Earthhope Action Network Environmental Action Alerts for January, 2004

In the last four years, natural gas prices have doubled, leaving consumers with rising heating bills and forcing some gas-dependent industries to move overseas. Studies show that the most effective way to curb natural gas prices is to improve energy efficiency and increase our use of renewable energy. Unfortunately, the utility industry and its congressional allies are calling for new fossil fuel subsidies, increased drilling in wilderness areas, expansion of liquefied natural gas imports, and the construction of new coal-fired power plants. Please urge Senate Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) and other committee staff to make clean energy solutions a priority in any plan to reduce natural gas prices. Senator Domenici is excepting public comments until January 7--Act Now! TAKE ACTION: To automatically send the letter below to Senator Domenici and other committee staff, hit "Reply" and then "Send" in your email program. To customize your letter, learn more about the issue, or if this message was forwarded to you, visit http://www.ucsaction.org/ctt.asp?u=44389&l=72849 LETTER: Dear Senator Domenici: Thank you for inviting the public to submit recommendations for reducing natural gas prices. I urge you to avoid focusing on supply-side measures such as new fossil fuel subsidies, increased drilling in wilderness areas, and expansion of liquefied natural gas imports. Instead, American families and businesses deserve clean energy solutions that will save consumers money by reducing natural gas demand. Numerous government and independent studies show that the most effective way to reduce natural gas prices is to decrease demand by improving energy efficiency and developing renewable electricity sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and bioenergy. A 2003 analysis by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that consumers would save money on electricity and gas bills if utilities met a 10 percent by 2020 renewable electricity standard (RES). Recent analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists using EIA's National Energy Modeling System and updated natural gas price projections found that a 20 percent RES would decrease natural gas consumption by six percent in 2020, save consumers $26.2 billion by 2025, and create 355,000 high-quality jobs. Combining a strong RES with a 10-year extension of the production tax credit and energy efficiency improvements would provide even greater consumer savings. A recent study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) confirms that increased renewable energy use coupled with efficiency measures would save consumers more than $75 billion on their natural gas bills over the next five years, or $96 on the average home's annual gas bill. Lower electricity bills would reap an additional savings of $28 billion. The ACEEE study demonstrates the need for updating state and federal appliance efficiency standards; expanding consumer energy efficiency programs; encouraging clean on-site power generation; expanding federal clean energy funding; and expanding energy efficiency tax incentives. Please ensure that any legislation aimed at curbing natural gas prices includes the renewable energy and efficiency measures described above. I look forward to hearing your position on these important issues. Sincerely, [Your name and address will be inserted]

Did you know that the major automakers are suing the state of California to try and block recently passed clean air regulations? Stand up for clean air and clean cars today - and thank you for receiving "Action," Care2's environmental action alert newsletter! ________________________________________ 1. Tell Automakers: Stop Suing and Start Making Clean Cars Petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/20393 Governments and industries around the world are waking up to the reality of climate change and are beginning to focus attention on reducing global warming emissions. And the state of California is leading the way, having recently passed a landmark law to reduce heat-trapping emissions from cars, trucks, and SUVs. But instead of doing their fair share to curb these harmful gases, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, including self-described environmental leaders such as Ford and Toyota, recently sued the people of California to block this law! Only Honda and Nissan out of the major automakers have yet to join the lawsuit. Eight states and Canada are already poised to join California and adopt their clean air standard - and the Clean Air Act gives them this right. Together, these states and Canada represent more than a quarter of the North American auto market. But instead of seeing this enormous consumer demand for clean cars as an opportunity, the automakers are suing to block this critical clean air initiative. Enough green-washing. Please sign this petition today to tell the offending automakers that they can't hide behind their environmental marketing. They must turn away from this irresponsible anti-consumer, anti-public health lawsuit, or suffer the consequences with their customers. Sign here: http://www.care2.com/go/z/20393 ________________________________________ 2. Activist Tip : Reduce your global warming impact http://www.care2.com/go/z/20395 Think before you drive. Drive a clean car. Use energy- efficient appliances. Our everyday actions can have very real climate consequences, so as eco-activists, we can lead the way toward more sustainable living, starting in our own homes. Read these ten steps to reduce your global warming impact from the Union of Concerned Scientists: http://www.care2.com/go/z/20395 ________________________________________ 3. Inspirational Quote "The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders." - Edward Abbey, author (1927-1989)

All of us at Care2 are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and human suffering caused by the tsunamis in South Asia. But as we continue to grieve, we must also do what we can to prevent further loss and rebuild hope: http://www.care2.com/go/z/20404 As the details of the tragedy take shape, it has become clear that the well-being of human and animal survivors are deeply interconnected. Many of the people impacted by the tsunamis depend on animals for their livelihoods as well as their very survival; but significant numbers of livestock and pets have been killed or separated from their owners. Consequently, it is critical that relief efforts include the provision of food, veterinary care and vaccinations to livestock and pets if we are to control the spread of disease and prevent further loss of human life. But the impact of animals' needs on the future survival and livelihood of tsunami victims has received little attention thus far. That's why Care2 is helping the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in its tsunami relief efforts. Funds are urgently needed to allow IFAW relief teams, in cooperation with local groups, to vaccinate and rescue as many animals as possible. As one tsunami survivor told IFAW relief workers, "I am eternally grateful to you for saving my animals. In this time of great distress no one is bothering with the animals, but these animals are my only future." These efforts are critical to the short and long-term welfare of both people and animal survivors. The quicker we respond, the faster we can bring new hope to those enduring terrible suffering in South Asia. Please make a donation to the IFAW Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund: http://www.care2.com/go/z/20404 _________________________________________________ Thank you for taking action today! - Dawn S Care2 and ThePetitionSite team

Dear Members of Global Response�s �Quick Response Network:�

On January 11, 2005, Guatemalan farmers Raul Castro Bocel and Miguel Tzor�n Tuy were killed by Guatemalan authorities while protesting the transportation of machinery to be used in the Glamis Gold "Marlin" mining operation that is funded by the World Bank and promoted and supported by the Canadian government. Please support thousands of indigenous Guatemalan farmers who continue to block highways in an effort to stop the delivery of equipment to the Marlin mine. They demand consultation and participation in decisions about the Marlin project and over 200 other new mining concessions that the Guatemalan government offered multinational companies without consulting the indigenous communities that will be affected.

We are grateful to Asociaci�n Estore�a Para el Desarrollo Integral (AEPDI) in Guatemala and to Friends of the Earth Canada for circulating the following information. Please note that we should send emails to the director for our own country at the World Bank. Follow the link in the action alert to find the email address of the director for your country. Check our website, www.globalresponse.org, for updates.

Use our secure online server and Donate to support this campaign.

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January 11, 2005

According to the COORDINADORA NACIONAL DE ORGANIZACIONES

CAMPESINAS (National Coordinator of Farmers Organizations

- CNOC), two people were killed today - and many more

injured - when the Guatemalan police and military took

action to end a blockade of mining equipment destined for

a World Bank-supported mining operation. Information at

this stage is limited, but we deeply regret and mourn the

reported passing of Raul Castro Bocel and Miguel Tzor�n

Tuy (see below). The mining equipment was reportedly

destined for the Canadian-owned Marlin Mine.

Below you will find an action alert based on the Friends of the Earth Canada

alert, and a brief background summary of the

situation that was provided by the Asociaci�n Estore�a

Para el Desarrollo Integral. This is followed by an

unofficial translation of a statement regarding today's

events issued by the Coordinadora Nacional de

Organizaciones Campesinas (CNOC).

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

EMERGENCY ACTION

Ask World Bank to intervene to stop violence and create dialog with communities affected by Marlin Mine / Guatemala

The Guatemalan Government has used violence in an attempt to end a confrontation with local communities on the road to a World Bank-financed gold mine in Guatemala. We are asking individuals and organizations to contact their Executive Director at the World Bank Group as well as the officials in your government that work on issues related to the World Bank.

Please send the following message ( you may also want to include additional points given in the section ISSUES TO RAISE WITH YOUR OFFICIALS, below):

Given its investment in Glamis Gold�s Marlin Mine project in Guatemalat, the World Bank should insist on the creation of an independent and thorough review of the Marlin project, including the violent and tragic events of recent days. The Bank should support further dialogue among the communities, the government and the company and call on the government to suspend further development of the project until community concerns can be addressed and full respect for the rights of affected communities and indigenous peoples can be guaranteed.

A full list of World Bank Group Executive Directors and their contact information can be found at: http://www.bicusa.org/bicusa/issues/misc_resources/92.php

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BACKGROUND:

40 DAYS OF PROTEST AGAINST GLAMIS GOLD�S GUATEMALAN MINE

(written the day before 2 protesters were killed by Guatemalan authorities)

Monday, January 10 marks the fortieth day that platform trailers carrying milling cylinders for Glamis Gold�s Marlin mine in the western department of San Marcos have been blocked from passing along the Panamerican Highway to the mine. Since December 3, the convoy which cannot pass under a metal pedestrian crossing bridge 130 km northwest of Guatemala City, has been the object of a growing opposition to metal mining in the largely indigenous populated highlands.

When the equipment reached the bridge, workmen from the transport company tried to cut away part of the bridge so that the trailer could pass. When the local population discovered that the equipment was for mining, they initially feared that it was to be used in their communities 100 km from the mine, and organized to protect the bridge and prevent the mine equipment from passing further. On the first day of protest more than 2000 indigenous farmers and villagers gathered, and tried to dissuade the convoy from traveling further. When their demands were not met, one small vehicle carrying tools and fuel for the mine was set afire. The rest of the convoy retreated 2 km to a lookout point�s parking area where it has remained since, guarded by private police under the vigilance of local villagers.

In the time since December 3, the local mayor has stated repeatedly his determination to respect his constituents� demand that the equipment not continue to San Marcos where Glamis is constructing its Marlin mine. However, the Guatemalan Interior Ministry stated on January 8 that it is prepared to call in troops to escort the convoy past the bridge despite local opposition. Villagers have stated that they will push the equipment over a cliff where it is parked if the military intervenes.

The opposition to the mine arises from a mining license granted by the lame duck Portillo administration in late 2003, without conducting the obligatory consultation of the local indigenous communities, required by Convention 169 of the ILO. Once the communities discovered the extent and possible impacts of the project, opposition formed around issues of violation of the rights of indigenous persons and environmental risks inherent to the cyanide leaching refinement process. The situation is further aggravated by the World Bank�s International Finance Corporation�s lending $45 million to Glamis to develop the mine, despite written opposition to the mine project by local organizations, and the apparent non compliance of the IFC to the Bank�s own recommendations regarding extractive industries investments requiring their broad community support and clear poverty alleviating impacts.

Local organizations and villagers have organized across four departments in support of the protest and demand a government / company dialogue directly with the San Marcos communities affected by the mine project to reach an accord regarding the mine�s future. As tensions rise and patience grows short, neither the company or government show signs of engaging those opposed to the mine, and the World Bank, having been informed of these problems since early December, has demonstrated no leadership or ability to address the situation.

Daniel Vogt

Asociaci�n Estore�a Para el Desarrollo Integral, AEPDI

El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala

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ISSUES TO RAISE WITH YOUR OFFICIALS:

(provided by Friends of the Earth Canada)

Here are some of the points that you may want to raise with your officials on this issue:

* In response to the World Bank Group�s Extractive Industries Review,

the Bank Group stated that it would only support mining projects that enjoyed the �broad community support� from affected populations.

* In May 2004, Guatemalan organizations called on the World Bank Group

to delay approval of the Marlin Mine in order to allow time for a number of outstanding issues to be resolved. The Guatemalan groups argued that more consultation was necessary and that large segments of the local population did not support the project. Rather than following this advice, the World Bank Group approved the project on schedule in June 2004. The Bank Group argued that �the project enjoys the significant support of the local indigenous communities� and that consultations with the local population had been adequate.

* Since project approval, local groups have repeatedly raised their

concerns with the World Bank Group and have not received a satisfactory or meaningful response. This includes groups in the immediate area, as well as national indigenous peoples organizations that have raised broader concerns about the hundreds of mining concessions that have been issued in the country in recent years.

* How can the World Bank Group argue that the Marlin Mine enjoys broad

community support when the government is threatening to bring in the military in order to resolve a confrontation with communities?

* What is the World Bank Group doing to ensure that the government

does not resort to violence to resolve the current stand-off?

* The Bank should call on the government and Glamis to ensure peaceful

resolution of the current standoff and fully respect the rights of indigenous groups and communities potentially affected by the Marlin project.

* The Bank should support further dialogue among the communities, the

government and the company and, if necessary, call on the government to suspend further development of the project until community concerns can be addressed and full respect for the rights of affected communities can be guaranteed.

A full list of World Bank Group Executive Directors and their contact information can be found at: http://www.bicusa.org/bicusa/issues/misc_resources/92.php

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

[UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION]

NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF FARMERS ORGANIZATIONS - CNOC- 5�

Street 1-61 Zone 1

Tel.: 2202957 Fax: 2303196 email: cnocdis@intelnet.net.gt

To national and international attention:

We protest the death of two farmers in Los Encuentros,

Solal�, and we support the Indigenous peoples' rejection

of mining operations in the west of the country

The CNOC as an organisation representing the interests of

the Indigenous peoples and farmers of Guatemala, laments

the death of Raul Castro Bocel and Miguel Tzor�n Tuy,

farmers who were killed today by the Guatemalan

authorities while protesting the transportation of a piece

of machinery that the company Cropa Panalpina will use in

the operation of mines in the West of the country.

The trickery of the transnational companies who, using

stunning pretexts, want to destroy a community footbridge

to transport their equipment provoked the rejection and

wrath of the communities, which was countered by agents of

the National Civil Police and elements of the Army at Los

Encuentros, Solol�, resulting in the death of two people.

The organization of the population in Los Encountros to

reject the exploitation of their natural resources

operation has as its foundations:

1. The mining concession in Solol� or other departments of

the West will not benefit the Indigenous peoples in any

respect.

2. That community works, like the footbridge of Los

Encountros, Solol�, should not be destroyed for the

benefit of economic interests.

3. The central government never consulted with the rural

communities regarding mining operations in Guatemala.

In view of this, the transport of this machinery to the

Department of San Marcos will serve to pillage natural

wealth without the consent of the inhabitants, and for

this reason, the National Coordinator of Farmers

Organizations (CNOC), joins the rejection of the mining

operation that the government of Oscar Berger has promoted

during the 12 months of his mandate, considering that this

political decision will not benefit the rural communities

in any respect, but will only further enrich national and

transnational companies to the detriment of the

communities.

The destruction of the natural wealth of Guatemala has not

been respected by the governmental authorities, as

demonstrated by the breach of national laws and

international treaties like ILO Convention 169 that

protects Indigenous and Tribal Peoples world-wide. At the

same time, the authorities of Energy and Mines have not

achieved consensus on the viability or otherwise of

mining, making it clear that certain economic interests

favour interested sectors in the country.

Guatemala, 11 January 2005.

***************************************** * WILDALERT NEWS -- January 2005 * Brought to you by The Wilderness Society ***************************************** In this issue of WildAlert News: 1. Welcome 2. Take Action: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge & Grand Canyon 3. Inside Stories: Notable Achievements Over the Past Year and The Year Ahead: Challenges & Opportunities 4. Support The Wilderness Society 5. Trivia and Words to Inspire ***************************************** 1. WELCOME In our New Year issue below, The Wilderness Society's conservation experts look back at the Notable Achievements of 2004 and a look ahead at the Challenges and Opportunities for 2005. Enjoy, but please first take action if you haven't already! Kathy Kilmer Director, Electronic Communications The Wilderness Society ***************************************** 2. TAKE ACTION ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE: During the first four months of 2005, the risk of losing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling is very high. Because the Senate knows they can't pass Arctic Refuge oil drilling through their usual process for controversial proposals, drilling proponents in Congress may try to use a backdoor maneuver to attach hypothetical revenues from drilling into the Budget Bill, which requires fewer votes to pass the Senate. Our job is to keep Arctic Refuge squarely out of the Budget Bill. With your help, we will do it. If you haven't taken action in the last month, click here and tell your members of Congress to keep the Arctic Refuge out of the budget bill: http://ga1.org/campaign/Arctic/inbx8bz07jtmjk GRAND CANYON: Do your part to improve the visitor experience on the Colorado River. Tell the Park Service before the February 1st deadline to improve their management plan for the river: http://ga1.org/campaign/GrandCanyon/inbx8bz07jtmjk ***************************************** 3. INSIDE STORY NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR: These are very challenging times for conservationists, with both Congress and the president pushing for more development across some of Americans' most cherished landscapes. Even so, action taken by WildAlert subscribers, along with the capable work of our professional staff and many allies, has helped produce a number of significant achievements in the past year. Here's one prominent example: Despite a relentless, four-year campaign by the administration to eliminate protection of roadless areas in our national forests, no commercial logging or road building has occurred on those lands. Click below for the whole list -- it is truly impressive! http://www.wilderness.org/Library/Magazine/2004/Achievements.cfm THE YEAR AHEAD: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES We start the new year with hope in our hearts and challenges on the road ahead. Our hope stems in part from knowing that there is a groundswell of support for conservation in America: In the past election, pro-conservation initiatives across our nation were more than 75 percent successful. Once again, the vast majority of Americans have shown their strong support for protecting our nation's heritage of wild places for present and future generations. Sadly, this has not deterred anti-conservation ideologues within the Administration and Congress. They continue to work on behalf of big industry to open up America's most treasured lands to oil development and logging. However, together, we can stop these giveaways, while advocating more positive solutions in their place. Click below for a "2005 Outlook" from The Wilderness Society's conservation experts: http://www.wilderness.org/OurIssues/2005outlook.cfm ***************************************** 4. SUPPORT THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY Thanks for your support during our recent, successful matching gift drive. We're also very grateful for your activism! Time after time you rise to the challenge of contacting policy makers and reminding them that Americans value their public lands. For every victory, there are more threatened wild places that need our help. Your donation will help us continue our campaign to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge while also allowing us to fight lesser known but important campaigns to protect places such as California's High Sierra and Idaho's Nez Perce National Forest. Click below to make your secure online donation today! https://secure.ga3.org/05/donate_tws/nW7a4MzE1XqM0 ***************************************** 5. DO YOU KNOW? What is the largest U.S. National Forest? A. Bridger-Teton B. Tongass C. Olympic D. Superior Answer: At almost 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest in Alaska is the nation's largest. It is part of the world's last large temperate rain forest. Learn more at: http://www.wilderness.org/WhereWeWork/Alaska/wilderness.cfm?TopLevel=Wilderness WORDS TO INSPIRE "To waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified..." -- President Theodore Roosevelt ***************************************** Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. http://ga1.org/wilderness/join-forward.html?domain=wilderness&r=W7a4MzE1XqM0 If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for the The Wilderness Society Center at: http://ga1.org/wilderness/join.html?r=W7a4MzE1XqM0E

Today, the President takes the presidential oath of office, "to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." But here at the ACLU, we are concerned that his actions will continue to belie that noble oath. Through their actions, President Bush and his Administration have made it clear that they want us to surrender our freedoms. Today I am asking you to help the ACLU hold the President accountable to his pledge to protect and defend the Constitution by telling your Senators and Representative: "I refuse to surrender my freedom." Tell them that you won't surrender your freedom...and tolerate more and more government intrusion into our bedrooms, our churches and our doctors' offices, to interfere in who we love, how and if we pray and what kind of families we chose to create...allow FBI investigations provoked by nothing more than exercising our freedom of speech...accept that government agents could secretly search the books we read, the credit card purchases we make and the Internet sites we visit or stand silently by while they justify the kind of torture of prisoners that has long been held abhorrent to our country. Click here to e-mail your Senators and Representative now: http://www.aclu.org/FreeSpeech/FreeSpeech.cfm?orgid=EA011905A&ID=17307&c=42&MX=1867&H=0 You can urge your Senators and Representative to take the lead in opposing efforts to make the USA Patriot Act permanent. And you can urge them to oppose other affronts to freedom as well. Don't let them write discrimination into the Constitution...undermine our basic right to privacy...oppose reproductive freedom...destroy the separation of church and state...and selectively apply the right to due process. If you would like to change your personal settings, such as email address or contact information, please click below. Simply enter your email address; you will not need a password at this time. However, if you would like to make changes to your personal settings, you will be asked to choose a password so that you can access your information in the future. This allows us to protect your personal information and privacy while providing online access to your settings at any time. Click here to change your settings: http://www.aclu.org/team/settings.cfm _________________________________________________________ -QUESTIONS? If you have any questions about this message or any other American Civil Liberties Union issue, please click here: http://www.aclu.org/feedback/feedback.cfm?MX=1867&H=0

America's Keystone Forests	Stop Timber Industry Greenwashing Protect Green Building Standards	Natural Gas Crisis Needs Clean Solution

Only 3 Days Left, Demand Renewable Energy Now	Save Essential Habitat for Salmon Recovery	Tell Automakers Stop Suing and Start Making Clean Cars

Help the Animal Victims of South Asia's Tsunami	Support Anti-Mining Protesters / Guatemala	Support Endangered Species

Protect The Arctic Refuge	Action: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Grand Canyon	Help the ACLU Hold the President to His Oath

Help Prevent Oil Spills in Alaska's Coastal Waters