home of the wildlife conservation environmental and freedom activist

You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=419220A21609B0531061519C149

Visit the web address below and tell your friends to
take action on this important campaign!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/farm2/forward?rk=01qUq8d1r1q8W

We encourage you to take action by June 29, 2001

Take Action: Help Farmers Help the Environment.

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

Congress will soon consider providing funding for voluntary,
incentive-based conservation programs administered
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ask your representative
to reward farmers, ranchers and private foresters that
take steps to improve water quality, restore wildlife
habitat, or protect open space. Take Action!

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

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/take-action.tcl?key=419220A21609B0531061519C149  

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:
Representative Maurice Hinchey


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

I urge you to sign the Kind-Gilchrest-Boehlert-Larson
Letter and help make conservation the centerpiece of
the next Farm Bill.

Today, most farmers, ranchers and other private landowners
seeking federal assistance to improve water quality,
combat sprawl, or help wildlife are rejected due to
inadequate funding. Three-out-of-four farmers and ranchers
seeking financial assistance to improve water quality
or wildlife habitat are rejected; thousands of farmers
and private foresters in the path of sprawl are willing
to sell their development rights, but demand exceeds
available funding by a ten-to-one ratio.

Farmers can produce more than food and fiber -- they
can also produce clean water, wildlife habitat and
open space. Boosting annual funding for voluntary incentive-based
conservation programs will do more than reward farmers
and ranchers who protect water quality, help rare species
or serve as the frontline against sprawl - additional
funding will also boost farm and ranch income, help
producers comply with regulations, and reduce water
treatment costs. Unless we reward farmers when they
meet our environmental challenges, one third of our
rivers and lakes will remain polluted, hundreds of
species will creep closer to extinction, and millions
of acre of open space will be lost forever.  

I urge you to sign the Kind-Gilchrest-Boehlert-Larson
Letter and help make conservation the centerpiece of
the next Farm Bill.

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

SAVING WILDLIFE:  Conservationists defend Endangered Species Act SENATE SHAKEUP:   Changeover can't stop Bush energy plan POISON ALERT:  Extremists threaten public health CALL OF THE WILD:   New protections for Denali's famous wolves GLOBAL WARMING:   Explorer sees shrinking of Arctic ice EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS:   Save wildlife with every charge you make WHALE WATCHERS:   Scientists concerned that oil rigs may harm whales 1. SAVING WILDLIFE: Conservationists defend Endangered   Species Act    Famed primatologist Jane Goodall joined conservationists this week in an   aggressive effort to save the Endangered Species Act from Bush administration   attempts to cripple the landmark law. The administration wants to effectively   deny citizens the right under the statute to petition their government to   protect imperiled wildlife. Also under changes proposed by the White House,   Interior Secretary Gale Norton would gain the sole authority to decide which   animals and plants are placed on the endangered species list. Defenders of   Wildlife President Rodger Schlickeisen warned that "politics would trump   science" if Norton is making these decisions and "there would be no   serious federal effort in this country to save additional endangered   species." Click here to read Schlickeisen's full statement: http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/esa.html    At events held across the country, conservationists released a report by   Defenders of Wildlife and other groups warning that many species . including   Cerulean warblers, Aleutian sea otters, New England cottontails, and   wolverines -- already are in danger of extinction while waiting for protection   under the law. Click here to read the report: http://www.defenders.org/publications/report.pdf    "Not only does the miracle of biodiversity enrich and beautify our   lives, but the many species that exist are like rivets in an airplane -- an   airplane that keeps us all aloft," actor Ed Begley Jr. said in Los   Angeles. "How many rivets can we lose before we all crash and burn?"   Goodall said: "It is tragic to see how much of the natural world we have   despoiled. We do not have much time left. We must act now."    WHAT YOU CAN DO: Speak out against the Bush administration's   attempt to gut the Endangered Species Act. Click here to send a free e-mail   today to your elected representatives voicing your support for maintaining   this important law to save imperiled wildlife for future generations: http://www.denaction.org.   Congress will debate this issue soon, so take action now. Don't let the   White House take away your right to petition the government on behalf of   endangered wildlife.    2. SENATE SHAKEUP:   Changeover can't stop Bush energy plan    The Bush energy plan may have been stalled by the changeover in political   control of the Senate. Big Oil champion Frank Murkowski of Alaska is out, and   the moderate Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico is in as chairman of the powerful   Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Bingaman opposes oil drilling   in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- a key plank in the Bush energy plan.   Vermont's Jim Jeffords, whose defection from the GOP caused the Senate   shakeup, now is in line to chair the Environment and Public Works Committee.   He's against drilling in the Arctic refuge, too, and he's co-sponsor of   legislation to sharply reduce power-plant emissions of greenhouse gases. But   conservationists are pointing out that the administration still controls major   aspects of the energy agenda that don't depend on legislation. Only 20 of   the Bush plan's 105 energy proposals require congressional action. The White   House can enact many of its proposals through executive orders. Click here: www.defenders.org/newsroom/energyplan.html   to learn how the Bush energy plan would weaken protections for public land and   wildlife.          3. POISON ALERT: Extremists threaten public health    Five wolves have been poisoned illegally in Idaho by Compound 1080 . one   of the world's deadliest substances . and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife   Service has issued a public-health alert warning backcountry visitors to take   extra precautions with their pets and children. The wolves are believed to   have been poisoned by extremists bent on driving the animals out of the Idaho   wilderness. In recent testimony before the state Legislature, a leader of an   anti-wolf group called Fish and Wildlife officials "criminals and   liars" for supporting reintroduction of wolves into the wild. He added,   "We don't want one wolf in Idaho unless it's in a zoo." Odorless   and tasteless, 1080 causes convulsions, vomiting, spinal pressure, renal   failure, and eventual organ failure. It's deadly to humans, and there's no   known antidote. "We are very concerned for the safety of dogs and   children, as well as wildlife that may be harmed by this illegal   practice," Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Paul Weyland said.   Defenders of Wildlife has offered a $2,500 reward for the capture of those   responsible for the poisonings.          4. CALL OF THE WILD: New protections for Denali's famous wolves    With DEN members and other concerned citizens demanding action, the Alaska   Board of Game banned hunting and trapping in a 100-square-mile zone to save a   very special family of wolves -- the world-famous Toklat wolves. It's the   first time the game board has offered significant protection for any wolves in   Alaska. The Toklat pack is the most-viewed, studied and longest-known family   of wolves in the world. Every year, thousands of visitors view these wolves in   the wild in Denali National Park. They are one of the park's major   attractions. Yet each winter in state lands bordering the park, hunters have   been allowed to trap and shoot these wolves, along with animals in the   Sanctuary pack. These hunters use snares baited with moose carcasses to lure   the wolves to their deaths. Fewer than a dozen of the Toklat wolves remain   alive. "This protection is a step in the right direction," said Paul   Joslin of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. "In a state as big as Alaska   where less than 0.1 percent of state lands are set aside to protect wolves,   surely there should be some places where the growing majority of people who   like to watch wildlife can go to see wild wolves."    5. GLOBAL WARMING: Explorer sees shrinking of Arctic ice    A Norwegian explorer who skied alone across the North Pole is reporting   that Arctic ice has thinned noticeably because of global warming. Boerge   Ousland measured the ice thickness as part of a study by the Norwegian Polar   Institute. He made similar measurements during a 1994 trek. He said ice sheets   were up to a meter thinner in places. In another development involving climate   change, researchers in the science journal Nature reported that they have   identified factors that limit the effectiveness of trees in soaking up carbon   dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. The study has major implications since the   United States, among other nations, has claimed in global-warming treaty talks   that forests are "carbon sinks" and alleviate the need to reduce   power-plant emissions.    6. EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS: Save wildlife with every charge you make    Now you can carry your favorite critter in your wallet when you have one of   Defenders of Wildlife's MBNA Visa credit cards. Choose one of our special 11   cards featuring images of wolves, elephants, lynx cubs, a jaguar, butterfly,   cheetah, dolphin, sea otter, panther, whale, or tiger. Get the card and MBNA   will make a contribution to help save the lives of animals you hold dear. And   then every time you use this credit card for a purchase transaction, MBNA will   make another contribution at no additional cost to you. Plus, for a limited   time, after you make your first qualifying transaction(s) totaling at least   $250 (purchases that you would have made anyway), you'll receive an   exclusive, high-quality gift . the Defenders of Wildlife GEAR® for Sports®   All Purpose Bag with Defenders' logo (a $40 value) -- perfect for traveling   . Join the nearly 15,000 Defenders' supporters who help fund our programs   with every purchase they make. To learn more about this exclusive Defenders of   Wildlife benefit and to submit a secure online application, click on http://www.webapply.com/dow-c9nj    7. WHALE WATCHERS: Scientists concerned that oil rigs may harm whales    Scientists are studying whether oil rigs are harming endangered sperm   whales in the Gulf of Mexico. "Basically, we have a breeding population   of 530 endangered sperm whales right in the middle of one of the hottest areas   for offshore oil development in the continental U.S.," said marine   biologist Randall Davis of Texas A&M University, which is conducting the   study. The scientists are firing biopsy darts at whales and then collecting   tissue for DNA analyses as part of their study. They're worried that oil   development, boat traffic, chemicals and noise may harm the whales. A   committee that advises the Interior Department, meanwhile, has recommended   that Secretary Gale Norton consider allowing oil and gas   exploration in five areas now under moratorium: two off California, one off   the west coast of Florida, one off North Carolina's Outer Banks and a fifth at   George's Bank off the New England coast.          SPECIAL NOTICE    Thank you for being part of the Defend Environment Network (DEN). For your   information, we have updated our privacy policy to allow us to let you know   how your elected officials act on various issues. The   privacy policy now reads:    Defenders of Wildlife does not sell, trade or lend your information to   others.    When you take action at one of our web sites, we do not retain your information unless you elect to receive future   updates. When you so elect, we then send you a message to the e-mail address   you have provided so that you can confirm your election. We do not retain your   information unless you reply.    When you participate in Defenders' on-line environmental advocacy   projects by taking action at our action sitehttp://www.denaction.org,   we will send you updates on how your elected representatives have acted/voted.   To provide this service, we need to retain information about the actions you   have taken.    When you visit our action sitehttp://www.denaction.org,   we link you to your representatives and automatically direct your e-mails,   faxes and letters by using a temporary browser cookie. Without this, your   e-mails, faxes and letters could not be properly addressed. The cookie is   automatically removed from your computer when you leave our site.    When you take advantage of our tell-a-friend feature to spread the word   about an important environmental issue, we send e-mail messages to your   friends on your behalf. The messages identify you as the one who recommended   them. We do not retain your friends' e-mail addresses.    This privacy policy does not apply when you use our websites as portals to   click through to other web sites including shopping/e-commerce web sites   affiliated with Defenders of Wildlife. In such cases, it becomes that new   entity's privacy policy that determines issues such as what, when and how   any information pertaining to you is retained and handled.             *   FORWARD THIS ISSUE TO A FRIEND.   HELP SPREAD THE NEWS   ABOUT WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION. *        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 2001

On May 17th, President Bush announced his proposed
National Energy Plan.  

We've posted a video that presents the unpleasant reality
of his plan in a humorous, but still thought provoking,
way. While the video is funny, the Bush Energy Plan
is not. The plan poses serious long term threats to
the environment as well as public health and provides
no short term relief for cash-strapped consumers.

Check out the video:  
http://www.americanoceans.org/oil/monkey.html  

Take Action  

President Bush's plan is not a done deal. He will need
the support of your representatives, so it is important
to make sure they know how you feel! Using the American
Oceans Campaign Action Network you can send an e-mail
to your Congressional Representative telling him or
her your views on the President's energy policy.  
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy  

Tell them to reject the Bush Energy Plan and to support
smart, clean solutions to our energy problems including
increased use of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

To learn more about the Bush energy policy report visit
our website at:  
http://www.americanoceans.org/oil/ucan.htm  

--------------------------------------------------
If you would like to be removed from American Oceans
Campaign
please respond to this email with "REMOVE" as the
subject line OR visit  

http://actionnetwork.org/home.tcl?key=419220A21708B0601034718C237

***********************************************
Powered by GetActive Software, Inc.
The Leader in Online Campaigns
http://www.getactive.com
***********************************************

You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=419220A21670B0601040804C151

Visit the web address below and tell your friends to
take action on this important campaign!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/cleancarpledge/forward?rk=VdqUq8d1r1ayW

We encourage you to take action by December 30, 2001

THE CLEAN CAR PLEDGE AND INDUSTRY CHALLENGE

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

The Clean Car Campaign, a ForMyWorld.com partner, is
a coalition of organizations dedicated to promoting
a progressive and profound transformation of the motor
vehicle industry. Through its Clean Car Standard (http://www.cleancarcampaign.org/standard.html),
the Campaign challenges industry to develop and market
vehicles in the near-term that are signficantly cleaner
than today's in their production, use, and end-of-life
disposition.  

You can help provide American consumers with the choice
of purchasing cleaner vehicles. Take the Clean Car
Pledge; join the Campaign and thousands of other consumers
across the country asking for cleaner choices. The
Clean Car Campaign will collect your pledge and deliver
it and thousands of others to major US auto companies,
reminding them that US consumers want cars that are
cleaner to operate and more cleanly made.  

For more information about the Clean Car Campaign,
visit:
http://www.cleancarcampaign.org/

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

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/take-action.tcl?key=419220A21670B0601040804C151  

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email
program.

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Clean Car Campaign .


----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----

Next time I shop for a new car or truck, I pledge to
buy the greenest vehicle available that meets my needs
and fits my budget. In particular, I would like to
buy a vehicle which meets the Clean Car Standard for
fuel efficiency, low emissions, and clean production.

Please give me that choice. I challenge you to offer
cars and trucks that take a big step forward in environmental
performance by meeting or exceeding the following criteria:

1. 50% more fuel efficient than other vehicles in their
class;
2. California's stringent tailpipe emission standards
(SULEV);
3. Cleanly manufactured using non-toxic recyclable
materials.

Thank you.

----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

KIMY PERNIA DOMICO, a leader and international ambassador for Colombia's
Embera Katio people has been kidnapped!  The Embera Katio are, along
with the U'wa people one of Colombia's most prominent indigenous
resistance struggles.  They have been peacefully fighting to protect
their lands from flooding by a massive hydro-electric dam for years and
have frequently united with the U'wa to draw attention to land rights
for all indigenous peoples in Colombia.

Please read this action alert from the Canada-Colombia Solidarity
Campaign and take action.  The life of one of Colombia's most powerful
voices for indigenous land rights and dignity is in our hands!  

CALL AND FAX TODAY!

Let the Colombia government know that we are demanding action to protect
and free Senor Domico.  Be polite but let them know you are very
concerned for his safety and concerned that the government is not doing
enough to stop the violence against indigenous communities such as the
Embera and the U'wa.

Kimy has toured Canada and in the U.S. attended a SF forum on Colombia
organized by Global Exchange and Rainforest Action Network in February
of 2000.  Many of us have had a chance to hear his impassioned pleas for
peace first hand and know that he is voice we cannot allow the violence
to silence!

In addition to the faxes and numbers below please fax and call the
Colombia embassy in Washington D.C. and let them know you are extremely
concerned for Senor Kimy Pernia Domico's safety.

Colombian Embassy
2118 Leroy Place, NW
Washington, DC, 20008
(202) 387 8338 - Fax: (202) 232 8643
emwas@colombiaemb.org

in solidarity,
Patrick Reinsborough, RAN



-----Original Message-----
From: Canadian Colombian Association [mailto:esguerra@mail.vif.com]
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 2:08 AM
To: Amigos de Colombia
Subject: PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE A NATIVE ELDER


Spanish Below

Please circulate

**********************************************************************
URGENT!!!   URGENT!!!   URGENT!!!   URGENT!!!  URGENT!!!
**********************************************************************
CALL FOR IMMEDIATE SOLIDARITY!

MOVE SKY AND EARTH TO SAVE THE LIFE OF KIMY PERNIA
DOMICO!

The Canada-Colombia Solidarity Campaign has just been
informed that Kimy Pernia Domico, friend and respected
leader of the Embera Katio Nation of Colombia has just
been kidnapped.

MUNICIPALITY OF TIERRALTA, CORDOBA PROVINCE, COLOMBIA:

The Autonomous Governments (Cabildo Mayor) the Alto
Sinu and Rio Verde inform that: on Saturday, June 2,
2001 at approximately 6:20pm, Embera Katio leader KIMY
PERNIA DOMICO was taken by force by armed men on
motorcycles. KIMY was forced onto a motorcycle by
three armed men who then forced him onto a white
motorcycle. Kimy then stepped off the motocyle to be
later forced back on with a pistol to his head. Two of
the armed men rode with him on one motorcyle and a
third followed behind on another. According to
witnesses, KIMY was yelled out "They have me!" as the
motocycles left Tierralta heading towards the city of
Monteria, Cordoba. Close to a gasoline station, KIMY
threw himself from the motorcycle to be later forced
back on by the amered men who continued their route
towards Monteria.

The manner in which the kidnapping was carried out
indicates that the act was perpetrated by
paramilitaries.

For those reading this letter who live in Canada, you
may have met Kimy Pernia Domico, when he came to
Canada a few years ago to denounce the violations of
his people's rights in reaction to their resistance to
the Urra dam mega project, financed in part by the
Canadian government.

The Urra dam project was protested by the Embera Katio
people of Colombia as the mega project threatened
their very survival. For demanding their rights,
several leaders were assassinated, community members
were kidnapped, others dissappeared.

Despite the barbarism used to break the resistance of
the Embera Katio Nation, they continued their struggle
with dignity in large measure to the courage and
persistance of KIMY PERNIA DOMICO.

Thanks to the relentless spirit of struggle fo the
Embera people and their leaders, the Urra corporation
and the Colombian government signed and agreement for
compensation for and mitigation of Urra's damages to
the Embera people and their terrotorial integrity on
April 19, 2000. Although it was expected that the
violence would end after the signing of the agreement,
it did not and the Embera continued to as targets of
kidnappings and disappearances.

The Cabildo Mayor Embera Katio -CAMAEMKA - asks of
citizens of the world along with international
humanitarian and human rights organizations to to
pronounce themselves in solidarity with their demand
for THE LIBERATION OF THEIR BROTHER, KIMY PERNIA
DOMICO, respect for the Embera Nation, their culture
and their Autonomy.

CAMAEMKA also asks the world to join them in their
demand to the Colombian government for the fulfillment
of the April 19th Agreement concerning the PROTECTION
OF THEIR LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES.

Please direct your letters to:

Señor Presidente Andrés Pastrana Arango
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No.7-26
Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: + 571 287 7939, + 571 284 2186, + 571 289 3377 or
+ 571 337 1351
Salutation: Dear President / Excmo. Sr. Presidente

Señor Vicepresidente Gustavo Bell Lemus
Alto Consejero Presidencial para asuntos de Derechos
Humanos y lucha Contra la Corrupción
Cra. 8 #7-26, Palacio de Nariño
Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: + 571 337 1351
Salutation: Dear Vice-President / Excmo. Sr.
Vicepresidente

Dr. Humberto de la Calle
Ministerio del Interior
Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2
Santa Fe de Bogotá, COLOMBIA
Fax: + 57 1 286 8025 / 281 5884 / 342 3201
Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister
COPIES TO:

Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia ONIC
Apartado Aéreo 32395
onic@colnodo.apc.org
Cabildo Mayor Embera Katio CAMAEMKA
camaemka@col3.telecom.com.co
The  Canada Colombia Solidarity Campaign
colombiacrisis@latinmail.com

CENSAT AGUA VIVA
Amigos de la Tierra (FoE)
Diágonal 24 Nº 27a-42
Santafé de Bogotá
Colombia Sur América
Telfax: 57-1-244 05 81 y 244 24 65


Circular Por favor!!!!
FAXES AND PHONE CALLS ARE PREFERABLE
ENVIAR FAXES O LLAMAR POR TELEFONO ES PREFERIBLE


**********************************************************************
URGENTE!!!   URGENTE!!!   URGENTE!!!   URGENTE!!!
**********************************************************************
LLAMAR A LA SOLIDARIDAD INMEDIATA!

MOVER CIELO Y TIERRA PARA SALVAR LA VIDA DE KIMY
PERNIA DOMICO!

SECUESTRADO IMPORTANTE LIDER DE NUESTRO PUEBLO

LOS CABILDOS MAYORES DE LOS RIOS SINU Y VERDE INFORMAN
A LA OPINON PUBLICA

Que hoy Sábado en inmediaciones a la oficina de los
Cabildos Mayores de los ríos Sinú y Verde, siendo las
6:20 P.M., fue raptado nuestro líder tradicional KIMY
DOMICO PERNIA , por tres hombres armados quienes lo
abordaron y a la fuerza lo obligaron a subirse en una
motocicleta de color blanco, de la cual se bajó; los
hombres armados procedieron entonces a colocarle una
pistola en la cabeza y esposándole lo subieron
nuevamente en la moto en medio de dos de los agresores
mientras que el otro los siguió en otra moto de las
mismas características.  Según versiones, el señor
KIMMY gritaba "me cogieron", en la salida de Tierralta
hacia Montería.  En  cercanía de la estación de
gasolina, KIMY se tiro de la motocicleta y de nuevo
fue obligado a subirse para tomar definitivamente la
vía que conduce hacia dicha ciudad.  Por la forma del
operativo se presume que el acto fue perpetrado por
Paramilitares.


A este acto de violencia se añade el aislamiento
forzado en que se encuentran nuestras comunidades,
autoridades tradicionales, locales y Mayores reunidas
en Asamblea General en la comunidad de Beguidó, ya que
grupos armados, al parecer paramilitares, impiden el
flujo de canoas hacia el Resguardo Indígena.

Exigimos a los violentos cesar sus acciones en contra
de nuestro pueblo y nuestros lideres, y que devuelvan
sano y salvo a nuestro hermano KIMY.

Exigimos a los grupos armados que respeten nuestro
territorio y que no lo conviertan en escenario de
guerra.

Solicitamos a los organismos humanitarios se
pronuncien al respecto y nos ayuden a intermediar por
la liberación de nuestro hermano, el respeto a nuestro
pueblo, nuestra cultura y nuestra Autonomía.

Exigimos al gobierno nacional el cumplimiento del
acuerdo del 19 abril en materia de Protección a
nuestros lideres y comunidades.

TIERRALTA, 2 DE JUNIO DEL 2001.

Natural Resources Defense Council's

CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT

NRDC's California Activist Network was formed to mobilize
and provide action tools to Californians and others
concerned with protecting the state's extraordinary wealth
of natural treasures and the health of its citizens.

June 5, 2001
========================================
In This Issue:

--Action alerts--

1. Tell your assemblymember to prevent harmful roadbuilding
in California's state parks

2. Urge Governor Davis to adequately fund environmental
programs in the new budget

3. Tell the state legislature to get the lead out of
California's schools

4. Urge Senators Feinstein and Boxer to protect California's
special places from oil and gas development

5. Tell President Bush to enforce, not weaken, the
Endangered Species Act

======================================================
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. Tell your assemblymember to prevent harmful roadbuilding
in California's state parks

California's state park system faces growing threats from
unregulated freeway and tollroad construction. Ironically,
our state parks are often the easiest place for highway
builders to construct new freeways and tollroads, *because
California law does not afford them any special protection
from road construction.*

As a result, highway builders view California state parkland
as the path of least resistance. Currently, multiple road
projects in at least eight different counties, stretching
from Del Norte to San Diego, threaten California's parks,
including San Onofre State Beach Park in San Diego County,
Benicia State Recreation Area in Solano County, Chino Hills
State Park in San Bernardino County, and Annandale State
Park in Sonoma County.

SB 116 would protect our parks by prohibiting construction
of major highways and tollroads through them unless
California's secretaries of Natural Resources and
Transportation both agree that a proposed road is necessary
to meet legitimate transportation needs and would not likely
jeopardize the current uses of the park. SB 116 would not
apply to road construction for legitimate necessary park
purposes, such as access to campgrounds or fire prevention.
SB 116 passed the Senate and is now awaiting action in the
Assembly.  

== What to do ==
Contact your state assemblymember and urge him/her to
protect California's state parks by passing SB 116.  

== Contact information ==
You can send a message to your assemblymember directly from
NRDC's Earth Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action.

2. Tell Governor Davis to ensure the state's budget
adequately funds environmental programs

As California continues to purchase power to prevent
blackouts, the state's once-considerable budget surplus has
all but dried up (of an anticipated $9 billion surplus, the
state is currently spending roughly $2 million an hour on
energy). Still, redirecting existing funds to environmental
priorities is achievable. In May Governor Davis issued a
revised budget that scales back key environmental programs
such as his statewide clean beaches initiative, but also
includes funds to acquire the "Cornfield" in downtown Los
Angeles and turn it into a critically needed urban park.  

The state legislature is currently finalizing its budget
recommendations and the governor will have until June 15 to
sign or "blue pencil" out individual items in the budget.

== What to do ==
Send Governor Davis a message urging him to support adequate
funding for state environmental programs and to ensure that
these programs do not get lost in the energy crisis shuffle.

== Contact information ==
You can contact Governor Davis 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.

Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone:  916-445-2841
Fax:  916-445-4633
Email:  graydavis@governor.ca.gov

== Sample letter ==

Subject:  Ensure funding for environmental programs in the
new budget

Dear Governor Davis,

I urge you to ensure that funding for critical state
environmental programs that protect our air, water and land
is included in the coming fiscal year's budget. In
particular, I urge you to sustain the following
environmental programs:

** the Clean Beaches Initiative that would provide critical
funding for local governments and agencies to prevent and
reduce pollution that has fouled our coastal waters;

** the $40 million you have proposed that will allow the
state to acquire the Los Angeles "Cornfield" and manage it
as a state park;

** three key programs to offset increased air pollution
emissions: Zero Emission Vehicles; the Carl Moyer Program
that removes polluting diesel vehicles from our roads; and
the Clean School Bus Program that provides safer buses for
our children;

** No less than $70 million for the CALFED program; and
  
** $4.7 million to fund the Department of Forestry's program
to protect California Oaks from Sudden Oak Death syndrome.  

While I understand that the state is under considerable
pressure to provide for a stable electricity supply, we
cannot afford to neglect environmental programs that will
produce immediate and long-term public health benefits for
all Californians.  

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

3. Tell the state legislature to get the lead out of
California's schools

California schools contain unsafe lead levels that may
interfere with the health and well-being of our children.
Lead is known to adversely affect children's health and
their ability to learn, yet lead paint is found in schools
throughout California. AB 51 and SB 21 would require
inspections and abatement of lead hazards in schools, but
tight budget conditions make the bills' outcomes uncertain.  

== What to do ==
Tell your state senator and assemblyperson to support and
pass SB 21/AB 51 as a needed step towards making
California's schools safe from the hazards of lead
poisoning.  

== Contact information ==
You can contact your state senator and assemblymember
directly from NRDC's Earth Action Center at
http://www.nrdc.org/action.

4. Urge Senators Feinstein and Boxer to protect California's
special places from oil and gas development

President Bush's national energy plan proposes that energy
development be allowed in recently created national
monuments and in other special parts of our public lands --
despite the fact that only tiny amounts of oil and gas would
be obtained and at huge environmental costs. Among the
plan's targets are the California Coastal National Monument
and the Carrizo Plain National Monument.  

These monuments are only two of the very special places
found on the public lands that President Bush and his energy
company friends are determined to open up to drilling, even
though drilling would permanently damage these irreplaceable
treasures. According to a new analysis, the Coastal Monument
would provide only 13 days of American oil consumption and
five-and-a-half days of gas consumption, while the Carrizo
Plain would provide two days of oil and 19 hours of gas.
Energy efficiency and conservation measures would produce
that much energy and more far more quickly and economically
and with far less environmental damage.  

Furthermore, the majority of the oil and gas resources found
on our public lands are already open to oil and gas
development and, in fact, extensive development activities
are already underway on public lands in California and
elsewhere, producing significant amounts of oil and natural
gas.  

== What to do ==
Send a message to Senators Feinstein and Boxer, letting them
know that you are counting on them to protect the Carrizo
Plain National Monument, the California Coastal National
Monument and other special public lands from being
sacrificed to the Bush energy plan.

== Contact information ==
You can contact Senators Feinstein and Boxer 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 (the senators are currently accepting email
only via their websites).

Senator Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone:  202-224-3841 (Washington); 415-393-0707 (San
Francisco)
Fax:  202-228-3954

Senator Barbara Boxer
112 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0505
Phone: (202) 224-3553 (Washington); 415-403-0100 (San
Francisco)
Fax: 202-228-1338

== Sample Letter ==

Subject:  Protect California's special places from energy
development

Dear Senator Feinstein/Boxer,

As you know, the Bush-Cheney energy plan proposes to open
new national monuments and potentially other currently
protected lands in California to energy companies for
exploration and development. I urge you to do all you can to
preserve these key parts of our nation's natural heritage
and prevent them from being sacrificed to the oil and gas
industry.

The Carrizo Plain and California Coastal National Monuments
are two of the nation's newest monuments. They safeguard
singular natural and other resources that would be
irreparably damaged if their current protections were rolled
back and they were opened to oil and gas development.
Allowing development in these special places would
contribute only trivial amounts of oil and gas to U.S.
consumption -- amounts that conservation measures could
surpass faster, more cheaply and with far less environmental
destruction.  

What's more, most of the federal oil and gas resources are
already available to the industry for oil and gas leasing
and development and, in fact, our public lands are already
making significant contributions to energy production.  

As a Californian, I do not want to see this country's
natural heritage sacrificed for the short-term economic
benefit of the oil and gas industry. I depend on you to make
sure that we meet our energy needs without such sacrifice.  

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

5. Tell President Bush to enforce, not weaken, the
Endangered Species Act

President Bush's proposed budget would amend the Endangered
Species Act by effectively revoking the right of citizens to
petition to list species as endangered or threatened or
protect their habitat. This provision would deprive the Fish
and Wildlife Service of any funding to carry out court
orders under the ESA, leaving all enforcement under the act
to the discretion of Interior Secretary Gale Norton.  

Citizen lawsuits are at the heart of the Endangered Species
Act and are the only way citizens can compel the federal
government to act on citizen petitions to protect species.
Citizen petitions have resulted in listing the vast majority
of species now protected by the Endangered Species Act;
without citizen lawsuits almost none of those listed species
would have any designated critical habitat.
  
Numerous species in California, including the California
spotted owl and Pacific fisher, are at risk of extinction
yet still lack protection under the Endangered Species Act.
NRDC recently notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of
its intention to sue the agency, on behalf of our members,
for its failure to move forward with listing the spotted owl
and the fisher under the ESA. President Bush's proposal
would effectively negate any such litigation and, as a
result, species like the owl and fisher would be unlikely to
receive the protection they need, increasing the possibility
of extinction.   

== What to do ==
Send a message to President Bush urging him to abandon his
proposal to undermine citizen suit enforcement of the
Endangered Species Act.

== Contact information ==
You can contact President Bush 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.

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone:  202-456-1414
Fax:  202-456-2461
Email:  president@whitehouse.gov

== Sample letter ==

Subject: Enforce, don't weaken, the Endangered Species Act

Dear President Bush,

I urge you to abandon a reckless rider to the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service's budget that would deprive
citizens like myself of the right to sue to enforce the
provisions of the Endangered Species Act. Citizen
participation is a vital part of the ESA's process. Indeed,
in California alone 92 percent of the species listed over
the past 10 years are a result of public petitions.

Preserving endangered species is consistent with a truly
conservative agenda of conserving resources for our children
and our children's children. Rather than revoke citizens'
rights to sue, your administration should increase the Fish
and Wildlife Service's budget to a level where it can meet
its responsibilities under the ESA.

Again, I urge you to abandon this unwise and uncalled-for
rider.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

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

NRDC distributes three bulletins by email. To subscribe to
any or all of them or to join our activist networks, go to:
http://www.join.nrdcaction.org/subscribe.asp.

If you already subscribe and want to change your
subscriptions or update your email address or other
information, go to:
http://www.join.nrdcaction.org/profileeditor
(or see the unsubscribe information below).

The CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT is distributed
monthly to members of NRDC's California Activist Network and
provides action tools to Californians and others concerned
with protecting the state's natural resources and the health
of its citizens. To unsubscribe from the California Activist
Network Action Alert, send an email message to
wildcalifornia@nrdcaction.org with REMOVE in the subject
line.

EARTH ACTION is sent biweekly and calls out urgent
environmental issues at the national level and from around
the country. To unsubscribe from Earth Action, send an email
message to earthaction@nrdcaction.org with REMOVE in the
subject line.

LEGISLATIVE WATCH is sent biweekly when Congress is in
session and tracks environmental bills moving through the
federal legislature. To unsubscribe from Legislative Watch,
send an email message to legwatch@nrdcaction.org with REMOVE
in the subject line.

==========
About NRDC
==========

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with over 400,000 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
California Activist Network email: wildcalifornia@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

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

In this post:
1. Background Info : Citigroup and the Oil War in Colombia
2. Swiss activists highlight Citibank's investment in war in Colombia
3. Citi/Banamex merger

*******************************************************
#1


We've just heard from Swiss activists about an exciting action which took
place in Geneva last month.  (See #2 below)
To understand why people striving for peace in justice in Colombia are
confronting Citibank we need a little background on Citigroup's involvement
in Colombia.

BACKGROUND INFO :  CITI AND THE OIL WAR IN COLOMBIA

Colombia is a country being torn apart by a 4 decade old civil war that has
killed 35,000 people in the last decade alone and displaced nearly 2 million
people from their homes.  Massive human rights violations, paramiltiary
terror and an average of 12 political killings a day (mostly non-violent
labor and community organizers) have created a climate of violence and fear.
The violence has particularly targeted ethnic minorities such as Colombia's
indigenous peoples, the Afro-Colombian communities or anyone who stands in
the way of government sponsored resource extraction.  Unfortunately the role
of the US has not been to bolster the ongoing peace talks but rather to
approve Plan Colombia  - $1.3 billion in military aid to Colombia for the
so-called "War on Drugs". As a global movement has arisen to stop the
violence and human rights violations, activists around the world have begun
to look at which companies are doing business in Colombia.

Citigroup is one of the largest foreign investors in Colombia.  Citi was the
lead arranger on the main loan to the Colombia government last year, $250
million split between debt repayments and "infrastructure" investment.  In
reality Citi's loans amount to nothing less that a privatization of
structural adjustment.  Infrastructure in Colombia means fossil fuel
development.  The money is not being invested in community improvement,
health or education but rather further resource exploitation efforts that
will increase  violence, human rights violations and environmental
destruction.

The recent massive increase in US military aid to Colombia has drawn a lot
of attention to Colombia's bloody civil war.  Unfortunately not enough
attention has been paid to some of the key players in the conflict -
American oil and gas companies.  It is these companies like Occidental (Oxy)
Petroleum, BP-Amoco, Texas Oil and Enron who lobbied for US military aid to
Colombia because they plan to make a lot of money from Colombia oil and they
want the Colombia military to have all the firepower they need to project
their oil operations.

Already since Oil infrastructure is a major target for the guerrillas 1 in
every 4 Colombian soldiers is dedicated to protecting oil installations.
Oxy Petroleum's Canon Limon pipeline has been bombed almost 800 times in its
15 years of operation.  These bombings have led to the spilling of over 2
million barrels of oil - 8 times the amount released in the Exxon Valdez
spill.  But the real motivation for further militarization in Colombia is to
gain access to more of Colombia's untapped oil reserves.  In the last year
alone the Colombia government awarded a record 13 new oil exploration
concessions and due to the fighting only about 20% of Colombia's potential
oil regions have been explored.  To find out more about the connection
between oil companies and Plan Colombia check out the Resource Center of the
America;s excellent article "Oil Rigged" at
http://www.america.org/News/Features/200102_Colombia_oil/20010201_oil_rigged
_in_colombia.asp  Although the exact details of most of Citi's investment in
"infrastructure" are secret you can be sure that they are designed to go
hand in hand with expanded oil operations.

Oil exploitation is not only incredibly destructive to the environment but
in Colombia it is inextricably linked to violence.  As oil companies invade
new land, local communities, campesinos and indigenous peoples are getting
caught in the crossfire.  One of the best known examples is the U'wa people
in NE Colombia who have inspired a global solidarity movement with their
uncompromising resistance to Oxy's efforts to drill for oil on their
ancestral lands.   To the U'wa oil drilling is a death sentence both for
their land and their culture. The U'wa believe that the oil is the blood of
mother earth and have repeatedly said they are willing to die to protect
their land and way of life.  Thousands of Colombian soldiers have occupied
their land and Oxy has illegally begun exploratory drilling on U'wa land.
For more info about the U'wa struggle see
http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/beyond_oil/oxy/index.html

It is clear that Citi's operation in Colombia are a grave threat to human
rights and the environment.  Rainforest Action Network is opposed to further
investment in fossil fuels anywhere but particularly in Colombia where oil
exploration is so linked to terror and violence Citi's investments are
highly suspect.   Communities on the frontlines like the U'wa and so many
other indigenous peoples are threatened by a global financial system that
continues to put short term profits ahead of basic principles like human
rights and the environment.

That's why we all need to continue to keep the pressure on Citigroup and
demand that they transform their operations to include social and
environment standards into all their decision making.  Actions speak louder
than words!  Let people know that Citi is the world's most destructive bank
and head to a branch near you to creatively educate their customers and send
a message to Citi that WE WANT OUR PLANET BACK!  For resources, networking
or action ideas check out www.ran.org  or contact Rainforest Action Network
directly at :

SF - organize@ran.org 415-398-4404/1-800-989-RAIN
NY - beka@ran.org  718-218-7566/1-888-840-6416

**********************************************
#2  SWISS ACTIVISTS TAKE ACTION!  55 ARRESTED PROTESTING CITI'S INVESTMENT
IN COLOMBIA
From : OdM [red-red2@span.ch]

On wednesday May 9, 55 persons occupied the offices of CitiBank (Geneva) to
protest the escalating massacres of Afro-colombians on the Pacific coast
(more than 300 dead on the Rio Naya for Easter and several thousand
refugees). We chose to confront a multinational bank because we think that
an urgent strategic objective is to make the link between " globalisation "
(which far too many people still think is basically a question of
economics, decisions made at WTO, IMF, etc.) and the terror campaigns, so
called "low level" wars and occasional genocides which the " globalisers "
don't hesitate  to use against their most determined adversaries.

We chose a multinational rather than the Colombian or US diplomatic missions
because there is a saying in french : " Its better to talk directly to God
than to his saints " (or rather, to Satan than his devils).

We chose CitiBank because it admits to doing from 100 million to half a
billion $ of business a year in Colombia, which makes it one of the big
financial players (see www.coinvertir.com for an index of the 400 biggest
foreign investors in Colombia) in Colombia, and the biggest at hand in
downtown Geneva. CitiBank is already known for investing in particularly
anti-ecological, anti-social activities (see RainForest Action Network
www.ran.org and  www.colombiasupport.net and has been involved in at least
three famous drug money laundering operations, one of them for the Salinas
(ex-Mexican president) clan.

We were only counting on about a dozen people to actually go in, but on
Wednesday almost 100 people showed up for the demo, and when we started
running into the building, more than half just followed us in ! And
everyone really happy to be there. Every time another thunderstruck
executive stepped out of the elevator people would sing " Happy birthday to
you ! ".

Our demands :
The Bank, not at all keen to have us arrested and thereby increase the
already unwanted publicity, offered to negotiate our withdrawal. Of course
we could have asked for them to withdraw their investments, or the end of
the Plan Colombia, or of capitalism, but after some discussion we decided
to make a demand that would seem totally acceptable to any normal human
being, but which would be VERY hard for a banker to envision.
So we said that we would leave if the Bank - or even the head of the Bank
speaking as an individual - (see how reasonable we are ?) would make a
simple statement to the press saying that the impunity granted to the
paramilitary killers by the government of Colombia was unacceptable and
that it was clearly unethical to continue investing in an industrial
setting where 12 political killings happen a day or in agriculture on
lands whose real inhabitants are driven off by systematic terror
campaigns.

Imagine a banker saying that to the press ! Imagine him refusing to say it!
The vice-president of the Bank chewed on this dilemma for about five
hours, making ridiculous counter suggestions, hoping that we would get
hungry (but we called out for some pizza) or that we would finally back
down to threats of arrest.

Two hours after closing time he finally brought us a fax from European
headquarters in London saying that Citibank was " a good corporate citizen
whose behavior adheres to the highest standards of a global financial
institution " (which of course is not very difficult) and that they would "
respond in writing in due course " concerning our question ! Of course it
was no deal, so the police finally carted us away for a night in solitary
confinement.

But that gave us an idea :
We have decided to go back regularly, to get the answer to our question :
Do they approve or not approve of investing in this sort of conditions ?
But if you want, you can all go to your local Citibanks to ask for the
answer, in all sorts of ways and guises! After all - transparency oblige -
we should at least get answers to such simple questions !

There are hundreds of CitiBanks around the world. Hopefully it won't take
them five hours every time, but take a sandwich, just in case ! Consult
CITIBANK.COM and CITIGROUP.COM to find your nearest friendly banker.

One thing is sure. We have to act NOW to help our friends in Colombia.
Yesterday came news that the paramilitaries have kidnapped 150 agricultural
workers in the Arauca region and there are rumors of a new massacre on the
Pacific coast.

Hasta la Victoria !
APCM


**************************************************
#3

CITIGROUP BECOMES MEXICO'S LARGEST BANK AFTER BANAMEX MERGER

In a move to expand their global consumer base and further consolidate power
in the Global South, on May 17th Citigroup spent $12.5 billion last week to
merge with Mexico's 2nd largest bank, Banamex.  The move makes Citi the
largest financial institution in Mexico, as they already operate the Banco
Nacional de Mexico SA.  The Citi-Banamex merger is the largest financial
services transaction in any emerging market and the biggest corporate deal
in Mexican history.  The move will place Citigroup in control of one of the
major - and proven - money laundering institutions in Mexico and allow
Citigroup (first time for a US company) to penetrate the Mexican stock
market.

While celebrated by Wall Street and the business press as an exciting
indication of good faith in developing markets and a step closer to the "new
world order", the deal is emblematic of the corporate financial system's
modus operandi : blind maximization of shareholder profits at the expense of
the long-term health of the environment and communities.  And shareholders
are making out big--to the tune of $7.5 billion in profits from the deal -
while Mexican taxpayers are bound by the bank bailout deals to pay off $3.8
billion in bad debt. Once again, the global elite receive the benefits at
the expense of Mexican taxpayers and the poor.

Mexico City governor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador spoke out agaist the
merger, saying that the terms were brokered so that Citi could avoid taxes
on the deal. Payments to public budgets would amount to 3 billion dollars,
nearly 1/4 of the revenue President Fox hopes to raise from a fiscal reform
program that includes increased taxes on the sales of food and medicine.

The deal is also consistent with Citi's history of capitalizing upon
relationships with countries with corrupt governments.   Through their
private bank, debt-equity swaps, and illicit money laundering schemes, Citi
promises to make out big.  And given their shady track record with Mexico,
going as far back as 1929, all indicators point to a deepening of
destructive fiscal policies and further corruption.

For instance:

** In 1995, most Mexican banks were technically bankrupt.  The peso
collapsed, and an audit revealed a financial system replete with shady and
corrupt practices including $7.8 billion in questionable loans to roughly
3000 political elites.  Then Secretary Treasurer Robert Rubin (now chair of
Citigroup's executive committee) engineered a bank bailout that saved the
Mexican government from defaulting on billions of dollars worth of debt. The
bailout could end up costing as much as $105 billion--about $1030 for every
man, woman, and child in a country where the per capita gross domestic
product is just over $4600 and 40% of the population lives in abject
poverty. Banamex's viability was in question until Rubin came into the
picture--perhaps it's back-scratching time?

** In 1999, Citigroup came under fire by Congress and the General Accounting
Office for illicitly laundering (1994) over $100 million in drug money for
Raul Salinas, brother of the Mexican president. It was also found to be
complicit in the laundering of money for corrupt officials from Nigeria,
Pakistan, and Gabon through its exclusive private banking operations for the
rich.

** In 1999, then Treasury Secretary Rubin led an "all out" offensive
(Operation Casablanca) against Mexican money laundering. One of the banks
targeted was Banamex which was exposed as being a willing participant in the
trade. U.S. Customs Agent Bill Gately, who later retired in disgust, accused
Rubin (on "60 Minutes") of deliberately shutting down the investigation
before it got to the highest levels and particularly before it began to
implicate U.S. banks

** Banamex owner Roberto Hernandez is overtly connected to illegal drug
traffic and has lost a lawsuit against a Mexican publisher after the courts
found that allegations connecting Hernandez to a major cocaine smuggling
operation  were well substantiated.  Hernandex will now join Citibank's
board.  The link between cocaine and drugs is a familiar story at Citi since
November 2000 when an AP story exposed Marc Weill, 44, the son of CEO Sandy
Weill, as having a cocaine addiction.  After the story ran, he had to
relinquish control of Citigroup's $113 billion investment portfolio.

The NY Times describes the merger in the following words, "institutions are
taking power where individuals once reigned, and the border laid down more
than 150 year ago is beginning to fade".  This is true more than ever, given
the increase in US/Mexico trade ($275 billion/yr) since NAFTA--a trade
agreement that Citi lobbied hard to implement, and that has led to the
accelerated destruction of Mexico's environment, deterioration in working
conditions and abuses of human rights.  And with the Banamex merger, Citi
officials are setting their sites towards infiltrating the US Hispanic
market, valued at an estimated $600 billion.  According to the chairman of
Banamex, Roberto Hernandez, the deal with Citigroup would provide "the
financial integration we need to accelerate economic development in a world
of free trade and globalization".

Unfortunately Citi's idea of development comes at a high cost to the
environment, communities, and future generations--a cost we can't afford to
pay.

For more info about Citi's involvement in political corruption, money
laundering, and the drug trade, check out Narco News at
http://www.narconews.com

To listen to the Democracy Now! radio transcript dealing with the
Citi/Banamex merger, with guests:
* James Petras, Professor of Sociology at SUNY-Bingamton
* Alberto Giordono, publisher of NarcoNews
* Ilyse Hogue, Director of the Rainforest Action Network Citigroup Campaign
check out the May 21, 2001 show at
http://www.democracynow.org/archive/index.html

****************************
* WILD ALERT
* TUESDAY, June 5, 2001
****************************

***SPECIAL NOTE: We have a new action page!  Now, you can fully edit
letters, and your personal information will be saved for future use.  
Any problems or feedback? Contact wildalert@tws.org ***

New Jersey's Holgate Beach provides an extraordinary experience for
solitude and bird-watching.  But illegal dune buggies and other
off-road vehicle threaten that experience, as they violate Holgate
Beach's federally designated Wilderness status.  Now, legislation
introduced in Congress would change the Holgate Wilderness boundary to
legitimize off-road vehicles there.  Tell your Representative to
oppose this wilderness-busting legislation -- take action at
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=423

Background
Amid the hustle and bustle of the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey
Turnpike, there are few wild places to experience solitude and
wildlife in their natural habitat.  The Holgate seashore on the Edwin
B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge provides visitors a spectacular
experience to birdwatch, fish, and relax free from the sounds, smells,
and wildlife harassment caused by off-road vehicles, common on other
beaches.

This congressionally designated Wilderness area, on Long Beach Island,
was set aside to host thousands of shorebirds that migrate and feed
along the coast of New Jersey.  The area is so critical that from
April through August the Wilderness is completely reserved to allow
piping plovers, a federally threatened species, time to nest and
migrate.  Moreover, this area remains a prime area for migrating
shorebirds through the fall months.  Close to 300 bird species have
been sighted there, including Atlantic brant, American black duck, and
brown pelican.

Problem
Illegal dune buggies and other off-road vehicles are violating Holgate
beach's Wilderness status and are most likely harassing migrating
birds during their critical migration seasons. In New Jersey, only 2
percent of the land is protected as Wilderness, while more than two
dozen beaches allow beach buggies and other off-road vehicles to drive
along the shoreline.  On Long Beach Island alone, off-road vehicles
are allowed on nearly 18 miles of beaches -- only 2.5 miles of
undeveloped beach in the Refuge are off limits to vehicles.

Anti-Wilderness Legislation
Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives
(H.R. 896) to change the boundary of Holgate Wilderness to allow beach
buggy and other off-road vehicle use.  The bill would undermine
Holgate's Wilderness protection simply to legitimize an illegal
activity.  It's not appropriate for Holgate beach, and it sets a
terrible precedent for Wilderness areas nationwide.

Take Action
Your voice is needed to support New Jersey's Wilderness.  Contact your
Representative today at
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=423 or tell them
directly:

- OPPOSE H.R. 896, which would change the Holgate Wilderness
boundaries simply to allow illegal off-road vehicle use, at the
expense of disturbing migratory bird habitat and the recreational
experiences of visitors who seek to birdwatch, fish, and relax, free
from the sounds and smells of off-road vehicles.
- What little remains of New Jersey's wild shores should be protected,
not opened up to more destruction.
- H.R. 896 is a bad idea for New Jersey and sets a terrible precedent
for the rest of America's Wilderness areas.

Send your comments to:
Rep. _______________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20515
Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Fax/Email: too many to list, so go to http://www.house.gov for your
Representative's contact information.

Also send a copy to Rep. Saxton:
Rep. Jim Saxton
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20515
FAX: 202/225-0778
EMAIL: jim.saxton@mail.house.gov

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

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

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

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.

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

Greenpeace Activist News Vol. 1, No. 6
7 June 2001

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To unsubscribe or change your email address,
see the link at the end of this message.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This issue of Activist News includes Greenpeace plans to confront George Bush in Europe, a virtual conversation with the new executive director, major toxics and genetics victories, factory trawling, a Bush Push Flash Bash, and exciting new websites on whales and forests.

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

GEORGE W. BUSH TO ARRIVE IN EUROPE ON 12 JUNE

In what is arguably US President George W. Bush's most important trip yet, he is scheduled to visit Europe starting on 12 June, with side visits to a number of countries, highlighted by a full EU / US summit in Goteburg, Sweden.

Greenpeace plans numerous activities during this week, with a special focus on climate change and Star Wars. The EU / US summit in particular is a key opportunity for European countries to stress that Bush's current policies are damaging the global environment and accelerating the global arms race.

You can follow the activities from the Greenpeace website at:

http://greenpeace.org

Please take action now to urge key European leaders to help lead the fight to implement the Kyoto Protocol against global warming and climate change by sending a letter from:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/ams/e?a=cop6bis&s=blue2

You can also join the almost 6000 people who have sent a message to the top US oil companies at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/ams/e?a=BigOil&s=blue2

and the more than 4000 people who have criticized Ford's double dealing from

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s//ams/e?a=Ford&s=blue2

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

A VIRTUAL CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR

Gerd Leipold, the newly appointed Greenpeace International Executive Director, will be posting an article at the Cyberactivist Community on Monday, 11 June, and will be replying to questions and comments for most of the week. Have you ever wanted to know something about Greenpeace or participate in a international campaign discussion? Here is a good opportunity!

Gerd is a long time Greenpeace activist. You can read more about him on his home page on the Greenpeace cyberactivist community at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/memberSpace?u=7512

Look for the discussion beginning on Monday 11 June at:

http://act.greenpeace.org

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

TOXICS AND GENETICS VICTORIES!

Over 10 years of campaigning was rewarded in Stockholm, Sweden at the end of May with the signing of a global treaty which bans the twelve worst toxic pollutants. Thanks to the more than 700 cyberactivists who sent messages, which were displayed inside the venue, urging politicians to turn these fine words into real action.

You can read more details on the treaty and actions to pressure governments to implement the ban:

http://www.greenpeace.org/~toxics/toxic_action.html

Greenpeace China has also had a major victory in its campaign for stricter regulations and labelling of genetically modified food. See:

http://www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/highlights/gmo/ChinaGMO.htm

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

HELP STOP NORWEGIAN FACTORY TRAWLING

Cod fisheries are collapsing all around the world, and yet fishing fleets continue to pursue dwindling stocks into the most remote regions of the world. Greenpeace is especially concerned about the ongoing Arctic cod fishery in the Barents sea of the Arctic ocean. Please take a minute today and ask the Norwegian prime minister to halt this destructive factory trawling at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/ams/e?a=NorFish&s=blue2

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

BUSH PUSH FLASH BASH

Are you a web or Flash designer? Are you looking for a chance to showcase your sense of humour and environmental concern? Then join the Bush Push Flash Bash!

Many people around the world are concerned about the destructive policies of US President George W. Bush. In particular, Bush is refusing to implement the Kyoto Protocol on global warming and threatening to tear up a key nuclear disarmament treaty and proceed with a Star Wars missile defense system.

We've been making fun of Bush's plans with our Star Wars e-card at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/ecs/c?i=4

(Please send it to all your friends if you haven't yet!) We think that there are a lot more opportunities to use Flash or other web multimedia to attack the Bush agenda on climate change and militarism and yet make people smile as well.

If you are interested, please find more information at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/991930676/index_html

If you haven't yet sent a letter to US Defense Minister Rumsfeld about Star Wars, you still can at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/ams/e?a=StarWars_US&s=s01

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

NEW WHALE SITE LAUNCHED

For stunning images, great Flash animations, e-cards, action alerts and plenty of information about the Greenpeace campaign to protect the world's largest mammels, please visit our new whales site at:

http://whales.greenpeace.org

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

RAINFOREST VIRTUAL TOUR

For those of us not lucky enough to visit the beautiful temperate rainforest on the west coast of North America (or for those who want to remember the experience), we have created a virtual tour at:

http://www.greenpeace.org/greatbear

(Warning: this works best is you have a fast computer and a fast Internet connection.)

VISIT THE CYBERCENTRE

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