Earthhope Action Network environment action Alerts for July 24-31, 2001

To: All Activists
From: Darcy Davis, American Lands, UN Climate Summit in Bonn
Aaron Rappaport, American Lands, Washington, DC
Date: July 27, 2001

Kyoto Climate Agreement Reached!

Agreement has been reached on the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change!
After more than 36 hours of marathon negotiations, a consensus has been
reached on the rules for implementing the protocol.  This is an historic
moment, not only for the world's environment, but also for diplomacy and
world peace.

Thanks to President Bush, the U.S. will not be participating as the
other developed countries go about responsibly reducing their emissions
of carbon dioxide.  Congress must move to fill the vacuum in U.S.
climate leadership.

Please seize this historic moment to call your two Senators and your
U.S. Representative at 202/ 225-3121.  Please tell them that:

1) Today, the rest of the world moved forward responsibly with the Kyoto
Protocol while President Bush clung to the fossil fuel politics of the
past.

2) Congress must lead where the President will not.  Four-pollutant
legislation and greatly improved mileage standards should be passed now.

3) Forest protection has a role to play in reducing global warming
emissions.

We are not yet certain how forests fared in the climate deal.  It is not
yet clear whether or not the "business-as-usual forestry" loophole was
closed.  More on this soon.  The loophole would allow nations to pretend
that their forests started growing only sometime after 1990, and thus
that their growth should count as a "new" emissions reduction.  Sadly,
there definitely will be no incentives to avoid deforestation in the
tropics, even though it accounts for 20% of humanity's CO2 emissions.

The rest of the world has shown today that humanity can act in spite of
U.S. opposition to meet the many challenges of global warming.  There is
still much work to be done, but today marks the beginning of addressing
this century's greatest environmental and social justice issue.

As an eyewitness to the historic events in Bonn, Darcy Davis of American
Lands writes:

"It was an exhilarating feeling to witness the culmination of over a
decade of perseverance and hard work.  With bursting smiles and tears,
and a sigh of relief, delegates and environmentalists welcomed new
cooperation and leadership to move forward with renewed hope for the
future."

For more information please contact the American Lands Forest Protection
and Climate Campaign:
Darcy Davis, Northwest Organizer, 503/ 978-0132,
mailto:darcydavis@americanlands.org.
Aaron Rappaport, Coordinator, 202/ 547-9098, mailto:
arappaport@mindspring.com.
http://www.americanlands.org/forestweb/global.htm
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

DATE: July 23, 2001

To: FAN Activists
From: NWF Population & Environment Program

Re: Congressional Update

Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held the hearing "Mexico City Policy: Effects of Restrictions on International Family Planning". This historic hearing, convened by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), discussed the impacts of the Bush executive order, known as the global gag rule, on women around the world. The hearing also discussed the Global Democracy Promotion Act (S. 367 and H.R. 755) which, if passed, would remove the executive order.

The following individuals, speaking in support of the Global Democracy Promotion Act, identified many ways the global gag rule restricted freedom of speech, reduced the capacity of individuals to participate in the public policy arena, and impacted the health and well-being of women and children.

Representative Nita Lowey (D-18-NY)
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)
Daniel Pellegrom, President, Pathfinder International
Aryeh Neier, President, Open Society Institute
Dr. Nirmal Bista, Director General, Family Planning Association of Nepal
Susana Silva Galdos, President, Movimiento Manuela Ramos, Peru

Speaking on behalf of the Bush global gag rule were:
Senator Tim Hutchinsom (R-AR)
Representative Chris Smith (R-4-NJ)
Alan Kreczko, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, U.S. State Department Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, American Enterprise Institute
Cathy Cleaver, Director of Planning & Information, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Professor M. Solphia Aguirre, Department of Business Economics, Catholic University of America

Through the voices of those impacted by the executive order, the hearing shed light on how it is affecting the lives of people worldwide. Some examples of this harm include:

· One of the individuals called to testify, Susana Silvia Galdos from Peru, had to go a U.S. court to ask for an exception from President Bush's policy to be able to speak freely about the impacts of the global gag rule in her country. She was allowed to speak freely, but only during the hearing.
· Nepal, which has turned down U.S. funding for family planning, is losing about one million dollars in funding that once went toward education, training for healthcare providers, pre and post-natal care, and contraceptives.

Full testimony and remarks of the hearing will soon be available at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/senate11sh107.html

This hearing is a lead-in to actions being taken by the Senate in the State Department Authorization Bill. Later this week, at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee mark-up of the authorization bill, Senator Boxer will offer an amendment to the bill that includes the language of the Global Democracy Promotion Act. (If your Senator is a member of this committee you will receive further information regarding this with a call to action).

The bill will then proceed to the Senate floor, following the August recess, for a full Senate vote. As that time draws near, we will send you additional information with ways that you can help ensure passage of this critical bill with the anti-gag rule language.

If you have any questions please contact Marcia Lesky at 202-797-6800 or at population@nwf.org. Thank you for your continued interest in these important issues.

TO: ALL ACTIVISTS
FROM: JASON TOCKMAN, AMERICAN LANDS
DATE: JULY 23, 2001

NAFTA-SPONSORED COLLAPSE OF MEXICAN FARMS UNDERMINES PRESIDENT BUSH'S
CLAIM THAT FREE TRADE LIFTS PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY - Fast Track bill must
be defeated to prevent expansion of NAFTA model to entire hemisphere

President Bush's claim this morning that "Free trade is the only proven
path out of poverty for developing nations..." was effectively countered
by a New York Times story that ran Saturday covering the protests by
Mexican corn, coffee, and sugar farmers whose livelihoods have been
destroyed by NAFTA.  Along with the loss of 33,000 family farms in the
United States (a rate six times steeper than the pre-NAFTA era),
thousands of small-scale Mexican farmers have been forced from their
fields, unable to compete under trade rules that were engineered to
boost profits for transnational agricultural corporations. It has been
projected that as many as 15 million Mexican farmers could be displaced
because of the agricultural provisions of NAFTA.

Now Bush and other hemispheric leaders want to export the NAFTA model to
an additional 31 countries. This may not come to pass, however, if
Congress refuses to grant the president the Fast Track authority that is
key to negotiating multilateral trade deals (Fast Track is a procedural
act limiting Congress's ability to influence trade agreements to an up
or down vote, with minimal debate and no amendments). Killing Fast Track
is a necessary step for turning back the NAFTA model of
corporate-managed trade, but Republican leaders want to it for a vote in
the next two weeks.

Please join us at this critical time!  We must turn up the pressure on
the U.S. House of Representatives to assure that they vote no on Fast
Track.

Please call TOLL FREE: 1-800-393-1082.

Ask your representative to VOTE NO on any version of Fast Track that
comes up for a vote. For all of the family farmers of the Americas, for
the forests, for workers rights, and for our air and water quality, ask
them to SAY NO TO FAST TRACK, AND NO TO THE FTAA. Be sure to speak with
the person who covers trade issues.

The NY Times story follows, along with links to the article and an
excellent report that Public Citizen recently released on NAFTA's impact
on small farms.   See story at:
http://nytimes.com/2001/07/22/international/americas/22MEXI.html.
See Public Citizen's NAFTA Agricultural Report at:
http://www.citizen.org/pctrade/nafta/reports/naftaAG/NAFTAAGREPORT.htm

Jason Tockman, Director, International Trade Program, American Lands
Alliance
(740) 594-5441, tockman@americanlands.org
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

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

July 25, 2001
========================================
In This Issue:

--Action alerts--

ENERGY LEGISLATION: *Urgent! House vote next week* -- Tell your
representative to reject Arctic drilling and pollution subsidies and
to instead pass a responsible energy bill

--Updates on Previous alerts--

WHITE HOUSE NOMINATIONS

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

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

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

ENERGY LEGISLATION
*Urgent! House vote next week* -- Tell your representative to reject
Arctic drilling and pollution subsidies and to instead pass a
responsible energy bill

Leaders in the House of Representatives plan to bring an energy bill
to a vote next week that would open the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge and other pristine wilderness to oil and gas drilling, provide
tens of billions of dollars to the fossil fuel and nuclear industries,
and increase air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Instead of investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources
in a serious way, the bill proposes huge new tax breaks for the oil
and coal industries -- even though energy companies are currently
making record-breaking profits. And rather than raising fuel economy
standards adequately, the bill ducks the issue by offering a provision
that will do almost nothing to help reduce gasoline use, and could
actually increase fuel consumption. Meanwhile, the bill would
encourage development of more coal-fired power plants -- the dirtiest
source of energy, responsible for premature deaths, asthma, mercury
poisoning, acid rain, and global warming -- and would also promote new
investments in nuclear power, increasing the risks of nuclear weapon
proliferation and contamination from nuclear waste.

Between now and the time the House votes on the bill, bipartisan
amendments will be offered to save the Arctic Wildlife Refuge from oil
and gas drilling and increase vehicle fuel economy standards. Other
amendments may seek to preserve stronger federal oversight of drilling
operations on sensitive public lands, and reduce subsidies in the
current bill for polluting industries.

== What to do ==
Contact your representative *today* and urge him or her to oppose the
current House energy bill and support amendments to fix it.

== Contact information ==
You can email or fax your representative directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action. If you prefer to call
your representative, the Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

==========================
Updates on Previous alerts
==========================

WHITE HOUSE NOMINATIONS
In past alerts we asked you to urge your senators to oppose the
nomination of John Graham to head the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, a lower-level but extremely powerful position in
establishing or blocking federal regulatory safeguards. While many
senators expressed concern for Graham's tendency to ignore or downplay
health and environmental benefits in his controversial risk analyses,
the Senate nevertheless confirmed his nomination by a 61-37 vote on
July 19th. The relatively high number of "No" votes (13 more than
Gale Norton received when she was confirmed as Interior secretary)
sends a strong message to the White House and Graham that his actions
will be carefully scrutinized -- THANK YOU to everyone who helped
elevate this issue with your senators.

==================================================
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==========
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===========

To: All Activists
From: Steve Holmer
Date: July 25, 2001

Alert: Mark Rey Nomination Hearing Tomorrow

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to hold a hearing on the
nomination of Mark Rey for Undersecretary of Agriculture in charge of
the Forest Service.  Rey is a former timber industry lobbyist who has
been working for Sen. Larry Craig in recent years on the Senate Energy
and Natural Resources Committee staff.

Rey is no friend of the forests and has been working feverishly for
years trying to figure out how to get more trees out of the National
Forests.  The Salvage Logging Rider was his handywork in part, as are
other efforts to use forest health and fire to increase logging.

Please contact Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) at
202/224-2035, ask for committee staffer Mark Halverson and urge him to
delay the nomination hearing.  Sen. Harkin can also be reached at his
personal office at 202/224-3254.

Given Rey's very one-sided approach to forest issues, it is essential
the Committee closely review his past record as well as highlight the
numerous rollbacks in forest policy already initiated by the Bush
Administration.

Other members of the Agriculture Committee can be contacted at
202/224-3121.  Thanks

*Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Kent Conrad (D-ND)
*Tom Daschle (D-SD)
*Max Baucus (D-MT)
Zell Miller (D-GA)
*Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Ben Nelson (D-NE)
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

You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/BEACH_Act/wkwxs54f78xtew

We encourage you to take action by August 3, 2001

Tell Congress to Protect Our Beaches!

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

Your voice is URGENTLY needed to help protect America's
beaches! Contact your member of the U.S House of Representatives
IMMEDIATELY to ask for increased funding for the Beaches
Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH)
Act. As the final vote on funding is happening ANY
DAY NOW, we thank you in advance for responding to
this alert right away.

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

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/BEACH_Act/wkwxs54f78xtew

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

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

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Representative Maurice Hinchey

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

I am a citizen of the United States, and I urge you
to support the Pallone-Saxton amendment to increase
funding in the VA/HUD Appropriations Bill for the Beaches
Environmental Health Assessment and Coastal Health
(BEACH) Act.

Last year, Congress unanimously passed the BEACH Act
and the President signed it into law. The Act authorized
$30 million in grants to states, tribes, and territories
to improve beach water monitoring and public notification
programs. However, the current House bill would only
provide the Environmental Protection Agency $7 million
to implement this important Act. We need your help
to increase EPA's funding and ensure that our beaches
are safe for America's families.

As you know, healthy beaches and coastal areas are
a cornerstone of America's economy and its culture,
as they are home to half of our nation's population
and are visited by over 180 million Americans each
year. In fact, coastal areas are the nation's number
one tourist destination. Unfortunately, beaches that
are contaminated with bacteria and viruses can cause
serious illnesses.

As the House considers the EPA funding bill, we ask
you to support increased funding for the BEACH Act,
to help officials reduce and prevent beach pollution
and protect the health of America's beach goers. We
urge you to continue the pledge that you made last
year for clean, healthy beaches when you enacted this
important law.

Thank you for your help with this important issue.

Help Ensure Future Trips to the Beach are Healthy Ones

Today, please take five minutes out of your busy schedule
to improve beach water testing and public health protections.
As early as Thursday, July 26th, the U.S. House of
Representatives will consider an amendment to the Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA) annual funding bill that
will provide an additional $3 million to support state
beach water testing activities. Two Congressmen from
New Jersey, Frank Pallone and Jim Saxton are our champions
on the "healthy beaches" amendment.

Please take a moment to call your U.S. Representative
and encourage them to support the Pallone-Saxton beach
water monitoring amendment on the EPA appropriations
bill. Just by calling, letting the office know you
live in their district, and saying one sentence in
support of this amendment, you will help shape the
future of our nation's beaches. The U.S. Capitol Switchboard
is 202-224-3121. Ask to be connected to your Representative's
office.

To find out who your U.S. Representative is check out
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html

If you gather any useful information from your calls,
please feel free to e-mail us at: info@americanoceans.org

Thank You

Background:

This summer, millions of Americans will be spending
a portion of their vacation at the beach. Many public
beaches are not regularly tested for bacteria and viruses
that can cause human illnesses. These illnesses, ranging
from uncomfortable infections to severe cases of hepatitis,
can quickly ruin family vacations and lead to lost
work days.

Last fall, the U.S. Congress unanimously passed the
Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health
Act (BEACH Act). President Clinton signed the bill
into law. One of the key elements of the Act is the
establishment of a grant program to coastal states,
territories, and tribes with bay, ocean or Great Lake
beaches. The Act authorizes $30 million annually in
beach water monitoring grants that will be used to
assist states in improving and implementing more effective
beach water monitoring programs, including better notification
to beach visitors about contaminated waters.

The Pallone-Saxton amendment seeks an additional $3
million in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
budget for beach water monitoring programs. If successful,
the House recommendation would provide $10 million
for state beach water monitoring grants. To improve
beach water quality monitoring and public health protections,
we urge you to support the Pallone-Saxton amendment
to the EPA's funding bill

Green Party of New York State E-News Vol. 1, No. 7, July 24, 2001

In this issue:

1. Introduction

2. Action and Activity alerts (AAAs)
- Protest Italian Authorities’ Brutal Treatment of G-8 Demonstrators
- Hudson River PCB Clean-Up in Peril
- Ban Drilling in the Finger Lakes National Forest
- Oppose Fast Track for FTAA
- Noam Chomsky Appeal for Free Speech Radio News
- Support the Campaign Finance Reform Bill

  3. Meetings and Events:
- Dioxin/Cancer Protest: July 30, 2001, Rochester
- Live From Death Row: Friday, Aug. 3, 2001, 7:00 PM, New York City
- Campus Greens Founding Convention, Thurs Aug. 9 - Sun Aug. 12, 2001, Chicago
- Mobilization during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank
Joint Annual General Meetings in Washington: Sept. 28  Oct. 4 2001,
Washington, D.C.

4. Featured Local: Tompkins County Greens Web Site

5. News, News Links, Resources
- CARMEL - Smith Loses Green Party Line
- SYRACUSE - Greens Enroll Two Voters for Switching Parties, Daniels,
Fisher Get Endorsements
- FLUSHING - Greens to Hold First Council Primary
- BINGHAMTON: BCC Prof Plans City Campaign for Mayor; Vercolen Seeks Green
Party Nomination
- NEW HAVEN - Voters Go for Halle in 9th Ward
- EUROPE - Frustrated Europeans Set to Battle U.S. on Climate

6. Letters to the Editor
- Email on Fundraiser
- Don Hassig Announces Candidacy for Governor

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

1.      INTRODUCTION

Welcome to another issue of the Green Party of New York State's
E-News!  Our goal is to update Greens across the state about important
issues, news, events, and resources. We hope you will find E-News
informative and entertaining. We welcome your comments, contributions and
assistance. Send your news, events, and Alerts for the next issue to Cathy
Sadell at csadell@prodigy.net and let us know if you would like to help
write the next issue.  Special thanks to Ann Link, who is now coordinating
the News and Featured Local sections. Note that E-News will print letters
to the editor from Greens, Nader supporters, and people with something
interesting to say. Deadline for submissions to next issue: Friday, July
20, 2001. If you would prefer not to receive the newsletter, please notify
Masada Disenhouse at masada@akula.com. To learn more about green issues
work in New York or to contact your local Green chapter please visit
www.greens.org/ny. For information about green party electoral work in New
York, including state committee news, representatives and elections, please
visit http://www.gpnys.org/ (back issues of E-News will also be archived
there soon).

Green Party E-News is looking for assistance with some exciting articles
we’d like to offer our readers regarding the upcoming election season and a
number state-wide green issues. If you are interested in volunteering some
time and have some experience researching and writing articles, please
contact Masada at masada@akula.com.

2. ACTION AND ACTIVITY alerts ( AAAs)

PROTEST ITALIAN AUTHORITIES’ BRUTAL TREATMENT OF G-8 DEMONSTRATORS

Protest the brutal violence of Italian authorities against demonstrators at
the G-8 summit in Genoa this weekend (one man is confirmed dead, having
been shot twice in the head by police then run over by a police Jeep, and
there are reports of two other deaths). Send protest notes to the Italian
authorities. The email addresses for Italy's permanent mission to the
United Nations are itaun@undp.org and italy@un.int. The email address for
Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is relazioni.pubblico@esteri.it.

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

HUDSON RIVER PCB CLEAN-UP IN PERIL: Calls and e-mails urgently needed!

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman has said she will make her decision
about the Hudson River PCB clean-up next week.She has indicated that she is
willing to forge a compromise, which could include a pilot dredging project
instead of a full-scale clean-up. To date, she has refused to meet with
environmental groups advocating a clean-up, although she has met with
dredging opponents. After her decision, the state has 30 days to review and
comment on it. Governor Pataki, while supporting "active remediation" of
the Hudson, has never gone on record supporting a specific cleanup proposal.

The next 7-14 days are crucial to the outcome of the Hudson River PCB
clean-up decision. Calls and e-mails into Governor Pataki's and Christie
Whitman's offices are needed immediately! Please voice your support for the
EPA's Proposed clean-up or an even more rigorous one. Sample letters,
addresses, and phone numbers are below.

Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
e-mail: gov.pataki@chamber.state.ny.us

Administrator Christie Whitman
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
202-564-4700 (note from Fred Nagel: you will be transferred to 1-202-260-4610)
e-mail: whitman.christine@epamail.epa.gov

-------------------------------
SAMPLE E-MAIL TO GOVERNOR PATAKI:

Dear Governor Pataki,

The EPA decision on the Hudson River PCB clean-up is fast approaching, and
it is imperative that you step forward and call for a stringent clean-up of
the Hudson River PCBs. New York should settle for nothing less than what
the EPA proposed last December - the targeted removal of 100,000 pounds of
PCBs from the upper Hudson River as soon as possible. The environmental
community has called for an even more aggressive action plan, removing
25-50% more PCBs than the EPA's proposal. I urge you to reject any proposal
that would delay or weaken the EPA's initial clean-up plan.

Sincerely,
-----------------------------
SAMPLE E-MAIL TO ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN:

Dear Administrator Whitman,

Last December, the EPA recommended the targeted removal of 100,000 pounds
of PCBs from the upper Hudson River. This proposal was based on a thorough
scientific analysis of the environmental and health threats of PCBs and
available clean-up technologies.

Sixty-eight communities, hundreds of organizations, and thousands of
individual citizens passed resolutions and wrote letters to the EPA during
the public comment period urging that the EPA proceed with a Hudson River
PCB clean-up equal to or more stringent than EPA's proposed "Alternative
4". The majority of New Yorkers support dredging the PCBs from the river.

I urge you to stand behind EPA's initial clean-up proposal, which EPA
scientists developed after more than a decade of exhaustive, peer-reviewed
study.It is imperative that sound science, not politics, prevail in this
decision.

Sincerely,

More info: Friends of a Clean Hudson, www.cleanhudson.org; Clearwater,
www.clearwater.org
********************************************************************

BAN DRILLING IN THE FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FOREST
From Molly Brewton, July 18

Last night the senate voted to BAN oil and natural gas drilling in the
Finger Lakes National Forest! It was a rider onto the Energy and Water
Development Spending Bill, introduced by Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada (D) at
the urging of Senators Clinton and Schumer. That bill passed 97-2, and
carried the Finger Lakes ban as well.

To become law we need this to pass the House of Representatives. That will
be harder since the House is republican ruled. However, republicans love
local control, and since Amo Houghton is on our side (sort of), we need to
work on him to get this ban put into the Energy and Water Development
Spending Bill in the House. The LNF is within his district, and most
republicans will not support a measure affecting another's district without
their approval. Since the House Appropriations committee is ruled by
republicans, we need Houghton's support to get this measure introduced in
the House.

LOBBYING IS CRITICAL NOW.  I have outlined some steps, in order of priority:

#1 - Contact Amo Houghton
Tell Amo Houghton to urge someone in the House Appropriations Subcommittee
on Energy and Water Development to introduce a the rider banning drilling
for oil and natural gas in the FLNF, like the one in the Senate, into the
Energy and Water Development Spending Bill. Urge him to lobby the Energy
and Water Development subcommittee and the House to support this measure as
the FLNF lies in his district. Thank him first for opposing drilling in the
FLNF.
Amo Houghton
1111 Longworth Bldg HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202)225-3161
(202)225-5574 (fax)
Aide: Francesca Tedesco

#2 - Contact Other Representatives in NY on the Appropriations Committee
If you live in another district, you should call your representative and
urge them to support and lobby for the drilling ban rider in the
Appropriations Committee. Republicans are particularly important, since
they rule the House. Hinchey of Ithaca is on this committee. He's a
democrat, but he was the first federal offical to come out against this, so
he can be quite helpful. James Walsh is republican, nearby, and Forest
friendly. Please call him if you live in his district.
Maurice Hinchey (D) - Ithaca to Kingston
2431 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6335
Aide: Paul Brotherton

James Walsh (R) - Onondaga, Cortland, Cayuga, Tioga, Broome Counties
2351 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202)225-3701
(202)225-4041 (fax)
Aide: Ron Anderson

John Sweeney (R) - Eastern NYS North of Poughkeepsie
416 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-5614
202-225-6234 FAX

Nita M. Lowey (D) - White Plains area
2329 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6506
(202) 225-0546 (fax)

Jose Serrano (D) - NYC
2342 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515-3216
(202) 225-4361
Aide: Nadine Berg

#3 - Contact Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY)
Boehlert is one of the most influential moderate republicans in the
country. By contacting him we may get him to sway Houghton or other
republicans. His district is in central New York.
Sherwood Boehlert
2246 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3223
202-225-3665
202-225-1891 (fax)

We'll keep you updated on this, we've really close to winning now!
Info: Jesse Strock, Finger Lakes Forest Watch Congress,
http://www.flfwc.org, (607) 220-4222

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

OPPOSE FAST TRACK FOR FTAA

The Campaign for Labor Rights, the Mexico Solidarity Network, and CISPES
strongly encourage you to be part of a national campaign to stop the “Trade
Promotion Authority Act of 2001,” (HR 2149 bill), which was recently
introduced by Rep. Philip Crane of Illinois.

This “Fast Track” bill would give the President authority to negotiate
trade agreements for the next six years. The President would present
completed agreement to Congress for a simple up-down vote without the
possibility of amendments and with limited debate. The Fast Track bill
would give President Bush the authority to negotiate the most important
international agreement of our generation, the Free Trade Area of the
Americas. The FTAA, often called NAFTA for the entire hemisphere, would
enshrine the corporate agenda in an international legal framework, giving
corporations many new legal rights at the expense of working people and the
environment.

Most likely, there will be a vote on Fast Track before Congress’ August
recess. Now is the time to take action to defeat Fast Track! Fast Track was
defeated in 1997 by a grassroots effort like this one. It wasn’t easy. It
took tens of thousands of calls, emails, and letters to Congress. Now is
the time to do it again. With the FTAA on the line, Fast Track is more
dangerous than ever.

We need look no further than the failed NAFTA experiment. The statistics
are sobering. Since 1994, the United States lost about 700,000 jobs, mainly
union jobs from the industrial sector. On average, the unemployed found new
jobs that paid only 70% of their previous wages, forcing them to either
lower their standard of living or look for a second job.

Most of these jobs went to maquiladora plants in Mexico, where wages
average about a dollar an hour, below the poverty level even by Mexico’s
standards. At the same time, Mexico lost over two million jobs  about a
million in the agricultural sector where small and medium producers can’t
compete with highly subsidized US corporate farms, and about a million in
the small business sector where the local taco vendor can’t compete with
Taco Bell and the local hardware store can’t compete with WalMart. The
results are  devastating. More than half of the Mexican population lives
below the poverty  level, an increase from the 1980s when the “free trade”
model first took  hold, and workers have lost nearly 30% of their
purchasing power since NAFTA went into effect in 1994.

In El Salvador, the free-trade model is equally devastating: un/under
employment is over 65%; over 80% of families can not cover their most basic
needs; and 25% of El Salvador's population is still homeless after this
year's earthquakes. A proposed NAFTA style free trade agreement for Central
America with the U.S. and the FTAA will only make social and economic
conditions worse. The people of El Salvador want an alternative to
corporate globalization, but "Fast Track" and upcoming US trade legislation
could prevent that. Their alternative model puts the needs of the people
above corporate profits and is supported by Salvadoran unions, peasant
associations, youth and women's groups, and the FMLN.

Now the free trade agenda is being pushed to a new level under the FTAA.
Fast Track is a tactic used by corporate heads and government officials to
push the FTAA through, while eliminating democratic debate.

With this kind of record, it’s not surprising that the current Fast Track
bill explicitly prohibits the inclusion of labor, not to mention
environmental, agreements in trade treaties.

THERE’S NO TIME TO LOSE. BEGIN YOUR GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN TODAY!

Call your Representative to urge him/her to vote NO on Fast Track. You can
call the House switchboard at 202-224-3121 to get your Representative’s
phone number. Ask the person you speak with to give you your
Representative’s local access number  that’s the number to her/his office
in your community.

The AFL-CIO has also created a toll free number so that as many activists
and union members as possible can call their Representatives. Just call
1-800-393-1082 to push your Representative to say “NO” to Fast Track.

3. MEETINGS AND EVENTS

DIOXIN/CANCER PROTEST: RELEASE THE US EPA's DIOXIN REASSESSMENT NOW
JULY 30th, 2001, 2:00 PM, FEDERAL BUILDING, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

Industry, agribusiness and the federal government must stop deceiving the
American public about the cancer risk imposed by dioxin emissions and
release the final draft of the dioxin reassessment now. Our federal
government must move forward quickly with measures aimed at reducing dioxin
emissions and informing the public upon how to avoid exposures to these
chemical carcinogens. Americans who consume moderate to heavy quantities of
animal fats have a 1 in 100 excess risk of developing cancer due to the
dioxin, furan and dioxin-like PCB contaminants in such foods as dairy
products, beef and fish.

In "Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of
2,3,7,8-Tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds", the US
EPA quantifies what is clearly a major cause of cancer in the United
States. Breast cancer and colorectal cancer are highly associated with
animal fat consumption. To what degree are these cancers caused by the
dioxin contaminants and other carcinogenic persistent organic pollutants in
animal fats?

Sponsored by: Rochester Greens and St. Lawrence River Valley Greens. For
more info contact: Don Hassig, St. Lawrence River Valley Greens,
canceraction@hotmail.com, 315-393-1975.

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

LIVE FROM DEATH ROW - hear victims of police torture speak out!
Friday, August 3, 2001 at 7:00 PM
National Action Network, 1941 Madison Ave at 125th Street

Members of the Death Row 10  ten Black men from Chicago's South Side
sentenced to die after confessing under police torture  will tell their
stories and take questions from the audience through a live phone
connection. AnthonyFaison and Charles Shepard  two recently exonerated men
who spent 13years in prison for a murder they didn't commit  will speak
along with a speaker who will address the Rockefeller drug laws and a
speaker fromthe Campaign to End the Death Penalty.The death penalty is
cruel, unfairly applied, and racist. And the samecriminal injustice system
that incarcerates thousands of mothers andfathers under New York's
draconian drug laws sentences the innocent todie wherever capital
punishment exists. Please come show your support! For more information on
this event, please contact Ben Fishman: Phone: 212 442 8768; Email:
bfishman@ccrb.nyc.gov

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

CAMPUS GREENS FOUNDING CONVENTION
Thursday, August 9 through Sunday, August 12, 2001, University of
Illinois-Chicago

Nine months after Nader 2000 ended, the movement to build a truly
progressive and viable third party in the United States is still going
strong. This summer's Campus Greens Founding Convention will be a
celebration of our sustained unity on college campuses nationwide. We will
gather to democratically set the foundation for The Campus Greens as we
empower ourselves with a leadership role in the new Green Movement. 500
people are expected to attend, and we'll have carpools and vans leaving
from NYC, Albany, Syracuse, Cornell, and Buffalo, as well as cities
throughout the country. Speakers and panels will address the future of the
Greens, the role of identity politics in progressive third parties,
corporate power, and much more!

Experienced activists will facilitate dozens of workshops on topics
including, but not limited to, organizing effective direct actions, running
electoral campaigns, facilitating meetings and building consensus,
challenging racism, and fighting for affordable housing and a living wage.

Delegates from Campus Greens chapters around the country will craft bylaws,
elect leadership, and develop a national organizing strategy for the year
to come.

Participants will join the Rogers Park Action Network and other progressive
Chicago organizations for a massive march through Chicago for affordable
housing.

CAMPUS GREENS RALLY FOR RADICAL CHANGE
Friday, August 10, The Congress Theater, Chicago, IL
Confirmed speakers and performers include Ralph Nader, Winona LaDuke,
Robert Miranda, and Jello Biafra
Invited speakers / performers include Cynthia McKinney, Howard Zinn,
Michael Moore, Amy Goodman, Ani Difranco, Radiohead, Common, Chuck D, Zach
de la Rocha, and many more!

All those registered for the Campus Greens Founding Convention by Thursday,
August 9, will get into the Rally FREE! All others: buy your tickets NOW!

IMPORTANT CONVENTION INFO:
1) Chapter Registration - it is much cheaper to attend the convention as a
registered chapter, and secures Chapter rights for the year. Online
Registration: convention@campusgreens.org.
2) Individual Convention Registration: Each convention attendee must
register individually.
3) Housing Registration:  From $5-$15 per night. Space is limited so
reserve now.
4) Transportation: being organized from all parts of the country -
carpool@campusgreens.org.

CONTACT the Campus Greens at:
1202 Williamson St., Madison, WI 53703
www.campusgreens.org
convention@campusgreens.org
(608) 251 3529

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

MOBILIZATION DURING THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) AND WORLD BANK
JOINT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
SEPTEMBER 28  OCTOBER 4, 2001, WASHINGTON, D.C.

The 50 Years Is Enough Network & other groups call on activists from all
over the world to come to Washington to protest and expose the illegitimacy
of the institutions and officials who continue to claim the right to
determine the course of the world economy. The IMF and the World Bank are
the primary architects of neo-liberal globalization. Their meetings in
Washington are the most significant gathering of the proponents of
corporate-led globalization in the US in 2001. It’s imperative that
supporters of global economic justice send a clear message: the movement
for global justice continues to grow, and will not stand for continuing
efforts by these institutions and the G-7 governments to structure the
world for the benefit of corporations and the wealthy and to deny basic
justice to the majority of the world's people.
More info: www.50years.org

4.      FEATURED LOCAL

TOMPKINS COUNTY GREENS NEW WEB SITE
(From a Green discussion list posting)

“I'd like to call your attention to http://www.tcgreens.org/ which is, as
far as I know, the only website with green news and opinion updated
daily.  If you like the site, you might like to subscribe to receive a
weekly summary by e-mail, which lets you keep in touch with the Green
movement without surfing for hours or getting your in-box jammed with mail.
You can subscribe at http://www.tcgreens.org/auth/add-self.php

Don't forget to vote in our poll, "Who should the Greens run for President
in 2004?"

Our site supports a number of advanced features, such as discussion groups,
syndication, and access by telephone (You can listen to headlines and hear
stories from our site without a computer, just by dialing an 800
number.)  You can even add headlines from our site to your site without any
programming, find out how at http://www.tcgreens.org/synd/

Our system is based on open source software, and we're making our software
freely available.  Although we're focusing on building a community and
adding features between now and the 2001 elections, we're also interested
in helping other Greens develop a network of sites.”

5.      NEWS, NEWS LINKS, RESOURCES

SMITH LOSES GREEN PARTY LINE
By Michael Risinit, The Journal News (Original Publication: July 18, 2001)

CARMEL -- Voters will see Deputy Putnam County Executive Donald Smith's
name for sheriff several times on the November ballot but not on the Green
Party line, even though local Greens endorsed him in May.

"We were torn between two party positions," Green Party state Chairman
Craig Seeman said yesterday. "First, we believe in local control. But also,
as part of our ideals, we support feminist values." The county Democratic,
Conservative, Independence and Right to Life parties have endorsed Smith, a
first-time candidate for office. He is running against four-term Sheriff
Robert Thoubboron. At issue for the state Green Party was whether to
override a local organization's decision or support a candidate backed by a
group that opposes abortion.

It was a conflict evident in the party's executive committee vote on
Friday. Six of the seven committee members voted to abstain in Smith's
matter. The remaining member voted no, Seeman said, because he was
concerned about the party's cross-endorsing someone supported by the Right
to Life Party. The only recourse for Putnam's Green Party is to wage a
write-in campaign for the Sept. 11 primary, something local party leaders
didn't seem to be considering.

Local Greens and Smith were resigned yesterday to last week's outcome,
although each still expressed mutual admiration for the other. "I know
they're supporting me based on the principle that they know we need a new
sheriff in Putnam County," said Smith, a former brigadier general. He added
that his opposition to abortion would not affect his work as sheriff.

By collecting signatures from 5 percent of its 112 registered voters, the
party could get a spot on the primary ballot. Green Party members could
then write in the name of any candidate they wish. The deadline for
petitions, however, is tomorrow. Joseph Dubovy, Putnam Green Party
chairman, said he would need to discuss that option with other party
members but thought they wouldn't get involved with the complexities of a
write-in vote.

Smith was one of 39 candidates considered by the state Green executive
committee last week and one of 17 to be denied the party's endorsement.
None of the others, Seeman said, were dropped because of an affiliation
with the Right to Life Party. The Green Party platform calls for "full
reproductive freedom for women" and supports the "right to free abortion."

The local endorsement might have stood, Seeman said, if state leaders had
approved the Putnam chapter's rules. While Dubovy filed rules with the
state and county boards of elections, state leadership never signed off on
them. That made the Putnam chapter more of a club and required state
approval of its endorsements. Martin Brech, a Green Party member from
Mahopac, said he was still 100 percent behind Smith and planned to meet
with him soon to discuss ways to support the campaign. The sheriff's race,
Brech said, isn't about a candidate's thoughts on abortion. "We feel there
are more important issues," Brech said. "It's a question of priorities."
While Thoubboron has been credited with reducing crime in Putnam and
upgrading the department's technology, some have accused the former state
police commander of using his office to get back at those who disagree with
him. The state Commission of Investigation is conducting an investigation
into whether the sheriff has used his badge to punish political enemies.
Thoubboron, who narrowly received the county Republican Party's backing in
May, did not return a call for comment yesterday. Smith plans to challenge
the sheriff in a September primary for the GOP line. State Right to Life
Chairman Ken Diem said his party had no qualms about endorsing Smith even
though he attracted consideration from the Greens. Diem said he wasn't
surprised by the Greens' decision, since they "would rather hug trees than
babies." "A person can appreciate the environment we live in as well as the
sanctity of human life," Diem said.

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

GREENS ENROLL TWO VOTERS FOR SWITCHING PARTIES, DANIELS, FISHER GET
ENDORSEMENTS
by Michelle Breidenbach, The Post-Standard Syracuse, 6/12/01

In 26 years as a Democrat, Dr. Jennifer Daniels said she has never been
asked to support a candidate, sign a petition or attend a party convention.

So she had no qualms about leaving the party behind Monday and becoming a
Green to get that party's endorsement for her race for Syracuse mayor.

"The Green Party is a natural home for me," said Daniels, who said she
voted for Ralph Nader, the Green candidate for president, in 2000. "The
Greens' local issues are my issues: the commuter tax, the living-wage
ordinance, economic development stimulated by first- class public services
instead of corporate welfare giveaways."

The Green Party last week agreed to endorse Daniels for mayor and Democrat
Alan Fisher for 1st District councilor on the condition they switch
parties. The two enrolled as Greens Monday at the Onondaga County Board of
Elections. The switch will not be valid until after the November election,
but Daniels said that does not matter.

"The purpose of it isn't for me to vote in a primary," she said. "The
purpose is to keep a promise."

Party officials are tired of cross-endorsing Democrats who tout Green Party
issues on the campaign trail but abandon them after election, county
Chairman Howie Hawkins said.

In previous elections, the Green Party cross-endorsed Democrats. But Nader
boosted enthusiasm for the party enough for members to be more choosy about
the names they put on the ballot, Hawkins said.

The Green Party turned away City Operations Director Joe Nicoletti, who
sought the party's backing for mayor this year after failing to get the
Republican nod. Nicoletti had switched from Democrat to Republican, only to
be passed over by the GOP.

Nicoletti, who lost the mayor's race in 1993, has not yet announced his
intentions for this year's open seat.

Hawkins said the party in 1999 cross-endorsed Mike Atkins for the 4th
District council seat because he supported a progressive income tax for
city workers who live elsewhere and he seemed committed to getting jobs for
city residents.

Atkins has not raised the commuter tax issue. And his support of the
Carousel Center tax deal does not sit well with Green Party members, who
believe mall jobs do not pay a living wage, Hawkins said.

"We haven't heard a peep from him," Hawkins said.

This year, the Green Party has endorsed Hawkins to challenge Atkins.

Atkins said losing the Green Party line will not hurt his campaign.

"People in my district will vote for me because of my record," he said.
"When someone comes to me for help, I don't ask what party you're in."

The Green Party from 1994 to 1998 circulated independent petitions to put
candidates on the ballot in Onondaga County. In the 1998 gubernatorial
election, the party earned enough votes to win its own line on New York's
ballot.

That means the party must collect only eight valid signatures - as opposed
to 1,500 for independents - to get a candidate on the ballot. It also means
fewer attacks from major parties, which can challenge enough signatures to
stall independent party races until the fall, Hawkins said.

"We're getting started now," Hawkins said. "Sometimes we didn't get started
until after Labor Day."

There are 483 people enrolled in the Green Party in Syracuse. Hawkins hopes
to have enough members to organize a committee structure as the
Republicans, Democrats and Conservatives have done in Onondaga County. Last
year, 2,559 city residents voted for Nader.

"It's going up steadily," he said. "There's a Green base out there."

The party has only about $10 in its bank account, but launched a drive last
week to get between 500 and 1,000 people to donate $1,000 each. The party
is also banking on a Nader visit to raise money and awareness.

[Subsequent editor's note] An article Tuesday used an out-of-date number of
signatures required for a Green Party candidate to qualify for a citywide
race in November. The correct number is 25, not eight. The article also
incorrectly reported the amount of money the party is trying to raise. The
party is asking between 500 and 1,000 people to donate $100 each, not
$1,000 each.]

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

GREENS TO HOLD FIRST COUNCIL PRIMARY: Two Flushing candidates compete for
88 votes needed to get on Election Day ballot
by Chris Fuchs, Flushing Times, 7/12/01

For the first time in the Green Party's history as a bona fide party in New
York, there will be a primary election in September for the city council
seat in Flushing; a race between an ultrasound technician and an urban
planning consultant. It will be decided by a total of 88 registered voters.

With term limits forcing out incumbents in all the council districts in
Queens this year, it is not uncommon in some races to find as many as a
dozen candidates - typically a lopsided mix of Democrats with some
Republicans - vying for a much-coveted slot on the Election Day ballot. For
the Green Party, getting onto the Primary ballot was the easy part. The
candidates - Evergreen Chou, the technician who works at Lutheran Medical
Center in Brooklyn, and Paul Graziano, the urban planner - needed only five
signatures, or 5 percent of the total number of Green Party voters
registered in the 20th Council District in Flushing, represented now by
Julia Harrison, an 80-year-old Democrat who must leave this year because of
term limits.

The more difficult part will come in November, when whoever wins the
primary will have to compete against a Democratic or Republican candidate.
There are seven Democrats and one Republican now running for the seat.

To that end, the Green Party candidates say they must rely on name
recognition while championing universal issues that the nearly 54,000
registered votgers in Flushing, regardless of political affiliation, will
have no trouble supporting.

"The Green Party is the biggest little party around," Graziano said. "There
is a tremendous spectrum of people in the Green Party."
Chou, a 40-year-old Asian American, has made affordable housing and
universal healthcare keystones of his campaign, while Graziano, 10 years
Chou's junior, advocates stricter guidelines governing development in Flushing.

But in either case, the candidates say, the leitmotifs running through each
man's campaign reflect those of the Green Party at large: grassroots
democracy, social justice and ecological wisdom.

"My personal hope is that we tap into the people who don't usually come out
and vote," Chou said.

Before 1998, the year the Green Party earned enough signatures to secure a
line on the November ballot, Green Party candidates had no line under which
to run. What if two or mnore candidates were running for office, thus
forcing a primary? "The party had to work it out for themselves," said
Naomi Bernstein, a spokeswoman for the city Board of Elections.

But in 1998, the Green Party obtained the necessary 50,000 signatures to
get on the ballot, affording it the same rights and privileges bestowed on
any other party, right it will continue to enjoy, provided that in 2002 the
party again collects the same number of signatures, Bernstein said.

Still, four years as a recognized party is barely enough time to emblazon a
lasting impression in the minds of voters, many of whom view politics in
singular terms of Democrat versus Republican.

"The issues I'm talking about are pretty universal," Graziano said. "My
strength is going to be that I'm the only urban planner and soeone who
knows a lot about planning in an area overwhelmed with substandard
speculative development over the last 20 years."

Whatever causes their particular platforms consist of, both Chou and
Graziano say they will have to depend largely on the reputations they have
constructed over the years that they have lived in Flushing. For both men,
this means drawing on their experiences in various civic organizations and
at community board meetings, venues where residents can familiarize
themselves with the tenants of their campaigns.

"When you look around, we're all facing the same problems," Chou said. "For
instance, with the addition of large retail stores, Flushing has evolved
into a major commercial hub, but the workers employed by these stores are
not making a livable wage, nor are they given adequate healthcare."

In 1993, Graziano said, he was disturbed when he returned to Flushing from
his college in Massachusetts and saw the sort of development under way
where he had grown up. The downtown district had become more congested than
ever, he daid, and many of the beautiful homes he remembered were
supplanted by what he called "shabby speculative development."

"There is a certain quality of life expected in those neighborhoods, and it
has been eroding because of this," he said. "If that doesn't have a broad
appeal, I don't know what does."

Neither Chou nor Graziano has the wherewithal of council candidate John
Liu, a Democrat running for the Flushing seat who has raised more than
$130,000 -- more than any other city council candidate in the city.

Chou has raised $393 according to campaign finance filings. What Graziano
has raised is not listed by the city Campaign Finance Board, however, since
he is filing under what is called a "small campaign" reserved for
candidates who intend on raising less than $7,000, said Frank Barry, a
board spokesman.

And although money allows candidates to print literature, pay political
consultants and in general run a more cohesive campaign, Chou and Graziano
said they are undaunted by this, though Chou ultimately conceded that
winning the race was indeed a long shot.

"If Jesse Ventura can do it in Minnesota, then why can't a Paul Graziano or
an Evergreen Chou do it in Flushing?" Chou said.

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

BCC PROF PLANS CITY CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR; VERCOLEN SEEKS GREEN PARTY
NOMINATION, by Justin Walden

Press & Sun Bulletin, 6/24/01

BINGHAMTON -- A local history professor said he will launch a third-party
campaign for Binghamton mayor.

Michael Vercolen, 52, of 32 Earle Drive, said he will seek the Green
Party's nomination for the four-year position to help draw attention to the
party and to get more people involved in the political process.

Vercolen, who teaches at Broome Community College, will face off against
Binghamton City Councilman Eric Denk, D-3rd District, and incumbent Mayor
Richard A. Bucci.

Bucci, a Republican, is seeking his third four-year term for the post,
which pays $60,441 annually.

Vercolen has never run for office and hasn't hired a campaign manager.
Although he doesn't expect a primary race, he will have to wait until
September to get on the ballot as a Green Party candidate.

"Despite the fact that we're a real, real long shot, we're running to win,"
Vercolen said. "I had never considered running for office until six weeks ago."

Vercolen said most of the necessary campaign paperwork has yet to be
signed, but added that with the support of 15 volunteers, he hopes to raise
$4,000 for his campaign.

Vercolen, who has lived in Binghamton for 12 years and grew up in
Rochester, is a member of BCC's Gang of Five, a group of instructors who
hold regular debates.

Patrick O'Neil, a BCC professor who has known Vercolen for 10 years, said
Vercolen will make a good candidate.

"With Mike throwing in some ideas, it'll stir the debate," O'Neil said.

When speaking about his political platform, Vercolen takes an academic
approach to issues.

"Sooner or later we have to realize ... the planet is imperiled by the
reckless rush for the bottom line," Vercolen said in a news release for his
candidacy.

Vercolen said he wants a living wage for all city employees and for any
employees who are contracted to do major work for the city.

The workers would be entitled to a minimum wage of $8 per hour, with
benefits, under Vercolen's plan.

The Broome County Green Party will hold a kickoff for Vercolen's campaign
July 4 at Recreation Park.

Bucci and Denk said Saturday that they were unaware Vercolen planned to run.

"It's evidence of the dissatisfaction with the way things are going in the
city of Binghamton," Denk said.

"It sounds like he's raising issues that are worthy of consideration and
debate," Bucci said.

However, Bucci said most full-time city workers already earn $8 an hour and
that imposing a minimum wage on private-sector employees would drive
business out of the city.

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

VOTERS GO FOR HALLE IN 9TH WARD, by Angela Carter

Full text in New Haven Register, 7/11/01

NEW HAVEN - John Halle pulled off an upset in the 9th Ward Tuesday when he
became the first member of the Green Party to win a seat on the Board of
Aldermen.

Halle, 41, will finish the term of Democrat Gerald Garcia, who resigned to
take a job in New York. Many thought Halle didn't stand a chance in a ward
dominated by 1,082 registered Democrats to 32 voters classified as other, a
category that includes Green Party members.

"This is a very unusual thing," Halle said, shouting over victory party
cheers at his home. "I think it might be an indication of things to come."

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

NEWS LINKS

FRUSTRATED EUROPEANS SET TO BATTLE U.S. ON CLIMATE
by Edmund Andrews, NYTimes, July 16

"We have in the European community a consensus in favor of climate
protection," said Jürgen Trittin, Germany's minister of the environment and
a member of the Green Party. "It is not just a Green position," he added.
"It goes across the political spectrum, from conservative to liberals."

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/16/science/16CLIM.html?ex=996298863&ei=1&en=9aafac837b1a080e

6.      LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

EMAIL ON FUNDRAISER

I wanted to take a moment to express to you how motivated and inspired I
felt upon leaving my first Green Party event at Angel Orensanz
Foundation.As a recently registeredGreen Party member, I carried with me
the passion that filled the room not only from Ralph, Phil and Patti (an
especially uplifting moment) but the other attendees. The best strategy is,
of course, education. I'm looking forward to upcoming opportunities to meet
other Green Party members and participate in actions. It seems my heart is
Green!again. -JB

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

DON HASSIG ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR

July 4th, 2001 was the 225th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence. Americans took a great step toward throwing off the dominance
of the British monarchy on that not so distant Summer day. The time has
come for our people to free themselves from another oppressor's damaging
control. Multinational corporations, especially heavy industrial corporate
powers, have caused extensive damage to the environment throughout the
nation. New York has suffered these environmental insults more so than many
other States. Local intensity of industrial activity has been a major
contributor to the polluting of New York's lands, waters and air. To this
is added the chemical onslaught from the thousands of waste water discharge
pipes and smoke stacks of the entire Great Lakes Basin. In the case of air
pollution, the Midwest adds another fatal impact.

We have a tremendously compelling need to bring an end to the poisoning of
New York. We need to accomplish this to prevent cancer from wreaking our
lives. With National Cancer Institute and NYS Department of Health Cancer
Registry data confirming the excessively high rates of breast cancer, lung
cancer, and colorectal cancer among New Yorkers; and a substantial body of
scientific research attributing cancer causation to carcinogenic chemical
exposure, now is the time to declare the right of the people to a healthy
environment.

The end of emitting countless tons of cancer causing: benzene,
formaldehyde, benzo(a)pyrene, hexachlorobenzene, dioxins, furans and PCBs
to the air supply must come now. In the revolutionary spirit of 1776, the
St. Lawrence River Valley Greens declare our intent to fight in every way
that is legal to protect the St. Lawrence River Valley from cancer-causing
air pollution. We declare our determination to someday breathe free from
the toxic abuse of smoke stack industry; not one more major source of
carcinogenic air pollution where we breathe. A moratorium on carcinogen
emitting smoke stack construction must be established throughout New York
State.

After years of seeing New York State suffer at the hands of industry, both
local and distant, I have decided to seek the Green Party ballot line for
Governor, advancing a platform of environmental protection, chronic disease
prevention and transition to a new, non-polluting economy. High on my
agenda will be the reform of NYS DEC and NYS DOH; these facilitators of
smoke stack poisoning must be converted to allies of the people in
protecting New York's lands, waters, air, wildlife and human residents.

in Nature,
Donald L. Hassig
St. Lawrence River Valley Greens

**********  UCS ACTION ALERT  **********

July 26, 2001

Oppose Phony Fuel Economy Measure - Support Markey/ Boehlert Amendment to Close Light Truck Fuel Economy Loophole

ISSUE: Increasing the fuel economy of today's cars and trucks is an essential part of decreasing air pollution, global warming emissions, and America's dependence on oil.  For the first time in 25 years, the House of Representatives will be voting soon on whether and how to update fuel economy standards.  In the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Representative Richard Burr (R-NC) offered an amendment to the House Energy Bill - HR 2587, the Energy Advancement and Conservation Act of 2001 - that could result in savings of 5 billion gallons of gasoline from light trucks by 2010.  This may sound like a lot, but it is the equivalent of raising the fuel economy of light trucks (SUVs, pick-ups, minivans) by less than 1 mile per gallon and amounts to saving 1 days worth of oil per year.  It is an attempt to block real change through minimal and counterproductive revisions to current federal fuel economy standards.

Representatives Markey (D-MA) and Boehlert (R-NY) will be offering a reasonable alternative to a do-next-to-nothing approach.  They will offer an amendment next week during floor action on the Energy Bill that would close the loophole that allows SUVs, pick-ups and minivans to meet a significantly lower fuel economy standard than cars.  Cars and trucks would have to meet a 27.5 miles per gallon average by 2007.

ACTION: Call or fax your representative today and ask them to support real action on fuel economy by voting for the Markey/Boehlert amendment to close the light truck fuel economy loophole by 2007.

Tell them that the Bill as it was adopted in Committee doesn't have anything to do with real energy conservation as far as oil consumption, global warming pollution reductions and consumer savings are concerned.  This Burr language now in the Energy Bill, is worse than doing nothing on the issue, and will lock-in gas-guzzling, irresponsible SUV and light truck designs for years to come.

TIMING: THIS WEEK - the vote could happen as soon as Tuesday, July 31st.

BACKGROUND: The fuel economy of today's cars and trucks is at its lowest point in 20 years.  Besides costing consumers at the gas pump, falling fuel economy means more air pollution, global warming emissions, and reliance upon foreign oil.  The first step in changing this situation is closing the light truck loophole.  Under standards set in 1975, cars have to meet an average fuel economy of 27.5 miles per gallon, while SUVs and other light trucks are held to a low 20.7 mpg.  This loophole means that we guzzle an extra 18.4 billion gallons of gasoline per year, costing consumers almost $26 billion at the pump and spewing an additional 220 million tons of global warming pollution.  It is time to close this loophole as the first step toward greater improvements in the fuel economy of all cars and trucks.

In Drilling in Detroit: Tapping Automaker Ingenuity to Build Safe and Efficient Automobiles, a report we released with the Center for Auto Safety last month, we concluded that existing technology could allow the complete fleet of automobiles, from compact cars to SUVs, to reach an of average 40 mpg by 2012.  Now we need the policies that can put these technologies on the road.

HOW TO CONTACT: To learn who your representative is go to www.house.gov/writerep.

To contact your representative by phone, call the Capitol switchboard, (202) 225-3121, and ask to be put through to his/her office.  You can also send a personal note via fax.

To obtain e-mail addresses, go to www.house.gov.

QUESTIONS:  If you have questions about this action alert, please contact Miriam Shapiro in UCS' Berkeley office by responding to this email or by calling 510-843-1872.

**********

GUIDELINES FOR E-MAILING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

When sending email, follow these guidelines:

-- Never forward our Action alerts to congressional offices.  Always use the information in our alerts to write your own message.

-- Ask for a reply to your email message and check to make sure you receive a response, since some offices do not yet have a system for handling constituent email.  If you do not receive a reply within a reasonable time period, call the office to see if they received your message.

-- Use the format of a letter for your email message, including your return address to verify you are a constituent.  Without a return address, your message could be severely discounted or simply be deleted.

**********

NOTE: If you send a letter, a fax, or an email, please send us a "blind copy." (A blind copy simply means that you do not indicate anywhere on your letter that you are sending a copy to us.)  By email, send to transpointern@ucsusa.org.

URGENT! CALL FOR ACTION
THIS HAPPENS IN EUROPE TODAY!!!!!
OPEN FASCISM IS BACK.
PLEASE EXPOSE THIS WIDELY

Dear people

As you are probably all aware, violence in unbelievable form is still
going on in Italy. A group of participants of the No Border Caravan,
on its way to Frankfurt, was stopped outside of Genoa, and all
people were arrested. They have still not been released and we are
concerned about their wellbeing.

You can read more below below, and of course on all indymedia
sites. Please help putting pressure to get them released as soon
as possible by organising actions, and/or by sending faxes to the
Italian embassies in your country and the embassy of your country
in Italy (for the Netherlands given far below), and any other place
you can think of.

Also, protest where-ever you can against the police/state violence
and fascism all present, not just in Italy. Shocking details of this
can be read below and more on indymedia.org

==========================
MORE on the No Border arrests:

According to the consulate, all of the 25 activists of
the no border no nation publixtheatre caravan who
had been arrested outside Genoa were remanded in
custody! The consulate was represented when the
judgment was issued.
The theatre activists are accused of vandalism,
endangering public safety and affiliation to the
"black bloc". The court is acting on the assumption
that they were the core of the "black bloc" .
At present all detainees are in Alessandria, where
they were questioned, but the women are to be
taken back to Voghera. Counsel for the Austrian
activists immediately demanded a reopening of the
proceedings under a different judge and that they
be transferred to Genoa.
The Italian court must respond to this demand
within 10 days. A possible second judge has to
decide within 15 days. In Italy prisoners can be
remanded for up to six months, then they have to
get a trial.
Please keep protesting, we must get them free!!

26/07: we got the information, that they are still imprisioned, but
they are not seriously injured. some lawyers and the austrian consulate
in italy tries to get them free. At the moment it will be examined by
the judge if the imprisionement is still justified. please make pressure
on the officials to release them immediatly

25/07:
23:00 twenty of the imprisioned women were released, tomorrow
morning will be examined if the detention of the austrian women is
justified

activists still in prison

We got informations, that the noborder-people in the prisons in italy
were seriously maltreated!! (broken legs, knocked out teeth).
Officials in italy said, that nearly all women will be released today
...
An austrian lawyer also appears for the activists from other countries.
Please give them protestcalls:
They are in the prisons in Pavia (men) and Voghera (women)
Tel-Nr.: Paria 0039 08 82 57 470
Voghera 0039 03 83 21 22 22
General austrian consulate in Milano 0039 02 481 29 37
Austrian consulate in Genova 0039 010 83 93 983
Italian embassy in Wien Fax: (01) 713 97 19

write fax and emails and call the embassies and
consulates
http://www.no-racism.net/nobordertour/media/2407/prot_fax_1.htm

========================
MORE on police brutality etc.
from www.italy.indymedia.org:

Article by: Pet Kuna
Tuesday 24 Jul 2001
Summary: monday, july 23rd, a group of media activists were
allowed to
visit some of the Imprisoned in  the jails and prisons in Genova.
They Could talk about five minutes to
some of the imprisoned.
Reference at indymedia website: http://www.indymedia.org

Article:
Report from the jail \"Vercelli\"

The media activists could speak to three women, five minutes
each. The women declared that they all
have been beaten, when they were arrested and/or in jail/at the
police station. The wounds at their heads
and in the faces emphazised the reports.
The situation of the men seems to be  much more serious. The
three women told that they could hear the
men beeing tortured and \"punished\" throughout the whole night.

Report from another Police station in Genova:

Ecxept for one women all others were sorted in nationalities and
put into 2-3 cells. Although it seems that
they were treated better than the people in \"Vercelli\", they have
been beaten and  kicked when they went
to the toillet. The police shouted at them and used bad words. But
they (the imprisoned) all told, that it
could have been worse. Some were allowed to make phonecalls.

Report from other women arrested on saturday (in jail \"Vercelli\":

Some of the women told that they were not beaten, but there were
other terrible things happening in there. The police were obviously
organized fascist, e.g. they called the imprisoned \"fucking jewish gipsys\" or
they were shouting \"hasta la victoria siempre\" while showing the Hitlers
Greeting. There were Mussolini Pictures on the walls. Teargas was thrown
into the cells, so that somebody who stood next to the prisoners was
vomiting blood. Some of the women were forced to stand 19 hours with their
arms lifted, without getting nothing to drink for the same time. there only
was one police officer, that was obviously shocked by himself and brought about
200ml. of water for about nineteen people.
One\'s person\'s leg was broken and couldn\'t stand up anymore.
she/he was beaten until she managed to
stand up somehow leaning to the wall. The people in jail reported
that the police women were much worse
than the men. They pulled people by their hair and the imprisoned
had the. im!
pression they were \"total psychopaths\"!

Distribute this information, organize solidarity actions worldwide
and do whatever.... but do something!!!

=======================
Below the numbers you can use if you live in the Netherlands

Ambassade Italie:
Den Haag
TEL: 070-3469249
FAX: 070-3614932

Consulaat Generaal Italie:
Amsterdam
TEL: 020-5502050
FAX: 020-6262444

Vice Consulaat:
Beek:
TEL: 046-4360156

Min Buitenlandse Zaken
Kabinet Minister van Aartsen
FAX: 070-3485098

A SEED Europe
PO Box 92066
1090 AB Amsterdam
Netherlands
tel: 31-20-6682236
fax: 31-20-4682275
email: <aseedeur@antenna.nl>
http://www.aseed.net

****************************
* WILD ALERT
* Friday, July 27, 2001
****************************

Dear WildAlert Subscriber,

Pretty soon, you're going to hear from everyone and their uncle about
what to do with your tax refund.  We just want to get our two cents in
for a *great* cause -- Wilderness.  (Actually, we're hoping for more
than two cents ...)

Our priority is to protect your public lands for this and future
generations.  President Bush, a man beholden to the special interests
that helped get him elected, wants to drill, mine, and clearcut those
lands, at any cost.

Our request is simple.  Do something completely wild with your tax
refund -- by donating $25, $50, or even all of your refund to The
Wilderness Society, you will send a strong message to the President
that protecting wildlands in America is one of YOUR top priorities.
Visit https://secure-net.com/tws/dosomethingwild_10.htm to make a gift and
send a message to President Bush.

You've already helped us *so* much with your letters, calls, and faxes
on key issues -- and for that, we thank you.  Now we're asking you to
take an extra step and make a special gift.

MISGUIDED PRIORITIES
The tax rebate was one of President Bush's top priorities.
Unfortunately, his other priorities scare the pants off of us, and
we're spending a lot of time and money fighting them.

Among others, Pres. Bush is trying hard to:
*** Open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- and millions of acres
of western wild lands, including national monuments -- to oil and gas
development.

*** Open up roadless areas on national forests to clearcuts, mining,
and industrial energy development.

*** Install lobbyists straight out of those industry into key
positions throughout his administration -- positions with amazing
amounts of authority over our national lands.

KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE
Thankfully, we've made some headway.  Congress recently voted not to
fund a key element of Bush's energy plan for a year: opening up
national monuments to energy development.  Your calls and letters made
a difference -- thank you.

The challenge is keeping up the pressure -- that's where you come in.

We need your help to continue raising public awareness and
involvement.  But those efforts -- like weekly Wildalerts, special
reports on the real impacts of the Bush energy plan, factsheets, press
briefing sessions, and relentless work in the halls of Congress --
cost money.

In short, we're devoting nearly all our resources full-time to
countering the Administration's misleading rhetoric that there's
nothing wrong with opening up public lands to industrial development.

TAKE ACTION
When you make a donation, either at
https://secure-net.com/tws/dosomethingwild_10.htm or by mail to the
address below, we'll send a message to President Bush telling him
that, when it comes to priorities, you're investing in our nation's
public lands, since he isn't.

Whether or not you can donate all or part of your tax refund, we hope
that you believe in this enough to forward this message to your
friends and family.

Because if there's one thing we're learned with Wilderness, it's that
wonders DO cease.

You can also mail your gifts to:
The Wilderness Society, attn: Membership Services
1615 M St, NW, Washington, DC 20036

WHEN WILL I GET MY TAX REFUND CHECK?
The last two digits of the your Social Security number (or that of the
primary taxpayer if filing jointly) will determine when you receive
your tax refund. (Primary taxpayer's name appears on the first line of
the tax return.)

SSN   -- Week you should receive refund
00-09 -- July 23
10-19 -- July 30
20-29 -- Aug. 6
30-39 -- Aug. 13
40-49 -- Aug. 20
50-59 -- Aug. 27
60-69 -- Sep. 3
70-79 -- Sep. 10
80-89 -- Sep. 17
90-99 -- Sep. 24

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,
Bill Meadows
President

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

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

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

To: All Activists
From: Darcy Davis, American Lands Alliance, Climate Summit in Bonn
Date: July 27, 2001

Bonn Voyage – Moving beyond Bonn

At this very moment climate protesters staked out territory on the
mirrored beam of the second floor of the Maritim lobby, with crystal
chandeliers lighting their peaceful presence.  Just a moment ago a woman
jumped up naked onto a table in the lower lobby to draw attention to her
dissatisfaction with the Kyoto Protocol agreement finalized here in
Bonn.  Despite proud enthusiasm by many Europeans for the E.U.
leadership role in sealing the deal here in Bonn and facing up to Bush,
there are many activists who want the world to honor scientific
recommendations that call for 60-80% greenhouse gas reductions to
stabilize global temperature.

While the Bonn accord should be considered a huge environmental victory,
we do need to keep in mind the ecological consequences of becoming
overly satisfied and complacent with this success.  This is the
beginning, not the end, of addressing global warming.  And, we
environmentalists must begin to coordinate efforts beyond this issue,
acknowledging the critical overlap between all environmental concerns.

Most importantly for Americans, we need to take this issue home and
implement domestic measures to reduce our extreme annual output of
greenhouse gases.  We need to use this momentum to heighten awareness of
the urgency of taking action, both on a personal and political level.

The political work will take an enormous effort over the coming months,
but will is galvanizing behind it in Congress.  As early as next week,
the House could vote on an amendment to the House Energy Bill to remove
the fuel economy loophole for SUV’s and light trucks.  Sponsors will be
Representatives Boehlert (R-NY) and Markey (D-MA).  Farther behind in
the process is the Senate four-pollutant bill sponsored by the famous
chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, James Jeffords
(I-VT), which would limit CO2 emissions from powerplants.

As I leave Bonn, I would like to reflect on some of the simple social
and cultural institutions here in Germany, and their environmental
implications.

1) Coffee served only in cups with saucers with tiny spoons, not
non-recyclable containers to be tossed - saving thousands of pounds of
trash and CO2 emissions from just this conference alone.

2) Frequent buses, trams, and subways, all leaving within two minutes of
schedule - making them a prompt, reliable and popular form of
transportation.

3) Tiny streets and even smaller cars - making SUVs almost obsolete and
small convertibles the summertime rave.

4) Gas prices at close to $4 a gallon - promoting public transporation,
efficient vehicles and fewer Sunday drives.

5) A genuine passion to stop degrading the environment - enabling
successful initiatives to integrate common sense environmentalism into
people’s lives.

These fundamental differences underlie Europe’s political decisions like
the Bonn accord and the “Green” movement here in general.  As we move
forward, it is important for all of us not only to look to each for
support, but to the rest of the world.  We are all in this together, and
with communication advances we are now able to reach beyond our
traditional social and political mind frames.

I thank you all for your interest in following my updates here in Bonn.
I look forward to working together to move beyond Bonn.

For more information contact the American Lands Forest Protection and
Climate Campaign:
Darcy Davis, Northwest Organizer, mailto:darcydavis@americanlands.org
Aaron Rappaport, Coordinator, mailto:arappaport@americanlands.org

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

ENERGY PLAN: House set to cast biggest environmental vote of year

GLOBAL WARMING: Environmentalists hail climate deal

SENATE CHAMPION: Jeffords pledges to fight climate change

FARM BILL: Funding restored for programs to save wildlife habitat

‘COCKROACHES' OF SEA: That's how Japanese official describes whales

SAVE WILDLIFE AND MONEY ON YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINES!

DOLPHIN SAFE LABELS: Court won't allow loosening of standards

1. ENERGY PLAN: House set to cast biggest environmental vote of year
The House is preparing to vote next week on an energy plan that mandates oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, takes millions of dollars in royalties from the American people and gives it to Big Oil, and opens vast new swaths of our remaining public wild lands to private, for-profit exploitation. The bill is sponsored by Congressman Jim Hansen of Utah and already has passed the House Resources Committee, even though it's radically out of step with the overwhelming majority of Americans. Powerful forces are pressuring politicians to ignore the will of the public. The Teamsters union, breaking from the rest of organized labor, is lobbying Democrats for drilling in the Arctic refuge. And oil lobbyists, hired by the Bush administration and placed on the federal payroll, are pressing for drilling out of their new offices in the Department of the Interior.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Help save America's greatest wildlife sanctuary. Speak out against drilling in the Arctic refuge and urge Congress to vote against the energy plan headed for a House floor vote next week. It dramatically increases domestic oil and gas production at the expense of our environment. Let Congress know that it's time for cleaner, smarter energy and ways to be efficient that protect our air, our water and our health for future generations. Click here to send a free fax to your elected representative: http://www.denaction.org

2. GLOBAL WARMING: Environmentalists hail climate deal

It was a major victory in the fight against global warming. After marathon talks in Bonn, Germany, this week, negotiators from 178 countries agreed to save the Kyoto Protocol and laid the groundwork for the treaty to combat global warming to become international law. The 11^th-hour deal isolates the Bush administration, which has abandoned the Kyoto agreement. The leaders of the world's other major developed nations – including France, Germany and Japan – told the United States that they would move to ratify Kyoto by next year, even without U.S. participation.

From Bonn, where he joined negotiators from other environmental organizations in pushing for Kyoto, Defenders of Wildlife's Carroll Muffett reported: "The adoption of this agreement sends a strong message to the Bush administration that the world is going to take action against climate change with or without the United States. President Bush seemed to think that if he abandoned the Kyoto Protocol, the rest of the world would follow suit. Clearly, he was wrong. The Kyoto Protocol isn't perfect, but it's a good beginning. Nearly every world leader except George Bush has recognized that."

3. SENATE CHAMPION: Jeffords pledges to fight climate change

While the Bush administration is ignoring the mounting scientific evidence of our changing climate, the new leadership of the Senate isn't. When he assumed the chairmanship of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week, Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont promised to make the fight against global warming a top priority. He said he will move quickly on legislation to curtail power-plant emissions of the four major air pollutants, including carbon dioxide -- the primary greenhouse gas. "I plan to move ahead with the legislation in the committee, holding hearings in the coming weeks and months ahead, with a goal of moving a bill out of committee by the year's end," Jeffords said. He acceded that it will be hard to enact the so-called four-pollutant bill, but added: "No progress will be made unless we try."

Click here http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/jeffords.html to read Jefford's full statement.

4. FARM BILL: Funding restored for programs to save wildlife habitat

Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa won committee approval of funding for key agricultural conservation programs, and Defenders of Wildlife President Rodger Schlickeisen called it "the best news stewardship-minded farmers have received from Washington, D.C., in a very long time." Harkin, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, overcame opposition from the White House and committee Republicans to fund the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and the Farmland Protection Program (FPP). With help from these popular programs, America's farmers have been protecting wildlife – by protecting wildlife habitat. But the Bush administration proposed that the government deny all funding for the programs. Thousands of farmers have volunteered to participate in the programs, and thousands more are asking to help. They have restored nearly a million acres of our vanishing wetlands and saved more than 125,000 acres of farmland from urban sprawl. Habitat has been protected for Florida panthers, Louisiana black bears and many more endangered and threatened species. "We deeply appreciate the stand Senator Harkin took for farmers who want to protect the environment, and for all Americans who stand to benefit from their stewardship," Schlickeisen said. For more information, go to http://www.familyfarmer.org

5. ‘COCKROACHES' OF SEA: That's how Japanese official describes whales

The Japanese government is standing by its fisheries chief's description of minke whales as "cockroaches" of the sea. Fisheries Agency counselor Masayuki Komatsu made the comment in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corp. as he denounced efforts to curb Japan's whaling industry. For the second year in a row, meanwhile, the International Whaling Commission rejected pleas to create new whale sanctuaries. The proposals for a South Pacific and a South Atlantic sanctuary failed again by a wide margin. Japan came under fire again for "vote buying" – essentially bribing impoverished Caribbean nations with aid money so they will vote against protections for our vanishing whales. Japan slaughters hundreds of whales every year in defiance of international law. Japanese whalers claim they kill whales for "scientific research," but the whale meat ends up on dinner plates in Tokyo's finest restaurants.

You can help Defenders save whales and other wildlife by using a Defenders of Wildlife credit card. Click here: http://www.webapply.com/dow-c9nj

6. SAVE WILDLIFE AND MONEY ON YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINES!

Now you can pick from a big selection of favorite magazines at incredibly low prices on-line through Defenders of Wildlife's new Magazine Rack. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that an incredible 50% -- that's right half -- of the collected revenues from the magazines you order will be donated to Defenders' life-saving wildlife and habitat protection efforts! Magazines like U.S. News & World Report, Outside, I Love Cats, Golf, and many, many more. How can we do this? Media Outsourcing, Inc., a leading magazine subscription agent for more than 30 years, is providing this special offer to Defenders' supporters and friends. So go ahead ... click on http://defenders.nonprofitmags.com -- see how you can do wildlife good by doing well yourself and saving on your favorite magazines. And tell your friends!

7. DOLPHIN SAFE LABELS: Court won't allow loosening of standards

When you see a "dolphin safe" label on tuna cans in grocery stores, you can be sure that it means what it says. That's thanks to a federal appeals court in San Francisco that this week rejected an attempt by the Commerce Department to loosen standards for the labels. The court was acting on a lawsuit filed by Defenders of Wildlife and other environmental organizations. Fishing fleets chiefly from Mexico often follow dolphins with encircling nets, hoping to catch the yellowfin tuna swimming below them. Millions of dolphins have been caught in the nets and killed. Public outcry led to the creation of "dolphin safe" labels for tuna caught by fishermen who don't use the nets.

* FORWARD THIS ISSUE TO A FRIEND. HELP SPREAD THE NEWS
ABOUT WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION. *
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DENLINES
Defenders of Wildlife
1101 14th Street, N.W.
Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20005 Copyright Defenders of Wildlife 2001

Occidental finds no oil at Colombian Siriri (Gibralter) well!!!

In this post:
1.UPDATE 7/27: OXY’S EXPLORATORY WELL ON U’WA LAND IS DRY!!!!!
2.REUTERS: OCCIDENTAL FINDS NO OIL AT COLOMBIAN SIRIRI WELL
3.CENSAT AGUA VIVA: JOIN U’WA IN PRAYER TO SIRA TO DRIVE OIL AWAY FROM
THE GIBRALTAR I WELL

1. The good news we’ve all been waiting and praying for has come:
according to an OXY company official, there is no oil at the Gibralter I
drill site on U’wa ancestral territory!  A Reuters wire story posted
Friday evening about results from the exploratory well shows the
presence of gas and condensates, but no oil.

What does this mean?  We’re still working to further confirm this story
and awaiting a response from the U’wa themselves, so please stand by for
more information.  On the other hand, don’t just stand by--CELEBRATE!
This is the best news we’ve received this year.  Although this may not
be a permanent victory, it is certainly a positive turn of events.

As the Reuters article explains, the company still considers an oil
discovery inside OXY’s Siriri block (formerly known as Samore) possible.
But this would require more seismic testing and another exploratory
well, putting any new drilling at least a year away.

The announcement by OXY comes as thousands of U’wa are in a retreat in
their communities for AjReowa (June – August), a time of fasting,
meditation, teaching, singing, and prayer.  An invitation was circulated
Friday morning inviting people to join them in their prayers (see #3).
The Werjayas (wise elders) and Karekas (medicine people) have been
praying and doing spiritual work for months to drive away and hide the
oil from the Gilbralter well site, which seems to have been one of the
most effective strategies to date.

The U’wa’s uncompromising resistance and spiritual work, along with all
of the local and international solidarity actions have formed the
backbone of an incredible movement that has kept OXY at bay for 9 years.
As we reflect on this news and the future of OXY’s project, let us also
take a moment to remember those who have given their lives in this
struggle to defend this millennial culture and their sacred lands.

We thank all of the U’wa supporters for your tireless efforts in defense
of justice, peace, human rights, and the earth.  Today we rejoice.

2. Friday July 27, 6:49 pm Eastern Time
Occidental finds no oil at Colombian Siriri well

BOGOTA, Colombia, July 27 (Reuters) - Occidental Petroleum
(NYSE:OXY-news) has stopped drilling at its Siriri field in Colombia and
is considering the future of the project after finding gas and
condensates but no oil, a company official said on Friday. Occidental
still considered an oil discovery in the Siriri site -- up until now the
company's biggest hope for a new major discovery in Colombia -- to be
``possible'', a spokesman said.

But the highly complicated geological structure and security concerns
would both be factors in the company's decision on whether or not to
resume test drilling.

Drilling would not resume for at least one year, he said, adding that
more seismic studies would probably be needed first.

The Siriri field is located near the Venezuelan border in the
47,000-hectare Gibraltar Basin, about 140 km from Occidental's existing
Cano Limon field in eastern Colombia.

Exploration at Siriri started in February 2000 and its possible reserves
were first estimated by the company at 1.4 billion barrels.
At the time test drilling began, Occidental rated the chances of
discovering a commercially viable oil deposit at Siriri to be about 20
percent.

3. JOIN U’WA IN PRAYER TO SIRA TO DRIVE OIL AWAY FROM THE GIBRALTAR I
WELL

OCCIDENTAL RUNS PRODUCTION TESTS IN GIBRALTAR

While Occidental Petroleum will begin to run production tests to
determine whether there is petroleum in the Siriri block (located on
U'wa lands), thousands of U'wa indigenous people are several weeks into
a fast in order to cry out to Sira, their God, to drive away petroleum
from the Gibraltar well of the Siriri block.

Spanning centuries, throughout the present age, the U'wa people have
retreated into the mountains to carry out a long fast through which they
ask Sira to maintain the equilibrium and life of the Planet; on this
occasion, the U'was are asking Sira for the departure of Occidental from
their territory. The U'wa people, who are on Earth to prevent its
collapse, have advanced a valorous struggle, know throughout the world,
defending themselves from Occidentla which
wants to seize the oil, Ruiria, the blood of the Earth, and with this
act bring about the collapse, the destruction of their culture, and the
destruction of the planet.

We are calling on all those who believe in the justice of the U'was'
struggle and those trying to avoid this catastrophe, so that together we
may accompany the U'was in their prayer to Sira to ask that the oil
flows away and Occidental abandons the Sacred Territory of the U'wa.

CENSAT AGUA VIVA
[Centro de Salud Ambiente Trabajo Agua Viva--Center for Health,
Environment,Work, Water, Life]Amigos de la Tierra [Friend of the
Earth-Colombia]

ORACION A SIRA PARA ALEJAR EL PETROLEO DEL POZO GIBRALTAR I. OCCIDENTAL
CORRE PRUEBAS DE PRODUCCION EN GIBRALTAR

Mientras la Occidental Company empezara a correr las pruebas de
produccion para saber si existe petroleo en el bloque Siriri (ubicado en
tierras U´was), miles de indígenas U´was se encuentran en
ayuno desde hace unas semanas para clamar a Sira, su Dios para que aleje
el petróleo del pozo Gibraltar -bloque Siriri. Durante siglos, por esta
época el pueblo  U´wa se retira a las montañas a realizar un largo ayuno
en el que piden a Sira mantener el equilibrio y la vida del Planeta; en
esta ocasion, los U´was estan pidiendo a Sira que la compañia Occidental
salga de su territorio.  El pueblo U´wa, que esta en la Tierra para
evitar que colapse, ha adelantado una
valerosa lucha, conocida en todo el mundo, defendiendose de la
Occidental que quiere arrebatar el petroleo, Ruiria, la sangre de la
tierra, y con esto generar el colapso, la destrucción de su cultura, y
la destruccion del Planeta. Llamamos a todos quienes creemos en la
justicia de la lucha de los U´was y a quienes estamos intentando evitar
esta catastrofe, para que acompañemos a los U´was en
su oración a Sira para pedir que el petroleo se aleje y Occidental
abandone el territorio Sagrado U´wa.

Bogota, julio 27 de 2001

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

After months of debate, Congress is set to vote this
week on massive new energy bill. Unfortunately, the
bill fails to promote fuel efficiency in automobiles.
Take action!

You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_bill2/wsgsee4a78xtdj

Spread the word about AUTO FUEL EFFICIENCY. Visit the
web address below and tell your friends to take action
on this important campaign!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_bill2/forward/wsgsee4a78xtdj

We encourage you to take action by August 10, 2001

Congress to Vote This Week on Energy Bill That Fails
to Promote Auto Fuel Efficiency

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

***************************
Action Network from Environmental Defense.
Finding the ways that work.
***************************

Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will cast
votes on many provisions of a massive energy bill.
These measures will be some of the most important environmental
votes in Congress this year. This energy bill represents
an endorsement of 19th century energy policy, and a
rejection of 21st century capabilities and technologies.
It panders to a small group of special interests, namely
the mining, nuclear, automotive, oil and gas industries,
and rejects energy solutions that would both protect
the environment and consumers.

Many sections of this bill are objectionable, including:

* a fuel efficiency (CAFE) loophole for SUVs allowing
them to consume 33% more fuel than cars;
* a tax credit for advanced technology vehicles that
subsidizes inefficient, dirtier than average vehicles;
* continued taxpayer subsidies for traditional, polluting
energy industries, such as coal and oil; and
* provisions that allow drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge and on other public lands.

Utterly absent from the bill are strong measures that
promote efficiency and cut pollution from cars and
power plants.

Take action! Help us fight for cleaner, more fuel-efficient
cars and trucks and a non-polluting energy future.
Encourage your Representative to vote against the energy
bill in its current form. Urge them to instead support
the Markey Amendment closing the SUV loophole, and
other amendments that are strong on conservation and
reduce global warming emissions.

BACKGROUND:
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE):
CAFE standards, passed during the 1970s oil crisis,
helped reduce oil use through the 1980s. But CAFE standards
have not kept pace with the auto market. Sales of SUVs
and other light trucks have exploded, now representing
50% - 70% of the new vehicle market. Yet, light trucks
still enjoy a CAFE loophole allowing them to consume
33% more fuel than cars, resulting in unprecedented
fuel use in recent years.

Increased CAFE standards for all vehicles are feasible
and affordable. New technologies are available to improve
fuel economy without sacrificing comfort, safety, or
performance. Studies show that a 50% improvement in
fuel economy over the next decade is technically possible,
paying for itself in fuel savings within the first
few years of operation.

Tax Credit for Fuel Efficient Vehicles:
In April, a bill was introduced providing a tax credit
to consumers who purchase or lease environmentally
friendlier vehicles. The bipartisan bill, CLean Efficient
Automobiles Resulting from Advanced Car Technologies
(CLEAR ACT), was supported by several major automakers
and environmental groups for its sharp focus on jump-starting
the market for cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

With the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, leaders
in Congress and the auto industry, however, have undercut
the CLEAR ACT with amendments favoring the most inefficient
vehicles, stripping air quality protections, and adding
credits for diesel technology that could increase toxic
air pollution.

Take action and fight for a clean and efficient energy
future. For more information about cleaner car technologies,
visit the Clean Car Campaign's website at http://www.cleancarcampaign.org .

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

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

http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_bill2/wsgsee4a78xtdj

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

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

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Representative Maurice Hinchey

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

I urge you to vote against the energy bill. As written,
this bill does not secure our nation's energy future
and represents the interests of select industries at
the expense of the environment and public health. Many
sections of this bill are objectionable. For example,
it allows drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge, and makes it easier to drill in many other
locations. It also heavily subsidizes traditional,
polluting energy industries, such as coal and oil,
with taxpayer money. The bill even weakens a potentially
good provision, a tax credit for cleaner cars, so much
that it favors inefficient vehicles that pollute more
than most.

Please support an amendment, sponsored by Rep. Edward
Markey (MA) and Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (NY), which
phases out the fuel economy loophole for light-duty
trucks by placing all light-duty vehicles under a uniform
CAFE standard of 27.5 mile-per-gallon, the current
standard for passenger cars. Increasing fuel economy
and promoting fuel-efficient vehicles would save enough
oil to eliminate the need to drill in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge and would reduce emissions of global
warming gases from the automotive sector.

Also, please seek to amend the Alternative Motor Vehicle
Credit to restore the original language of the CLEAR
ACT, reversing changes made in the Ways and Means Committee
that unfairly favor gas guzzling vehicles and strip
air quality protections.

Please vote against the energy bill as it is now written.
I encourage you to support amendments that represent
real progress conserving energy and reducing pollution,
such as the Markey and Boehlert amendment that would
close the SUV loophole.

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

Greenpeace Activist News Vol. 1, No. 8
30 July 2001

It has been an intense month for Greenpeace staff around the world as a Star Wars test, a history-making climate conference and the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission all took place over a two week period. This issue contains follow-up actions for all these events, an update on the Deni demarcation project, and a remembrance for a greatly missed Greenpeace captain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JAPAN: SUPPORT KYOTO!

Thank you to the 6692 people who sent the original fax to Japanese prime minister Koizumi and the 1263 people who sent a follow-up letter in the lead-up to the recent climate conference in Bonn, Germany. We need your help again.

The Bonn climate conference resulted in a watered down Kyoto Protocol even weaker than what was originally agreed to in 1997. While this was disappointing, the good news is that every industrial country except the United States supported the weakened Protocol, which, if implemented, would lead to emission reductions instead of the massive emission increases currently projected. However, the key word is “implement”.

Japan remains the “weak link” on climate. The Japanese government must ratify the Kyoto Protocol before the end of this year if the Protocol is to become international law next year. If this fails, the industrial nations would quickly run out of time to phase in the energy efficiency and clean energy sources required.

Even if you have sent a letter before, please take a few minutes now to send a new letter to the Japanese prime minister from:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/ams/e?a=kyoto_japan3&s=blue2s

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STAR WARS UPDATE

As you will have learned from an emergency action alert that we sent out a couple of weeks ago, 15 Greenpeace activists and two journalists were arrested following a Star Wars test on 14 July. The activists are from the U.S, UK, Germany, India, Sweden, Australia, Spain and Canada.

The good news is that all 17 people have been released on bail and our current legal advice is that the maximum possible sentences are now “only” 7 years instead of the original 11 years.

Nevertheless, the charges remain very serious. We have decided to remind the US government that the eyes of the world are watching both their foolish Star Wars program and the way they respond to those who oppose it by asking people to send letters to the US embassy closest to them. We have set up an action alert at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/aas/e?a=StarWars_em&s=blue2

If we could find no information on a US embassy in your country, you will be given the option to send a letter to US Secretary of State Colin Powell instead.

US citizens can send a letter to President Bush from:

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

For more information, visit our anti-Star-Wars site at:

http://www.stopstarwars.org/

You can also participate in the latest Star Wars discussion at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/995390018/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STOP JAPANESE VOTE BUYING

At the recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission, Japan continued to pack the Commission with delegates from developing countries who are being promised Overseas Development Aid money if they vote in favour of commercial whaling. This year Japan did not succeed in getting the votes required to overturn the 1986 whaling moratorium. However, unless this vote buying is urgently countered, Japan is likely to succeed next year.

If your country is a member of the International Whaling Country, please send a letter to your foreign minister from:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/aas/e?a=iwc01&s=blue2

You can check the list of current member nations at:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice/iwc.htm#Members

Thank you to the 3103 people who send letters to the Danish government. Unfortunately, Denmark once again voted with Japan against the creation of a South Pacific whale sanctuary . We will continue to investigate ways to put pressure on the Danish government.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DENI DEMARCATION UPDATE

Almost 500 people applied to participate in the project to demarcate Deni land in a remote area of the Amazon forest this September. Our campaign office in Manaus, Brazil has spent the last few weeks reducing this list to 78 prime candidates. These people are being contacted over the next few days or so. We apologise for the delay – the response has been overwhelming and the project extremely demanding, so we need to make sure that we have the best candidates possible.

Thank you to the 5422 people who have sent letters to the President of Brazil about Deni land rights. It is very important that the government of Brazil understands the size of the international concern about the Deni before we start the demarcation project in September. If you have not yet sent a letter, please do so today at:

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

Please send e-cards to as many of your friends as possible about the plight of the Deni from:

http://act.greenpeace.org/ecs/s2?sk=std&i=58

You can find out more about the Deni at:

http://www.greenpeace.org/~forests/forests_new/html/content/amaz_deni.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REMEMBERING HAMID VAN LOHUIZEN

The International Marine and Action Division (IMAD) is the heart and soul of Greenpeace - the section that staffs and crews the fleet of ships that travel the world confronting environmental destroyers. IMAD lost a key member recently when Hamid van Lohuizen vanished from a Dutch cargo ship and is presumed dead.

You can read IMAD’s memorial of Hamid and comments from his friends and family at:

http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org//t/s/995648405/index_html

VISIT THE CYBERCENTRE

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

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

Over the past 3 years, Global Response members have sent multiple waves of
letters to the Colombian government, Occidental Petroleum, then-Vice
President Al Gore, Fidelity Investments and other appropriate decision
makers, in support of the U'wa people who have been fighting for a decade to
prevent oil drilling in their traditional territory (for the Global Response
Action Alert text, see http://www.globalresponse.org/gra_index/gra0100.htm).
Here's an update from Amazon Alliance:

Occidental finds no oil at Colombian Siriri (Gibralter) well!!!

In this post:
1.UPDATE 7/27: OXY’S EXPLORATORY WELL ON U’WA LAND IS DRY!!!!!
2.REUTERS: OCCIDENTAL FINDS NO OIL AT COLOMBIAN SIRIRI WELL

1. The good news we’ve all been waiting and praying for has come: according
to an OXY company official, there is no oil at the Gibralter I drill site on
U’wa ancestral territory!  A Reuters wire story posted Friday evening about
results from the exploratory well shows the presence of gas and condensates,
but no oil.

What does this mean?  We’re still working to further confirm this story and
awaiting a response from the U’wa themselves, so please stand by for more
information.  On the other hand, don’t just stand by--CELEBRATE!  This is
the best news we’ve received this year.  Although this may not be a
permanent victory, it is certainly a positive turn of events.

As the Reuters article explains, the company still considers an oil
discovery inside OXY’s Siriri block (formerly known as Samore) possible.
But this would require more seismic testing and another exploratory well,
putting any new drilling at least a year away.

The announcement by OXY comes as thousands of U’wa are in a retreat in their
communities for AjReowa (June – August), a time of fasting, meditation,
teaching, singing, and prayer.  An invitation was circulated Friday morning
inviting people to join them in their prayers (see #3).  The Werjayas (wise
elders) and Karekas (medicine people) have been praying and doing spiritual
work for months to drive away and hide the oil from the Gilbralter well
site, which seems to have been one of the most effective strategies to date.

The U’wa’s uncompromising resistance and spiritual work, along with all of
the local and international solidarity actions have formed the backbone of
an incredible movement that has kept OXY at bay for 9 years.  As we reflect
on this news and the future of OXY’s project, let us also take a moment to
remember those who have given their lives in this struggle to defend this
millennial culture and their sacred lands.

We thank all of the U’wa supporters for your tireless efforts in defense of
justice, peace, human rights, and the earth.  Today we rejoice.

2. Friday July 27, 6:49 pm Eastern Time
Occidental finds no oil at Colombian Siriri well

BOGOTA, Colombia, July 27 (Reuters) - Occidental Petroleum
(NYSE:OXY-news) has stopped drilling at its Siriri field in Colombia and is
considering the future of the project after finding gas and condensates but
no oil, a company official said on Friday. Occidental still considered an
oil discovery in the Siriri site -- up until now the company's biggest hope
for a new major discovery in Colombia -- to be ``possible'', a spokesman
said.

But the highly complicated geological structure and security concerns would
both be factors in the company's decision on whether or not to resume test
drilling.

Drilling would not resume for at least one year, he said, adding that more
seismic studies would probably be needed first.

The Siriri field is located near the Venezuelan border in the 47,000-hectare
Gibraltar Basin, about 140 km from Occidental's existing Cano Limon field in
eastern Colombia.

Exploration at Siriri started in February 2000 and its possible reserves
were first estimated by the company at 1.4 billion barrels.  At the time
test drilling began, Occidental rated the chances of discovering a
commercially viable oil deposit at Siriri to be about 20 percent.

********************************
Paula Palmer, Executive Director
Global Response
PO Box 7490
Boulder CO 80306
Tel. 303-444-0306
Fax. 303-449-9794
Website: www.globalresponse.org

Mission:  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 values and skills for global citizen
cooperation and earth stewardship.

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

IN THIS POST:
1) Hacking at the Roots of the Tree of Evil
2) Fed rolls out the red carpet for Citi
3) Banamex merger approved in record time (Reuters)
4) Another whistleblower calls Citi out (American Banker)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
#1

HACKING AT THE ROOTS OF THE TREE OF EVIL :
A CAMPAIGN TO TRANSFORM THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM
By Ilyse Hogue and Patrick Reinsborough, Rainforest Action Network

To paraphrase Thoreau for every thousand activists hacking at the branches
of the tree of evil only one is hacking at the roots.  It is in this spirit
of effective radicalism that  people all around the world have been uniting
to confront Citigroup, one of the world’s largest financial institution.
Made up of Citibank, Wall Street investment giant Salomon Smith Barney,
CitiFinancial and Traveler's Insurance, Citigroup is a $720 billion
corporation and a true cornerstone of the corporate global economy.   The
campaign against Citigroup is about raising the stakes in the battle for the
planet.   It is an effort to not only win concessions and save wild places
but to unite a critical mass of social change movements at an Achilles heel
in the corporate power structure and address some of the fundamental flaws
in the global financial system itself.

Over the past 2 years we’ve seen inspiring mobilizations against the
corporate consolidation of power.  From the streets of Seattle to the recent
mass actions against the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas we have seen
the potential for building cross movement alliances and creative mass
protest to slow down the pace of corporate globalization.

These monumental efforts have provided a fertile staging ground for what
must come next if we are to grapple with the real crux of the ecological
crisis.   For underlying the WTO, the World Bank and all the multinational
corporations is a fundamentally flawed global financial system.   This
system, perfectly described by  Ed Abbey as “the ideology of the cancer
cell”, is pathological in its very nature.  It is a system defined by
colonial genocide, corporate power grabs, blind consumerism and economic
growth at-all-costs  that has put the interests of a small group of
corporate elites ahead of the well-being of all other life  on the planet.

The corporate global economy is quite literally a doomsday machine that is
eliminating biological and cultural diversity so rapidly that it is
undermining the basic life support systems of the planet. Like the cancer
cell, left to its own devices, corporate capitalism will eventually kill its
host.  Unless we stop it.   But to stop this assault on the natural world,
it is essential we unmask the real power brokers of the global economy and
learn to leverage our power against giant financial corporations like
Citigroup.

In the words of  author and  political scientist William Greider “The
financial realm constitutes the commanding citadel of the global system .”
It is this corporate financial industry (known to us laypeople as Wall
Street) made up of mega-banks like Citi that are the central architects of
the global economy.  The system of global destruction – resource extraction,
destructive development, structural adjustment and even the operating
budgets of the world’s biggest multinational corporations – relies on the
“generation” or flow of new capital.   As the largest financial institutions
in North America Citi is one of the key corporations controlling the flow of
money around the world.   In the globalized economy finance has become so
dominant that taking on Citi is in many ways taking on the system itself.
With operations in over 100 countries and a long history of financing
imperialism, Citigroup sits a judge and juror to many of the world’s most
destructive projects

Citigroup boasts of being the preeminent bank for the forest products and
energy sectors. Translation: they profit off of projects that destroy
fragile ecosystems, violate human rights and displace indigenous communities
around the world.  From underwriting Maxxam Corporation’s liquidation of the
California Redwoods, to genetically engineering trees for Chilean pulp mills
to converting primary rainforest to palm plantations in Indonesia Citigroup
knows how to make a buck from killing a forest.  Their investments in mining
in the Amazon basin predicts a profit for the next 400 years, more than 10
times longer than the entire forest will last at current rates of
destruction.  As the number one funder of oil pipelines, Citi spearheaded
the massive Chad-Cameroon pipeline in the Central Africa and backed a
pipeline through Venezuela’s Orinoco delta severely threatening the
indigenous communties there. Currently, the bank is funding the proposed OCP
pipeline in Ecuador which cuts through 11 different protected rainforest
reserves.  Citi is involved in destructive mega-projects like China’s
megalomaniacal Three Gorges dam which is set to displace 2 million people
and destroy the fragile Yangtze river ecosystem.    And these are just a few
examples.

Close your eyes and point to a place on the globe – Citi is sure to be
there, and their impact is rarely restricted to environmental degradation.
Citi’s policies also perpetuate economic injustice, racism, institutional
sexual harassment (over 2000 women have signed on to a class action lawsuit
charging Citi with covering up systematic sexual assault in the workplace)
undermine worker’s rights and subvert democratic decision making around the
world.  Whether its racist lending practices, prison construction, predatory
lending in disadvantaged communities, bankrolling strikes, strangling the
global South with crippling debt payments, or buying off politicians,
Citigroup has found a way to make a tidy profit.

However unfortunately for Citi people around the world aren’t going to
tolerate their destructive practices much longer.  On April 11th, 2001, as
part of an international day of action activists in 80 cities in 12
countries on 5 continents around the world rose in unison to challenge the
Citigroup stranglehold over communities and ecosystems around the globe.  In
a colorful display of demonstrations, educational events and creative
actions, activists exposed Citi’s involvement in fueling destruction around
the world. Unwilling to be complicit, people cut up their Citi credit cards
by the hundreds and signed pledges saying they wound never do business with
“The World’s most Destructive Bank”.  Activists from many different
movements and local struggles drew the connections between Citi’s global
domination and injustice and environmental destruction in their community.
Citi offices where picketed, their phone lines clogged and many potential
customers turned away.

The next week, a day before Citi’s annual shareholder’s meeting Midtown
Manhattan commuters were greeted with the sight of two climbers unfurling a
20-foot banner from flag poles outside of Citi’s world headquarters.  The
banner which depicted a giant chainsaw sawing through the earth read, “Hey
CITI, Not With My Money!” The next day’s shareholder meeting was rocked by a
demonstration put on by several coalition members including Rainforest
Action Network, United for A Fair Economy, National Organization of Women,
Inner City Press/Community on the Move and Student environment action
Coalition.   The range of groups involved in the coalition represent the
incredible opportunity to unite different movements around fundamental
social transformation.  Because Citi is a global player, involved
in every aspect of  global finance, the campaign is a vehicle to tangibly
confront the system in a way that makes actual gains while educating people
about how the global financial system creates and
maintains social, economic and environmental injustice.

And Citi is vulnerable.  Of the small cartel of mega-banks and investment
houses who run the global economy, none rely as heavily on their consumer
presence and brand name as Citi.  This makes them uniquely vulnerable to
grassroots pressure.  Citi relys on an ever expanding base of new customers
signing up for credit cards, loans and investments to keep funding
destruction and spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising to
entrap people into debt.  As we organize our communities to confront Citi
whether its promoting the credit card boycott, educating people or engaging
in non-violent direct action at their offices we are slowly undermining Citi
’s brand equity and that scares them.

And there are alternatives! All around the world individuals and
institutions are re-examining our narrow definition of “profit” to move
beyond a bottom line that ignores environmental and social justice.  More
and more people are recognizing that the true wealth of the planet rests not
in stock options and cash flow projections but rather in the Earth’s natural
cycles, in biological and cultural diversity, in the strength of our
communities, the depths of our imagination and the creativity of our
actions. Exciting new strands of resistance are growing as communities adopt
alternative currencies, shifting to non-profit financial institutions like
credit unions and community banks, microlending programs are springing up.
Step by step people are beginning to dismantle corporate control of the
financial system and demand economics that reflect their values.

However, biological reality insists that while we build alternatives, we
transform existing institutiuons to stop the destruction before its too
late.  Rainforest Action Network and a broad coalition of other groups have
been calling for Citi to take the logical step and adopt comprehensive
environmental and social criteria throughout all their business practices.
To address the ecological crisis, it is imperative that Citi immediately ban
any further investments in old growth forest destruction or fossil fuels,
and prioritize lending for renewable energies, tree-free lumber and paper
alternatives. In addition, Citi must make a firm commitment to equitable
community based development and to address the concerns of impacted
communities whether they be in South America or the South Bronx.  These
demands can be the first step in subverting Wall Street’s domination of the
planet and a springboard for the emerging people’s globalization movements
to redesign the global economy

This is an historic time where the convergence of forces allows us to unite
different movements and organize for an economy based on principles rather
then corporate profits. The ecological crisis requires that our generation
help catalyze a sweeping social transformation that allows global
civilization to pull out of the biological nosedive and build a diverse,
just, democratic and ecologically sane global society.  We hold the power to
demand that Citi go BEYOND THE BOTTOMLINE to stop investing in the
destruction of the environment and communities around the world.    We must
think big because our times demand it.  Now more than ever the situationist
slogan from the 1968 Paris uprising is appropriate  “Be  reasonable, Demand
the impossible!”

To find out more about the Citigroup campaign contact Rainforest Action
Network  1-800-989-RAIN, organize@ran.org or check out www.ran.org

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
#2
Friends,

Citigroup's domination of its supposed regulators continues.  The most
recent example is the Federal Reserve Board's approval of Citigroup's
applications to acquire Bamamex, on July 16: less than 45 days after Citi
submitted the application.  For comparison's sake, the Fed takes at least 60
days to review much smaller mergers, with fewer issuers, and fewer
commenters-against (here, 80).  In part, the Fed seems to have felt that
since it reviewed Citigroup's application to acquire European American Bank
for over four months, before approving it on July 2, it had already dealt
with most of the Citigroup issues raised against Citi's Banamex deal.

But Citi's track-record in money laundering was most relevant in the Banamex
deal, and, on predatory lending issues, Inner City Press had submitted to
the
Fed, while the comment period was still open, a sworn affidavit by a recent
employee of Citi's high-rate lender, CitiFinancial, alleging outright crimes
in CitiFinancial's operations.  But, while the comment period was still
open,
Citigroup has asked for the favor of a fast approval (so it can "close the
deal" by August 2), and the Fed had apparently already agreed to this
time-line.  This is the latest in a series of favors the Fed has done for
Citigroup:

--in 1998, the Fed bent and/or broke the Glass-Steagall Act, by approving
the
Citicorp - Travelers merger (of banking and insurance);

--in Fall 2000, the Fed allowed Citigroup to acquire the high-rate lender
Associates First Capital, without even submitting an application subject to
public comment;

--in December 2000, the Fed decided to ignore (or rewrite) a Community
Reinvestment Act provision enacted in 1999, that a company which owns, as
Citigroup does, a bank with a less than satisfactory CRA rating, cannot
embark on certain types of expansion (which Citigroup has been doing).  And
now, the Fed rushes to allow Citigroup to acquire the second largest bank in
Mexico, to expand its problematic high-rate lending in Mexico, and to use
the
acquired brand, Banamex, to pitch these products to Latinos /
Mexican-Americans.

    The Fed has, however, finally agreed to conduct a "thorough examination"
of CitiFinancial; and, on June 28, Citigroup had to announce it is giving up
single premium credit insurance, a particularly predatory product.  The
fight
continues...

--Summary by Matthew Lee, InnerCityPress.org
- - - - - - - - - - - -
#3

Reuters, Monday July 16 6:18 PM ET

Fed Clears Citigroup Buy of Banacci

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Monday approved the
purchase by Citigroup Inc. of Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival (Banacci),
the
No. 2 banking group in Mexico, clearing away the final regulatory hurdle to
the largest banking merger in Latin American history.

The $12.5 billion deal has already won approval from Mexico's government and
Federal Competition Commission. State banking regulators in California,
where
Banacci owns a mid-sized bank, gave their clearance on Thursday.

New York-based Citigroup, whose banking, brokerage and insurance operations
span more than 100 countries, has made emerging markets a top priority. The
Banacci acquisition would make it a leader in Mexico and boost its profits
from emerging markets to more than 25 percent of its overall earnings.

The purchase will enable the No. 1 U.S. financial services company to
harness
the growth potential of Mexico, Latin America's second-largest economy and
one that is increasingly closely linked to the United States.

The companies have said they expect the deal to close in the fourth quarter,
after which Citigroup's Mexican businesses will operate under the name of
Banacci's banking arm, Banamex.

Banacci, with 1,300 bank branches across Mexico, is the country's
second-largest financial combine, trailing only BBVA-Bancomer (GFBBO.MX), a
unit of Spanish banking group Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA.MC).

CONSUMER GROUPS CRITICAL

The deal drew fire from a number of U.S. consumer groups, who attacked
Citigroup's lending record in minority and low-income communities and asked
the Fed to delay or block it.

``The Fed was irresponsible today in expediting its approval of Citigroup's
application,'' said Matthew Lee, director of the New York community group
Inner City Press/Community on the Move. ``By acquiring Banamex, Citigroup
would expand its anti-consumer high interest lending practices into
Mexico.''

Citigroup has been dogged by criticism of its lending practices since buying
consumer finance company Associates First Capital last year. The Federal
Trade Commission in March charged Associates with widespread and systematic
loan abuses.

In response, Citigroup has committed to a number of changes in its consumer
lending businesses, including beefing up compliance and controls, improving
employee training, and amending some loan terms.

Over similar objections from consumer groups, the Fed this month approved
Citigroup's purchase of Long Island's European American Bank, but said it
would thoroughly review the company's efforts to address such concerns going
forward.

``The Board believes that Citigroup has adopted comprehensive policies and
procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the fair
lending laws and to prevent abusive lending practices,'' the Fed said in its
order approving the Banacci deal.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010716/bs/financial_banacci_dc_3.html

- - - - - - - - - -
#4

Copyright 2001 American Banker, Inc.
The American Banker

July 10, 2001, Tuesday

SECTION: MARKETS; Pg. 20

LENGTH: 1050 words

HEADLINE: Another Ex-Worker Cites Citi as Predator

BYLINE: BY MICHELE HELLER

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:
Another former employee of Citigroup Inc. has given a sworn statement that
its subprime lending unit engaged in predatory lending practices.

Steven Toomey said in an affidavit taken Sunday by the community group Inner
City Press/Community on the Move that CitiFinancial pressed customers to
refinance loans at higher rates -- a practice known as flipping -- after it
acquired Associates First Capital Corp. last year.

"After Citigroup acquired the Associates, we loan officers began to be
compensated, for the first time, to renew loans to existing borrowers --
i.e.
flipping," read the statement signed by Mr. Toomey, who until May 24 was a
loan officer in CitiFinancial's branch in Charleston, S.C. The branch was
part of Associates until Citigroup purchased the lender last November.

"On many of these refinances, points were assessed and the rate was raised.
Also, we loan officers were instructed to only disclose to borrowers their
prospective monthly payments, and not the level of points and fees that were
being stacked into the loan," Mr. Toomey said.

Citigroup issued a statement that implied Mr. Toomey is a disgruntled
employee: "Mr. Toomey, an Associates employee for just six months, only in
the last few weeks raised issues related to branch sales practices when he
concluded that the company would not pay him monies that he demanded to
resolve an employment dispute."

The company said it maintains the "highest professional standards" but
stopped short of denying the charges and said it is reviewing the matter.

The affidavit is the second in a month by a former CitiFinancial employee
saying the company used deceptive lending practices. The previous one was by
Gail Kubiniec, a former assistant manager of a CitiFinancial branch in
Tonawanda, N.Y., who said that common practices at her branch included
identifying vulnerable borrowers, adding insurance coverage to loans without
their knowledge, and harassing and intimidating delinquent borrowers.

After that statement surfaced, a Citigroup spokeswoman said a review had
found the "alleged practices are in no way characteristic of how
CitiFinancial employees treat their customers or offer and sell products."

Officials of Inner City Press/ Community on the Move filed Mr. Toomey's
affidavit with the Federal Reserve Board and New York and California banking
regulators, which are considering Citigroup acquisition applications that
the
group has protested.

Beka Economopoulos
Rainforest Action Network
Citigroup Organizer
http://www.ran.org
888-840-6416 office
917-560-3609 cell

"Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after the last river has
been poisoned. Only after the last fish has been caught. Only then you will
find that money cannot be eaten."
-- Cree Indian Proverb

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