home of the wildlife conservation environmental and freedom activist

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

Thanks to all of you who wrote letters in support of the people of
Stratoniki, Greece, who are struggling to stop mining that literally
undermines their town.  Please read this report of an initial legal victory
for Stratoniki residents; we'll keep you posted as the case
proceeds. --Paula

HELLENIC MINING WATCH
Press Release
Judge Rapporteur moves that TVX's permit be annulled

Ierissos, June 8 2002

The Greek Council of State, the country's Highest Administrative Court,
heard yesterday the Petition of Annulment filed by the Municipality of
Stagira-Akanthos and residents of Stratoniki against the permit issued to
TVX Hellas allowing it to mine underneath Stratoniki. The Judge Rapporteur,
who presented the case to the plenary, moved that the permit should be
annulled as illegal because TVX had not conducted the Environmental Impact
Study required under Greek Law. The EIS is the most importart part of the
permitting process, yet TVX claimed that the environmental impacts of mining
under the village would not be significantly greater compared with its
previous mining activities and thus, no new study was required. This
argument, however, was rejected by the Judge who accepted that the permit
issued without an EIS was illegal without an EIS and asked the Court to
annul it.

The Judge also noted that underground mining operations had already caused
significant damage to houses, surface collapses and groundwater depletion in
the area.

Stratoniki is a centuries old small town built on unstable ground in an
extremely seismic area. Underground mining in the past had caused extensive
land subsidence and the destruction of a number of homes and a church.
Completely disregarding the strong opposition to its activities by the
residents of Stratoniki who fear for their lives and property, TVX had
already been mining under the village for months before it was granted the
official permit to mine, on February 15. This permit has marked the
beginning of even more powerful protests and since then the company has been
operating under the protection of a strong police force sent in by the
central Government.

Regardless of the final decision of the Court, which is expected in a couple
of months, the residents of Stratoniki are preparing to file massive
compensation claims against the company for damages caused by its
operations.

Maria Kadoglou
Hellenic Mining Watch
http://antigoldgreece.tripod.com/

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

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

To:   All Activists
From: Matt Hollamby, U.S. PIRG
Date: June 11, 2002

National Monuments Call-In Day this Wednesday, June 12th 
Tell Gale Norton to Protect our National Monuments

The planning process that will determine the fate of some of our
greatest national treasures, our new National Monuments, has begun.  
Over the summer, as the planning process continues, proposals for oil
and gas drilling, grazing issues, right-of-ways for powerlines, and
access for off-road vehicles to these sensitive areas will all come
under consideration.  Unfortunately, the Bush administration and
Secretary of Interior, Gale Norton, have already made it clear that
their main interest in these and other public lands is resource
extraction.

Fortunately, because of the letters and comments of people like you we
have been able to send a clear message to the administration that the
American people support strong protections for these special places.

Now, with so much at stake during the planning process, we need to let
the administration know that any back door attempts to open these
treasures to their friends in industry are unacceptable.  Gale Norton
recently announced her approach to managing the monuments, including
some very troubling possibilities.  For instance, Secretary Norton made
references to creative nontraditional management and partnership
arrangement for management of ongoing traditional activities.   In the
past, proposals like these have meant letting industry and user groups
like dirt bikers - manage themselves; our National Monuments are too
important to let the fox guard the hen house.

That s why we are asking you to call Secretary Norton this Wednesday,
June 12th and tell her that you support strong and meaningful
protections for our national monuments.  We have set up a toll free
number that will connect you directly to the Secretary s office at the
Department of the Interior in Washington.

Below is a straightforward message you might use when you call:

Hi, my name is ___ and I'm calling from (city / state).  I am calling to
let Secretary Norton know how important our newest National Monuments
are to me.  I am glad that the planning process for the monuments has
begun, but concerned that the department may allow industry and user
groups to control the process.  Inappropriate development, like oil and
gas drilling should not be allowed in the monuments, off road vehicle
use should be strictly limited, and the monument boundaries should not
be changed.  Our National Monuments are important national treasures
that deserve strong protections.

The toll free number is 1-888-213-4697, or you may dial (202) 208-7351.  
The toll free number will be activated during Interior business hours
Wednesday, June 12th- between 9am and 5pm Eastern Standard Time.

  Thank you for taking the time to call.

  Sincerely,
  Matt Hollamby
  U.S. PIRG Public Lands Advocate


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

To: All Activists
From: Jeff Berman, Colorado Wild
Date: June 11, 2002

FOREST SERVICE TO ALLOW LOGGING IN COLORADO ROADLESS AREAS
Tell Chief: No Logging in Routt Roadless

The Forest Service has approved logging 1,200 roadless acres of
Colorado's Routt National Forest. The logging will not only degrade
these lands, but has little scientific basis to suggest it will do
anything to achieve its putative goal: control a beetle epidemic. Even
the US EPA opposes it.  

This appears to be the *first* decision in the nation to permit roadless
area logging since the Roadless Area Conservation Rule was finalized in
2001.  Moreover, this roadless sale would not be allowed if the Rule
were being implemented.

This decision makes a mockery of administration claims not to violate
the Rule.  Please tell the Forest Service to cancel its logging plan. To
send a letter, go to:
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=1591   

Thanks for helping Colorado's wild areas.

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

This spring, the Board of Trustees for the Los Angeles Community College District, the largest network of colleges in the U.S., adopted the highest green building standard for any college ever in the U.S. However, due to a lack of clean energy expertise, this major victory could be lost if the Board Members adopt a business-as-usual energy policy.

It is critical that the Board slow down and consider an energy policy that mandates 25 percent of the energy load of all new buildings (which is planned to be 40 - 50) be met with solar photovoltaics and the highest degree of energy efficiency and conservation.

Please send a fax to the Board of Trustees and staff of the Los Angeles Community College to adopt a clean energy policy at their next committee hearing on June 14th!

Just go to:
http://www.cleanenergynow.org/bin/takeaction.fpl?action_id=135

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


Want to do more?  Become a Greenpeace member!
https://www.greenpeaceusa.org/join2/cen.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2002

Contact:  Steve Holmer, American Lands Alliance, Washington DC,
202-547-9105
Doug Heiken, Oregon Natural Resources Council, Eugene, Oregon,
541-344-0675

Conservationists Defend the "Environmental Bill-of Rights" which is
Under Attack by the Bush Administration

Washington D.C.- Dale Bosworth, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, will
testify before the House Resources Committee Wednesday, June 12th about
"excess process" that prevents the Forest Service from achieving its
resource extraction goals.   Conservationists responded that the Forest
Service in locked in a "culture of lawlessness" and should stop making
excuses for repeatedly breaking US environmental laws.

"Chief Bosworth essentially unveiled a timber industry 'wish list' to
get rid of our environmental safeguards," said Doug Heiken, Oregon
Natural Resources Council.  "The bottom line is that the Bush
administration is doing industry's bidding by proposing to repeal
environmental safeguards and make it easier for the timber industry to
destroy our public land legacy."

"The Forest Service doesn't like the environmental laws so they are
proposing to change the rules.  Federal environmental laws basically say
that decision makers have to 'look before they leap', the agency wants
to 'log before they look'," said Randi Spivak, Executive Director of
American Lands Alliance.  "Even if it takes a little more time,
requirements for informed and accountable decisions are a small price to
pay to protect our children's public land heritage.  We must not weaken
environmental safeguards for the convenience of the timber industry or
the bureaucrats."

"Environmental review shines a bright light on the dark truth of forest
destruction, species extinction, and impaired water quality," said Brian
Vincent, California Organizer for American Lands.  "The Bush
administration wants to pull the wool over the eyes of the public and
ignore the serious consequences of forest destruction. Clean air, clean
water and healthy forests are too important to sacrifice for the
short-term profits of the timber industry."

Conservationists say the solution is to continue to use the core
principles of informed decision-making and accountability and hope that
federal forest managers decide to start following laws protecting
threatened fish and wildlife and begin helping rural communities restore
public forests and watersheds.  

"The public should continue to insist on fully informed decisions, and
good decisions that restore the forest will be approved quickly without
appeals and litigation," said Heiken.  "While bad decisions, like those
that destroy old-growth, should be stopped and held accountable."


Background Information on Procedural Safeguards for the Environment

Environmental Safeguards are Mostly Procedural

Opponents of the environment have used the term "analysis paralysis" to
describe their frustration with environmental requirements. To
understand this issue one has to understand the nature of our
environmental laws. Our environmental laws rarely if ever say, "thou
shall not pollute and destroy . . ."

Our nation's principle environmental safeguards are processes and
procedures intended to achieve decisions that are fully informed and
accountable. The most basic premise of federal environmental law is that
a federal decision-maker must "look before they leap."

The U.S. Constitution does not protect the environment.  Environmental
laws like the National Environmental Policy Act is like "due process"
for the environment. It's the closest thing we have to a Bill-of-Rights
for the environment. It's the main way for the public to hold the
government accountable for protecting our public land, air, and water.
To suggest that we get rid of our environmental Bill-of-Rights is asking
for greater public opposition and uninformed land management decisions.

Conservationists Have a Solution

Public opposition and the resulting gridlock is a result of
controversial projects in sensitive areas such as old growth, roadless
areas, important habitat areas, and near streams.  The obvious solution
is to avoid logging in sensitive areas and to listen to the public's
repeated demands that these critically important forest areas be
permanently protected.

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

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

(Apologies again for ads that Topica now posts at the top of our listserve
messages, over our objections. We're working to develop an ad-free system;
in the meantime please overlook the ads and go straight to our action alerts
and updates. Thanks.)

Over the last 6 years, Global Response letter-writing campaigns have helped
persuade many corporations to stop doing business in Burma. Despite appeals
from environmental and human rights organizations around the world, Unocal
Corp continues to collaborate with Burma's brutal military government to
build the Yadana pipeline.  Now there's good news in the campaign to hold
Unocal accountable for its human rights abuses.  Here's a press release from
Earthrights International:

For Immediate Release: June 11,  2002

CONTACT:     Richard Herz    202-466-5188
                          Paul Hoffman    310-396-0731
                          Dan Stormer     626-585-9600

COURT ORDERS UNOCAL TO STAND TRIAL FOR ABUSES IN  BURMA
Burmese peasants and oil executives to meet in  California courtroom

Los Angeles and Washington, DC, June 11, 2002 ? A landmark  human rights
lawsuit against Unocal Corp. will be going to trial in California  Superior
Court in September, following today's decision by Judge Victoria Chaney
rejecting the oil giant's attempt to dismiss the case. The suit challenges
human  rights abuses committed by the notoriously brutal Burmese military
on behalf of  Unocal's Yadana Pipeline project in southern Burma. It is the
first case in U.S.  history in which a corporation will stand trial for
human rights abuses  committed abroad.

"We presented the court with irrefutable evidence that the  Burmese
military forced villagers to perform hard labor against their will and
committed widespread human rights violations for the benefit of Unocal's
project," said Richard Herz of EarthRights International, co-counsel for
the  plaintiffs. "Unocal was dealing with the devil. Now they will have to
answer to  a jury."

The plaintiffs in John Doe I et. al. v. Unocal Corp. et  al. are villagers
who lived near the pipeline. Some were forced to work on  pipeline
infrastructure by the military, Unocal's project partner. The remainder
suffered other egregious abuses during the military's provision of
"security"  for the project. For example, two of the plaintiffs were
sexually assaulted, and  one, an infant, died after being kicked into a
cooking fire.

Paul Hoffman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said today, "This  is an
important decision, not only because it allows Unocal to be held liable
for abuses committed overseas, but also because it tells other
multinational  corporations that go into business with repressive
dictatorships that they are  responsible for their partner's human rights
violations." Co-counsel Dan Stormer  concurred, stating  "After six years
of litigation, the plaintiffs will finally have their day in court. We are
confident that a jury reviewing the facts of this case will be horrified.
We  expect a huge verdict on their behalf."

Plaintiffs are represented by Paul Hoffman of Schonbrun,  DeSimone, Seplow,
Harris and Hoffman; Anne Richardson and Dan Stormer of Hadsell  & Stormer,
Judith Brown Chomsky, Jennie Green of the Center for  Constitutional Rights
and EarthRights International.

###

Additional information  on the case can be found at www.earthrights.org.

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

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

Natural Resources Defense Council's

LEGISLATIVE WATCH

June 12, 2002

Contents:

1) Legislative Watch
2) About Our Bulletins/How to Subscribe & Unsubscribe
3) About NRDC/How to Contact Us

The information in this bulletin is also available on our website at
http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/legwatch.asp. The web version links
to the text of bills and congressional web pages. To take action on
these and other environmental issues, visit NRDC's Earth Action
Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action, where you can use our online
activism tools or subscribe to Earth Action, our biweekly activist
bulletin.

1) LEGISLATIVE WATCH

This is a status report on congressional action on the environment.
To make new or updated sections easy to find, we've highlighted them
with:
= N O T E ! =

6/12/02

Last week a Senate subcommittee held a hearing to examine Bush
administration changes to Clean Water Act rules that would allow
increased dumping of industrial waste into U.S. waters. The Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved a resolution to
designate Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as the nation's sole repository of
high-level radioactive waste.

...

Budget/Appropriations

= N O T E ! =
On 6/7, the Senate passed a supplemental spending package by a vote
of 71-22. Overall spending in the Senate package exceeds both the
administration's request and the level contained in the House-passed
version of the bill (H.R. 4775). The Senate bill primarily addresses
defense and emergency spending priorities, but also includes funding
for hazardous materials management, drinking water system
vulnerability assessment programs, and economic assistance for New
England fishing communities. The House bill includes a provision
written by Rep. Kolbe (R-AZ) that would exempt the Department of
Defense from complying with the Endangered Species Act when species
or their habitats are threatened by increases in water consumption in
areas surrounding military installations. Environmentalists are
concerned that the language could specifically allow over-use of
water from the San Pedro River in Arizona, harming reptiles, mammals
and migratory birds that depend on the river. The Senate bill does
not include this language. The nearly $3 billion discrepancy between
the Senate and House bills sets the stage for a contentious
House-Senate conference.

On 3/20, on a party-line vote, the House passed a Republican FY '03
budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 353) that backs the Bush
administration's proposed cut of $14 billion from environmental
programs over the next five years. House Democratic leaders opposed
the cuts in environmental priorities and offered amendments restoring
this funding in committee, but their efforts were defeated. On 3/21,
the Senate Budget Committee considered a Democratic resolution that
would restore and increase environmental and natural resources
funding levels well above those requested in the administration's
budget proposal. As the House and Senate are not likely to close the
gap between their competing resolutions, they will likely pass
separate budget plans to guide their work for the rest of the year.

See NRDC's analysis of the Bush budget.
http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/abudget03.asp

For a step-by-step guide to our annual odyssey through resolutions,
reconciliations and appropriations, see NRDC's budget process fact
sheet.
http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/fbudg.asp

...

Clean Air and Energy

= N O T E ! =
The House and Senate have selected their members for the energy bill
conference committee, which will likely need several months to
negotiate a compromise bill. On 4/25, the Senate passed its version
of the bill (S. 517) after rejecting, on 4/18, amendments from Sen.
Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Stevens (R-AK) to open the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling by votes of 46-54 and 36-64,
respectively. The House energy bill (H.R. 4) would allow oil drilling
in the Arctic refuge. Unlike the House bill, the Senate includes a
provision increasing the use of renewable fuels -- mostly ethanol --
in gasoline by five billion gallons by 2012. The Senate bill also
would ban MTBE (a gasoline additive that has contaminated drinking
water), require companies to report their emissions of greenhouse
gases, and require electric providers to produce 4-5 percent of their
energy from new, renewable resources. The House bill includes over
$33 billion in tax incentives that are largely for the oil, coal, and
nuclear energy industries. The Senate bill includes $15 billion in
incentives, about half of which would be available to improve energy
efficiency in vehicles, appliances, and buildings, as well as to
increase the use of solar, wind, and other cleaner alternative energy
sources.

= N O T E ! =
On 6/12, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a
hearing to analyze the benefits and costs of comprehensive pollution
cleanup at power plants in preparation for its 6/27 consideration of
S. 556, a bill co-authored by committee chair Sen. Jeffords (I-VT)
and Sen. Lieberman (D-CT). The bill seeks to reduce four types of
power plant emissions by imposing mandatory cuts in carbon dioxide,
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury emissions. No action has
been taken on the House companion bill (H.R. 1256)), which was
introduced on 3/27/01 by Rep. Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Boehlert (R-NY).
The Bush administration opposes regulating carbon dioxide emissions,
arguing that the costs on the economy would be too high. The
administration has announced a proposal that would regulate only
three of the four worst power plant pollutants, reversing a Bush
campaign promise to regulate carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas
that contributes to global warming.

NRDC has detailed an energy policy that would provide a secure energy
future without destroying wilderness or rolling back environmental
safeguards in reports including Dangerous Addiction: Ending America's
Oil Dependence
(http://www.nrdc.org/air/transportation/oilsecurity/securityinx.asp)
and A Responsible Energy Policy for the 21st Century
(http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/rep/repinx.asp).

...

Clean Water

= N O T E ! =
On 6/6, the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean
Air, Wetlands, and Climate Change held a hearing to examine the
impact of Bush administration changes to the Clean Water Act that
could make it easier for mining companies and other industrial
operations to dump waste into U.S. waters. On 5/3, the Bush
administration finalized a change to Clean Water Act rules that would
expressly allow dumping of waste from mountaintop removal coal mining
into streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other waters. Five days
later, on 5/8, a federal district court blocked the Army Corps of
Engineers from issuing any additional permits for disposal of
mountaintop removal mining waste in these waters. The administration
is appealing the court's decision.

= N O T E ! =
On 6/5, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved
Sen. Boxer's (D-CA) and Sen. Feinstein's (D-CA) bill to reauthorize
CALFED (S. 1768), an important federal and state partnership in
California that provides water for urban and agricultural users, as
well as for wildlife and habitat restoration. The committee approved
an amendment to the bill, crafted through negotiations among Sen.
Feinstein, Sen. Kyl (R-AZ), and Sen. Murkowski (R-AK), to limit the
program's duration and level of funding. Environmentalists want to
ensure that, as the bill goes to the Senate floor for debate,
agricultural water use is not given priority over the environment. On
5/2, Rep. Tauscher (D-CA) and Rep. Napolitano (D-CA) introduced a
similar bill (H.R. 4657) in the House. Environmentalists oppose a
related bill (H.R. 3208) by Rep. Calvert (R-CA) that would allow the
construction of new dams in California without appropriate review,
and could give agricultural water users priority over the
environment.

On 5/23, the Senate approved a final compromise version of a
bioterrorism bill (H.R. 3448) by a vote of 98-0. The bill, which
authorizes bioterrorism-related funds for public health
infrastructure, food inspection and nuclear security, includes
language requiring drinking water facilities to assess their
vulnerability to terrorist attacks that could threaten water
supplies. The bill also authorizes $20 million to facilitate
cooperation between the EPA and drinking water facilities to improve
basic security, reduce chemical threats, and develop emergency
response plans. The House approved this final version of the bill on
5/22 by a 425-1 vote, and President Bush signed the bill on 6/12.

On 5/16, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the
Water Investment Act of 2002 (S. 1961) by a vote of 13-6. The bill,
which was introduced by Sens. Graham (D-FL), Jeffords (I-VT), Smith
(R-NH), Warner (R-VA), and Crapo (R-ID), authorizes significant
increases in funding for cleaner water. Environmental groups are
seeking to ensure that the bill provides incentives for states and
cities to fund water quality projects that are good for the
environment, such as stream buffers, wetlands restoration, and
stormwater controls. Environmentalists are also eager to prevent the
funds from supporting sprawl or noncompliance with environmental
regulations. The committee approved an amendment from Sen. Reid
(D-NV) that would create a grant program to help small public
drinking water systems comply with new environmental regulations, and
one from Sen. Voinovich (R-OH) that would reauthorize a wet-weather
grant program to help remedy sewage overflows. The committee also
accepted amendments from Sen. Wyden (D-OR) to make funding available
for water conservation projects and provide loan-forgiveness for
projects that address pollution runoff. On 4/17 and 3/20, the House
Ways and Means and Transportation and Infrastructure committees,
respectively, considered the House companion bill (H.R. 3930). This
bill would increase the level of funding available to states for
clean water projects under the Clean Water Act by $1 billion per
year, up to a total of $6 billion in 2007. The Bush administration
objects to the cost of these bills, claiming that it needs the money
to fund the war on terrorism.

On 5/7, the House passed H.R. 3908, Rep. Hansen's (R-UT) bill to
reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, by a voice
vote. The act has served to restore and preserve wetlands throughout
the United States, Mexico, and Canada since 1989. The bill includes
two amendments from Rep. Gilchrest (R-MD). One amendment would
increase funding for the act's programs from $250 million to $325
million over five years, while the other would shift about 20 percent
of funding from projects outside the United States to those within
the country.

...

Climate Change

On 5/2, Rep. Olver (D-MA) introduced a bill (H.R. 4611) that would
require companies to report their global warming pollution emissions
to a federal database.

On 4/17, the House Science Committee held a hearing to address the
funding and direction of federal climate science and technology
programs. Rep. Boehlert (R-NY), committee chair, addressed the
administration's proposal to create and fund two new research
programs, the Climate Change Research Initiative and the National
Climate Change Technology Initiative, voicing concern that the
programs are not yet clearly defined. Researchers testifying at the
hearing stressed the need for better coordination between scientists
who conduct climate change research and develop related technologies
and consumers, policymakers, and industry.

...

Coastal and Marine Resources

= N O T E ! =
On 6/13, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation,
Wildlife, and Oceans is expected to hold a hearing on H.R. 4781, a
bill to reauthorize the Marine Mammal Protection Act, introduced on
5/17 by Rep. Gilchrest (R-MD), subcommittee chair. The Department of
Defense has for years tried to change the MMPA's definition of
harassment of marine mammals, but environmentalists argue that by
altering the definition, the DoD would limit the circumstances under
which activities potentially harmful to marine mammals could be
reviewed or restricted.

= N O T E ! =
On 6/26, the House Resources Committee will consider Rep. Gilchrest's
(R-MD) bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (H.R. 4749), the primary law governing fisheries
management in the United States. The House Fisheries Conservation,
Wildlife, and Oceans subcommittee passed the bill on 5/23.
Environmentalists oppose the reauthorization bill in its present
form, primarily because it contains language that could lead to
continued overfishing. Rep. Farr (D-CA) introduced a different
version of the reauthorization bill last year (H.R. 2570), which is
supported by environmentalists for its plan to promote both
sustainable management of marine fisheries and recovery of depleted
fish stocks.

...

International Environmental Protections

On 5/23, the Senate passed a trade promotion bill, H.R. 3009, by a
vote of 66-30, after accepting compromise language granting
"fast-track" authority to the president to negotiate new trade
agreements. The bill now heads to conference committee to work out a
compromise with the House version, H.R. 3005, passed on 12/6/01 by
one vote. Environmentalists oppose the legislation because it
contains weak environmental standards and safeguards and inadequate
protection for international environmental agreements. The bill also
raises new barriers to environmental regulation and hinders consumer
labeling that would provide important public interest protections,
such as information on products containing genetically modified
organisms. On 5/21, an amendment offered by Sen. Kerry (D-MA) and
supported by environmentalists that would have strengthened the
bill's environmental and public health protections, laying out
specific criteria that foreign investors would be required to meet in
order to challenge environmental regulations in the U.S., was
rejected 55-41.

...

Lands

The House and Senate passed the final version of the farm bill (H.R.
2646) on 5/2 and 5/8, respectively, and President Bush signed the
bill on 5/13.  Conservation programs -- including funding for energy
efficiency and renewable energy programs on farms -- total about $9
billion of the bill's $45 billion in new spending. But
environmentalists claim that conservation funding will be outweighed
by commodities subsidies and environmentally damaging provisions in
the bill. For instance, the bill raises the payment cap on funding
that giant livestock farms, whose waste management practices pose a
threat to local water supplies, will be able to receive. Several
other environmentally damaging provisions, including language that
would have provided incentives to log national forests, were
ultimately eliminated from the bill.

On 3/20, the House Resources Committee approved, on a mostly
party-line vote of 23-18, H.R. 2114, Rep. Simpson's (R-ID) National
Monument Fairness Act. The bill is opposed by Democrats on the
committee because it would restrict the president's authority to
create national monuments under the Antiquities Act by requiring
congressional consent within two years after a president designates
any national monument over 50,000 acres, thereby preventing quick
presidential action to protect significant and environmentally
sensitive public lands and resources.

Also on 3/20, the House Resources Committee approved, along another
nearly party-line vote of 23-18, a provision in H.R. 3853 offered by
Rep. Radanovich (R-CA) that effectively overturns a Clinton
administration policy banning recreational jet skis in national parks
by delaying the deadline for the ban for two years.

...

Nuclear

= N O T E ! =
On 6/5, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved by
a vote of 13-10 a resolution to designate Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as
the sole repository for the nation's high-level radioactive waste
(S.J. Res. 34). The resolution was introduced by Sen. Bingaman
(D-NM), committee chair, after House approval on 5/8. The resolution
now moves to the Senate floor, where a vote is expected by late July.
On 4/8, Nevada governor Kenny Guinn (R) vetoed the Bush
administration's recommendation of the site, beginning a 90-day
window during which Congress can override the veto. Opponents of the
selection of Yucca Mountain, 90 miles from Las Vegas, believe that
the proposed facility would not adequately protect the public and the
environment from radiation contamination.

...

Public Health

= N O T E ! =
On 6/4, the House passed the Brownfields Redevelopment Enhancement
Act (H.R. 2941) by a voice vote. The bill seeks to expand the cleanup
of abandoned lands. Environmentalists oppose language in the bill
that would weaken cleanup requirements for severely contaminated
sites.  

...

Wilderness and Wildlife Protection

On 5/16, the House Government Reform Committee held a hearing at
which the General Accounting Office presented its findings from a
study on the impact of environmental regulations on military
readiness and training. The GAO report concludes that the Department
of Defense has achieved readiness and has failed to demonstrate how
and to what extent environmental laws have negatively affected its
mission.

On 5/9, the House passed the Defense Authorization bill, H.R. 4546.
The bill includes provisions that give the Department of Defense
broad exemptions under the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act, as well as language that would reduce protections
for Utah wilderness lands. The provisions were part of a larger
proposal by the Department of Defense that also included exemptions
from the Clean Air Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Resource
Recovery and Conservation Act, and Superfund. Democratic leaders and
environmentalists argue that the remaining exemption provisions have
not received adequate review, that stakeholders have not been allowed
to comment on the provisions, and that language in existing laws
already provides flexibility for the Defense Department to seek
exemptions on a case-by-case basis. In the Senate, the Armed Services
Committee passed the bill on 5/9 without any of the exemption
provisions. The committee included provisions authorizing the Defense
Department to participate in partnerships with non-federal entities,
including local governments and conservation groups, to manage lands
adjacent to military installations.

On 3/20, the House Resources Committee held a hearing on two bills
that would modify the Endangered Species Act, making it harder for
the government to protect endangered and threatened species. Rep.
Walden's (R-OR) H.R. 2829 and Rep. Pombo's (R-CA) H.R. 3705 would
impose a higher burden on federal agencies to obtain additional
scientific information on species and mandate additional review of
that data, resulting in delay and additional hurdles before
protections could be put in place.

...

For information on the environmental voting records of members of
Congress, see the League of Conservation Voter's National
Environmental Scorecards at http://www.lcv.org/scorecard/index.asp

...........

2) 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).

EARTH ACTION is sent biweekly and calls out urgent environmental
issues requiring immediate action. 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.

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, send an email message to wildcalifornia@nrdcaction.org
with REMOVE in the subject line.

...........

3) About NRDC/How to Contact Us

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

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

Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
NY, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
General information: nrdcinfo@nrdc.org
Email subscription questions: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org

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

The planning process that will determine the fate of some of our greatest national treasures, our new national monuments, has begun.  Over the summer, as the planning process continues, proposals for oil and gas drilling, grazing issues, right-of-ways for power lines, and access for off-road vehicles to these sensitive areas will all come under consideration.  Unfortunately, the Bush administration and the Secretary of Interior, Gale Norton, have already made it clear that their main interest in these and other public lands is inappropriate development.

Fortunately, because of the letters and comments of people like you, we have been able to send a clear message to the administration that the American people support strong protections for these special places.

Now, with so much at stake during the planning process, we need to let the administration know that any back door attempts to open these treasures to their friends in industry are unacceptable.  Gale Norton recently announced her approach to managing the monuments, including some very troubling possibilities.  For instance, Secretary Norton made references to "creative nontraditional management" and "partnership arrangement for management of ongoing traditional activities."  In the past, proposals like these have meant letting industry and user groups manage themselves; our national monuments are too important to let the fox guard the hen house.  

That's why I'm asking you to call Secretary Norton this Wednesday, June 12th, and tell her that you support strong and meaningful protections for our national monuments.  We have set up a toll free number that will connect you directly to the Secretary's office at the Department of the Interior in Washington.

The toll free number is 1-888-213-4697, or you can call 202-208-7351 after Wednesday.  The toll free number will be activated during business hours on Wednesday, June 12th - between 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Below is a straightforward message you can use when you call:

"Hi, my name is _____ and I'm calling from (city/state).  I'm calling to let Secretary Norton know how important our newest National Monuments are to me.  I'm glad that the planning process for the monuments has begun, but concerned that the department may allow industry and user groups to control the process.  Inappropriate development, like oil and gas drilling, should not be allowed in the monuments, off road vehicle use should be strictly limited, and the monument boundaries should not be changed.  Our national monuments are important national treasures that deserve strong protections."


Then, let us know you made the call so we can keep a count by following the link below and filling out the form there.

http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=308&id4=ES


Thanks for your support and for taking the time to call.  

Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski
U.S. PIRG Executive Director
http://www.USPIRG.org

To: All Activists
From: Steve Holmer
Date: June 12, 2002

Forest Protection Week A Success - Many Thanks

Thanks to all the activists who came to Washington last week to educate
lawmakers about their forest protection priorities and to activists in
the field who called in to support their effort.  Our issues were
well-received on the Hill, and now we have some immediate opportunities
to protect roadless areas from new logging projects, to stop abuses of
the fire and stewardship programs to support commercial logging, and to
reign in irresponsible off road vehicle use on the National Forests and
the public domain managed by the Bureau of Land Management.


Roadless Bill Introduced with 173 Sponsors

Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) introduced the
National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2002, H.R. 4865 last
week with 173 original sponsors.  A list of sponsors is available at
http://www.americanlands.org/cosponsors.htm   Additional information
about the roadless rule is available at
http://www.americanlands.org/forestweb/timber.htm or
http://www.ourforests.org

If your Representative is on the list, please thank them for being a
supporter.  You can reach them via the congressional switchboard at
202/224-3121 or go to http://www.congress.org to send an email or fax.  
Letters are still being delayed by up to two months and as a result are
not an effective way to communicate right now.

If they are not on the list, please urge him/her to become a sponsor of
the H.R. 4865, the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2002.  Thanks.


Stewardship Contracting Rider on the Way

We are hearing disturbing reports that language to make the
controversial stewardship contracting pilot authorities into permanent
law may be included on the Interior Appropriations bill.  This potential
rider threatens the National Forests with a new uncontrolled logging
spree not seen since the Salvage Logging Rider.

American Lands has prepared several factsheets outlining the problems
with three of the stewardship authorities, goods for services,
designation by description and receipt retention and documenting
problems with a number of the pilots.   These are available at
http://www.americanlands.org/stewardship_facts.htm and
http://www.americanlands.org/forestweb/pilot_projects.htm

We are working to gather additional information about the stewardship
pilots.  If you are working on a project in your area, please contact me
at 202/547-9105 or mailto:wafcdc@americanlands.org

Please contact the following appropriations leaders and leave a message
urging them to oppose expanding the stewardship contracting program.  
With only 2 out of 84 pilots completed and a number of the projects mire
on controversy due to extensive logging, this program should be
carefully reviewed and analyzed before it is expanded in any way.

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-PA), Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
202/224-7233, fax 202/228-4532

Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA), ranking Democrat, House Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee, 202/225-5916, fax 202/226-1176


Protecting Homes and Communities/Off Road Vehicle Enforcement Supported
on the Hill

Several policy initiatives now underway to steer fuel reduction projects
to the Wildland/Urban Interface and to keep off road vehicles on
designated routes were warmly received by Members of both parties.  As
we move into the annual appropriations process, we hope to see language
included in the Interior bill to ensure that fire funding is focused on
where it will do the most good, near homes and communities rather than
in the backcountry.  

A factsheet outlining our  concerns and recommendations for the fire
program is at http://www.americanlands.org/fire_plan_implementation.htm  
Similarly, for more information about Off Road Vehicle enforcement,
please see http://www.americanlands.org/enforcement.htm


Bill to End Commercial Logging Presses Ahead

A letter sent by more than 200 scientists led by E.O. Wilson to
President Bush recently called for an end to logging on the National
Forests.  "Logging has caused devastating impacts on the ability of our
National Forests to provide wildlife habitat and economically valuable
goods and services.  The loss of biodiversity is the folly our
descendants are least likely to forgive us.  Mr. President, we urge you
to end the destructive practice of commercial logging in the National
Forests and to begin a scientifically based program to restore habitat
and native species," the scientists say in the letter.   For a copy of
the letter please see http://www.sierraclub.org/logging/letter/

Bi-partisan legislation to phase out commercial logging over a two-year
period and redirect logging subsidies for restoration, alternative
materials and worker retraining has been introduced by Rep. Cynthia
McKinney (D-GA) and Jim Leach (R-IA).  The National Forest Protection
and Restoration Act, H.R. 1494, now has 111 cosponsors.  

Please contact your Rep. and urge him/her to cosponsor H.R. 1494, the
National Forest Protection and Restoration Act.   For more information
please contact Sean Cosgrove, Sierra Club, 202/675-2382, Tom Weis,
National Forest Protection Alliance, 202/879-3195 or Tiernan Sittenfeld,
US Public Interest Research Group, 202/546-9470 x311.


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

DENlines
Defend Environment Network (DEN)
Wednesday, June 12, 2002

A Bi-weekly Update from Defenders of Wildlife:
Working to Save Wildlife and Wild Lands


1. MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD: Sign our petition to help save wolves
2. STRESSED OUT: Study finds new evidence of snowmobiles' harm to     
   wolves, elk
3. SAVE OUR FORESTS: Congress may act to preserve wild lands
4. JUST LIVE WITH IT: Is that any way to deal with global warming?
5. EXTINCTION CRISIS: Nearly a quarter of all species of mammals have
   only 30 years left
6. BACK FROM THE DEAD: Scientists find 'extinct' Amazonian bird
7. SUMMER SPECIALS: Here are some great gift ideas for wildlife
   lovers

_____________________________________________________________________


1. MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD: Sign our petition to help save wolves

In response to actor Ed Asner's e-mail to DEN members, more than
25,000 supporters have signed our petition urging Interior Secretary
Gale Norton not to strip legal protections from endangered gray
wolves. Help us reach our goal of 1 million signatures. Wolves are
just now making a comeback in America, but powerful special interests
are working to throw these magnificent animals to the mercy of states
like Idaho, whose legislature has voted to eradicate them "by
whatever means necessary."  To sign our petition, go to
http://www.savewolves.org and help spread the word by forwarding it
to friends.


2. STRESSED OUT: Study finds new evidence of snowmobiles' harm to
   wolves, elk

Snowmobiling in our national parks can stress wolves and elk so much
that it harms their ability to fight off diseases, according to a
study by Montana State University. The study found elevated levels of
stress hormones in wolves and elk during the heaviest snowmobile use.
These hormones can shut down the animals' immune systems. Despite
this study and others showing the harm caused by snowmobiles, the
National Park Service is thinking about reversing its plan to ban the
machines from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Thanks to
the nearly 9,000 DEN members who sent e-mails to the park service
last month in support of the ban. We'll keep you posted on
developments.


3. SAVE OUR FORESTS: Congress may act to preserve wild lands

With loggers ready to invade some of America's last remaining
pristine forests, many members of Congress are trying to preserve
nearly 60 million acres from tree-cutting and road-building. The Bush
administration is refusing to implement new federal rules to do just
that, even though they had been approved after an overwhelming
showing of national public support. Two House members introduced
legislation last week with 172 co-sponsors to place the rules into
law over the administration's opposition. To learn more, click here:
http://www.defenders.org/publiclands/habitat/roadless2.html


4. JUST LIVE WITH IT: Is that any way to deal with global warming?

For the first time, the Bush administration acknowledged last week
that burning oil, coal and other fossil fuels is causing global
warming. But rather than recommending reductions in greenhouse gases,
the administration suggested in a report that we all just learn to
adapt to the far-reaching consequences--including heat waves and loss
of Rocky Mountain meadows and some coastal marshes. Later, the
president, who opposes the Kyoto protocol to reduce greenhouse gases,
tried to distance himself from the report's conclusion that global
warming was caused by industrial societies, saying dismissively that
he read the report put out by "the bureaucracy." Japan, meanwhile,
ratified the Kyoto agreement and promised to lobby the United States
to do the same.


5. EXTINCTION CRISIS: Nearly a quarter of all species of mammals have
   only 30 years left

Nearly a quarter of all kinds of mammals face extinction within 30
years, according to a new United Nations study. The list of the
critically endangered include the black rhino and Siberian tiger and
the Amur leopard of Asia. The report blames human activities, mainly
the destruction of habitat and the introduction of alien species from
one part of the world to another. To read the report, click here
http://www.unep.org/GEO/geo3/index.htm


6. BACK FROM THE DEAD: Scientists find 'extinct' Amazonian bird

A rare Amazonian bird that was thought to be extinct for 45 years has
been re-discovered. Ironically, a road-paving team  spotted the
golden-crowned manakin in the heart of the rain forest of Brazil. But
conservationists say the bird is likely to become extinct soon, for
real this time, because of tree-cutting and road-building in the rain
forest.

One of the best and easiest ways to save birds and their habitat in
coffee-growing country is to buy shade-grown coffee. Migratory birds
and small wildlife have found a sanctuary in the forest-like
environment of shade coffee farms. That's why Defenders of Wildlife
has teamed with the Thanksgiving Coffee Co. and Grounds for Sharing
to develop Java Forest shade-grown organic coffees. To learn more
about Java Forest, or place an order, visit http://www.javaforest.org
or call 1-866-766-6328.


7. SUMMER SPECIALS: Here are some great gift ideas for wildlife
   lovers

Fight summer's heat waves by keeping your favorite beverages cool in
our new 12-pack leakproof insulated cooler bag and tailgater 24-pack
leakproof insulated cooler.  Add panache to outdoor barbecues with
our new green apron with embroidered logo. To purchase and see other
summer specials, go to http://www.defendersgifts.org .

Great gift for school's end. The release of HARRY POTTER on video/DVD
has generated renewed interest in snowy owls. Snowy owls are under
threat from those who would drill in their sanctuaries.

With your tax-deductible gift of $25 or more, you'll receive our
plush snowy owl, an adoption certificate and a year's subscription to
our award-winning DEFENDERS magazine.  Place your order online
http://www.defenders.org/arctic/snowyowls/owldonate.html or through
our toll-free number 1-800-385-9712.  

___________________________________________________________________
To SUBSCRIBE to DENlines, visit Defenders' website at:
http://www.defenders.org/den or send an e-mail to
DEN@defenders.org and put the word SUBSCRIBE in the
subject line, and your name and address in the text area.  
___________________________________________________________________
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 habitat
and known for its effective leadership on saving endangered species
such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders advocates new
approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species before
they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit
501(c)(3) organization with more than 430,000 members and supporters.

                       Defenders of Wildlife
                  1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 1400
                       Washington, DC 20005
                     http://www.defenders.org
                     http://www.kidsplanet.org        
           Copyright (c) 2002 by Defenders of Wildlife

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

On May 31 we sent you an Emergency Action, calling for support for hunger
strikers and villagers whose homes are being submerged behind the Maan Dam
on India's Narmada River.  Please read this article by Angana Chatterji,
professor of anthropology and board member of International Rivers Network.
The May 31 Emergency Action is copied below the article; if you haven't
already sent a fax or email letter, please do.  A model letter is offered.


June 12, 2002.

Wither Democracy? India Brutalizes the Marginalized in the Narmada Valley

By Angana Chatterji

In Bhopal, four Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save the Narmada Movement) activists
enter the 23rd day of their indefinite fast. They are protesting the Madhya
Pradesh Government's unethical and illegal treatment of adivasi (tribal)
families in central India.

About a thousand families were displaced by the construction of the Maan
Dam, one of the 30 big dams planned in the Narmada River Valley in western and
central India. The Maan families, within the 17 affected villages, have not
been compensated according to the terms and conditions of the rehabilitation
policy defined by the government. The policy states that the displaced must
be compensated with irrigated and adequate land in lieu of lands that will
be submerged by the project. However, the dam has been built but those
displaced have not received such compensation.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan asks that those evicted by the Maan project be
comp ensated with land for land. They ask that the approximately 5000-6000 people
being displaced be resettled before the reservoir, enraged by the
approaching monsoon rains, submerges their villages, livelihoods, lands, and futures.
Ram Kunwar, Chittaroopa Palit, Vinod Patwa and Mangat Verma, the four activists
who embarked on an indefinite hunger strike, were forced to take such
measures because thus far the government has been indifferent to the demands
of the Andolan and acted to suppress their dissent.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan has mounted a persistent and profound human
rights struggle in the Narmada Valley since the mid 1980s. In a democracy the will
and voice of the people must define the ethical fabric of the polity. In
this instance, it appears that the stronger the voice of the people, the more
callous and brutal the government's response. Whose life matters? Who has
the right to life? Is national interest beyond human rights? If so, what
legitimates the nation?

Ram Kunwar, Chittaroopa Palit, Vinod Patwa and Mangat Verma are held hostage
by their government's refusal to take seriously the people of the Narmada
Valley. As the fast weakens their bodies, perhaps irreparably, their just
demands are dismissed by a morally bankrupt government that finds it
acceptable to deny people their most basic rights to shelter and livelihood.
Yet resistance continues steadfastly among the people of the Narmada Valley.
The dalits ('lower' caste communities), adivasis and villagers that reside
in the Narmada Valley are the primary stakeholders of development. Yet, their
livelihood, their cultural heritage, their histories, their hopes and their
capacities are condemned to a savagely uncaring, unconfined progress. Is it
unreasonable to expect that on the road to progress and prosperity, those
most disenfranchised must be heard and accounted for in development
planning? Is it unreasonable to expect that when the government displaces people,
apparently in their own best interest, it should be required to negotiate
the terms of displacement? Is it unreasonable that the Maan people want to
exchange land for land rather than to live as squatters in places where they
do not belong or matter?

The lives of the most disenfranchised have become an afterthought in
development processes. Their actions for survival and agency for
self-determination are policed to benefit the advantaged. Human rights have
failed the marginalized, and such failure bears testimony to a deep
unconcern for social and ecological justice. Democracy requires a conscience. In this
instance the Government of India and the Government of Madhya Pradesh have
not given us any evidence of one.

India's record of irresponsible development has placed its marginalized most
at risk, socially and politically. It has brutalized women, children,
adivasi communities, dalits and religious minorities. It has displaced countless
peoples, prompted cultural annihilation, generated appalling working
conditions, unequal distribution of livelihood assets, struggles over
resources, and prompted the progressive and irrevocable depletion of the
country's natural resource base, and the degradation of forests,
agricultural lands, ecosystems, rivers and seas, animal life and mountains. In 2002,
almost fifty-six years after independence, the ideals of democracy --
freedom, security, self determination, access to political processes --
remain most elusive for 300+ million of India's poorest citizens. In the
unacceptable contradictions of postcolonial India, it has become incumbent
on those most bereft to confront the injustices that produce hunger,
dispossession and disempowerment.

The real war, the subordination of people to the state, continues. In the
name of the people, governments, corporations and legal systems endorse
forms of social and political violence. Where is public conscience? All around us
lives burn with futility and despair, as we the privileged accumulate
greater wealth, greater apathy, greater irresponsibility. It is as if we are
condemned to live in spite of ourselves.

The present balks at its own reflection. As Ram Kunwar, Chittaroopa Palit,
Vinod Patwa and Mangat Verma fast with incomprehensible commitment, their
actions charge all of us to reflect on the present. If they fail, the state
will have been murderously deaf to their cries of ethical protest. Political
and religious extremism cannot govern a democracy, and India is increasingly
defined by both. One must believe that oppression only strengthens
resistance, and that such dissent prevails. But when? And at what cost?

Angana Chatterji
Professor, Department of http://Anthropology.ciis.edu Social and
Cultural Anthropology

California Institute of Integral Studies
San Francisco

Address: 4th Floor. 1453 Mission Street.
San Francisco, California - 94103. USA
Phone: (415) 575 6119; Fax: (415) 648 5021
E-mail: Angana@aol.com

**********************************************************
May 31, 2002, Emergency Action
Dear Members of Global Response's "Quick Response Network:"

Please send a letter/fax/email to support hunger strikers and residents of
communities that are about to be inundated as the reservoir fills behind the
Maan Dam in India. The following Action Alert and model letter are
circulated by International Rivers Network. Global Response members have
sent multiple rounds of letters in solidarity with Indian communities along
the Narmada River, where 30 large dams are in various stages of
construction. We celebrated a victory last year in our campaign to stop
German government/bank financing for the Maheshwar Dam.

Please let the Madhya Pradesh state government know that world citizens
stand in solidarity with the affected tribal people who are resisting
displacement for the Maan Dam.  Thank you.


ACTION ALERT!!!!

MAAN DAM PROTESTORS IN THEIR EIGHTH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE

Dear Friends,

As you might know, nearly 150 adivasis (tribals) affected by the Maan Dam
in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India have been engaged in an indefinite
sit-in in Bhopal, the capital city, since 15 May 2002.

Four activists from the group went on an indefinite hunger strike on 20 May
2002. Please take action - pressure the government of Madhya Pradesh to
respond to the demands of the protestors as the hunger strike enters the
eighth day.

The Maan dam is one of the 30 large dams planned as part of the Narmada
Valley Development Project (NVDP). It is under construction on the river
Maan that drains into the Narmada River.

In 1994, the Central Environment Ministry granted environmental clearance
for the project, on the condition that the affected adivasis must be
resettled with non-forest agricultural land. Contrary to this, the Maan
dam-affected people were given a pittance in cash compensation without
being offered land-for-land compensation or information about their legal
entitlements.

The 17 affected villages will be submerged this monsoon (June to September)
without any rehabilitation. Tree felling and dismantling of local schools
has started in the area despite protests from the local communities.

The affected people have demanded an immediate halt to tree felling and
police presence in the submergence zone. They have demanded a stop to
construction and other dam related activities until the 1000 adivasi
families are given adequate agricultural land and until rehabilitation is
satisfactorily completed.

As the indefinite hunger strike enters the eighth day, the response of the
government of Madhya Pradesh has been very poor.

Your support, as always, is invaluable. Send faxes/emails to the Chief
Minister of Madhya Pradesh to urge him to respond to the demands of the
protestors struggling for their basic human right to life and livelihood.

In solidarity,

Malavika Vartak
South Asia Campaigns
International Rivers Network

---------
SAMPLE LETTER

The Honourable Mr. Digvijay Singh,
Chief Minister
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Vallabh Bhavan,
Bhopal
Phone: 91 755 540503
Fax: 91 755- 540501
Email: cm@mp.nic.in

Dear Mr. Digvijay Singh,

We are writing to you in reference to the ongoing protest and indefinite
hunger strike in Bhopal by the Maan dam-affected persons.

We understand that there is less than a month left until the monsoon
submergence and little or no possibility of rehabilitating the 17 affected
villages. However, the 1994 Central Environment Ministry clearance for the
Maan Project was given on the condition that affected tribal families are
rehabilitated on non-forest agricultural land.

As the hunger strike enters the eighth day, we strongly urge you to respond
positively to the demands of the protestors and stop all construction
activity on the dam until rehabilitation is provided on a land for land
basis. We also urge you to engage in meaningful dialogue with the affected
people to ensure protection of their basic human right to life and
livelihood.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Organisation/Address

		Welcome to our June 2002 WaveMaker News Quote: How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly Ocean. - Arthur C. Clarke 1917- : attributed in Nature 1990 In This Issue: - Great News! - Oceana Making Waves Internationally - Keep Pollution Out of the Ocean - New! Online Ocean Atlas - Save the Date On June 4, Oceana delivered 60,000 public comments on your behalf, the largest number ever delivered on an ocean related issue, to the National Marine Fisheries Service. "The unprecedented number of comments demonstrated that the public understands that our oceans, coastal economies and communities are at risk from the loss of marine life," said Carolyn Hartmann , Oceana's Vice President for Policy. Hartmann delivered the first installment of more than a dozen large boxes of public comments, wrapped in a fishing net, to Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees the management of fishing in the U.S., as pictured above. In the next few weeks, U.S. Congressional committees are planning to vote on bills to amend the nation's principal ocean fish management law known as the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Now is the time to voice your concern for stronger fish management laws that protect ocean life and habitats. We need everyone who cares about our oceans to speak up on their behalf. The U.S. government is accepting public comments on the destruction of ocean life right now, but only until June 16. If you haven't taken action on this important issue, now is the time to do so. You can make a difference by going to www.OceansAtRisk.com. If you have already taken action, please tell your friends, family and coworkers about our campaign to protect ocean life. Please forward the website (www.OceansAtRisk.com) to everyone you know who cares about the future of our oceans and ask them to send their letter before June 16. We have set a goal of 100,000 public comments by June 16 and we are getting much closer with your help. Be a part of the wave and take action now! We will keep you posted on our results. Oceana Making Waves Internationally Oceana C.O.O. Dawn Martin has been in Bali, Indonesia participating in the meetings leading up to the Rio +10 United Nations meeting, the sequel to the pivotal U.N. Rio meeting 10 years ago. There are about two months left until the 2002 Rio +10 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The WSSD will bring together tens of thousands of participants, including heads of State and Government, national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organizations, and other major groups to focus the world's attention toward meeting environmental challenges, including improving people's lives and conserving our natural resources. Oceans, energy, trade, governance and finance continue to be the most controversial issues under discussion. Yet, oceans have fared far better than expected, given that language aimed at ocean protection was utterly absent after the initial preparatory meeting. While significant progress has been made since then, much of the text is still tentative and so remains bracketed. The debate has been held hostage by a few countries who wish to continue commercial whaling. Oceana commends the delegates for certain victories for ocean protection including calling for the: 1) Elimination of subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 2) Elimination of destructive fishing practices; 3) Establishment of marine protected areas; To learn more about Oceana's involvement in Bali, Indonesia, you can read Dawn Martin's statement on the Bali PrepCom . Keep Pollution Out of the Ocean Thanks for sending a strong message to the U.S. Senate to Stop POPs! So far, over 13,000 emails have been sent urging senators to co- sponsor legislation that will curb and protect against global ocean pollution. But we still need your help. Tell your friends and family to send a message to their Senators to Stop POPs! POPs, or "persistent organic pollutants, jeopardize human and wildlife health throughout the world- - each of our bodies now contain hundreds of these dangerous chemicals. Act now to fight the global spread of deadly pollution. POPs are chemical substances that persist for long periods of time in the environment, accumulate through the food web, and pose environmental and human health risks. Some of the most dangerous POPs include pesticides such as DDT and industrial chemicals such as PCBs. The Bush Administration's proposal to curb POPs has fallen short of full implementation of the International Convention he signed last year. Senator Jeffords (I-VT) has introduced a bill to correct the flaws of the Administration's proposal to ensure that some of the most toxic chemicals known don't continue to pollute our environment. You can help by urging your Senators to support curbing toxic pollutants by co-sponsoring Senator Jeffords' bill. To STOP POPS or to learn more , go to: http://www.oceana.org/. New Online Ocean Atlas Take a moment to learn more about the oceans at www.oceanatlas.org . This great website offers a wealth of information about the biology and ecology of the oceans and the many ways in which humans use and depend on them.. If you are an avid ocean lover or just interested in learning interesting new facts, this website is sure to amaze you. Save the Date On July 28, 2002, a unique group of activists, athletes and concerned citizens will run or walk together in San Francisco, CA, in a 5K Trek for Clean Oceans. Though participants will only travel a short distance, each step taken will be a crucial one in raising awareness and funds to protect the world's oceans. More information about this event, part of the San Francisco Chronicle Marathon, will be in the next e-newsletter. If you are interested in participating in this event or learning more about it, please call Oceana at 1-800-OCEAN-0. About Oceana & OceansAtRisk.com Oceana is a new international group dedicated to protecting the world?s oceans from destructive fishing and pollution. Oceans provide 95 percent of the living space for the earth's animals and plants, and are the largest source of protein in the world, feeding billions of people around the globe. Healthy oceans are essential to the survival of our planet. Our oceans are at risk, and with them our food supplies, our coastal economies, and even ourselves. We must act now to preserve the earth?s web of life for future generations. That's why we've launched www.OceansAtRisk.com , a campaign to end the massive waste of marine life, the "bycatch" of U.S. fishing operations.

On June 19, the Senate Health Committee - on which
your Senator serves - will vote on a contraceptive
coverage bill. Urge your Senator to vote "Yes" on this
important legislation!  

You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/EPICC_Alert/ee3bx2478xm57

Visit the web address below and tell your friends to
take action on this important campaign!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/EPICC_Alert/forward/ee3bx2478xm57

We encourage you to take action by July 4, 2002

Federal Contraceptive Coverage Bill Action Alert

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

On June 19, the Senate Health Committee will consider
important legislation to provide contraceptive equity
for America's women. Pro-family planning Sen. Barbara
Mikulski (D-MD) is expected to offer "the Equity in
Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act
- EPICC" as an amendment to a broader women's health
bill under consideration.  

Nineteen states now have laws requiring equity in contraceptive.
But federal legislation, which would cover all women
in America, has been languishing in the Senate since
1997. It is long past time that it had a vote in Congress.
Urge your Senator, who serves on this committee, to
vote "Yes" on the Mikulski amendment on contraceptive
coverage.  

Background

First introduced in 1997 by Senators Olympia J. Snowe
(R-ME) and Harry Reid (D-NV), along with Reps. James
Greenwood (R-PA) and Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) in the House,
the Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive
Coverage (EPICC) Act - S.104, would secure, as a matter
of federal law, contraceptive coverage for all women
with insurance throughout the United States. Unfortunately,
health plans still routinely exclude prescription contraceptives
from their prescription drug coverage. This exclusion
is largely responsible for the fact that women pay
68 percent more out-of-pocket health care expenses
then men.

EPICC would prohibit this unfair exclusion of women's
needs from their health insurance plans. Nineteen states,
soon to be 20, have enacted or adopted their own versions
of EPICC have laws requiring equity in contraceptive
coverage. It's time for working women across the United
States to have health insurance that covers their needs.
For a majority of women between the ages of 18 and
44, preventing an unwanted pregnancy is their most
important health care concern, and EPICC will ensure
that their health insurance covers it.

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

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action
on this alert by going to the following URL:

http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/EPICC_Alert/ee3bx2478xm57  

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:
Senator John Edwards


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

I am writing to urge you to support contraceptive equity
legislation when it comes before the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pension Committee. This legislation
will ensure that prescription contraceptives are covered
by health plans in the same way as other prescription
drugs. Congress has recognized for the past four years
that contraceptive coverage should be part of federal
employee's insurance plans. Now is the time for Congress
to move a step further and ensure that other women
enjoy this same benefit.

At a time when fully half of all pregnancies in the
U.S. are unintended, we should do all we can to ensure
that women have affordable access to all forms of contraception.
This bill has the ability to reduce the number of unplanned
and unwanted pregnancies in our state, and to rectify
a long-standing gender inequity.  

Currently, most health insurance plans routinely exclude
contraception, even though they cover other prescriptions.
The failure to cover contraceptives accounts for the
fact that women between the ages of 18-44 pay nearly
70% more than their male counterparts in out-of-pocket
health care costs. Furthermore, independent studies
point to lower costs for insurance companies as a result
of contraceptive coverage.  

Again, I urge you to support this important legislation.
I look forward to hearing back from you on this issue.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

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

Greenpeace's Positive Energy Newsletter
June 10 – June 16, 2002
V 2.20
 
Time for Greenpeace’s CLEAN ENERGY NOW! campaign’s weekly good news update!!!

Inside this edition:
- Los Angeles Community Colleges Need to Implement Their Green Buildings Plan
- The Route to Yucca Mountain
- Sierra Hardest-Hit: But Bush Isn’t Going to Do Anything About It!


+ + + + +
Los Angeles Community Colleges Need to Implement Their
Green Buildings Plan

Thanks to all of you who have already sent a fax to the
board members of the Los Angeles Community College district. As we've reported, clean energy had a major victory within the Los Angeles Community College District
when the Board of Trustees adopted the highest green
building standard of any college system in the nation. Despite the win, board members could take a giant step
backward by adopting weak energy policies that neglect to mandate 25 percent of the energy load of all new buildings (which is planned at 40-50) from solar photovoltaics.

If you haven't already taken action, please send a fax to the board members urging them to follow through with a strong clean energy policy. They need to hear from you by
June 14th!

Please go to:
http://www.cleanenergynow.org/bin/takeaction.fpl?action_id=135

+ + + + +
The Route to Yucca

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has plans to ship 70,000 tons of radioactive waste through 45 states in the span of 24-38 years to a storage facility in Yucca Mountain. Thirty-eight million Americans live within one mile of the transport routes to the Nevada site. Not only are there disaster concerns for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste disposal site, but the implications of safety across the country are huge, and the DOE has done little to inform the public.

The Environmental Working Group has done what DOE has
failed to do--let the public know just how close nuclear
waste will be to their homes. By typing in your zip code at
http://www.mapscience.org you can find out if the transport
route includes your area.

To read more, go to: http://www.ewg.org/

+ + + + +
Sierra Hardest-Hit: But Bush Isn’t Going to Do
Anything About It!

The Bush Administration finally admitted that global
warming is really happening. Yet, the U.S. still has no
plans to do anything about it. A study released
by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz,
and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, predicts
severe changes in local weather patterns and that the
greatest impact in California will be in the Sierra, with
climate change primarily occurring each year during the
month of May. An increase in temperature of as much as 16.5
degrees Fahrenheit—compared to pre-industrial times—will
cause a decrease in snow-pack by 82%. While Bush may not
care about the fate of the Sierra, Californians do!

To read the study, go to:
http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/pubs/CA_Report.pdf

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

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

In this Post :
#1. RAN’S REGIONAL CHAUTAUQUA IN DC POSTPONED
#2. STOP CITI'S ACQUISITION OF GOLDEN STATE BANK DUE TO PREDATORY LENDING
PRACTICES
#3. CITIGROUP PREPARES FOR SANDY’S SUCCESSOR

* * * * *
#1
*****CHAUTUAQUA POSTPONED*****
August 9th-12th - Washington DC POSTPONED TILL LATER DATE**

The Corporate Campaigning Regional Action Camp originally scheduled in
conjunction with the Free The Planet Trainings will be postponed till a
later date.  The training will most likely be in conjunction with several
other regional trainings scheduled throughout the year. Skills building
workshops in organizing and direct action will be joined by strategy
sessions and social gatherings. This is a great place to build skills on
markets campaigning as well as spending time with great activists in your
region.
We are also asking anyone for feedback on what kind of trainings they would
like to occur at the regional gatherings.  Let us know if you want more
direct action skills, or organizing. Or maybe you just want some time for
key strategy sessions with others in your area. Let us know so you can get
the most out of these sessions, and of course, have the most fun!  For more
information please contact mstephan@ran.org <mailto:mstephan@ran.org>
* * * *
#2
*****STOP CITI'S ACQUISITION OF GOLDEN STATE BANK*****
It seems like the Citi monster has gobbled up yet another bank.  Golden
State Bank,  the parent company of Cal Fed, the second largest thrift in the
U.S is due to be acquired by Citi and the Federal Reserve is due to make its
decision on approval by July 4th.
As Citi becomes larger and larger, so does their impact on the environment
and society at large.   Inner City Press/Community on the Move ad the
California Reinvestment Committee has filed objections to Citigroup’s
acquisition of Golden State Bank due to Citi’s horrendous predatory lending
track record. Below the Bloomberg article are letters to the Federal Reserve
demanding a hault to the hearings for the merger. Please distribute far and
wide.

Bloomberg News, June 3, 2002, 2:16 p.m.
Citigroup's Golden State Purchase May Be Delayed
     New York, June 3 (Bloomberg) -- Citigroup Inc.'s planned $5.8 billion
purchase of Golden State Bancorp Inc. may be delayed after two community
groups asked regulators to probe the New York bank's lending practices for
low-income families.
       Inner City Press/Community on the Move, a New York non-profit group,
and the California Reinvestment Committee, which represents more than 200
organizations and public agencies, said they filed separate objections with
the U.S. Federal Reserve Board in Washington and the Office of Thrift
Supervision in San Francisco, alleging Citigroup overcharges low-income
borrowers.
     Citigroup's plan to buy the California bank requires approval from both
agencies, along with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The challenges may
prompt regulators to seek additional information and delay the acquisition,
Federal Reserve spokesman David Skidmore said. Inner City Press failed two
years ago to stop a Citigroup bank acquisition on similar concerns.

      ``Citigroup is still engaged in predatory lending,'' said Matthew Lee,
executive director of ICP's Fair Finance Watch, which monitors bank
compliance with a federal law demanding fair lending to low-and
moderate-income borrowers. Federal regulators must hold up approval of
Citigroup's agreement to buy Golden State ``until these issues are
resolved,'' Lee said.
    Citigroup spokeswoman Leah Johnson and a spokesman for the Office of
Thrift Supervision declined to comment.
Higher Interest
      Lee's group alleges that Citigroup has pressed some clients to buy
insurance that would cover loan payments in the event of death or
disability, on top of interest for the loan. In one case, Citigroup charged
interest as high as 27.6 percent on a $7,000 loan to a Tennessee couple, in
addition to payments of almost $1,900 for life and disability insurance,
according to an Inner City Press statement.
     The group said Citigroup hasn't followed through on lending reforms
that it promised after acquiring Associates First Capital Corp. for $30.3
billion in 2000. Inner City Press challenged that acquisition as well.
California Reinvestment Committee said in a statement that Citigroup
``caters to upper income households with its best products, while failing to
provide sufficient access to low cost credit to the state's low income and
minority residents.''
     The U.S. Federal Trade Commission in a new study has accused Citigroup
of favoring home-loan borrowers with ``spotty'' histories because they pay
higher interest rates, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online
edition earlier today. Citigroup shares fell for a fifth day, dropping 44
cents, or 1 percent, to $42.74.

[Sample comment]
         June __, 2002

Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Attn: Mr. James Beit, Bank Supervision Officer, et al.
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045-0001
E-mail to comments.applications@ny.frb.org
<mailto:comments.applications@ny.frb.org>
RE: Comment opposing Citigroup's application to acquire Golden State
Bancorp
Dear Mr. Beit:
  On behalf of ____, this is a timely comment opposing and requesting
hearings on the applications of Citigroup, Inc. to acquire Golden State
Bancorp and its affiliates, including Cal Fed Bank (Golden State).
  Under the Community Reinvestment Act, the records of fairness by
Citigroup's lenders must be considered in connection with this expansion
proposal.  This proposed acquisition would subject yet more consumers to the
Citigroup predatory lending practices, for which Citigroup is being sued by
the Federal Trade Commission.  See Federal Trade Commission v. Citigroup,
Inc., et al., Civil No. 010 CV 0606 (U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, filed March 6, 2001. Under the Bank
Holding Company Act, the compliance including consumer compliance records of
Citigroup's affiliates must be considered.
In 2000, the most recent year for which data is publicly available,
Citibank N.A. in the New York City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
denied conventional home purchase loan applications from African Americans
more than five times more frequently than applications from whites.
Citibank denied Latinos 3.5 times more frequently than whites.  This is much
worse than other lenders in the NYC MSA: the denial rate disparities for the
industry as a whole in 2000 were 2.20 for African Americans, and 1.97 for
Latinos.
  In the Los Angeles MSA in 2000, cumulating Citibank FSB and CitiMortgage,
Citi denied the conventional home purchase loan applications of African
Americans 4.21 times more frequently than the applications of whites, and
denied the applications of Latinos 2.95 times more frequently that those of
whites.  Citi's troubling denial rate disparity is not even plausibly
explained by any increased outreach to African Americans and Latinos: a
smaller percentage of Citi's loans in this MSA were to African Americans and
Latinos than was the case for the aggregate.
  In the Washington, D.C. MSA in 2000, cumulating Citibank FSB and
CitiMortgage, Citi denied the conventional home purchase loan applications
of African Americans 5.82 times more frequently than the applications of
whites, and denied the applications of Latinos 3.25 times more frequently
that those of whites.  In the Chicago MSA, for conventional home purchase
loans, CitiMortgage denied loan applications from African Americans 6.68
times more frequently than applications from whites.  Citibank denied
Latinos 3.88 times more frequently than whites.  In both instances, this is
worse than other lenders in this MSA.
In the Newark, New Jersey MSA in 2000, cumulating Citibank FSB and
CitiMortgage, Citi denied the conventional home purchase loan applications
of African Americans 11.29 times more frequently than the applications of
whites.  Citi's troubling denial rate disparity is not even plausibly
explained by any increased outreach to African Americans: a smaller
percentage of Citi's loans in this MSA were to African Americans than was
the case for the aggregate.
As to predatory lending, we refer the Fed to the exhibits submitted by
Inner City Press / Community on the Move (ICP) on June 3, 2002, which
document CitiFinancial's interest rates over 20%, cynical "heads-up"
messages sent to employees prior to purported "Mystery Shopping" tests, and
property lists taken only in order to impose credit insurance.  The
absurdity and presumptive predatory nature of this practice -- selling
credit insurance on items such as ice chests on which CitiFinancial would
never foreclose or repossess -- was raised directly to Citigroup's CEO Sandy
Weill at Citigroup's April 16, 2002, shareholders' meeting.  Citigroup's CEO
declined to respond directly to that question; Citigroup must be required to
address and attempt to justify these practices in this application
proceeding.
  Following the raising of some of these issues in 2001, the Federal Reserve
in its Citigroup - EAB Order of July 2, 2001, stated that:
"the Board will conduct a thorough examination to assess the effectiveness
of that implementation at Citigroup's sub prime affiliates, CitiFinancial
and CitiFinancial Mortgage... The Board also will consider any information
gathered in these reports or the examination in reviewing future proposals
by Citigroup...".
Five months following the above-quoted Fed Order, Citigroup on December 14,
2001, wrote to the FDIC that
"the Federal Reserve Board required, as a condition of its [EAB] approval,
an examination of CitiFinancial, to confirm implementation of the
progressive lending initiatives adopted by CitiFinancial in connection with
its acquisition of Associates.  That examination should not delay these
applications, however, as suggested by ICP... The Federal Reserve Board will
conduct that examination and take action following that examination as
appropriate."
  From this phrasing, in a December 14, 2001, letter from Citigroup's Carl
Howard to the FDIC, it appears that the Fed had still not completed the
examination of CitiFinancial, five months after it was announced in mid-2001
as a "condition" for the FRB to approve Citi-EAB.  The exam must be
completed, and the results disclosed and comment allowed thereon, in this
Citi-Golden State proceeding.
    There are also numerous other Citigroup practices which evidence a lack
of environmental, social, and even human rights standards, many of them
documented in Inner City Press' more extensive comments to the Fed,
incorporated herein by reference. For all of these  reasons, the Fed should
schedule and hold public hearings on Citigroup's applications to acquire
Golden State, and, on the current record, the Fed should deny Citigroup's
applications.
Sincerely,
______________
[Even shorter version -- 270 words]
June __, 2002
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Attn: Mr. James Beit, Bank Supervision Officer, et al.
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045-0001
[E-mail to: <comments.applications@ny.frb.org
<mailto:comments.applications@ny.frb.org>
RE: Comment opposing Citigroup's application to acquire Golden State
Bancorp
Dear Mr. Beit:
  On behalf of ____, this is a timely comment opposing and requesting
hearings on the applications of Citigroup, Inc. to acquire Golden State
Bancorp and its affiliates, including Cal Fed Bank (Golden State).
  This proposed acquisition would subject yet more consumers to the
Citigroup predatory lending practices, for which Citigroup is being sued by
the Federal Trade Commission.  In 2000, Citibank N.A. in the New York City
Metropolitan Statistical Area ("MSA") denied conventional home purchase loan
applications from African Americans more than five times more frequently
than applications from whites.  Citibank denied Latinos 3.5 times more
frequently than whites.
  In the Los Angeles MSA in 2000, cumulating Citibank FSB and CitiMortgage,
Citi denied the conventional home purchase loan applications of African
Americans 4.21 times more frequently than the applications of whites, and
denied the applications of Latinos 2.95 times more frequently that those of
whites.
As to predatory lending, we refer the Fed to the exhibits submitted by
Inner City Press / Community on the Move (ICP) on June 3, 2002, which
document CitiFinancial's interest rates over 20%, cynical "heads-up"
messages sent to employees prior to purported "Mystery Shopping" tests, and
property lists taken only in order to impose credit insurance.
There are also numerous other Citigroup practices which evidence a lack of
environmental, social, and even human rights standards, many of them
documented in Inner City Press' more extensive comments to the Fed,
incorporated herein by reference. For all of these  reasons, the Fed should
schedule and hold public hearings on Citigroup's applications to acquire
Golden State, and, on the current record, the Fed should deny Citigroup's
applications.
Sincerely,
______________
* * * *
#3
*****CITIGROUP PREPARES FOR SANDY’S SUCCESSOR*****
Reports in the New York Times hint of an internal structure change within
Citigroup currently taking place. Rumors of a possible successor to CEO
Sandy Weill (who is currently 69) are flying.    Whoever that successor may
be, let’s hope the new CEO will take the future health of the planet into
account when making business decisions. It’s time that a new era is rung in
at City where social and environmental issues become a priority in
investment decision making.

Citigroup Reshuffles Top Management
By REUTERS
June 11, 2002

Filed at 4:15 p.m. ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc.
http://www.nytimes.com/redirect/marketwatch/redirect.ctx?MW=http://custom.m
arketwatch.com/custom/nyt-com/html-companyprofile.asp&symb=C> (C.N) said on
Tuesday it is reshuffling top management to centralize global
responsibility, but the latest changes still left Wall Street wondering who
would take over from 69-year-old Sandy Well as head of the No. 1 U.S.
financial services company.
Citigroup, which runs banking, brokerage and insurance operations in 100
countries, named emerging markets head Victor Menezes a senior vice chairman
in charge of ties with top customers and regulators. Menezes, seen as a
possible Weill successor, also would head acquisitions and lead recruiting
efforts outside the United States, but analysts were split over whether he
was gaining or losing power.
Deryck Maughan, meanwhile, would run a new regionally focused unit called
Citigroup International to oversee fast-growing foreign business. Chuck
Prince, Citigroup's chief operating officer, adds oversight for finance,
risk management and human resources to his other duties.
``People seem to be disappointed that they didn't somehow announce a full
succession plan but that's not what this is about at all,'' Diane Glossman,
an analyst at UBS Warburg, said. ''This is a clarification of the matrix
structure that in essence is already in place at the company.''
The changes come as Wall Street analyzes all of Citigroup's not infrequent
management announcements for clues about an heir to Chairman and Chief
Executive Sanford ``Sandy'' Weill. Weill has not yet said who will get the
job.
Menezes, who also is chairman and CEO of Citigroup's bank arm Citibank, is
one of a handful of top Citigroup executives seen as a potential
replacement. Others include Mike Carpenter, head of the corporate and
investment banking. Carpenter too gained responsibilities in the latest
moves.
``If I were to delineate who has picked up the most incremental
responsibilities, it appears to be Victoror possibly even Chuck Prince,''
Glossman said.
But Glossman added: ``Sandy doesn't admit that he's retiring at any point in
time, and therefore he would, I'm sure, take great umbrage if you said that
it was a necessity.''
'TRAVELER'S PEOPLE ARE MOVING UP'
Other analysts said Menezes lost responsibility in the announcement and that
executives like Carpenter from the Travelers Group side of the company
gained greater control. Weill ran Travelers before it merged with Citibank.
Menezes worked under ousted Citibank head John Reed.
``The Travelers people are moving up,'' Andy Collins, an analyst at U.S.
Bancorp
http://www.nytimes.com/redirect/marketwatch/redirect.ctx?MW=http://custom.m
arketwatch.com/custom/nyt-com/html-companyprofile.asp&symb=34302> Piper
Jaffray, said.
Carpenter would be in charge of corporate and investment banking and private
client operations around the world.Tom Jones, who runs Citigroup's money
management and private bank, would be in charge of nine global product units
and would have worldwide charge of money management, private banking and
life insurance and annuities.
Bob Willumstad, Citigroup president and head of its consumer group, would
have global responsibility for Citigroup's credit card, consumer finance and
consumer branch banking operations. He also would be in charge of
Citigroup's operations in Mexico and Puerto Rico.Rather than provide answers
to the succession question, analysts said the moves just simplified
Citigroup's structure to reflect the way business is already being run.
``This is the next logical steps to try and distill the bank into something
a little more manageable and straightforward,'' Robert Albertson, who runs
his own financial firm, said. ``I do not think it says anything about
succession.''The company's shares were down 90 cents, or 2.2 percent, to
$40.78 in late day trading on the New York Stock Exchange.The latest moves
shifted the focus to global business lines over individual regions, analysts
noted.
``The organizational structure announcement is following the way they do
business,'' Catherine Murray, an analyst at J.P. Morgan, said. ``There is
very little change here.''Citigroup has increasingly looked overseas,
especially developing economies, for growth. To that end, it has bought
several large foreign banks, including Mexico's Grupo Financiero
Banamex-Accival (Banamex) and Poland's Bank Handlowy.``Our new corporate
structure reflects our belief that effective control and coordination
between our product functions and global geographic businesses is
increasingly critical to our success,'' Weill said in a statement.

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* WILDALERT
* Friday, June 14, 2002
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This issue of WildAlert contains an urgent action item and updates:
1. ASSATEAGUE -- Protect national seashore from jet ski abuse
2. ROADLESS AREAS -- Legislation introduced in U.S. House
3. NEVADA WILDERNESS -- New legislation in Congress

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1. PROTECT ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE FROM JET SKI ABUSE
Two years ago, the National Park Service determined that jet skis are
inappropriate in most of Assateague Island National Seashore. But the
agency allowed jet ski use to continue in three areas of the park -- a
wholly inappropriate use. The Park Service is taking public comment on
jet ski use in Assateague. Please take action now to help us rid this
special place of jet skis:
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=1613

A SPECIAL PLACE
This windswept, 37-mile-long barrier island off the coasts of Maryland
and Virginia is best known for its wild horses, but it's also home to
a breathtaking array of more than 300 bird species.  Visitors can see
a dramatic landscape with dunes, marshes, and forest as well as the
surrounding waters. This is a haven for millions of people living in
the mid-Atlantic region who find this an easily accessible place to
view wildlife.

The last thing most visitors want to see -- or hear -- are the scream
of jet skis.  In fact, Park Service staff have reported seeing jet
skis harassing dolphins, speeding into a pod and maneuvering to stay
right over it, forcing the mammals to surface to breathe within a few
feet of the racing thrill machines.

CONTINUED JET SKI USE AT ASSATEAGUE?
The Park Service is considering issuing a new rule that would allow
jet skis to continue using parts of the park for the foreseeable
future. Jet skis do not belong in national parks. They have a lousy
safety record, they are high-octane polluters, and they are simply
incompatible with wildlife:

- Jet skis easily enter near-shore habitat, disturbing wildlife. Where
jet skis whine, nesting success drops, mortality increases.

-Nationally, jet skis account for only 9 percent of watercraft
registrations, but are involved in 30 percent of all boating accidents
and nearly 40 percent of boating injuries.

-Many jet skis dump as much as 30 percent of their fuel unburned into
our air and water. California air quality experts say a jet ski
operating for an hour is the pollution equivalent of a modern car
driven for 100,000 miles.

TAKE ACTION
The Park Service is accepting comments through July 5th only.  You can
send comments from
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=1613 or contact the
agency directly.  If you have personal experience of Assateague, by
all means say so in your comments.  Some points to make:

- Jet skis don't belong in National Parks, nor should the Park Service
issue a new rule allowing jet skis in Assateague. The National Park
Service must adopt the "no-action" alternative to eliminate jet ski
use entirely from the Seashore.

- Jet skis are unsafe and account for a hugely disproportionate share
of boating accidents and injuries.

- They detract from visitor experience, especially the opportunities
to enjoy quiet and natural surroundings, and the chance to see
undisturbed wildlife in their habitats.

- The agency's own science documents jet skis' impacts to park
resources; it is absurd, then, to allow them to operate there.

Send your comments to:
Michael Hill, Superintendent
Assateague Island National Seashore
7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, MD 21811
Email: Regina_Jones-Brake@nps.gov

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2. UPDATE:  STRONG FOREST ROADLESS PROTECTION BILL INTRODUCED
Americans' hope for permanent roadless area protection surged on June
5 with the House introduction of the bipartisan National Forest
Roadless Area Conservation Act.  Reps. Jay Inslee (D-1/WA) and
Sherwood Boehlert (R-23/NY) led the effort; over 170 of their
colleagues are co-sponsors.

The balanced measure would protect 58.5 million roadless acres from
road construction and most logging, with exceptions for fire-related
management and access to state and private lands.  The bill, H.R.
4865, closely tracks the Roadless Area Conservation Rule adopted in
January 2001 after an unprecedented outpouring of support.  

That Administrative Rule has suffered under the Bush Administration,
which has failed to defend it vigorously in the courts.  Last spring,
the Administration announced it would amend the rule and formally
reopened it in July.  A number of Forest Service directives issued
since then undercut the protections of the rule, exposing roadless
areas from Alaska through Colorado and into Illinois to the risk of
new roads and clearcuts.

To see if your representative is a co-sponsor, or learn more about the
legislation, visit:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:H.R.4865:

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3. NEVADA WILDERNESS BILL HAS GOOD CHANCE OF PASSING
Legislation to give permanent protection to 440,000 acres of Nevada
wildlands was introduced in the Senate June 11th by Nevada Sens. Harry
Reid (D) and John Ensign (R).  The bipartisan support in the Senate
bodes well for the legislation, which is expected to be introduced in
the House soon by Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-2/NV).

Called the "Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural
Resources Act of 2002 (S. 2612)," the bill creates a 6000-acre Wee
Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness that boasts Joshua tree densities
rivaling those in Joshua Tree National Park.  The bill also protects
the 48,000-acre Muddy Mountains Wilderness, with its deep canyons,
sandstone formations and ancient rock art.

The legislation caps two years of work involving wilderness advocates,
game managers, development interests, local governments and Members of
Congress. The bill isn't perfect, however.  It fails to protect
several important areas identified by conservationists.  Learn more
about this legislation at:
http://www.wilderness.org/ccc/california/nevada.htm


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

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

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https://secure-net.com/tws/join.asp

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