Earthhope Action Network environment action Alerts for June, 2004

To: Forest & Wildlife Activists

From: Daniel Hall, American Lands

Date: June 10, 2004

Help Stop USFWS Rules that Help Timber Companies

and Harm Endangered Species

What: Demand the US Fish & Wildlife Service reform the disastrous �No Surprises� rule that protects timber companies and developers instead of threatened and endangered species.

When: Comments due July 26.

Normally, the Endangered Species Act protects threatened and endangered species and their habitats. However, timber companies, developers, and other landowners can apply for "Incidental Take Permits" allowing them to continue destroying imperiled species� populations and habitats. While these permits must be accompanied by Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) that are supposed to mitigate the impacts of the habitat destruction/degradation, most HCPs still allow substantial habitat losses and/or fail to meet species� recovery needs.

Adding insult to injury, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) created the "No Surprises" rule in 1998. This rule locks-in harmful Take Permits/HCPs for decades -- despite the fact that conditions inevitably change over time -- and exempts landowners from fixing most problems that may be found with their permits/HCPs. Under �No Surprises,� taxpayers must pay to fix flawed HCPs, and only then if the landowners agree. The �No Surprises� rule is one of the main reasons that most HCPs function as Endangered Species Act exemptions instead of genuine conservation plans.

A recent court order requires the USFWS to reconsider �No Surprises,� in the process of re-issuing the �permit revocation rules� for Take Permits/HCPs. However, the USFWS has not proposed to reform �No Surprises.� The USFWS is also proposing to re-issue its revocation rules without correcting their problems.

Please write to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and encourage them to:

1) Reform the disastrous �No Surprises� policy by developing rules that require HCPs to: a) address all foreseeable changing circumstances, b) include comprehensive adaptive management programs to evaluate HCPs over time and identify any necessary modifications, and c) require landowners to modify their HCPs over time, as necessary to recover the species, and to meet other conservation objectives in the plans.

2) Modify the permit revocation rules to: a) include the original, pre-1999 permit revocation criteria in full, as they are highly relevant to Take Permits/HCPs, b) clarify that the USFWS has the authority to modify or revoke Take Permits/HCPs if they are found to impair species� long recovery, not just their short-term survival, c) give the USFWS the option to revoke Take Permits if the permittees fail to make necessary adaptive management changes to their HCPs, and d) require the recipients of Take Permits to file performance bonds or other securities to guarantee the implementation of their HCPs� mitigation measures.

Comments must be received by the USFWS by July 26, 2004.

Where to Send Comments:

Mail: Chief, Division of Consultation, Habitat Conservation Planning, Recovery, and State Grants, US Fish & Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., #420, Arlington, VA, 22203. Fax: 703.358.2229. Email: pprr@fws.gov.

For more information:

See the federal register notice for the comment period (Federal Register 69; 101, May 25, 2004). http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=279678486376+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

Contact Daniel Hall, American Lands, wafcfbp@americanlands.org.

Talking Points:

The �No Surprises� rule flies in the face of sound science, and effectively prevents the modification of Take Permits and HCPs for decades, despite the fact that scientific knowledge, environmental conditions, and landowners� own resource management practices inevitably change over time.

The �No Surprises� rule effectively prevents modification of Take Permits/HCPs for decades despite the fact that most HCPs allow substantial losses of threatened and endangered species� populations and habitats, fail to adequately support species� recovery, are based on faulty science, and/or employ inadequate adaptive management programs. A landmark study in 1999 by the National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis and the American Institute for Biological Sciences found that most HCPs are deeply flawed. Yet no enforceable rules have been developed to correct these problems. Among other things, the NCEAS/AIBS report found that: about 50% of HCPs allow 50% or more of species� populations or habitat in the plan area to be eliminated; nearly 30% of HCPs allow 100% of species� populations or habitat in the plan area to be eliminated; and 84% of HCPs fail to specify how monitoring will be used to evaluate the plans, i.e., the HCPs lack adaptive management programs.

�No Surprises� provides unbalanced, unnecessary, and irrational regulatory guarantees by exempting companies from regulatory changes for periods as long as 50 or even 80 years. �No Surprises� assumes that businesses cannot handle change, when in fact businesses must constantly adapt to a variety of changing conditions to be successful. �No Surprises� even exempts landowners from modifying their HCPs to address changes they themselves make to their resource management practices. At the same time, �No Surprises� provides no guarantees to threatened or endangered species..

�No Surprises� is also deeply unfair, as it makes the taxpayers � instead of the recipients of Take Permits � responsible for fixing problems with Take Permits/HCPs. This is despite the fact that Take Permits/HCPs benefit timber companies, developers, and other landowners by allowing them to harm threatened and endangered species and their habitats, and by providing regulatory guarantees lasting many decades.

Therefore, �No Surprises� should be reformed by the development of rules that require HCPs to: 1) address all foreseeable changing circumstances, 2) include comprehensive adaptive management programs to evaluate HCPs over time and identify any necessary modifications, and 3) require landowners to modify their HCPs over time, as necessary to recover the species, and to meet other conservation objectives in the plans.

New rules requiring HCPs to address foreseeable changing circumstances should require that HCPs address: changes in the landowners� land management and development practices; changes that may be proposed to the HCP as a result of monitoring and adaptive management; additional species listings over time; declines in the condition of the covered species due to inadequate conservation measures in the HCP; designation of critical habitat for the covered species; development of recovery plans and recovery plan provisions for the covered species; fires, windstorms, pest outbreaks, disease outbreaks, and other �stochastic� events that are natural ecosystem processes; and increased susceptibility of the habitats to invasive exotic pests, pathogens, and plant and animal species due to the landowner�s resource management practices. Other foreseeable changing circumstances include the effects of human-induced climate change, which is likely to cause ecological gradients, vegetation zones, and species� habitat needs to shift significantly, and is likely to create more severe weather patterns, further impacting species and ecosystems.

New rules requiring HCPs to include adaptive management programs should require, among other things, that HCPs monitor each covered species� populations, reproductive success, primary habitat components, and other key biological outcomes and trends, including those which correlate to the species� recovery. The rules should also require HCPs to include thorough and effective adaptive management protocol that: are linked to effectiveness monitoring for all biological goals, include comprehensive adaptive management triggers, and outline the responses and responsibilities that can result from adaptive management reviews. Reviews should include independent peer review and public participation. All plan components should be subject to adaptive management.

New rules requiring landowners to modify their HCPs should require that landowners adopt modified, new, or additional conservation measures to recover the covered species, should their original conservation measures prove ineffective or should conditions change in ways that are foreseeable or under the landowners� control. The rules must require landowners to remain responsible for modifying their HCPs in response to monitoring and adaptive management reviews, and in response to foreseeable changing circumstances, regardless of whether the specific adaptive management changes and changing circumstances are specified in the HCP. The USFWS should also establish a program to cover the costs of other changes, which may be needed to HCPs over time, in response to genuinely unforeseeable circumstances that are beyond the landowners� control.

The USFWS should also modify the permit revocation rule to: 1) include the original, pre-1999 permit revocation criteria in full, 2) Clarify that the USFWS has the authority to modify or revoke Take Permits/HCPs if they are found to impair species� long recovery, not just their short-term survival, 3) give the USFWS the option to revoke Take Permits if the permittees fail to make necessary adaptive management changes to their HCPs, and 4) require the recipients of Take Permits to file performance bonds or other securities to guarantee the implementation of their HCPs� mitigation measures.

The normal, pre-1999 revocation rules include provisions that are highly relevant to Take Permit/HCPs, including a provision that was eliminated in the post-1999 rules for Take Permits/HCPs. This provision essentially states that the USFWS can revoke permits in cases where they are detrimental to species that continue to slide towards extinction. The post-1999 Revocation Rule exempts Take Permits/HCPs from this important provision. The USFWS also needs to be given authority to revoke Permits if landowners fail to make necessary improvements to their HCPs over time; without such authority, landowners will have little incentive to fix their plans.

The existing and proposed permit revocation rules will not be sufficient to guarantee the implementation of mitigation measures where the �take� of threatened and endangered species is allowed prior to the implementation of those mitigation measures. Threatening to revoke a Take Permit will have little effect after the permittees have finished their desired activities, i.e., the �take� of species� habitats.. Thus the USFWS should develop rules requiring the recipients of Take Permits to file performance bonds or other securities to guarantee the continued implementation of mitigation measures..

Lisa Dix

National Forest Program Director

American Lands Alliance

ldix@americanlands.org

Ph: 202-547-9105; Fax: 202-547-9213

from Natural Resources Defense Council June 22, 2004

We need your immediate action to help stop Bush administration plans for oil and gas drilling in the incomparable Otero Mesa of New Mexico -- a vital part of our Greater Rockies BioGem. Please go to http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/takeaction.asp?step=2&item=52158 and send a message telling the Bureau of Land Management to shelve its proposed plan for industrializing this unique and fragile wildland. Located at the southern end of the Rockies, Otero Mesa boasts uninterrupted expanses of Chihuahuan desert grasslands, one of North America's most endangered ecosystems and crucial habitat for pronghorn antelope, mule deer and the black-tailed prairie dog. All told, Otero Mesa is home to more than 20 species protected by the Endangered Species Act, including the Mexican spotted owl, the southwestern willow flycatcher, the Aplomado falcon and the black-footed ferret. In its rush to let energy companies plunder America's Rocky Mountain landscapes, the Bush administration is about to finalize a plan that would permit oil and gas development throughout the Otero Mesa ecosystem. The resulting invasion of new roads, pipelines, transmission lines and hundreds of wells would devastate its irreplaceable wildlife habitat and wilderness characteristics. The Bush administration is accepting public comments on its proposed development plan through June 28th. Go to http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/takeaction.asp?step=2&item=52158 right now and tell the Bush administration not to sacrifice this magnificent piece of our natural heritage to oil and gas interests. Sincerely, John H. Adams President NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) .. . . BioGems: Saving Endangered Wild Places A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council http://www.savebiogems.org

from Defenders of Wildlife June 22, 2004

Dear DEN Activist,

The endangered manatee is currently facing multiple attacks in Florida and Defenders of Wildlife needs your help to stop them. After weeks of stalling, Senate Bill 540 (SB 540) has finally reached Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's desk for review. He now has until June 30 to either veto this bad bill, sign it into law, or do nothing. If he signs the bill or does nothing, it will become law and weaken manatee protection. And despite close to 20,000 e-mails from you asking him to veto it, we've heard word from people close to the governor's office that he may just let the bill go without doing anything in order to avoid political pressures. We need him to take a stand for the manatee and VETO SB 540 to safeguard protections for the endangered species.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please visit our DEN Action Center at http://www.denaction.org and click on alert # 316 to find out how to contact the governor's office and ask him to VETO SB 540. The governor has just a few weeks to make his decision, so please go to the action center and send your message TODAY.

THERE'S MORE:

In addition to the state-wide assault of SB 540, the manatee is also facing localized battles in the Tampa Bay region. On JUNE 22 and 23, two important hearings will be held by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to discuss rule-making procedures that determine how, when and where manatee protections are established in the region.

Just days later, during the weekend of JUNE 25, a speed boat race is being planned to take place right in Tampa Bay. This race will draw thousands of spectators by boat to the bay at a time when manatees are there to enjoy its warm, shallow waters and lush sea grass beds.

It is very important that manatee supporters attend the FWCC hearings to show their support for manatee protections. Defenders is also working with local groups to organize a team of volunteers to monitor events at the speed boat race. Please visit http://www.defenders.org/habitat/savewildflorida/urgent/manatee.html to find more information on what you can do to help with the Tampa Bay hearings and boat race activities.

Thanks for all you can do to help the manatee.

Sincerely,

Laurie Macdonald
Director, Florida Office
Defenders of Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife is a leading national conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat and known for its effective leadership on saving endangered species such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species before they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 475,000 members and supporters.

from Oceana June 23, 2004

Hundreds of threatened and endangered sea turtles each year are caught and killed by hooks deployed in the Atlantic by "longline" fishermen. Scientists with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have determined that a new type of hook for these longlines could dramatically decrease the number of sea turtles caught and killed each year. So when the time came for NMFS to decide what hooks to require longline fishermen to use, you'd think they would listen to their scientists and choose the hooks that protect sea turtles, right? Wrong. Instead, NMFS is about to adopt regulations that would allow the use of hooks that may well continue the slaughter of these animals! Oceana has created a petition urging NMFS to reconsider this course. Sign the petition asking NMFS to listen to their scientists and protect sea turtles today: * Tell NMFS to Protect Sea Turtles: http://ga0.org/campaign/nmfs_longlines/3378bg4yjdxnkk One of the largest threats to sea turtles is accidental capture, or bycatch, in commercial fishing gear. Sea turtles attracted to longline bait can be captured or entangled, and may drown when they cannot surface to breathe. The Atlantic fishery catches hundreds of endangered and threatened sea turtles each year -- with many being released alive, only to die from their injuries. A proven solution exists that NMFS is considering abandoning! Three years of experiments by NMFS scientists have determined that replacing commonly used "J" hooks with large circle hooks can significantly reduce the capture and death of threatened and endangered sea turtles. Large circle hooks also reduce the severity of sea turtle interactions, because turtles are far less likely to swallow circle hooks and become hooked internally. Despite the publication of a proposed rule in February that would have required large circle hooks throughout the Atlantic longline fishery, it now appears that NMFS has reversed course, planning instead to allow the use of smaller hooks throughout most of the fishery. These smaller hooks are largely untested, but we do know that they do not reduce the sea turtle interaction rate over traditional -- and deadly -- "J" hooks. NMFS needs to hear from you today before they complete this reversal of course. Sign the petition and tell them to protect these endangered and threatened turtles from the gear that takes so many of their lives every year! * Tell NMFS to Protect Sea Turtles: http://ga0.org/campaign/nmfs_longlines/3378bg4yjdxnkk For the oceans, Charlotte Gray Hudson Marine Wildlife Scientist Oceana Sign this petition either via email (please see directions below) or via the web at: http://ga0.org/campaign/nmfs_longlines/3378bg4yjdxnkk Sea turtles need every friend they can get -- tell your friends about NMFS' decision to ignore their scientists and put these threatened and endangered turtles at risk! http://ga0.org/campaign/nmfs_longlines/forward/3378bg4yjdxnkk We encourage you to take action by July 22, 2004 Tell NMFS to Stop Ignoring Science and Start Protecting Sea Turtles 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://ga0.org/campaign/nmfs_longlines/3378bg4yjdxnkk INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL: Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program. Petition: We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the status of threatened and endangered sea turtles and the threats they face from U.S. and international fishing fleets. We understand that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has found a potential solution to this problem for longline fisheries, but is nevertheless considering changes in its proposed rule that will leave these creatures imperiled by unproven fishing gear. We urge you in the strongest possible terms not make this change in the proposed rule, but instead to retain the requirement for longline fishermen to use large 18/0 circles hooks. Your own agency's tests have shown this gear requirement to be highly effective in reducing deadly interactions with sea turtles while not diminishing fish catch. Yet you are apparently considering requiring only the use unproven smaller circle hooks in the final regulations. From what is known about these smaller hooks, they are just as harmful to sea turtles the "J" hooks being used by fishermen now. Please require the larger circle hooks in the final rule to protect sea turtles from the Atlantic longline fishery. We must not leave future generations' oceans void of these magnificent animals!

from Defenders of Wildlife June 23, 2004

A Biweekly Update from Defenders of Wildlife:
Working to Save Wildlife and Wild Lands

Public Lands Legislation Yields One Victory, Some Disappointments

Wolf Discovered in Colorado for First Time in Decades

Survey Says, More Concrete in U.S. than Wetlands

New Benefit for Supporters

First Documented Lynx Den Discovered in Minnesota

Wyoming Governor Opposes Drilling in Prime Wildlife Habitat

1. Public Lands Legislation Yields One Victory, Some Disappointments

Bison Conservation groups scored a victory when the U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to bar federal funds for new logging roads in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The vote came as an amendment to legislation that funds the U.S. Department of Interior, which oversees our national forests and other public lands. Conservationists hailed the victory, but were disappointed by the failure of three other amendments � one that would have banned snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, a second that would have protected Yellowstone's bison from being killed on public lands when they leave the park, and a third that would have stopped damaging changes proposed by the Bush administration in regards to the management of the nation's forests.

2. Wolf Discovered in Colorado for First Time in Decades Wolf

For the first time in 69 years, a wild wolf was found in Colorado, albeit dead. Experts believe that the wolf, a female, was hit by a car on Interstate 70, but are doing further research to insure that there was no foul play. Many biologists believe that wolves will eventually return to Colorado, and the state is currently working on a plan for managing the animals in the future.

3. Survey Says, More Concrete in U.S. than Wetlands

Wetland A recent mapping project by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reveals that "impervious surfaces" � meaning roads, housing and other infrastructure � cover nearly 5,500 more square miles in the contiguous United States than all of the nation's remaining wetlands. According to the authors of the study, if all of the roads and other hardened surfaces were consolidated, it would cover the entire state of Ohio. Learn more about the federal government's wetlands policy.

4. New Benefit for Supporters

Through Defenders Wireless, you can now enjoy a free camera phone with a complete accessories package and your choice of calling plans from such companies as Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless and others. Great for travel or as a gift for the college or high school bound. As an added bonus, choose any FREE Nokia phone by June 30 and also receive a FREE $30 gift card from American Express. For every cell phone package activated through Defenders Wireless, our partner InPhonic will make a contribution of $50 in your name to help us save America's wildlife and habitat. Learn more about all the additional free equipment you'll receive and the plans you can choose with low monthly rates.

5. First Documented Lynx Den Discovered in Minnesota

Lynx In what has been described as a "milestone," researchers have discovered the first lynx den ever documented in Minnesota. The den, in Superior National Forest, in the northern part of the state, includes three lynx kittens. Learn more about lynx and Defenders' efforts to protect this species.

6. Wyoming Governor Opposes Drilling in Prime Wildlife Habitat

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) recently sent a letter to the Bush administration opposing the federal government's leasing of land for oil and gas drilling in the upper Green River valley. The valley is the winter home to tens of thousands of mule deer, elk and moose, and is crucial to the annual migration of pronghorn � one of the longest remaining migrations in the world. It is also one of the last strongholds of the charismatic sage grouse, which has declined throughout the West. Learn more about oil and gas drilling in the Green River valley and on other federal lands.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DENLINES

DENlines is a biweekly update of Defenders of Wildlife, a leading national conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. It is known for its effective leadership on endangered species issues, particularly predators such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders also advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species before they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 480,000 members and supporters.

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

from Greenpeace June 24, 2004

In this issue, the Great Cyber Wall Challenge, good news for Bhopal, Esperanza arrives in Iceland, Greenfreeze success and the delivery of your postcards from Patagonia. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can change your email address, unsubscribe from this list, and have a forgotten cybercentre password mailed to you using the links at the bottom of this message. Please remember to delete these links before forwarding this message to anyone else. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GREAT CYBER WALL CHALLENGE China is the homeland and biodiversity epicentre of the soya bean, but thanks to genetically engineered (GE) soya all of this is now under threat. We are asking Bunge Incorporated, one of the world's largest traders and processors of soya and the largest supplier of soya in the world to stop supplying GE soya to the Chinese market. To help drive that message home, Greenpeace China is asking our cyberactivists everywhere to write to Bunge: http://act.greenpeace.org/ams/e?a=1439&s=ensoya THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN SIMPLE EMAILING! Participants will be allocated a section of "Cyber Great Wall" where they can add a comment about their opposition to genetically manipulated food. As the participation grows, so will the Cyber Great Wall - a solid symbol of our determination to keep the new GE "barbarians" out of China and ultimately, out of global food supplies. You can view the Cyber Great Wall here: http://activism.greenpeace.org/cyberwall/index_e.php You can also take part in the *Soya Challenge* and possibly earn a seat on a bus tour of China's Yunnan province. If you participate in the Bunge cyberaction, you will be emailed a message outlining the rules of the Soya Challenge along with a special Bunge cyberaction link. If you promote this link to your friends and colleagues, you will be given a credit for each letter sent (but no more than one letter per person, of course!). One of the top ten credit earners will be chosen to help out with a Greenpeace bus tour of Yunnan province in October. You can read the full Soya Challenge rules here: http://act.greenpeace.org/admin/cyberwall/rules_en ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUCCESS FOR BHOPAL SURVIVORS In the last mailing we asked you to take action for Bhopal. Over 3000 of you responded and helped turn around the position of the Indian government. It finally bowed to pressure and agreed to allow a US Court to possibly rule that Dow Chemical should clean up the site of the ongoing Bhopal disaster. Thank you! More info: http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/news/details?item_id=504643 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ESPERANZA ARRIVES IN ICELAND The Greenpeace ship Esperanza has arrived in Iceland to maintain the pressure to stop Icelandic whaling. Plans to kill 250 whales this year, including fin and sei whales, have been shelved in favour of a hunt of only 25 minke whales -- a massive step backwards in the face of domestic resistance, absence of market, and the kind of international outcry that you've helped build around this issue. But we need to be clear: while we welcome this positive step forward from Iceland, WE WON'T BE TRAVELLING TO ICELAND UNTIL THE WHALING PROGRAMME STOPS COMPLETELY. We're concerned the whaling interests might believe they can continue whaling at reduced numbers as a way to escape the glare of publicity and opposition. So let's send the government a little reminder that our offer was absolute: we will visit the beautiful shores of Iceland only when the whaling programme ends completely: http://act.greenpeace.org/ams/e?a=1462&s=whl Iceland Pledge Winners update: Marnee joined the ship on Sunday June 13th and has been writing some great updates for the tour blog: http://weblog.greenpeace.org/iceland/ Tomakint is still wrangling with European visa applications in Nigeria but we hope to have him onboard the Esperanza soon. Check out the Blog for daily information about the tour's progress. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GREENFREEZE SUCCESS Four years ago, we launched one of our most successful cyberactivist campaigns ever, against Coca-Cola's use of climate-killing chemicals in their refrigerants at the Sydney Olympics: http://www.cokespotlight.org Thanks to folks around the world who emailed the CEO, posted banners, sent postcards, and downloaded stickers to put on Coke machines, the soft-drink giant bowed to pressure and vowed to phase out HCFCs by 2004. This week, Coke was joined by Unilever and McDonalds in making good on that pledge, adopting a Greenpeace solution, Greenfreeze technology, which has revolutionized the refrigeration industry: http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/news/details?item_id=504623 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POSTCARDS FROM PATAGONIA 15,000 postcards from the public calling for renewable energy are delivered in a globe shaped ball of ice to the Bonn Renewables conference. It ended with significant steps but the outcomes lacked the political will and urgency required to prevent dangerous climate change: http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/features/details?item_id=487719 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WANT TO DO MORE? 1). Join Greenpeace! Make a secure online donation at: https://www.greenpeace.com/donation/donate.php?theme=default 2). Visit the Greenpeace Cyberactivist Community at: http://act.greenpeace.org 3). Help us spread the word. Forward this message to as many friends, family and colleagues as possible.

from League of Conservation Voters June 24, 2004

Last year, the Bush Administration announced its mercury emissions plan that would save billions for corporate polluters but continue to put the health of millions of Americans at risk -- especially children and women -- by allowing utilities to release more toxic mercury over a longer period of time. Read LCV's Report: http://www.lcv.org/Features/Features.cfm?orgid=Insider062404gen&ID=2874&c=46&UID=60662E1B761D4916B&MX=311&H=0 Each year, coal-fired power plants spew tons of mercury into the air. This toxic heavy metal then enters the food chain threatening our health. It can cause damage to the brain and nervous system. Most Americans are exposed to mercury through contaminated fish. And more than 40 states have issued fish consumption advisories tied to mercury contamination. Take Action! Don�t let the Bush Administration get away with leaving a mercury-laden legacy. Send a letter TODAY! The comment period ends Tuesday, June 29th! http://www.lcv.org/L/capwiz/lcv/mail/compose/alertid5542466targetCUcustomid1819516typeCUalertid5542466targetCUcustomid1819516typeCU.cfm?UID=60662E1B761D4916B&MX=311&H=0 While the technology exists now to reduce mercury levels by 90R0in just a few short years, the Bush Administration is choosing to side with corporate polluters over the public�s health. Read the Report: http://www.lcv.org/Features/Features.cfm?orgid=Insider062404gen&ID=2874&c=46&UID=60662E1B761D4916B&MX=311&H=0 Send a Letter: http://www.lcv.org/L/capwiz/lcv/mail/compose/alertid5542466targetCUcustomid1819516typeCUalertid5542466targetCUcustomid1819516typeCU.cfm?UID=60662E1B761D4916B&MX=311&H=0 Tell a Friend: http://www.lcv.org/alerts/Action.cfm?orgid=Insider062404gen&a=77&UID=60662E1B761D4916B&MX=311&H=0 Stop toxic mercury pollution! Learn more about the dangers of mercury, the corporations who benefit from the Bush Administration plan, and how your state is affected. Then tell the Bush Administration to clean it up! http://www.lcv.org/Features/Features.cfm?orgid=Insider062404gen&ID=2874&c=46&UID=60662E1B761D4916B&MX=311&H=0 Key Findings in LCV�s Report: � Mercury is a poison that affects young children and fetuses the most. It is a hazardous neurotoxin that can cause damage to the brain and nervous system � Millions of Americans live within 10 miles of mercury polluting plants � The electric utility industry -- major Bush campaign contributors -- worked closely with the EPA to craft the proposal saving the industry billions of dollars � 45 Senators and 10 state Attorneys General have expressed opposition to the plan � High-ranking EPA officials with ties to industry amount to foxes guarding the henhouse � More than 40 states have issued fish consumption advisories tied to mercury contamination Take Action! Send your letter TODAY! The comment period ends Tuesday, June 29th! Tell the Bush Administration not to delay mercury clean up! The health of future generations is at risk. _________________________________________________________ -QUESTIONS? If you have any questions about this message or any other The League of Conservation Voters issue, please click here: http://www.lcv.org/feedback/feedback.cfm?MX=311&H=0 You can also call 202-785-8683.

from Center for Biological Diversity June 25, 2004

The Montana fluvial arctic grayling is the last river dwelling population of grayling in the continental U.S. It has been reduced to less than 5% of its historic range by a combination of dams, water withdrawal and habitat degradation, and is now restricted to one short stretch of the Big Hole River, where six years of drought and continued irrigation withdrawals threaten the grayling with extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have considered the grayling warranted for protection as an endangered species since 1994, but precluded by other listing actions. Despite dramatic population declines and the near drying of the river for six years running, Fish and Wildlife has refused to emergency list the grayling. Please follow the link below to use our free fax system to write the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and tell them the grayling needs immediate protection as an endangered species. You can take action on this alert either via email (please see directions below) or via the web at: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/grayling/ Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/grayling/forward/ We encourage you to take action by October 31, 2004 MONTANA ARCTIC GRAYLING NEED YOUR HELP 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/grayling/ INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL: Just choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program. Your letter will be addressed and sent to: Director Steve Williams ----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME---- Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], I am writing to express concern about the fate of the Montana fluvial arctic grayling and to request that you emergency list this species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Montana fluvial arctic grayling are restricted to a short stretch of the Big Hole River -- less than 5% of their historic range. For the sixth year in a row, the level of the Big Hole has dropped below critical levels of 20 cfs. Unlike past years, however, the river has become just a trickle at 6 cfs in May, rather than July or August. In response to low flows, grayling populations have declined precipitously. In both 2001 and 2002, there were too few fish to count and get reliable population estimates and there has been little successful recruitment into the population for a number of consecutive years. This is a critical situation for the species and necessitates emergency listing. The Service has not acted to list the grayling in the past because of a voluntary drought management plan in which some landowners agree to leave water in the river. Although some landowners have participated and this is commendable, some landowners have not and the effort has not been successful at maintaining critical flows. Voluntary efforts cannot be judged solely on partial participation, but instead must be judged on their ability to ensure the survival of the species. One of the irrigators, Mr. Harold Peterson, was quoted in the Associated Press, May 26, 2004, stating: "A lot of us have given up all the water we could possibly give up. We can't let our cattle not drink water just to give it to the fish." This statement indicates landowners are not willing or able to take the necessary action to ensure the grayling survives. This is clearly an emergency that requires the Service's immediate attention in the form of an emergency listing and section 9 enforcement action. Please immediately emergency list this species before it's too late. ----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

from Ecoterra June 26, 2004

Please forward widely!!
******************************************
FOREST CONSERVATION ACTION ALERT!
Protect Ecuador's National Park from Oil Roads
******************************************
By Forests.org, http://forests.org/
Networked by Forests.org, Inc., gbarry@forests.org
June 26, 2004

Let the Ecuadorean Government Know that Oil
Exploration and Protected Areas Do Not Mix

TAKE ACTION @ http://forests.org/action/ecuador/

The Brazilian national oil company PetroBras is finalizing plans to build
a 45 kilometer (28 miles) access road into the heart of the ultradiverse
Yasuni National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Yasuni National Park's
outstanding biodiversity was recognized in 1989 when it was designated a
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The park contains one of the highest known
levels of plant diversity per hectare in the world. Wildlife abounds as
jaguars still roam, woolly and spider monkeys still swing through the
trees, and harpy eagles patrol the canopy. The proposed road will be a
completely new artery, opening access into remote, primary Amazonian
rainforest relatively untouched by human activities. As has happened
elsewhere, it will trigger an irreversible wave of colonization and over
hunting. Further, this road will transect the territory of the Chiru Isla
Quichua indigenous community living along the Rio Napo, and would enter
the ancestral territory of the Huaorani, possibly even impacting an
uncontacted community. Two other major oil projects located within Yasuni
Park are in earlier stages of development, thus the PetroBras road could
very well set the precedent for a new wave of road building within the
park. To protect Yasuni National Park's unique and threatened nature,
wildlife and peoples, it is imperative that no further roads are built
into the area.

TAKE ACTION @ http://forests.org/action/ecuador/

-------

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top

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Protect Ecuador's National Park from Oil Roads