Land Management to develop a resource management
plan for the San Rafael Swell region that will protect its proposed
wilderness areas and other outstanding publicly owned resources for
the coming decades. In particular, I urge you to re-inventory all
areas in America's Redrock Wilderness Act and to designate all
wilderness-quality lands as formal "wilderness study areas."

The BLM should also protect these wildlands from the adverse impacts
of roads, powerlines, pipelines and other industrial activities
associated with oil and gas development by specifying that all future
oil and gas leases contain "no surface occupancy" stipulations. I also
urge you to protect the region's critically important riparian areas
by prohibiting livestock and ORV use on them (and officially designate
the "routes" that ORVs can use in order to minimize their harmful
impacts).

This remarkable area belongs to all Americans and should be managed in
the interest of its long-term protection and preservation.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

== For background ==
The San Rafael Swell Wilderness
http://www.suwa.org/WATE/sanrafael.html

4. EVERGLADES RESTORATION
Tell the Army Corps of Engineers not to let miners ruin the Everglades

The recently approved Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is
part of an $8 billion program to protect and restore the vast
Everglades wetlands that have suffered from a century of pollution,
water diversion and habitat loss. But the US Army Corps of Engineers
-- which is in charge of implementing the plan -- wants to actually
allow miners to destroy thousands of acres of this natural treasure
even before restoration efforts begin.

The Corps is set to issue 10-year permits to the limestone mining
industry to turn about 5000 acres of Everglades wetlands into open
mining pits. And that's just the first phase: the project would
eventually open up a 30-square-mile hole in the middle of the
Everglades. The Corps argues that, in theory, decades from now some of
the pits could be used as water reservoirs for the Everglades. But
experts question whether the pits would be built in such a way as to
safely or cost-effectively function as reservoirs. The EPA and
Department of Interior also object to the thousands of acres of unique
wildlife habitat that would be destroyed, the harm the pits would have
on restoring water flows in the Everglades, and the contamination
threat the mines pose to adjacent drinking water supplies.

Studies are currently underway that explore these threats, possible
solutions, and alternative ways to store and deliver additional water
to the Everglades. But the Corps is inexplicably proposing to allow
mining to go forward before the studies are completed.

== What to do ==
Send a message to the Army Corps of Engineers urging the agency to not
issue mining permits in the Everglades until environmental studies are
completed.  

== Contact information ==
You can send a message to the Corps directly from NRDC's Earth Action
Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action. Or use the contact information
and sample letter below to send your own message.

Mike Parker
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-0108
Email:  mike.parker@hqda.army.mil

== Sample letter ==

Subject:  Deny limestone mining permits in the Everglades

Dear Assistant Secretary Parker,

I urge the Army Corps of Engineers to not issue the currently proposed
permits for limestone mining activities in the Everglades until a
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement has been conducted.

Mining the Everglades would irreversibly destroy critical wetlands and
endangered species habitat, harm Everglades restoration, contaminate
local drinking water supplies, and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions
of dollars. Plus, we have no guarantees that the resulting open pits
would function safely or effectively as reservoirs in the future.

The Everglades wetlands ecosystem has already been devastated by a
century of destructive human activity, and must be protected from
further harmful practices. Again, do not allow mining in this area
until we know whether it can be done safely and without unacceptable
environmental impacts.  

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

cc:
Colonel James G. May
US Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 4970
400 West Bay Street
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019
james.g.may@saj02.usace.army.mil

==================================================
About Our Bulletins/How to Subscribe & Unsubscribe
==================================================

NRDC distributes three bulletins by email. To subscribe to any or all
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EARTH ACTION is sent biweekly and calls out urgent environmental
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The CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT is distributed monthly to
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==========
About NRDC
==========

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit environmental
organization with over 500,000 members nationwide and a staff of
scientists, attorneys and environmental experts. Our mission is to
protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and
healthy environment for all living things.

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
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
General email: nrdcinfo@nrdc.org
Earth Action email: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org

Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org

===========

The Clean Air Act is in Danger! Tell President Bush not to roll back Clean
Air Protections!

Background: The BUSH Administration is attempting to gut a key part of the
Clean Air Act, called "New Source Review" (NSR). This key Clean Air Act
program, requires the oldest and dirtiest electric power plants and oil
refineries to meet current air quality standards if they expand the plant
and increase pollution. If President Bush has HIS way, many of these
utilities that have made upgrades to their plants without  installing
up-to-date pollution control devices won't ever have to do so and we'll
have to live with the thousands of extra tons of pollution in the air as a
result.

So, mark those calendars.  This Thursday, January 17th, you (and five
coworkers/friends) call the White House TOLL FREE at 1-888-552-9406 and
tell the President Bush not to roll back the Clean Air Act!!

Your calls can include any or all of the following comments:

* President Bush should not reward his campaign contributors by rolling
back the Clean Air Act. HE should aggressively enforce the law by
vigorously prosecuting companies that upgrade their facilities without
cleaning up their emissions.

* Citizens and government officials alike spoke out at public hearings
across the country this past summer to emphasize the need to maintain and
enforce this Clean Air Act program. The NSR provision of the Clean Air Act
has forced polluting industrial facilities to comply with the law and
clean the air that we all breathe.

* The impact on our country's health and environment from the weakening of
these Clean Air Act standards would be severe. Based on known health
impacts, this action is one of the most severe attacks on the Clean Air
Act since its passage over twenty-five years ago.

Ignoring the wishes of Congress and overwhelming support
of the American public, the Bush Administration held
up $34 million in for the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA). A final decision could be made any day,
PLEASE HELP NOW by sending a fax or making a phone
call to the White House urging President Bush to fully
fund UNFPA.  

You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/unfpa_alert/ee3bx2f78xwej

Visit the web address below and tell your friends to
take action on this important campaign!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/unfpa_alert/forward/ee3bx2f78xwej

We encourage you to take action by January 25, 2002

White House Alert - UNFPA

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

Ignoring the wishes of Congress and overwhelming support
of the American public, the Bush Administration held
up $34 million in funding for the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA). A final decision could be made any day,
PLEASE HELP NOW by sending a fax or making a phone
call to the White House urging President Bush to fully
fund UNFPA.

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

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/unfpa_alert/ee3bx2f78xwej  

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email
program, and edit the letter below as you wish. Do
not delete "-YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW-" and "-END
OF LETTER-". Please do not add your name and address
to your letter. Our system automatically does this
for you.  

We STRONGLY encourage you to make edits directly to
our sample letter below, and put the alert talking
points into your own words. An individualized letter
is worth ten computer generated letters. Of course,
hundreds of unedited letters will still create a large
impact, so please reply even if you don't have time
to personalize the letter.

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
President of the United States George Bush


-------YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW---------

I strongly encourage you to release the $34 million
that Congress approved for the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA). As you know, UNFPA is the world's largest
multilateral agency working to provide the world's
poorest women with access to voluntary family planning
and reproductive health services.  

UNFPA is leading the effort to expand and protect the
rights and dignity of women. It is coordinating global
efforts to meet the critical reproductive health needs
of refugees - in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Your own
administration, just two months ago, recognized the
crucial work UNFPA is doing in the Afghan region and
gave an emergency grant to assist in the handout of
safe delivery kits.

Americans and Congress have been very clear on this
issue: international family planning is crucial to
women and families. Please support efforts to improve
the quality of life for women and families around the
world and release the $34 million that Congress approved
for UNFPA.  

-------END OF LETTER-------------------------

Sincerely yours,

Rainforest Action Network - Monthly Email Newsletter
January 2002


Welcome!  Thank you for being a partner in Rainforest Action Network's
campaigns.  Read on to get the latest news and learn how you can help
save the world's rainforests.

In this post:

1. Boise Cascade's lasting effect on Bitterroot National Forest
2. First tree-sit ever in South America!  Vote in Parliament tomorrow!

______________________________________________________________________

Boise Cascade's lasting effects on our national forests


Timber company Boise Cascade has a far-reaching negative impact on our
national forests.  A close look at the recent decision to log Montana's
Bitterroot National Forest reveals how this industry giant could
devastate any and all of the nation's remaining forests.

Boise Cascade has been the lead plaintiff in a successful lawsuit to
prevent implementation of the U.S. Roadless Area Conservation Policy.  
This roadless policy was the most popular federal policymaking decision
in U.S. history- more than 1.5 million Americans submitted comments
expressing support for the measure.

The initiative would have prevented commercial logging and road-building
in 58.5 million acres of undeveloped wilderness. Two days after the
policy was finalized, Boise Cascade filed suit against the initiative
and succeeded in halting its implementation. An appeal is pending.

This attack on forest preservation has directly affected our national
treasures.  On December 16th, 2001, Mark Rey (former timber-industry
lobbyist and top Agriculture Department official) signed off on a large
logging of fire-damaged trees in Montana's Bitterroot National Forest.
Burned trees ordinarily provide animal habitat, and their root systems
prevent erosion. Removing the trees could cause nearby streams to be
engulfed with mud and imperil nearly extinct fish.

Rey used a little-known loophole to prevent the public from seeking
changes in the project. Environmental lawyers say his action created a
dangerous precedent that could allow the Bush administration to
fast-track industry proposals to log, mine and drill on national-forest
lands.

The massive logging project planned for Bitterroot would ruin pristine
roadless areas and interfere with the national recovery of the forest.   
Fortunately, a federal judge recently put the venture on hold while he
investigates charges by two environmental groups that Rey overstepped
his authority. Meanwhile, a firestorm is brewing over the Bush
administration's efforts to let companies log and mine in legally
preserved virgin national forests.


______________________________________________________________________

Citigroup-backed pipeline up for vote in German State Parliament
tomorrow!

First tree-sit ever in South America!  As of this posting, Mindo youth,
members of the community, students, and environmentalists continue a
tree-sit in Ecuador's Mindo Nambillo Cloudforest to protest the OCP
Consortium pipeline. The Citigroup-backed pipeline is the center of a
strong political controversy in Ecuador and abroad.

German bank West LB granted a $900 million credit to the OCP Consortium
for the construction of the new Ecuador pipeline.  The credit's
illegality was demonstrated when it came to light that the project does
not meet World Bank or Ecuadorian environmental standards, requirements
for projects financed by WestLB.

The controversy surrounding the $900 million credit has caused political
upheaval in Germany.  By THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, the Parliament of
the German state of Westphalia will decide whether or not to cancel the
credit.  This in turn would increase the problems faced by the OCP
Consortium in constructing the pipeline.  

It is crucial that Parliament reject this project.  If this occurs,
Citigroup will also face pressure to end its financial backing of the
OCP pipeline.  Send a strong message to the Parliament of Westphalia and
tell them to immediately drop the disastrous OCP project!

Email the Prime Minister of Westphalia in Germany:
Mr. Wolfgang Clement:
wolfgang.clement@landtag.nrw.de

And e-mail, write, call, or fax the Minister of Economy of Federal State
of North Rhine-Westphalia

Mr. Ernst Schwanhold
Haroldstr. 4, 40213 Duesseldorf, Germany
Phone: ++49-211-837-02
Fax: ++49-211-837-2200
E-Mail: poststelle@mwmev.nrw.de

Dear Sirs,
I am writing to bring your attention to an environmental and social
tragedy in the making--one that you have the power to avert. The new OCP
oil pipeline in Ecuador will bring devastation to the communities,
protected ecosystems, and pristine rainforests along its 300-mile route.

The OCP pipeline route affects eleven protected areas and cuts through
the middle of the Mindo Nambillo Cloudforest Reserve.  This is an area
designated as the first "Important Bird Area" of South America with over
450 species of birds. At this moment, affected community members and
environmentalists are occupying the Reserve to prevent any further
destruction of this rare forest.

The pipeline will lead to the doubling of oil production in the
Ecuadorian Amazon, threatening the country's last remaining old growth
rainforest, where several indigenous communities live.  An oil
production increase of this magnitude will severely impact the
Afro-Ecuadorian communities of Esmeraldas, who already suffer from the
chronic contamination caused by the country's only refinery. I urge you
to visit these communities to listen to their protests.

The bank's claims that the OCP pipeline follows World Bank guidelines
are unfounded. The OCP pipeline violates the Bank's Natural Habitat
Policy. This policy requires that critical habitats (such as the Mindo
protected area) be avoided altogether. Furthermore, World Bank
guidelines require that strategic environmental impact assessments be
carried out that assess the long-term impacts (such as additional wells,
flow lines, and refineries) and ensure that they be mitigated or
avoided.

This pipeline project places fragile ecosystems, countless endangered
and threatened species, and hundreds of communities in jeopardy.  It
could lead to irreversible destruction of Ecuador's national parks and
frontier forests.

In line with the concerns of Mrs. Baerbel Hoehn, Minister of Environment
for NRW, I urge you to immediately cancel all loan disbursement to the
OCP project. I also call on you to end financing of oil exploration and
production in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Sincerely,
[Date, your name and address]

For More info on the Tree-Sit in Ecuador go to:
http://www.ran.org/news/newsitem.php?id=474

To find out more about Citigroup's financial backing of Perez compac and
OCP go to:
http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/citigroup/cs_ocp.html

* * * * *

AOL Links 

RAN's website
Action alert
Tree Sit


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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rainforest Action Network
221 Pine Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA  94104
tel: 415-398-4404
fax: 415-398-2732
URL: http://www.ran.org/

*******************************
Care2's alerts newsletter features important steps YOU
can quickly take to help make the world greener. We're
pleased to share with you a special action opportunity
from Care2's nonprofit partner, Environmental Defense.
*******************************

I. NEW ALERT: Help Protect the Dwindling Amazon Rainforest
in Brazil!

Today, you have a unique opportunity to help protect the last
Brazilian rain forest and native Brazilian communities. With
one email, you can help create new "extractive" reserves:
protected rainforest areas traditional communities use to gather
nuts or tap rubber trees. These reserves safeguard the dwindling
rainforest and its wildlife from illegal loggers, ranchers, or
land speculators, while preserving sustainable, forest-based
development for local communities.
Click here: http://www.care2.com/go/redirect/2/3121

Grassroots leaders in the Amazon are occupying the headquarters
of Brazil's environmental agency (IBAMA) to request six new
extractive reserves. Take action! Over 19,000 sustainable square
miles have already been protected.

Help grassroots communities get more! Let the Brazilian government
know you support efforts to protect the Brazilian rainforest through
the creation of these reserves.
Just visit: http://www.care2.com/go/redirect/2/3121

BACKGROUND:
The late Chico Mendes founded the National Council of Rubber
Tappers (CNS) to work for the creation of extractive reserves
and sustainable forest-based development projects in the Amazon.
CNS has won the creation of about 19,000 square miles of
extractive reserves in the Amazon, since 1990, an area roughly
the size of Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut combined.

Since 1989, Environmental Defense has supported the CNS in a
campaign for the creation of new extractive reserves, in honor
of the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Chico Mendes.

Twenty new reserves are in the process of being created in the
Amazon, but local forest communities and their organizations
face heavy resistance from regional oligarchies. While the
Brazilian environmental agency (IBAMA) is responsible for the
creation of the reserves, its regional delegate has blocked the
process.

Help local groups protect themselves, their rainforest, and
their sustainable development initiatives! Urge Hamilton Casara,
President of IBAMA, to create new extractive reserves in
Amazonas state.
Just visit: http://www.care2.com/go/redirect/2/3121

II. ACTIVIST TIPS
** Save money on air conditioning by planting trees
around your home. Trees provide shade in summer and can
reduce home air conditioning needs by 10 to 50 percent.
Well maintained trees will also filter out air pollution
for as long as 60 years!

** Read your labels! If what you're throwing away is
hazardous, dispose of it properly. Just one drop of oil
can contaminate up to 25 litres of water.

III. INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
"The swan song sounded by the wilderness grows fainter,
ever more constricted, until only sharp ears can catch it at
all. It fades to a nearly inaudible level, and yet there never is
going to be any one time when we can say right now it is
gone. -- Edward Hoagland

Thanks for checking out Earthjustice's January e-brief!

E-brief provides monthly news and information from
Earthjustice. If you'd prefer not to receive it in
the future, simply follow the instructions at the bottom
of this e-mail to "unsubscribe."  

In this issue:  

:: EARTHJUSTICE STARTS THE YEAR OFF RIGHT!
:: CLEANING UP DIRTY AIR - THE FIGHT CONTINUES
:: WAR ON DRUGS HARMING SOUTH AMERICAN PEASANTS
:: UPDATE ON RESPONSIBLE ENERGY POLICY
:: EARTHJUSTICE: ALWAYS IN STYLE
:: EXTERNS, INTERNS AND LAW CLERKS, OH MY!
:: ABOUT EARTHJUSTICE

-------------------------------------------------------------
EARTHJUSTICE STARTS THE YEAR OFF RIGHT!
Worth magazine recently called Earthjustice one of
the 100 American charities "most likely to save the
world." Wow! Check it out:
http://ga0.org/ct/t11aAPE1uuJ_/Worth

Of course, receiving the above honor probably has a
little something to do with people like Kristin Boyles,
staff attorney with our Seattle office, who was named
a "Rising Star" for the year 2002 by Washington Law
& Politics Magazine. Find out why:
http://ga0.org/ct/571aAPE1uuJS/Boyles

-------------------------------------------------------------
CLEANING UP DIRTY AIR - THE FIGHT CONTINUES  
A new development in Earthjustice's long battle to
clean up our air - and your chance to tell President
Bush not to roll back clean air provisions:

~ After years of neglect, the EPA has finally agreed
to act on California's San Joaquin Valley clean air
revisions. As a result of an Earthjustice lawsuit filed
on behalf of a coalition of environmental groups, the
EPA will be required to take action on life-threatening
pollution in the region.
http://ga0.org/ct/511aAPE1uuJa/CleanAir

~ Meanwhile, the Bush administration is attempting
to gut New Source Review, a key part of the Clean Air
Act that requires the dirtiest industries to comply
with air quality standards if they expand their facilities.
Don't let President Bush increase pollution - act now:
http://ga0.org/ct/v11aAPE1uu-V/NSRAction

-------------------------------------------------------------
WAR ON DRUGS HARMING SOUTH AMERICAN PEASANTS
In an effort to eradicate coca and poppy plants, the
U.S. and Colombian governments are spraying herbicide
on vast areas of Colombian and Ecuadorian countryside.
Harm to peasants and indigenous communities includes
health problems, destruction of food crops and livestock,
contamination of surface water, and more. Find out
what we're doing to stop it:
http://ga0.org/ct/5d1aAPE1uuJz/Herbicide

-------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE ON RESPONSIBLE ENERGY POLICY
As you know, energy policy is among our most critical
environmental issues. Take a thoughtful look at the
events of last year, and Earthjustice's strategy for
2002.
http://ga0.org/ct/v71aAPE1uuJ1/Energy

-------------------------------------------------------------
EARTHJUSTICE: ALWAYS IN STYLE
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fleece vest yet? Get it here:
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-------------------------------------------------------------
EXTERNS, INTERNS AND LAW CLERKS, OH MY!
How can you see the world and protect the environment?
Work with Earthjustice! We have extern, intern and
law clerk positions available all over the country.
http://ga0.org/ct/vp1aAPE1uuJq/Jobs

-------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT EARTHJUSTICE
Founded as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund in 1971,
Earthjustice is the non-profit law firm for the environment.
Earthjustice represents hundreds of environmental organizations,
large and small, from nine offices across the country.
We do not charge our clients for our services.
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SUPPORT US  
Your support of Earthjustice will help defend and protect
our forests and other public lands; our air, water,
and wildlife; our children and our communities. Please,
join us.  
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QUESTIONS? FEEDBACK?  
Drop us a line: mailto:enews@earthjustice.org  

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All contents copyright 2002 by Earthjustice, 180 Montgomery
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*****************************
* WILD ALERT
* Thursday, January 17, 2002
*****************************

Dear WildAlert Subscriber,

WildAlert subscribers have done an *incredible* job on recent action
items.  Many, many thanks.  Here's the latest:
   1. APOSTLE ISLANDS -- Comment deadline extended to Feb. 1
   2. EPA SMALL ENGINE RULE -- *Thank you* for all your comments
   3. ROADLESS RULE -- Calls swamp Agriculture Secretary's office

***************************************************************
1. APOSTLE ISLAND WILDERNESS STUDY
The National Park Service has extended the deadline for submitting
comments on the wilderness study for Apostle Islands National
Lakeshore to FEBRUARY 1.  The deadline was extended to allow comments
to be submitted by postal mail, because the Department of Interior's
(DOI) email access and web sites continue to be shut down as a result
of an Indian Trust Account case against DOI.  Friends of the Boundary
Waters Wilderness and The Wilderness Society requested the extension.

So you still have times to fax in your comments (free) at
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=944

Or mail your printed comments directly to:
John Neal, Superintendent, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Route
1, Box 4, Bayfield, WI  54814; FAX: 715-779-3049

Please make these points in your letter, and include any personal
experiences you've had there:

- Wilderness designation would ensure that the Apostle Island National
Lakeshore's resources continue to be protected for present and future
generations.

- Access to the islands would not change, as the Lakeshore's
boundaries extend only 1/4-mile from the islands' shores.  Because
quiet zones thus could not be created, the waters are unlikely to be
included in any Wilderness proposal, meaning boaters would retain
access to the islands.

- Finally, when the state of Wisconsin donated the land to the federal
government, the state legislature stipulated that the land be managed
to preserve its unique primitive and wilderness character.  Wilderness
designation would satisfy that requirement.

***************************************************************
2. EPA SMALL ENGINE RULE
You did it!  A significant portion of the thousands of comments
submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on their
small-engine proposal were from WildAlert subscribers.  **THANK
YOU!!!** The final decision on the proposal is expected sometime in
September 2002.  We'll let you know what happens.

EPA extended the deadline for comments on their (inadequate)
small-engine proposal until January 18 (**tomorrow**), so you still
have a little time to send in your comments if you haven't already:
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=867

EPA's proposal to reduce air pollution from snowmobile, dirt bikes,
and all-terrain vehicles does little to substantially reduce air and
noise pollution from off-road vehicles.  Meanwhile, the off-road
industry vowed to fight even these weakened standards.  

You can send comments directly to:
Honorable Christine Todd Whitman, c/o Margaret Borushko, Docket
A-2000-01, U.S. EPA, National Vehicle and Fuels Emission Laboratory,
2000 Traverwood
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
EMAIL: NRANPRM@epa.gov (unlike the Department of Interior, email to
EPA *is* working)

In your letter, ask EPA to:
- Substantially strengthen the proposed standards for snowmobiles in
order to quickly and completely phase-out dirty two-stroke
snowmobiles;

- Harmonize proposed standards for dirt bikes with ATVs by requiring
catalytic converters on both machines;

- Use its legal authority to reduce noise pollution from all machines;

- Establish a mandatory, multi-tiered labeling system that gives
consumers easily understandable information about vehicle emissions;
and

- Require particle filters on all diesel boats to protect public
health.     

And if you have sent in comments, thanks again!!!

***************************************************************
3. ROADLESS AREA CALL-IN DAY
More than 1,500 people were able to get through to Agriculture
Secretary Veneman's office last Friday, asking her to stand with the
American people and implement the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.  
That comes out to about three calls per minute!  Thank you, thank you,
thank you. (We know many of you tried to call but could not get
through.  That's why!)

January 12th marked the first anniversary of the Roadless Area
Conservation Rule. But instead of protecting 58.5 million acres of
pristine National Forests and Grasslands from roads and logging as was
intended, the Bush Administration is doing everything it can to
overturn the Rule.

Your calls ensured that the Secretary, whose department overseas the
U.S. Forest Service, got the attention of Americans who want to see
our roadless areas protected.

To keep this issue from slipping below the radar screen where the Bush
Admininstration would like to see it, please send a letter to the
editor of your local paper, making these points:

- The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was adopted by the U.S.
government after nearly three years of analysis and the greatest
public input in the history of federal rulemaking -- 600 hearings and
2.2 million comments.   

- Ninety percent of those who commented on the plan support the
strongest protections possible for these wild areas.  *Why is the Bush
Administration ignoring the wishes of the American people?*

- The Roadless Rule protects 58.5 million acres of pristine National
Forests and Grasslands from road construction and most logging.  
Exceptions allow for road construction to fight fire, protect private
property and endangered species habitat, and allow access to state and
private lands.  Roadless areas already under lease to oil and gas
development were exempted as well.

- National Forest roadless areas provide a) important habitat for
wildlife and fish, including vanishing species like grizzly bears,
wolves, and salmon; b) sources of clean drinking water for millions of
Americans;  and c) superb recreational opportunities like hiking,
hunting and fishing for all.

- This legacy of wild forest protection preserves a vital piece of our
natural heritage for our children and grandchildren.

- President Bush and his Administration should honor the will of the
American people and implement the January 12, 2001, Roadless Area
Conservation Rule.


***************************************************************
For a full list of Action Items, visit
http://www.wilderness.org/whatcan/takeaction.htm

***************************************************************
An archive of past Wildalerts can be found at
http://www.wilderness.org/wildalert/wildalerts.htm

***************************************************************
To make a gift online to The Wilderness Society, click here
https://secure-net.com/tws/join.asp

***************************************************************
WildAlert is an email action alert system brought to you by The
Wilderness Society to keep you apprised of threats to our wildlands --
in the field and in Washington.  WildAlert messages include updates
along with clear, concise actions you can take to protect America's
last wild places.  You are welcome to forward Wildalerts to all those
interested in saving America's wildlands.

FEEDBACK: If you need to get in contact with the owner of the list,
(if you have trouble unsubscribing, or have questions about the list
itself) send email to <action@tws.org>.

TO SUBSCRIBE: If you have been forwarded this message and would like
to subscribe to the list, visit
http://www.wilderness.org/forms/subscribe.htm or send a message to
wildalert@tws.org with 'SUBSCRIBE' in the subject line and your email
address in the body of the message.

Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society works to protect America's
wilderness and to develop a nation-wide network of wild lands through
public education, scientific analysis and advocacy.  Our goal is to
ensure that future generations will enjoy the clean air and water,
wildlife, beauty and opportunities for recreation and renewal that
pristine forests, rivers, deserts and mountains provide. To take
action on behalf of wildlands today, visit our website at
http://www.wilderness.org

Dear Members of Global Response's "Quick Response Network:"

"Kenya has a critical shortage of tree cover.  According to experts, at
least 10 percent of the land needs tree cover to ensure a reliable water
supply.  While neighbouring Tanzania has 36 percent, Kenya has 1.7 percent.

"A severe drought last year brought the country to its knees. Four milion
people became dependent on food aid as reservoirs emptied, causing severe
water and electricity rationing.  The vanishing forest cover was an
important factor."

These paragraphs from an article in yesterday's The Independent (16 January
2002), illustrate the critical importance of preserving Kenya's remaining
forests.  Yet the Moi government recently announced its decision to log some
of the forests most critical to water conservation.

Kenyan environmental organizations and the indigenous Ogiek people asked
Global Response to raise an international outcry against the logging and
colonization scheme that could have disastrous and far-reaching consequences
in East Africa.  Please add your voice to this worldwide appeal to protect
Kenya's forests and indigenous peoples. - Paula Palmer


GLOBAL RESPONSE ACTION ALERT #1/02
PROTECT FORESTS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES / KENYA
Jan-Feb 2002

“If we do not protect our remaining forests, Kenya will become
progressively thirstier, hungrier, uglier and poorer.  The forest excisions
are like an axe hanging over the future of our country.”      -- Kenya
Forests Working Group


Forests remain on less than two percent of Kenya’s land, under protected
status as a national resource.  In a country plagued by drought, the forests
are critical for water conservation. They are also home to indigenous
peoples that live by hunting game and gathering food plants, herbs, and
honey within the forests.

In a bid for votes, the Kenyan government has rescinded protected status
from 4 percent of the remaining forests, claiming that the territory is
needed to open settlements for the country’s many landless people.
Ironically and tragically, the indigenous Ogiek people will lose much of
their traditional forest territory if this scheme goes forward.  The major
beneficiaries will be politically connected people and loggers as well as
settlers from other regions of the country.  Already three powerful logging
companies – Pan African Paper Mills, Raiply Timber and Timsales Ltd – are
clearing the newly opened forest tracts.

Hardest hit are the Mau and Mt. Kenya forests, known as two of the country’
s five “water towers.”  A coalition of environmental organizations called
the Kenya Forests Working Group warns that cutting of the Mau Forest will
significantly reduce the ability of the forest ecosystem to cope with
drought. Although the logging will bring more land under cultivation, it
will reduce the productivity of current farms and tea plantations.
Microclimates critical to agriculture are already suffering negative effects
from deforestation.

Forest destruction will be a major blow to Kenya’s biological diversity,
since forests harbor 50% of Kenya’s plant species, 40% of mammal species,
35% of butterfly species and 30% of bird species – all on only two percent
of the land mass.

Logging in the Mau Forest will have a devastating impact on water quality
and level in Lake Nakuru, home to the world’s largest concentration of
flamingoes. Protected under international law (Ramsar Convention), Lake
Nakuru may lose its economic value as Kenya’s second most visited tourist
site.

The survival of the Ogiek people depends on their continued access to the
mountainous Mau Forests, where they have lived as hunters and gatherers from
time immemorial.  Governments since colonial times have tried to evict them
from the forest, purportedly to protect the forest from negative impacts of
Ogiek daily life. In fact, Ogiek have always managed the forest sustainably.
Now the government itself is destroying the forest so that people of other
ethnicities may settle there.  Traditional Ogiek culture will not survive
colonization.  The pastoral Maasai, who pasture their animals in the Mau
Forest during the dry seasons, will also be affected.

The Ogiek people and environmental organizations are challenging the forest
destruction edict in the courts and seeking international citizen support.
Already the conservation group Action for Endangered Species has withdrawn
an environmental award that Kenya was to receive for its stand last year
against resumption of the global trade in ivory.

*********
The Ogiek
*********
The Ogiek (AUG-ih-eck) are one of the few remaining hunter-gatherer peoples
of East Africa.  Numbering around 20,000, they live in the Mau mountain
forest, overlooking Kenya’s Rift Valley.  Some Ogiek still live purely by
hunting and gathering, while the majority now also grow vegetables and keep
livestock. They traditionally hunted such animals as antelope and wild pigs,
but this is now generally prohibited.  The Ogiek gather wild plants for food
and medicine, and collect honey from beehives that they make from hollow
logs and place in the high branches of the forest trees.  Trees at different
heights on the mountain slopes flower at different seasons,  meaning that
the Ogiek can collect honey all year round.  Its taste varies according to
when and where it is gathered.  This honey plays a central role in Ogiek
society; it is used for food and for brewing beer, as well as for trade with
neighboring peoples outside the forest. (Source: Survival International)

“Settlement of other people in our midst would mean that the Ogiek culture
would cease.
We will be wiped out.” -- Joseph Towett, Chairman, Ogiek Welfare Council

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

REQUESTED ACTION:  Please send polite letters to Kenya’s president and
Minister of the Environment.  Urge them to revoke the forest excisions
announced on October 19, 2001, for these reasons:

· Kenya’s remaining forests harbor most of the country’s biological
diversity, including half of the plant species.

· Scientists warn that further deforestation in vital water catchment areas
like the Mau Forests will exacerbate drought, lower crop productivity, alter
water quality and level in Lake Nakuru and affect its flamingo population,
described by Sir Peter Scott as “the world’s greatest bird spectacle.”
Negative impacts on the tourism economy are inevitable.

· Logging and colonization in the Mau Forest threaten the survival of the
Ogiek people, whose rights as traditional hunter-gatherers in the Mau
Forests must be protected.

· The forest excisions violate international agreements including the
African Convention on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the
Convention on Biological Diversity, The United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, the Ramsar Convention, and the Convention for the
Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

ADDRESSES:

H.E. Daniel Arap Moi, President
Republic of Kenya
Office of the President
P.O. Box 30510
Nairobi
Kenya
FAX: +254-2-210150
Salutation: Your Excellency,

Hon. Joseph J. Kamotho, EGH, MP, Minister
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 30521
Nairobi
Kenya
FAX: +254-2-727622
Salutation: Honorable Minister,

NOTE:  POSTAGE FROM THE US IS 80 CENTS. REMEMBER TO WRITE "AIRMAIL" ON YOUR
ENVELOPE.

This Global Response Action Alert was issued at the request of and with
information provided by the Kenya Forests Working Group, Ogiek Welfare
Council, and Survival International.  For more information, please see these
websites:  www.ogiek.org/issues/index.htm; www.survival-international.org;
www.mountkenyatrust.com/other_pages/forestexcisions.htm; www.orip.org/;
www.getawaytoafrica.com/content/News/01/11/28.01.asp. Contact Kenya Forests
Working Group at kfwg@wananchi.com.

********************************
Paula Palmer, Executive Director
Global Response
P.O. Box 7490
Boulder CO 80306
USA
TEL: 303-444-0306
FAX: 303-449-9794
Email: paula@globalresponse.org
Website: www.globalresponse.org

Global Response empowers people of all ages, cultures, and nationalities to
protect the environment by creating partnerships for effective citizen
action.  At the request of indigenous peoples and grassroots organizations,
Global Response organizes international letter-writing campaigns to help
communities prevent environmental destruction.  Global Response involves
young people as well as adults in these campaigns, to develop in them the
skills for global citizen cooperation and earth stewardship.

Lauren Storms ravioli_22@hotmail.com
Project Coordinator, Long Island Pine Barrens Society, (631)369-3

January 2002

***************************
Action Network from Environmental Defense
finding the ways that work
***************************

CONTENTS:
ACTION NETWORK AT WORK! 2001 YEAR IN REVIEW - Arctic
Refuge Wins Reprieve; 100,000 Messages to Congress
to Help Farmers Help the Environment; Offshore Oil
Drilling Moratorium Protects Most US Coast
TAKE ACTION NOW - Canada Fights Oil Drilling Off Coast
ECO-TIP - Stop Catalogues from Flooding your Mailbox
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE'S NEW WEBSITE

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

ACTION NETWORK AT WORK! SUCCESS STORIES AND UPDATES:
Environmental Defense Action Network activists like
you were very active in 2001. In a year marked by the
tragic events of September 11, we also can share some
notable successes in our efforts to take action online
to protect the environment. Together, we now reach
nearly 150,000 email activists who sent nearly 1 million
pro-environment messages last year.  

Highlights in 2001 include:
*** Arctic Refuge Wins Reprieve...For Now ***
Last year, 200,000 messages from email activists helped
ensure that the Bush Administration and special interests
were unsuccessful in pushing a bad energy bill through
the Senate that would have increased our dependence
on oil, opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
in Alaska to oil drilling, and more. However, the oil
industry and their allies will be at it again with
a new push to open the Arctic to oil drilling. Act
now to protect the Arctic Refuge and provide true energy
security. Take action!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_senate/wk8bxn2p78xwdb

*** Helping Farmers Help the Environment ***
Nearly 100,000 messages from email activists helped
Environmental Defense lead the way in a national campaign
to pass a conservation-oriented Farm Bill in Congress.
The Senate has delayed consideration of a conservation-oriented
Farm bill until early this year, allowing us to mobilize
more public support for this important issue. Get more
information about the Farm Bill debate and our plans
for this year. Stay tuned! Click here:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/Lp1-AS11uPDO/farmbill_update

*** Moratorium Protects Most US Coastline from Oil
Drilling ***
18,000 faxes from Environmental Defense Action Network
activists helped convince policy makers to renew a
moratorium blocking new offshore oil drilling leases
off most coastline in the lower-48 states. However,
Congress did allow new oil drilling in some waters
off Alaska, and in 1.5 million acres of the Eastern
Gulf of Mexico. As the government prepares its 5-year
offshore oil drilling plan, take action and express
your concern about the environmental impacts oil drilling
will have on our threatened ocean resources. Click
here!http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/ocs5/wk8bxn2p78xwdb

For more success stories and updates, visit your Subscription
Management Page:
http://actionnetwork.org/pvtm/index.tcl?nkey=wk8bxn2p78xwdb

*****************************  

TAKE ACTION NOW!
*** Help Canadians Fight Oil Drilling Off British Columbia
Coast***
While many Americans are concerned about offshore oil
drilling at home, our friends in Canada are fighting
to protect their own coastal resources from the same
fate. Oil companies are trying to gain access to the
Pacific coast of Canada, threatening a sensitive and
beautiful marine ecosystem and a rich fishery. Pollution
in these waters could also easily spread to waters
off Alaska and to Washington State's Puget Sound, its
neighbor to the south.

Urge the Canadian government not to open Canada's Pacific
coast to oil drilling. Take action!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/cndocs2/wk8bxn2p78xwdb

*****************************  

ECO-TIP
*** Stop Catalogues from Flooding your Mailbox ***
More than 17 billion catalogs were distributed in the
United States in 1998 -- about sixty-four for every
man, woman, and child. Catalogs use a lot of paper
-- 3.35 million tons of it in 1999. The use of so much
paper comes at a significant environmental cost. Get
consumer tips on reducing catalogue waste. Click here!
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/_d1-AS11uPDI/catalogues

*****************************  

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE UNVEILS REDESIGNED SITE FOR 2002
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/_11-AS11uPDW/environmentaldefense
To usher in the New Year, we are pleased to announce
our new, easier-to-use, better to look at, web site.
With a wealth of information on subjects such as biodiversity,
climate change, health and oceans, the site features
articles and information on key issues in which Environmental
Defense is involved. Also find action alerts, news,
press materials, and an interactive, environmental
tool you can use. Visit Environmental Defense at:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/_11-AS11uPDW/environmentaldefense

*****************************  

ENHANCE YOUR NEWSLETTERS AND alerts WITH IMAGES AND
MORE
Upgrade your account so you can receive enhanced messages
from Environmental Defense Action Network with images,
color, links and other html features. Enhance your
messages. Click here:
http://actionnetwork.org/pvtm/set-email-pref.tcl?nkey=wk8bxn2p78xwdb&pref=html

*****************************  

HELP US INCREASE OUR REACH IN 2002!
Spread the Word! Nearly 150,000 people around the world
already take action online with Environmental Defense
Action Network. However, we need your help to reach
even more people in 2002. Tell a friend about Action
Network and help us start off 2002 with even more people
around the world taking action online for a cleaner
environment. Click here:
http://actionnetwork.org/join-forward.html?domain=edan_message&r=Dp1-AS11uPJT

*****************************  

DONATE
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/_71-AS11uPD7/donate
Make a New Year's Resolution to help save the environment!
Give to Environmental Defense:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/_71-AS11uPD7/donate
Thanks to all of you who gave in 2001.

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

Visit the web address below and tell your friends about
Environmental Defense Action Network!

http://actionnetwork.org/join-forward.html?domain=edan_message&r=Dp1-AS11uPJT

If you received this message from a friend, you can
sign up for Environmental Defense Action Network Announcements
at:

http://actionnetwork.org/edan_message/join.html?r=Dp1-AS11uPJTE

January 14 - 18, 2002

Time for this week's Greenpeace Clean Energy Now!
Campaign's good news update - "POSITIVE ENERGY!"

*** SAVE THE CLEAN AIR ACT! ***

The Clean Air Act is in danger and needs your help
today! The Bush Administration is trying to remove a
"New Source Review" (NSR) process from the Clean Air Act.
NSR requires the oldest and dirtiest electric power plants
and oil refineries to meet current air quality standards
if they expand the plant and increase pollution. If the
White House's plans go as expected, utilities that decide
to upgrade their plants can do so without installing the
latest and best pollution control devices, causing the
public to suffer from thousands of extra tons of pollution
in the air, while the utilities profit.

Call the White House this week TOLL FREE
at 1-888-552-9406 and tell President Bush not
to roll back the Clean Air Act!!

To learn more, visit http://www.toxictwostep.org.

*** THE CALIFORNIA POWER AUTHORITY NEEDS YOUR POSITIVE ENERGY ***

The California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing
Authority (CPA) met for the first time in August for
the purpose of drafting a plan to ensure a future
supply of affordable, reliable power in California.
Over a period of six months, Greenpeace and citizens have
transformed the intentions of the state agency from
primarily funding fossil fool projects to financing
large-scale renewable energy projects with the possibility
of investing billions of dollars in clean energy. But now,
it is up to the public to hold the CPA accountable and make
sure that the agency leads in the clean energy revolution.
The CPA will be holding five, statewide public meetings
(LA, San Diego, Oakland, Fresno, and Sacramento) to discuss
the Energy Resource Investment Plan that is due to Governor
Davis and the state legislature by February 15, 2002. Make
your voice heard and demand that the CPA become the
"renewable energy bank" financing  clean energy projects
in California.  Attend a meeting in your area!

For more information on the meetings, go to:
http://www.cleanenergynow.org/stayinformed/events/cpa_meetings.html

*** COMPETITION FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST WIND DEVELOPMENT ***

According to the US-based Earth Policy Institute, the
amount of wind power produced in 2001 rose by almost
a third and will become the choice power of the world.
Last year alone, wind power met the household needs of 23
million people.

In the US, PacifiCorp Power Marketing (PPM)
is installing more than 450 wind turbines on the
Oregon/Washington border producing 300 megawatts of
electricity. Abroad, the Irish Government has approved
plans for the world's largest offshore
electricity-generating wind farm, to be built on a
sandbank in the Irish Sea south of Dublin. When completed,
the 200 turbines will produce 10% of the country's
electricity needs.

For more information about the wind projects, go to:
http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_494577.html
http://www.statelinewind.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1755000/1755413.stm

The "Positive Energy" newsletter and
our website, http://www.cleanenergynow.org, will give you
good news about ways to achieve clean air, climate justice
and renewable energy solutions to our ongoing energy
crisis.

EEarthNet News
... a project of the Center for Environmental Citizenship
http://www.envirocitizen.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------
January 18, 2002  
----------------------------------------------------------------------

In this week's EarthNet, read about the energy battle
brewing in the Senate and tell your Senator what kind
of energy plan you want. Plus, check out plans to turn
America's highest desert into America's biggest natural
gas producer.

--Zachariah Silk, EarthNet Editor  
mailto:earthnet@envirocitizen.org

Share the EarthNet wealth -- send it on to a friend.
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/G1zGAZK1jq-q/TELL_A_FRIEND

----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Shadow Congress: Real Energy Security
2. Quote of the Week
3. Fun Facts: Electricity
4. Mercy, Mercy Me: Methane Madness
5. Jobs, Conferences and Gatherings
6. Activist Phone Book & EarthNet News Info  

----------------------------------------------------------------------
SHADOW CONGRESS  
----------------------------------------------------------------------

REAL ENERGY SECURITY

The Senate reconvenes next week. And it looks like
the first order of business will be a debate and vote
on energy legislation. No doubt, this will be a fierce
battle. And EarthNet will be delivering ringside coverage
directly to your inbox.

Our current energy system is big time dependent on
fossil and nuclear fuels. The list of problems with
these sources is longer than the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline.
Among the bummers is that these sources are highly
concentrated in large facilities and transfer stations
and therefore mighty vulnerable to attack. Plus, burning
fuels harms human health, threatens the planet's climatic
stability and -- in case you didn't know -- electricity
generators are the single largest class of industrial
polluters. When you add it up, an energy policy that
makes us more dependent on these sources doesn't make
sense for the security of our nation, the health of
our communities or our environment.

Try telling the administration that. Their plan --
passed by the House as H.R. 4 and being pushed by Republican
members of the Senate -- furthers our dependence on
fossil fuels and nuclear energy, opens up our national
wild lands to development and rewards some of the biggest
polluters with massive pay outs. Put simply -- this
thing won't work. It's old school solutions to very
modern problems.

No one's arguing a single solution can meet our society's
future energy needs. The solution instead could come
from a family of diverse energy technologies and approaches
that do not deplete our natural resources or make us
vulnerable to attack. These renewable energy technologies
are pretty remarkable -- they tap into natural cycles
and systems and create usable forms of energy. The
light of the sun, wind and water in motion, heat in
the ground -- all are natural energy sources that can
supply our needs in a sustainable way. And don't forget
that renewables are homegrown, which means -- if developed
properly -- they can increase energy security and create
local jobs.

Fortunately, a number of forward-thinking proposals
-- backed by a variety of twenty-first century thinkers
in the Senate and the environmental community -- are
surfacing. These proposals are safer, smarter ways
to address our energy needs. They include increasing
fuel efficiency, investing heavily in renewable energies
and protecting our wild lands from development.

The Senate needs to know what kind of energy policy
you want. Write and tell them that you want real energy
security -- the kind that is safe, clean and sustainable.

TAKE ACTION NOW:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/HpzGAZK1jq-1/ENERGY_SECURITY
Use the EarthNet Action Center to ask the Senate for
real energy security.

FOR MORE INFO:
**Lovins's Energy Article [requires Adobe Acrobat]:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/-7zGAZK1jq-w/LOVINS_ARTICLE
**NRDC's Dangerous Addiction report:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/-dzGAZK1jq-2/NRDC_REPORT
**Union of Concerned Scientists Energy Plan:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/J1zGAZK1jq-x/UCSA_PLAN
**TomPaine.com Article:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/-pzGAZK1jq-s/TOMPAINE

----------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE OF THE WEEK  
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Our decision about energy will test the character of
the American people and the ability of the President
and the Congress to govern this nation. This difficult
effort will be the "moral equivalent of war," except
that we will be uniting our efforts to build and not
to destroy.

-- Jimmy Carter, address to the American people in
1977

----------------------------------------------------------------------
FUN FACTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------

ELECTRICITY

* 37 million *
Number of cars needed to produce the amount of smog-forming
pollution that comes from U.S. coal power plants each
year

* 30,000 *
Number of lives cut short in the U.S. each year due
to pollution from electric utilities

* 1,000 *
Reduction in pounds of carbon dioxide emitted into
the atmosphere by replacing one incandescent lightbulb
with a compact fluorescent bulb, over the bulb's lifetime

* 90 *
Percentage of total electricity used by a standard
incandescent lightbulb that is wasted as heat

* 7 *
Approximate percentage of total U.S. energy consumption
from renewable sources in 1998

For Sources: http://actionnetwork.org/ct/FpzGAZK1jq-M/GRIST_MAGAZINE

----------------------------------------------------------------------
MERCY, MERCY ME
----------------------------------------------------------------------

METHANE MADNESS

From Grist Magazine... http://www.gristmagazine.com

Looking for the highest desert in North America? Look
no further than Wyoming's Red Desert, but that's not
the only thing that makes it special. It is home to
the largest migratory ungulate herd in the Lower 48,
as well as to one of the nation's healthiest populations
of sage grouse, a vanishing species. Unfortunately,
it is also home to an estimated 314 trillion cubic
feet of coal bed methane (CBM), a form of natural gas.
The recent boom in the CBM extraction industry has
brought a maze of wells, power lines, roads, pipelines,
and compressor stations to southwestern Wyoming, which
the U.S. Bureau of Land Management expects will become
the nation's leading natural gas producer by 2015.
But at what price? Hal Clifford takes a look at CBM
extraction and the struggle to save the Red Desert.


Only in Grist: Coal bed methane extraction threatens
Wyoming's Red  
Desert -- by Hal Clifford
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/-1zGAZK1jq-N/GRIST_MAGAZINE

----------------------------------------------------------------------
JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS  
----------------------------------------------------------------------

These are a sampling of the over 200 environmental
and activist jobs and internships listed at http://www.envirocitizen.org/enet/jobs/index.asp

Job Title: Environmental Program Coordinator
Organization: Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Location: Homer, AK
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/F7zGAZK1jq-A/3832

Job Title: seasonal staff assistant
Organization: Southwestern Research Station
Location: Portal, AZ
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/FdzGAZK1jq-./3827

Job Title: Education Director
Organization: Clinton River Watershed Council
Location: Rochester Hills, MI
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/F1zGAZK1jq-L/3825

----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONFERENCES, GATHERINGS AND VIEWINGS  
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Lots more events listed at http://www.envirocitizen.org/enet/events/index.asp

WHAT: Thinking Ahead: Energy in a Changing Climate
WHERE: Boulder, CO
WHEN 1/26/02 - 1/28/02
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/GdzGAZK1jq-a/ENERGY_CONFERENCE

WHAT: College Climate Response
WHERE: Portland, OR
WHEN: 2/8/02 - 2/10/02
FOR MORE INFO:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/G7zGAZK1jq-z/966

WHAT: National Student Animal Rights Conference
WHERE: Washington, DC
WHEN: 2/15/02 - 2/17/02
FOR MORE INFO:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/GpzGAZK1jq-S/987

----------------------------------------------------------------------
ACTIVIST PHONE BOOK  
----------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202.224.3121  
White House Comment Line: 202.456.1111  

White House Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington,
DC 20500  
Senate Address: US Senate, Washington, DC 20510  
House Address: US House of Representatives, Washington,
DC 20515  

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

Write your own short articles for submission to EarthNet.
We are particularly interested in articles about student
activism on your campus.

For general comments:
mailto:earthnet@envirocitizen.org

Submit Jobs/Internships/Volunteer listings at:
http://www.envirocitizen.org/enet/jobs/add.asp  

Submit Events at:
http://www.envirocitizen.org/enet/events/add.asp

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

Visit the web address below and tell your friends about
this rockin' issue of EarthNet!

http://actionnetwork.org/join-forward.html?domain=san&r=g1zGAZK1uPD3

If you received this message from a friend, you can
sign up for Student Action Network at:

http://actionnetwork.org/san/join.html?r=g1zGAZK1uPD3E

Greenpeace Activist News Vol. 2, No. 1
22 January 2001

In this issue, an upcoming global day of action against illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean, get active to help us prevent toxic pollution from Shipbreaking, some good news on the Star Wars activists, help save the ancient forests, and a positive energy story from Morocco.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GLOBAL WHALES DAY OF ACTION
Wednesday 23 January 2002

Greenpeace offices around the world are now organising for our second
day of global protest to stop Japanese whaling. The Japanese whaling
fleet is in the Southern ocean right now catching Minke whales and the Japanese government is working hard to overturn the ban on commercial whaling at the May meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Shimonoseki, Japan.

The time for action is now and a number of public activities have been planned for this second Global Day of Action. If you live in the following countries - Australia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand or Finland and are interested in taking part in a public demonstration against whaling see the info at the end of this newsletter.

If you cannot make it to either of these events, this will not be the last opportunity to get involved. In the lead up to the IWC meeting we will be increasing the pressure around the world. You can join the Global Whales Action Team to get the latest information and help stop whaling.

http://act.greenpeace.org/mms/m?r=4&st=0&sk=eye&la=en

Check out the Greenpeace whales web site:

http://whales.greenpeace.org

On Wednesday to find out what else is happening on the Global Day of
Action and how you can help.

SHIPBREAKING - TOXIC DUMPING IN DISGUISE

Last week we launched a new web site to highlight the problem of shipbreaking and to ask you to help us in this important campaign. For more check out the site here:

http://www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak/

If you are you connected to the shipping industry, a shipspotter, a harbourmaster, a crew member or in any other way able to locate the positions of ships you may be able to help us:

http://www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak/finalvoyage.asp

STOP STAR WARS

Nine of the defendants facing felony charges in the US for a peaceful protest against the US Star Wars missile defence program walked free from court last week. Seven other defendants, including two freelance journalists will be sentenced on April 15th, after the US Attorney's office announced it may demand jail time for some or all of those remaining. Get the full story here:

http://www.stopstarwars.org/html/sw17.html

Thanks to everyone who took action in support of the defendants and we hope to have more good news in mid April on the other defendants.

ANCIENT FORESTS IN CRISIS

The Greenpeace server was kept busy over the holiday season sending
thousands of ancient forest animal ecards. Almost 10,000 ecards were
sent within one month!

What was more astonishing though was the number of your friends and
family that participated in the action alert. These animal ecards had a higher rate of click through to the action alert than we have ever seen – on average 32 percent of the people who read the ecard clicked on the action alert. Now 3965 people have sent letters to their head of government asking them to take action at the Ancient Forest Summit to save the Earth’s remaining ancient forests.

A big thank you to everyone who helped spread the word about ancient
forest destruction by sending an animal ecard.

COUNTDOWN TO THE ANCIENT FOREST SUMMIT

In April world government’s will meet in the Hague, the Netherlands to decide the fate of the world’s remaining ancient forests. These forests are home to some of the planet’s most amazing animals such as the jaguar, gorillas, bears, elephants and tigers. Time is running out for these animals and the diverse forests they depend on. Take action today and ask your government to put an end to the destruction of these ancient forests at the upcoming United Nations meeting.

http://act.greenpeace.org/aas/e?a=cbd1&s=blue2s

CHOOSE POSITIVE ENERGY

Find out how rural Moroccans are benefiting from renewable energy here with this audio piece on a local solar energy campaign:

http://www.choose-positive-energy.org/morocco.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COUNTRY WHALE ACTION INFO:

AUSTRALIA:

In Melbourne, Victoria:  Greenpeace will have a stall where people can collect a postcard to send to the foreign minister, Alexander Downer, asking him to condemn the Japanese government's vote buying. Come between 9am and 5.30pm on the promenade at Southbank (near Brown
St) to participate and see the giant pink whale.

In Brisbane, Queensland: postcards and fliers will be handed out at the Metro Art Centre, in the CBD, from 11.30am.

In Perth, Western Australia: While images from the Southern ocean will be projected onto a large screen in Freemantle,  there will also be a stall where people can send postcards to foreign minister Downer from 10am.

For more information contact: Vanessa Atkinson at 0404 096 556.

AUSTRIA:

Please join us on the Stephansplatz in Vienna between 16 and 19h. Meet up with "real world Greenpeace activists" and drop your signature for a protest letter to foreign minister Ferrero-Waldner. For more information please call us at 01-5454580 or send us an email
oceansGPAustria@greenpeace.at.

Komm zwischen 16 und 19h zu unseren event auf dem Stephansplatz in
Wien Treffe "real world" Greenpeace-Aktivisten und unterschreibe einen Protestbrief an Außenministerin Ferreo-Waldner. Weitere Infos gibt es unter 01-5454580. Du kannst uns auch eine Email schicken an
oceansGPAustria@greenpeace.at

GERMANY:
We would like to invite you to meet us at the Marktplatz in Düsseldorf between noon and 8pm. Please join our activities against the Japanese whaling and protest in letters and email messages. You could also send a protest message to Minister Joschka Fischer. For more information call us at 040-306180 or email mail@greenpeace.de

Werde aktiv am zweiten Globalen Wale-Aktionstag. Greenpeace
Aktivisten treffen sich auf dem Düsseldorfer Marktplatz zwischen 12
Mittags und 8 Uhr abends. Ihr könnt Briefe und Faxe verschicken und
auch Joschka Fischer zum Handeln auffordern. Infos unter 040-306180
oder schreibt ein Email an mail@greenpeace.de

NEW ZEALAND:

Greenpeace New Zealand would like to invite you to view our video on
the current whaling programme being conducted by the Japanese
whaling fleet in the Southern ocean. Please come down to the Viaduct and Princes Wharf and look for the floating video screen and find out how you can help stop whaling.

Date: Wednesday, 23 Janaury 2002
Where: Auckland Viaduct and Princes Wharf
Time: 8:30pm - 10:30pm
Contact: Pia Mancia on (09) 630 6317

FINLAND

Stop Japan from buying votes at the International Whaling
Commission´s meeting in May! Send an e-mail with the following
text to Erkki Tuomioja, the Minister for Foreign Affairs
(erkki.tuomioja@formin.fi) or Kari Karanko, the Head of Unit for
Environmental Affairs (kari.karanko@formin.fi) to express your
opinion against the legalisation of commercial whaling.

Arvoisa ulkoministeri, / Arvoisa yksikön päällikkö,

Vetoan teihin, jotta Suomi tuomitsisi Japanin äänten ostamisen
Kansainvälisessä Valaanpyyntikomissiossa (IWC) ja että
ulkoasiainministeriö lähettäisi demarssin aiheesta Japanin
viranomaisille. Suomen pitkäjännitteinen työ valaanpyynnin
vastustamiseksi saattaa romuttua IWC:n kokouksessa
toukokuussa, mikäli Japani saa tahtonsa läpi.

VISIT THE CYBERCENTRE

Please don't forget to visit the Greenpeace Cyberactivist Community at:
http://act.greenpeace.org

To: All Activists
From: Gilly Lyons <glyons@onda.org>
Date: January 22, 2002

BLM Plan Charts a Flawed Future for Oregon's High Desert - You Can Help
Set BLM on the Right Track!

More than three million acres of Oregon's desert wildlands are on the
line.  Please send your comments by January 31.

--> To send a customized fax directly to BLM, please visit ONDA's
website at:  http://www.onda.org/takeaction/lakeviewrmp.html

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is now seeking public comments on
its Lakeview Resource Management Plan, a planning document that will
guide the management of 3.2 million acres of federal lands over the next
20 years.

These lands - which span south-central Oregon and include amazing places
like Warner Wetlands, Lost Forest, Abert Lake, and Guano Creek adjacent
to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge - provide vital habitat for
sage grouse, redband trout, Warner suckers, California bighorn sheep,
and pronghorn, among other critters. Within this remote extension of the
Great Basin lies some of Oregon's wildest roadless lands.

But many of these wild places are in a state of ecological red alert,
thanks in large part to livestock grazing and off-road vehicles. The
bulk of the Lakeview Resource Area's 3.2 million high desert acres are
wholly unsuited to cattle grazing or ORV use, yet the BLM's preferred
management alternative does virtually nothing to change the status quo.
In fact, the BLM recommends no change in current grazing levels or ORV
usage for the next two decades.  This kind of short-sightedness is akin
to mismanagement of our shared natural legacy.

Now is our chance to tell the BLM to get serious about protecting
Oregon's magnificent desert wildlands.

What You Can Do:

Please write to the BLM today. Comments are due by January 31, 2002.
Here are some points to make in your letter (please feel free to
emphasize the issues that are most important to you):

1. Urge the BLM to reject Alternative D (the agency's preferred
alternative; more information about Alternative D appears below) and
instead choose a strengthened Alternative C that excludes livestock
grazing and off-road vehicles from:

+ Proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers
+ Critical fish and wildlife habitat
+ Sage grouse leks (i.e., mating areas)
+ Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs)
+ Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs)
+ Grazing allotments in "fair" or "poor" condition

2. Tell the BLM that "adaptive management," upon which this plan is
heavily reliant, is no substitute for objective standards and
guidelines; without constant, on-the-ground monitoring (a logistical
impossibility within the understaffed BLM), adaptive management may only
lead to further resource degradation.

3. Urge the BLM to take this once-in-twenty-years opportunity to update
its wilderness recommendations for the Lakeview Resource Area (LRA).
Five of the 14 Wilderness Study Areas found within the LRA were
recommended by the BLM as non-suitable for wilderness in 1989. In each
of these five cases, the rationale provided for a non-suitable
recommendation was based on potential or planned projects - such as
geothermal exploration, mineral development, intensive range projects,
and powerline construction - that may or may not remain viable, or
desirable, 15-20 years after Oregon's original wilderness inventory was
conducted. The Lakeview RMP process is the most appropriate venue for
reviewing and updating this information in an effort to determine if the
BLM's current wilderness recommendations are still valid.

4. In your letter, discuss any Wilderness Study Areas, rivers, rock art
sites, or other areas you know first-hand; tell the BLM why you'd like
to see these places protected.

Send your comments by January 31, 2002, to:

Dwayne Sykes
BLM - Lakeview District Office
HC 10 Box 337
Lakeview, OR 97630
Fax: (541) 947-6399

You may also send a customized fax from ONDA's website by clicking on
http://www.onda.org/takeaction/lakeviewrmp.html

A quick note about e-mail: The BLM and other agencies of the Department
of Interior are unable to receive e-mail due to a recent court order
that requires the Department to suspend all on-line communications
pending resolution of a Bureau of Indian Affairs lawsuit. Therefore, all
comment letters must be received via regular mail or fax.
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
mailto:wafcdc@americanlands.org
http://www.americanlands.org

January 23, 2002

To:   Members of the Press, Sustainable Forestry Advocates, Other
Interested Persons
From:   Daniel Hall, American Lands, 503.978.0511,
wafcfbp@americanlands.org

RE:   Weyerhaeuser's Hostile Takeover of Willamette Industries Likely to
Exacerbate Trends Towards Unsustainable Forest Management

The Oregonian reported this morning that after a pitched battle,
Willamette Industries is succumbing to a hostile takeover by the
Weyerhaeuser Co., one of North America's largest timber companies.

While the deal is not finalized, and only Weyerhaeuser knows exactly how
it plans to manage -- or liquidate -- Willamette's forestlands and other
assets, the hostile takeover does not bode well for the environment and
forest sustainability for the following reasons:

**  In the Pacific Northwest, Weyerhaeuser is using increasingly short
timber rotations (i.e., more frequent clearcutting cycles) -- shorter
even than Willamette.  As noted by Willamette's staff, "shorter
rotations mean more disruption to the forest ecosystem, more problems
with water quality and landslides and more clearcuts."  Weyerhaeuser
indicates it plans to use rotations of 40 to 45 years, meaning the
average age of its trees will only be 20 to 22.5 years.  (See "Two
Titans Vie for Greenest Title," Portland Tribune, June 15, 2001.)  Other
sources have suggested that Weyerhaeuser's rotations are already roughly
45 years, and that the company might move to rotations as short as 35
years.  Such rotations will keep the region's forests a shadow of their
former selves.  Conversely, using longer rotations can produce larger
trees, more sawtimber, reduce cumulative watershed impacts, and produce
more mature wildlife habitat.

**  When timber companies acquire new forestlands, they often log the
lands harder, to pay off the acquisition costs.  A classic example is
the liquidation of the Headwaters redwood forest by the Maxxam Company,
which took over Pacific Lumber in the 1980s.

**  The acquisition contributes to Weyerhaeuser's dominance as one of a
very few, extremely large timber companies in North America.  Such
consolidation is reducing diversity within the timber industry, and
making it difficult for landowners who employ more sustainable forest
management practices to compete.  For example, Weyerhaeuser's prominence
in Southwest Washington is making it difficult for landowners who use
more sustainable, longer timber rotations to sell their timber.
Weyerhaeuser controls a large proportion of the mills there, and has
designed the mills to only handle the small logs produced by intensive,
short-rotation plantations.

Weyerhaeuser's history and forest management practices are far from
glorious.  The company's Pacific Northwest forests are typically managed
as ecologically-impoverished, short-rotation, monocultural, and
chemically-intensive plantations. Weyerhaeuser's endangered species
"take permit" for its Millacoma Tree Farm in Coastal Oregon allows the
company to eliminate the last 16,000 acres of Northern spotted owl
habitat on the 209,000 acre property without providing any replacement
(or "mitigation") habitat.  

Weyerhaeuser has also allegedly drained and filled imperiled wetlands in
North Carolina (see The Seattle Times, June 4, 1992), and is converting
thousands of acres of productive forestland to residential sprawl in
Washington and other states (see
http://www.endgame.org/weyer-realestate.html) A lawsuit was also just
filed against Weyerhaeuser for alleged failure to follow Washington's
new salmon and stream protection rules (see The Seattle
Post-Intelligencer, January 7, 2002).

Over the last few years, Weyerhaeuser has also been guilty of other
Washington forest practice rules violations, been fined for water
pollution discharges at its Washington mills, and been a major polluter
in Arkansas and California (see WA Dept. Natural Resources release,
March 10, 1999, WA Dept. Ecology release, July 2000, and
http://www.endgame.org/weyerprofile.html).

The company has also been accused of timber theft from National Forests
in the mid-1990s, and was involved in the tropical timber trade in the
late 1980s, thereby contributing to tropical deforestation (see  Seattle
Weekly, July 9, 1998, and http://www.endgame.org).  Weyerhaeuser has
also been accused of creating regional monopoly in the alder market (see
The Oregonian, December 20, 2000).

As the Oregonian article begins to note, Willamette is apparently
acceding to the takeover to mollify shareholders who recently purchased
Willamette stock, betting on the takeover and stock market fluctuations.
Both the Oregonian article and the earlier Portland Tribune article
also suggest that Willamette employees viewed such speculation as
counter to long-term forest management considerations.

# 30 #

Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
mailto:wafcdc@americanlands.org
http://www.americanlands.org

ENERGY DEBATE: How much influence did Enron have?

NORTON WATCH: There she goes again

RISING DEATH TOLL: More manatees dying in Florida waters

OILY OTTERS? California vowing to fight off-shore oil development

SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT: New group offers help to states

SAVING HABITAT: Defenders employs innovative strategy

JAVA FOREST: A new wildlife-friendly coffee

1. ENERGY DEBATE: How much influence did Enron have? Congress returns to session this week to renew the national energy policy debate with many members raising serious questions about the influence of the disgraced Enron Corp. over the Bush administration's plan. According to financial records, 35 administration officials have held stock in Enron. Enron executives met six times with the White House energy task force, which produced a plan that contains 17 provisions benefiting the once-giant energy company now in bankruptcy proceedings. The White House denies it was unduly influenced by Enron, but the administration is refusing to release documents to the public. The administration's plan, already approved by the House, allows oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, weakens environmental protections on public land across the country and all but ignores energy efficiency and new technologies. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has unveiled his own plan calling for higher fuel efficiency standards, tax incentives for new energy sources and a target of 20 percent reliance on alternative and renewable fuels by the year 2020. The Senate, which is expected to vote next month, appears to be nearly evenly divided. That's why it's so important for all Americans to make their voices heard. At least one American "president" is urging you to contact your senators to urge them to adopt an energy plan that emphasizes new technologies and improved efficiency over drilling in the Arctic refuge. Click here to read the message from Martin Sheen, star of NBC-TV's "The West Wing," and help spread the word by forwarding it to friends: http://www.savearcticrefuge.org 2. NORTON WATCH: There she goes again Interior Secretary Gale Norton is making a habit of quashing scientific evidence in an attempt to curry favor with Big Oil and other special interests. Last year in a report to Congress, she discarded the findings of Fish and Wildlife Service biologists that oil drilling would harm caribou on the coastal plain of the Arctic refuge. Last week, she was at it again. First, it was disclosed that she never submitted scathing criticism from her own agency of plans to relax wetlands protection rules. Then, ignoring years of scientific reports, she decided that drilling in the refuge won't harm polar bears or violate U.S. treaty obligations to protect them. "It's become a dismal pattern when the science doesn't agree with her position, Secretary Norton simply ignores or silences the science," Defenders of Wildlife President Rodger Schlickeisen said. 3. RISING DEATH TOLL: More manatees dying in Florida waters More manatees died in Florida's waterways last year than any year since 1996, according to the Florida Marine Research Institute, and deaths from boat collisions were just one short of the all-time record. The death toll was 325, with careless boaters killing 81 of those manatees. The alarming number shows state and federal officials are failing to meet their obligation to protect the gentle sea cows. Even so, efforts are under way to strip the manatee of its status as endangered at the state and federal levels. To learn more about manatees and what you can do to help, visit www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/manatees.html. And click here to see the DENlines cartoon: http://www.defenders.org/den/issues/norton.jpg 4. OILY OTTERS? California vowing to fight off-shore oil development One-tenth of the surviving population of southern sea otters lives where the Bush administration wants to allow oil drilling off the California coast. California Gov. Gray Davis is vowing to www.saveseaotters.org. 5. SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT: New group offers help to states Lawmakers now can find help from a new Internet-based information clearinghouse for environmental legislation. The State Environmental Resource Center -– a collaborative project of Defenders of Wildlife and the Natural Resources Defense Council -– will work state-by-state to help legislators promote pro-environment legislation to safeguard our health, air and water, wildlife and wild lands. "Americans have long looked to Congress to protect the environment," SERC National Director Andy Gussert said. "But concerned citizens are now appealing to public officials closer to home and, increasingly, state legislators are doing the really important work. That's why we started SERC, the first project of its kind to help these progressive state lawmakers working to protect our health and our environment in cities and neighborhoods all across the country." To learn more, visit SERC's Web site, www.serconline.org. 6. SAVING HABITAT: Defenders employs innovative strategy Defenders of Wildlife has secured vital habitat for grizzly bears in Idaho by paying to retire 16,370 acres of national forest land from sheep grazing. Defenders initiated this agreement using a new program, The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund. This program provides money for collaborative on-the-ground efforts to reduce potential conflict between large predators and livestock. "This is a win-win solution for everyone involved -- the sheep growers, the forest and particularly for the grizzly bears." said Minette Johnson, Northern Rockies field representative for Defenders. "The retirement of the lease will provide important habitat where grizzly bears can roam freely without coming into conflict with domestic sheep." 7. JAVA FOREST: A new wildlife-friendly coffee An easy way to help save wildlife is to drink shade-grown coffee. Java Forest is slowly grown at high elevations under the natural forest canopy, without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Traditional growing methods give this coffee a naturally rich flavor. At least 25 percent of each purchase funds our continued efforts to protect and conserve North American wildlife. To learn more about Java Forest, or place an order, visit http://www.defenders.org/shop/coffee/coffee.html or call 1-866-766-6328. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DENLINES DENlines is a bi-weekly 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. It is known for its effective leadership on endangered species issues, particularly predators such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders also 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 400,000 members and supporters. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Defenders of Wildlife 1101 14th Street, N.W. Suite 1400 Washington, DC 20005 Copyright Defenders of Wildlife 2002

To: All Activists
From: Andy Mahler & Steve Holmer
Date: January 22, 2002

Save The Date: National Forest Council - May 24-27, 2002

Dear friends,

Please join us for a National Forest Council

Who: YOU are invited to participate (to help plan and spread the word)

What: Forest Council: a national gathering for forests, democracy, and
justice

When: May 24-27, 2002, Memorial Day Weekend please do not schedule
competing events!   and please include the Forest Council in your
newsletter's calendar of upcoming events

Where: Camp Rivervale on the White River in southern Indiana

        There has never been a more compelling need for real defenders
of our homeland to share the knowledge and experiences gained from
throughout the nation, and to combine our forest protection efforts with
the larger movement for peace, justice, and ecological wisdom.  Only
through this essential spirit of unity can we craft the strongest
strategies, messages, and successes.

            Organizations and networks are encouraged to schedule,
staff, board or strategy meetings in conjunction with the Forest
Council.  Facilities will be available from noon Thursday, May 23
through Tuesday, May 28.  

Please contact Heartwood at info@heartwood.org or (812) 337-8898 to
help plan, offer program suggestions, or reserve a meeting space.
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
mailto:wafcdc@americanlands.org
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News Release
23 January 2002
http://www.etcgroup.org

Fear-Reviewed Science:

The Fight Over Mexico's GM Maize Contamination


Contaminated Corn and Tainted Tortillas:
Genetic Pollution in Mexico's Centre of Maize Diversity

This week, Mexico's indigenous farmers and civil society organizations will meet in Mexico City (Jan. 23-24) to decide what to do about GM contamination in one of the world's mega-centres of agricultural biodiversity.  Meanwhile, the scientific community is imploding with angst and accusations as the "Peers" of the Plant Realm squabble over the implications for global food security.

The ETC group (formerly RAFI) is releasing a new Communique today in an attempt to summarize the fractious scientific and political debate surrounding GM maize contamination in Mexico.  The full text is available at www.etcgroup.org.  The Communique is also a contribution to the Mexico City seminar of which ETC group is among the sponsoring organizations.1 For further background on the seminar, contact Silvia Ribeiro in Mexico City: silvia@etcgroup.org

After months of behind the scenes debate, both the Mexican Ministry of Environment and a peer-reviewed article in Nature confirmed last year that farmers' maize v