Earthhope Action Network environment action Alerts for September 8-15, 2001

NET NEWS -- The Latest Environmental News Direct to YOU!

IN THE NET NEWSROOM

*** The Latest News Can Always Be Found At ***
     http://www.environet.org/newsroom

*** EPA Considering Approving Pesticide Laden Frankenplants
The EPA is preparing to approve the sale of plants genetically engineered
to emit toxics.  Due to overwhelming popular response the comment period on
this decision has been extended until Monday, September the 10th.
Please speak up now and tell the EPA that more study is needed before these
dangerous frankenplants should be allowed on the market.
http://www.environet.org/grassroots

*** Bush Tries to Overturn Most Popular Forest Conservation Measure Ever
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects 58.5 million acres of
national forest land from additional road building, timber and mining, is
under threat.  Comments are being accepted only until Monday September
10th!

To Learn more about the rule visit:
http://www.environet.org/forests

To tell Bush Not to Sell Out Our National Forests, visit:
http://www.environet.policy.net/grassroots

*** Americans Call On Bush to Listen to Public, Not Industry
The national forests of this nation are treausres that belong to all of us.
President Bush must listen to the public and not to the special interests.
http://www.environet.org/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=23714

From: FREDERICK NORONHA <fred@bytesforall.org>

FARMERS' RIGHTS THREATENED BY BIOTECH INDUSTRY

Although the Food and Agriculture Organisation adopted a resolution in 1989
introducing the concept of farmers' rights, the implementation of these
rights over the past decade has been very slow. The recent case of Percy
Schmeiser, the Canadian farmer, shows that farmers' rights are being
threatened by the biotech industry.

By Juan Lopez Villar

'I've been using my own seed for years, and now farmers like me are being
told we can't do that anymore if our neighbours are growing (genetically
modified) crops that blow in. ... Basically, the right to use our own seed
has been taken away.' - Percy Schmeiser, Canadian Farmer

At the end of March, a Canadian judge ordered farmer Percy Schmeiser to pay
Monsanto thousands of dollars because a genetically modified (GM) canola
variety patented by Monsanto was found growing on his field. This decision
was reached even though Schmeiser consistently stated that he did not grow
these seeds voluntarily, but that his crops were cross-pollinated by
modified plants from another farm. Although several similar lawsuits have
been filed against farmers in North America, this is the first case that
ended up in a trial.

The customary right of farmers to save, use and exchange their seeds and
other planting material is one of the cornerstones of agriculture.
Traditionally, farmers have saved their best seeds and used them again the
next year.

Now, however, companies sell GM seeds under the agreement that they be used
in a single season, forcing farmers to buy the new seed each year. For the
first time in history, farmers risk losing the right to save their seeds,
and along with that, their autonomy.

Percy Schmeiser's case underlines the increasing tension between farmers
and large biotech companies, which with their introduction of patented
genes intend to change traditional agricultural patterns forever. The
impact of these changes on farming communities worldwide could be tremendous.

In the South, where people will likely not be able to afford high-tech
seeds and the associated chemical inputs year after year, the introduction
of GM seed varieties presents a particularly grave threat to the food
security and food sovereignty of thousands of local and indigenous farming
communities.

Seed diversity disappearing

Over 90% of the earth's remaining biodiversity is in Southern countries.
Local farming communities have preserved and reused their diverse
indigenous seed varieties over generations. Women have been the primary
contributors to this form of biodiversity management, identifying and
storing seeds each year.

The industrialisation of agriculture, initiated with the Green Revolution,
has pushed women aside and undermined genetic resources and the knowledge
associated with them through the promotion of a handful of cash crops.
Traditional seed varieties suffered another big blow during this process,
which also promoted the intensive use of agrochemicals in the environment.

Instead of learning from the mistakes of the past, we have now been thrust
into the Gene Revolution. This streamlined form of agriculture promotes the
planting of millions of hectares of land with just a few crops, such as
Monsanto's Round-up Ready soya, genetically engineered to resist the
company's own chemical pesticide. The rapid introduction of just a few GM
crops since 1996 is threatening to displace traditional varieties even more
aggressively than did the Green Revolution.

Seed security is food security

Plant genetic resources, like maize taken from the heart of Mexico,
constitute the basis of food and agriculture production throughout the
world today. Local and indigenous communities and farmers from all regions
of the world have made an enormous contribution to the spread of agriculture.

The customary practice in indigenous and local communities of saving seeds
is a key component of their food security, guaranteeing access to the food
they need at all times. Shifting seed control into the hands of
multinationals would undermine the household food security of these
communities.

Strengthening farmers' rights

In 1989, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) adopted a resolution
that introduced the concept of farmers' rights. The resolution recognised
that farmers have conserved and improved plant genetic resources, the
majority of which came from developing countries, over millennia.

It further noted that the importance of these farmers' contributions has
not been sufficiently recognised or rewarded. The resolution describes
farmers' rights as 'vested in the International Community, as trustee for
present and future generations of farmers, for the purpose of ensuring full
benefits to farmers, and supporting the continuation of their contributions'.

However, the implementation of these rights over the past decade has been
very slow, and the revision of the international undertaking on plant
genetic resources in food and agriculture under the FAO has not provided
strong provisions to protect farmers' rights.

Farmers' rights must be strengthened, and they must retain their rights to
save seeds. Farmers who choose not to grow GM crops should not be punished
by corporations seeking to control traditional resources, and cases like
that of Percy Schmeiser should not be repeated. - Third World Network Features

-ends-

About the writer: Juan Lopez Villar is with FoE (Friends of the Earth)
Europe, and the FoEI GMO Programme.

The above article first appeared in the magazine LINK (April/June 2001).

When reproducing this feature, please credit Third World Network Features
and (if applicable) the cooperating magazine or agency involved in the
article, and give the byline. Please send us cuttings.

*****
Third World Network Features is a unique, reliable, independent features
service, monitoring the world through Third World Eyes, rather than blindly
reproducing the self-serving assertions of the Western media. The feature
service is available by email. We have special low rates for medium and
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Our phone numbers: 91-832-263305; 256479
Fax: 91-832-263305
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SAVE OUR FORESTS: Monday's the last day to speak out

TOO CLOSE TO CALL: Battle over Arctic refuge goes to Senate

DYING SPECIES: Extinctions accelerating across the planet

WILDLIFE DEAL: Groups reach accord on endangered species

CONSERVING LAND: Coalition backs farm bill programs

SAVE HARRY POTTER'S OWL

RETURN OF SWIFT FOX: 21 more released onto Blackfeet reservation

1. SAVE OUR FORESTS: Monday's the last day to speak out

Time is running out to tell the Bush administration that you want to keep historic protections for nearly 60 million acres of prized national forests. The landmark Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects unspoiled forest from road-building, logging and mining. But under the influence of special interests, the Bush administration wants to undo the rule. Go to http://www.saveforest.org to join the hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens who are speaking out against this special-interest assault on America's last remaining wild places -- critical habitat for imperiled wildlife. And don't forget to ask your family and friends to send their messages too. The Forest Service's deadline for commenting is Monday. Tell the administration to honor the will of the American people and protect our national forests for future generations.

2. TOO CLOSE TO CALL: Battle over Arctic refuge goes to Senate

Organized labor helped push oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge through the House of Representatives in July. But now, union support is fracturing. The United Auto Workers and the Service Employees International Union recently came out against drilling. And even a chapter of the Teamsters in Alaska announced its opposition this week. A survey of the 80 members of Local 959 found all but two against drilling. "Though we support our union, we are angered that our union dues are being used to advocate a position to which we are adamantly opposed," chapter member John Crowley wrote in a letter to the Anchorage Daily News. In more good news for the refuge's supporters, a study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research has found that drilling would create only 46,300 jobs -- far fewer than the 750,000 cited by the Teamsters. The Senate will vote as early as October, and the outcome is too close to call. Go to http://www.savearcticrefuge.org to urge your senator to protect America's greatest wildlife sanctuary.

3. DYING SPECIES: Extinctions accelerating across the planet

The world is losing between 50,000 and 100,000 species every year � the worst rate of extinction since the disappearance of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. That's according to the distinguished conservationist Dr. Richard Leakey, who said in a speech in South Africa that human activities are causing the deaths of species to accelerate. Unless this trend is reversed, he said, the world could lose 55 percent of its species over the next 50 to 100 years. This rate of extinction is twice what Leakey estimated only four years ago. "Such rapid catastrophic losses to biodiversity have happened before, and these catastrophes have always had far-reaching consequences for the surviving species," Leakey said.

4. WILDLIFE DEAL: Groups reach accord on endangered species

Last week's agreement between Interior Secretary Gale Norton and several conservation groups was good news for 29 vanishing plant and animal species. The Bush administration promised quick action to protect those species. In exchange, the conservation groups agreed to stop suing Interior for failing to abide by the law in designating critical habitat for eight species already listed as endangered. But, as Defenders President Rodger Schlickeisen pointed out, politicians shouldn't use the deal as an excuse for failing to follow the Endangered Species Act, and he urged Congress to provide more funding for protection of imperiled wildlife. "Because of funding shortages and bureaucratic delays, nearly 300 at-risk species have yet to be listed as endangered or threatened," Schlickeisen said. "The clock is ticking for these animals and plants. This temporary agreement doesn't address the longer-term funding problem faced by the endangered species program."

5. CONSERVING LAND: Coalition backs farm bill programs

Defenders of Wildlife and a broad coalition of public-interest organizations called this week for Congress to support important programs to help farmers conserve land and save wildlife. Congress is debating the direction of farm policy over the next decade. The proposed House farm bill dilutes many popular programs that provide subsidies for farmers to save their land as wildlife habitat. The coalition is supporting legislation by Congressman Ron Kind of Wisconsin that provides significant funding increases for conservation programs. For more information, go to http://www.familyfarmer.org.

6. SAVE �HARRY POTTER'S' OWL

As fans of Harry Potter know, Hedwig is a snowy owl that carries messages between the characters in the books. Real-life owls also convey signals about the health of the habitat they call home. Snowy owls are now in danger because of the threat of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. You can help protect these beautiful birds by "sending an owl" to President Bush today. Go to http://www.saveowls.org to send a free email.

You can also help provide Defenders with financial resources for the fight to save snowy owls' homes by making a tax deductible donation. For your gift of $25 or more, you'll receive your own adorable plush toy snowy owl and other benefits. Or you can give a special child, grandchild, or friend this special gift. Click here to make your donation.

7. RETURN OF SWIFT FOX: 21 more released onto Blackfeet reservation

As part of one of the country's most successful wildlife recovery efforts, Defenders of Wildlife helped release 21 more swift foxes onto the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana. In all, 97 of the canids have now been reintroduced there since 1998, and they've produced litters every year. Defenders of Wildlife is coordinating the project with the Blackfeet Nation and the Cochrane Ecological Institute, which runs the world's only swift fox captive-breeding facility. "It is very encouraging to know that these small foxes will once again roam the prairies where they belong," Defenders President Schlickeisen said. "The recovery of rare species nationwide depends on innovative partnerships such as this."

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ABOUT WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION. *

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DENlines is a bi-weekly publication of Defenders of Wildlife, a leading national conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. It is known for its effective leadership on endangered species issues, particularly predators such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders also advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species before they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 400,000 members and supporters. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

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Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20005

------------------------------------------------
EARTHJUSTICE E-BRIEF
Monthly news and views from Earthjustice
------------------------------------------------

In this issue:

> LAST CHANCE FOR ROADLESS COMMENTS
> STOP PRESIDENT BUSH FROM EXPANDING NAFTA
> GRAND TARGHEE PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT
> CLEARING THE AIR IN OUR NATION'S CROWN JEWELS
> ENERGY POLICY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
> DONATE YOUR TAX REBATE
> EARTHJUSTICE ACTION NETWORK
> ABOUT EARTHJUSTICE

------------------------------------------------
LAST CHANCE FOR ROADLESS INITIATIVE COMMENTS
The Bush administration is trying to overturn the Roadless Area
Conservation Rule, the critical conservation initiative which aims to
protect America's most pristine National Forests. Help protect 58 million
acres of our wild forests by registering your comments with the U.S.
Forest Service today - the deadline is September 10th!
http://ga0.org/campaign/roadless_comments

------------------------------------------------
STOP PRESIDENT BUSH FROM EXPANDING NAFTA
President Bush has asked Congress to grant him "fast track" trade
negotiation authority so he can quickly expand the North American Free
Trade Agreement throughout the Western Hemisphere. NAFTA threatens
environmental safeguards at the same time that it protects the interests
of multinational corporations. Congress could vote later this month, so
please call your Representative to let him or her know that you don't
trust the President's NAFTA agenda.
http://www.sierraclub.org/trade/fasttrack/callday.asp

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GRAND TARGHEE PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT
In order to protect the west slope of the Grand Tetons from resort
development, Earthjustice filed a lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of
community and conservation groups in Teton Valley, WY. As a result of the
recent ruling, the Forest Service must now reveal details of the potential
environmental damage. With this information going public, conservationists
are confident that the local community will prevent the land from being
developed.
http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=227

------------------------------------------------
CLEARING THE AIR IN OUR NATION'S CROWN JEWELS
Earthjustice and the Sierra Club filed papers in federal court to enforce
EPA's Clean Air Act rules governing our national parks and wilderness
areas. Twenty years ago, the Clean Air Act required EPA to adopt rules
that would assure progress toward achieving natural visibility conditions
in national treasures like Yosemite National Park. Although EPA finally
adopted rules in 1999, it let each state decide how quickly to clean up
air pollution in the parks and wilderness sites within its borders,
enabling states to delay cleanup for hundreds of years.
http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=236

------------------------------------------------
ENERGY POLICY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Earthjustice views EPA's decision not to release its final New Source
Review report to the public as another attempt to shield the national
energy plan from public scrutiny. New Source Review is the Clean Air Act
program that protects Americans from excessive pollution from power plants
and refineries. President Bush would like to relax the NSR standards, and
EPA will allow the public to read its review of NSR only after creating a
legislative strategy. Favoring industry and ignoring public health
concerns appear to be at the heart of President Bush's secret energy
policy.
http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=230

------------------------------------------------
DONATE YOUR TAX REBATE - THERE'S STILL TIME!
BECAUSE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS TAXING THE ENVIRONMENT
The Justice Department isn�t defending our environmental laws, so donate
your rebate to the people who will: Earthjustice! (Your gift will be
DOUBLED by a matching grant.) We�ll use your rebate to safeguard our
natural treasures and the laws that protect them.
http://www.earthjustice.org/rebate

------------------------------------------------
EARTHJUSTICE ACTION NETWORK
By joining the Earthjustice Action Center, you�ll receive regular Action
alerts in your e-mail box. This way you can stay up to date on the issues
and help enforce laws on clean air and water, national forests, endangered
species, and more.
http://www.earthjustice.org/action

------------------------------------------------
ABOUT EARTHJUSTICE
Founded as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund in 1971, Earthjustice is the
non-profit law firm for the environment. Earthjustice represents hundreds
of environmental organizations, large and small, from nine offices across
the country. We do not charge our clients for our services.

SUPPORT US
Your support of Earthjustice will help defend and protect our forests and
other public lands; our air, water, and wildlife; our children, and our
communities. Please, join us.
http://www.earthjustice.org/support/

QUESTIONS? FEEDBACK?
Drop us a line: mailto:enews@earthjustice.org

------------------------------------------------
All contents copyright 2001 by Earthjustice, 180 Montgomery Street, Suite
1400, San Francisco, CA 94104

"Tens of thousands -- no one knows how many -- plan to turn the nation's capital into a melting pot of dissent at month's end to show opposition to the IMF and World Bank"
(9/5 Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42635-2001Sep4.html

Dear Friends,
This is an update from the Mobilization for Global Justice on the whirlwind planning for protests at the World Bank/IMF meetings in Washington DC.

For the most up to date info please visit http://www.globalizethis.org

In this email you will find: Convergence Information, Direct Action Scenario, Demands, Action Visions, Proposed Action Calendar, Solidarity actions, Affinity Groups, Spokes Council, Legal Information, Housing, Contact Info. Please discuss this with your groups and get back to us at: mailto:info@globalizethis.org as soon as possible with your feedback and input.

DIRECT ACTION COMMUNITY CONVERGENCE September 23rd - September 28th Location TBA The convergence will be a space for workshops including nonviolent direct action, legal/jail/court solidarity, anti-oppression, affinity group formation, legal observer training, blockade training, street medic training, communications for direct action, scouting, media messaging and more. Spokes councils will be held every night at the convergence as well as all day art and puppet building.

MASS NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION INFORMATION FOR SEPTEMBER 29 AND 30

We are planning large-scale, well-organized, high-visibility actions to protest the IMF/World Bank meetings on Saturday and Sunday, September 29-30. We will take direct action to open the meetings, to make our demands, and to engage more of civil society in the growing discussion about corporate power versus justice, democracy and a sustainable future. If we must, we will challenge the walls that shut out people here and around the world from participating in the decisions that impact our lives and communities. We envision colorful and festive actions with street theater as a major element. We will make space for a variety of non-violent action styles reflecting our different groups and communities. We will also act in a spirit of mutual-aid, respect and accommodation with all groups and coalitions that are planning complimentary events and actions independently from the Mobilization for Global Justice.

MOBILIZATION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE VISIONS FOR ACTION The Mobilization for Global Justice joins the masses of people organizing for global justice in welcoming you to Washington DC this fall to protest the IMF and the World Bank. We have agreed to a few basic visions for action in order to facilitate the coming together of a broader, more diverse movement. This understanding should allow people from many backgrounds, movements, and beliefs to work together and encourages the movement-building trust. These are not philosophical or political requirements or judgments; there are many ways to resist corporate globalization.

VISIONS FOR ACTION The Mobilization for Global Justice is a nonviolent organization. -We will carry out this action in a manner that reflects the world we want to create, and act in the service of what we love. -We envision a nonviolent world; we will use means consistent with this vision. -We will act with respect for the local community and in a way that encourages all to join us. -We will protect and care for each other in this action. We will stand in solidarity against police and state repression, even with those whose choices differ from ours, and work to ensure our tactics do not result in the endangerment of our sister and brother activists or people not participating in the demonstrations. -We recognize that people of color, poor people, LGBTs, people of limited mobility and immigrant groups are at greater risk of police harassment, arrest and abuse. We respect that people may wish or need to have safer spaces to express themselves and we will act accordingly.

ACTION FRAMEWORK

We will take action to be seen and heard anywhere the delegates may be in order to deliver our demands. In doing so we also want to convey to all who are willing to see, our vision for another world. We intend to do so through creative projects including banners, puppets, theater, dance, spoken word, through our courage and willingness to sacrifice and through our ability to act in unity embodying a new set of political practices that value direct democracy, creativity, collective action, responsibility and accountability to one another.

In order to accomplish this we are proposing a series of activities on the days leading up to and following the two day meeting on the 29th and 30th. Within this framework we are encouraging different organizations, clusters or affinity groups to take responsibility for particular actions that speak to their goals, interests, issues or hearts.

We seek to build and coordinate these actions through an Action Spokes Council that will meet in the days ahead. Up until that time we ask for groups to provide feedback, creative ideas, logistical support etc through the people who have contacted you about it.

We want to acknowledge that many other activities are already being planned and this schedule does not encompass them all. Events noted with ** are available for affinity group and cluster participation and organizing, and are not fully planned. The other listed events are being organized by other groups who are asking for attendance and support.

For a complete calendar of actions and events please visit: http://www.globalizethis.org/s30/calendar.cfm

Tuesday 25th - Immigrant Rights March
Wednesday 26th - **Banner Actions** CITIGROUP Action
Tursday 27th - **Actions to Keep the Fence Open** - pm Women�s Torch Light March
Friday 28th - am **Airport Leafleting / Actions** - am Parking Lot Attendants Unite Action- HERE Local 27 - 10 am Rally and March for Clean Energy - noon TACO BELL Action -Immokalee Farm Workers - pm Rush hour - Stop Global Sweatshop Actions - UNITE - **Evening March or Action**
Saturday 29th - (3-4 am) **Wake Up Call at the Hotels** - (8-9 am) **Open the Meetings!** Cancel the Debt! Hear Our Demands! Morning mass action to attend the meetings. - (2 pm- at IMF) Solidarity Marches! Both the International Action Center and the Latin American Solidarity Groups are planning marches to the White House and then the IMF around mid-day. - pm Interfaith Service and Candlelight March to the IMF/WB
Sunday 30th - **Another World is Possible** feeder marches from around DC to the IMF-WB that will bring images, props, photos, banners etc illustrating the world we are trying to build and the demands we are trying to advance. We will engage in a positive, participatory direct action in creating this other world and then march as a unified group to the Ellipse in order to join the permitted march and rally. -Mass March, Rally (and concert) a number of sponsoring groups including the AFL-CIO are initiating a mass permitted event on Sunday afternoon on the Ellipse
Monday 1st - Wednesday 3rd - **Jail Solidarity Actions and Vigil**

JAIL SOLIDARITY AND LEGAL SUPPORT

We will encourage and facilitate jail and court solidarity for the actions. Through jail solidarity we can take power in a situation designed to make us powerless. We do this by making our decisions as a group, by acting in harmony with each other, and by committing ourselves to safeguard each other �s well-being. Every time there is a choice in the legal process, activists can refuse to cooperate, making things difficult for the authorities. Through solidarity tactics, we use group non-cooperation to gain some control, expedite the legal process and consequences, prevent the authorities from singling some people out for harsher treatment, and help us resist fines and probation. Solidarity tactics extend the action to the prison and legal system with the strength and community of a group. We encourage action participants to clear their calendars in advance for several days after the action, should it become necessary to use a fill-the-jails tactic to win demands. Those who want or need to leave will have that
AFFINITY GROUPS, CLUSTERS & ACTION SPOKESCOUNCIL

Everyone participating in the actions is asked to form or join an affinity group�a self-reliant action group of 5-20 people, including people who do not risk arrest and do support work before, during and after arrest. Affinity groups are the basic planning and decision-making bodies for actions. Form an affinity group with your friends, people from your community, workplace or organization. Two or more affinity groups that have something in common or want to do similar actions should consider working together as a �cluster� of affinity groups. Leading up to the actions, participants will coordinate through an Action Spokescouncil, with group-designated spokespeople responsible for carrying their group�s plans, opinions and decisions to the spokescouncil and reporting back to their group. Affinity groups will discuss agenda items and proposals before each spokescouncil. Affinity groups are encouraged to arrive on September 23, or as soon thereafter as possible, in order to participate in the spokescouncil �s p
DEMANDS

We demand that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund: -Open all World Bank and IMF meetings to the media and the public. -Cancel all impoverished country debt to the World Bank and IMF, using the institutions' own resources. -End all World Bank and IMF policies that hinder people's access to food, clean water, shelter, health care, education, and right to organize. (Such "structural adjustment" policies include user fees, privatization, and economic austerity programs.) -Stop all World Bank support for socially and environmentally destructive projects such as oil, gas, and mining activities, and all support for projects such as dams that include forced relocation of people. -We furthermore demand that the United States government, the largest shareholder and most influential government in the World Bank and IMF, adopt the above demands, and work vigorously to compel the World Bank and IMF to implement them.

DEMANDS BY OTHER GROUPS (as we know them) No to Fast Track, No FTAA, No New Rounds of the WTO, No To Plan Columbia, Priority Treatment for Combating Aids, Amnesty Now for All Immigrants,

CONTACT INFO:

Office: Mobilization for Global Justice C/O AFSC DC 1328 Florida Ave. Washington DC 20009 (202) 265-7714 mailto:info@globalizethis.org

Working Groups: ARTS & ACTION Angela Flynn 202-986-9455, alf@survival.bigmailbox.com Listserv: artsinactiondc-owner@yahoo.com CONCERT: Contact Gaurav Madan studentsforsocialchange@hotmail.com EDUCATION: Monica Wilson 202-387-8030 mwilson@essential.org FUNDRASING: Paul Osher 202-332-5060 paulosher@hotmail.com MEDIA: Stacy Malkan smalkan@hotmail.com MEDICAL: Jen Cohn, jennifer_cohn@hotmail.com, 215-668-1646 MESSAGING & MATERIALS: Daniel Holstein 202-270-8387 dholstein@starpower.net OUTREACH: Michele B michele1917@yahoo.com Listserv: mgj-outreach-subscribe@yahoogroups.com LOGISTICS (housing and food): Laura 301-864-6132 laural88@yahoo.com NUTS &BOLTS: Jen Carr 301-277-1581 jencarr3@cs.com SCENARIO (Non-Permitted): agcheckin@riseup.net SCENARIO (Permitted): Robert Weissman 202-387-8030 rob@essential.org TRAINING: Liz Butler 202-285-6758 liz@forestethics.org WEB: info@globalizethis.org

Greenpeace is marking its 30th Anniversary on Saturday 15th
September when the Rainbow Warrior will be in New York at the
end of a tour of America.

This article is written by a former Greenpeace campaigner who now
works as a consultant to other NGOs.

Trail-Blazers - The Strategic Role of Greenpeace

By Chris Rose

Once upon a time only Monarchs and Popes were
considered infallible � now it is governing
politicians and large corporations who are never
wrong: they merely refine their views.  They do not
conduct u-turns, but turn a new leaf in the light of
�new research�.

So it is with Greenpeace campaigns.  Greenpeace
wins them but government and big business are
rarely �defeated�: they �respond to the views of
stakeholders�.   Annual reports record only
progress, while spin-doctors disguise the source of
change and play down the role of groups such as
Greenpeace. Emperors do not like to be
pronounced naked.

Perhaps they fear what might happen if the public
realised the power of their potential.  As Mohandas
Gandhi said, people �often become what they
believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do
something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But
when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do
it even if I didn't have it in the beginning.�

By and large the media play along, often describing
Greenpeace campaigns mostly as �publicity stunts�,
implying that they achieve nothing more profound
than press coverage.  So when Greenpeace wins a
campaign, the fabric of political life appears
unchanged.

In a way it�s good.  The aim of campaigning is
progress: to convert enemies to allies, not to
humiliate.   The real losers are the assumptions that
underpin the paradigm of industrialism: that the
global commons may be freely abused, that nature
need not be respected, that material growth justifies
any action.  Yet through this process, Greenpeace
gets little credit while business and industry are
sustained in the pretence that their system �works�.

The truth is that Greenpeace has played a central
role in changing the course of world events over
and over, during the past three decades.  It has
faced down governments and multinationals, and
repeatedly done what most informed opinion
declared to be �impossible�.  But what gets
remembered is just the struggle.  The outcome is
too challenging for many politicians.   So the story
of the strategic role of Greenpeace remains largely
untold, and little known.

Paul Hohnen, a former Australian diplomat and
political director of Greenpeace says the political
response to a campaign comprises the 3-Ds: denial,
delay and dilution.     Or as Gandhi rightly said
�First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then
they fight you, then you win�.

The passage from radical extremism to
conventional wisdom may be remarkably swift.
Steve Sawyer, former Executive Director of
Greenpeace recalls the genesis of the campaign to
prevent the development of Antarctica,  and having
�a conversation to the effect that we couldn�t really
expect to win anything in less than fifteen years�. In
the event he says �it took eight � so much for our
ability to predict timescales�.

Bitterly contested even within Greenpeace,  the
campaign to protect Antarctic   began in 1983 with
no support from any established environmental
group.  �All the experts in Washington and
elsewhere said we must be more pragmatic, we
�weren�t realistic�� recalls Sawyer.  One day in late
1988 Steve and Kelly Rigg (his wife and the
campaign leader) passed their baby between them
as they talked to Tucker Scully, the chief US
negotiator.  Scully declared in exasperation �there
you go again with your theological position on
World Park Antarctica: it�s not reality�.

In 1988 the Wellington Convention allowing limited
mining was passed and the campaign was almost
abandoned.  Yet in 1991 the Madrid Protocol to the
Antarctic Treaty was passed, and mining banned
for at least 50 years. �It gave me great satisfaction
to stand next to Scully at the ceremony in Madrid
as the Protocol was signed off� says Sawyer.  By a
combination of direct action, over-wintering
expeditions, coalition building and world-wide co-
ordinated lobbying against ratifying the Covention,
Greenpeace created a campaign that put an entire
continent out of bounds to industrial development.
�The finite nature of the planet� had been
recognised by governments for the first time, said
Sawyer.

In 1989 Greenpeace launched a campaign to cut
CFCs by 100% - at a time when no industrial
government supported elimination.  US Department
of Interior Secretary Donald Hodel suggested that
rather than force industry to abandon CFCs,
�Americans should be encouraged to wear
sunglasses, hats and sunscreen lotion�.  In the UK,
chemicals producer ISC called the Antarctic ozone
hole �a fiction�.  In 1992 CFC Du Pont
manufacturer announced it would �stop producing
CFCs as soon as possible�  but that there was �no
likely alternative� to its use in refrigeration.
Industrial lobbying led to the Montreal Protocol
allowing �soft� ozone depleting CFCs to go on
being used until 2030, on grounds that there were
no alternatives.

Working with two German scientists from
Dortmund Institute of Hygiene, Greenpeace
developed and commercialised �greenfreeze, a
hydrocarbon based technology that used neither
CFCs/HCFCs nor the global warmers, HFCs.  In
1992 UK HFC-producer ICI decried greenfreeze as
�pie in the sky�, saying it could take ten years to be
proven.  The UK government called it �ill
considered� and �a significant risk�.

By 1996 the EU was committed to phase out
HCFCs by 2015, a decade and a half ahead of the
Montreal Protocol.  By 1995 greenfreeze
technology had spread throughout Europe and
much of Asia, with three of four major Chinese
manufacturers adopting it.  To date some 55 million
greenfreeze fridges have been sold, and only
restrictive trade practices keep them out of the USA.

Within the Montreal Protocol, governments and
even the United Nations Environment Programme
literally took their line from the biggest industrial
interests.  So it continues with many other
technologies: politicians just swallow what business
tells them.   In the late 1980s and through most of
the 1990s, for example, Genetic Engineering was
almost universally perceived as a panacea which
would breath new life into ageing western
economies.  Anyone who raised doubts was
ignored, and if they couldn�t be ignored, they were
treated to denial and ridicule.

�I remember being called �a bonehead� at a
scientific meeting at Sussex University� says Dr Sue
Mayer, now director of Genewatch and then head
of science for Greenpeace in the UK. The reason:
�We were questioning patents on life and the use of
�substantial equivalence��. This is the concept
which underpins all authorisations to allow
genetically modified organisms in food.   �It was
treated as the cornerstone � it was introduced by
the OECD � and it�s at the nub of the issue. But it
only looks at known toxic properties, and if a plant
or animal doesn�t seem to contain those known
problems they say it�s ok.  Our point was that there
might be entirely new, unintended problematic
effects.  We were derided in the early 1990s but
now �substantial equivalence� (which amounts to
little more than making a subjective judgement that it
looks much the same as a conventional plant or
animal) has been criticised in a Royal Society of
Canada study.  The British Royal Society is having
to examine it too�.  By 1999 Mayer�s critique made
it into the establishment science journal Nature (vol
401, 525-6).

Raising awkward questions about the very basis of
industrial decision-making is what drives many
Greenpeace campaigns that are reported in the
media simply as �one-off� protests.  In the 1970s
and 1980s Greenpeace pursued lengthy campaigns
against incineration at sea, against sewage dumping
and radioactive marine discharges through which it
challenged the prevailing assumption that the sea
could be treated as a dustbin because of its
�assimilative capacity�.  In place of �dilute and
disperse� Greenpeace championed the
�precautionary principle�, a concept hated and
bitterly opposed by many in industry.   From 1985
onwards Greenpeace targeted persistent, bio-
accumulative toxic chemicals or POPs (Persistent
Organic Pollutants).  By 1995 the UN agreed to
establish a convention to eliminate POPs � and in
2001 the Stockholm Treaty was signed, which aims
to eliminate all POPs, starting with 12 of the worst
chemicals, very much the same list that Greenpeace
and others started with in 1985.

The precautionary principle was endorsed at the
1989 UNEP Governing Council and is now
accepted as a part of many national and
international environmental laws.  Sea dumping of
radioactive and industrial wastes was banned
worldwide under the London Dumping Convention,
through amendments conceived and promoted by
Greenpeace.

�Clean Production� was similarly championed by
Greenpeace as a result of its 1980s/90s campaign
against the trade in waste, and releases of
chlorinated chemicals (such as PVC, PCBs and
dioxins).  Clean production simply means designing-
out pollution.  It is now accepted wisdom among
many young engineers but was dismissed as
ridiculous when Greenpeace started campaigning
for it.  Clean Production was adopted by UNEP as
a way to implement the precautionary principle in
1990.

�I used to think Greenpeace were just anarchists�
admitted one politician, �but now I see a method in
their madness�.  The media however reports
campaigns mostly as incidents, not processes.  The
campaign to prevent the sea-dumping of the Brent
Spar in is a good example.

After decades of campaigns to close off dumping
options and over-turn the �out of sight-out-of-mind�
philosophy, Greenpeace realised that the oil
industry had secured a neat back-door loophole in
the OSPAR (Oslo and Paris Conventions) which
regulated pollution of the N E Atlantic.  If nothing
was done, a precedent would be set that would
allow dozens, perhaps hundreds of redundant oil
installations to be sunk at sea rather than returned to
land for cleaning and recycling.  So in 1994 it
objected to plans to sink the Brent Spar, the oldest
and first such installation to be proposed for �sea
disposal� in the �brownfielding� of the ageing Brent
Oil Field. No government supported Greenpeace,
and the UK more or less ignored its� submissions.

Subsequently a three month occupation and re-
occupation by Greenpeace ended with Shell, the
Spar�s owners, bowing to public pressure and
eventually dismantling the installation in Norway.
By that time the OSPAR nations had agreed a
moratorium on all sea-dumping of oil installations.
Many of the campaigns relating to OSPAR have
been conceived by Remi Parmentier, a long
standing Greenpeace lobbyist, who was once
denounced by a national delegate as �that little
French bastard�.

The �Spar campaign shook the oil industry just as
the GM campaign is shaking the genetic engineering
industry.  The common characteristic is that
frequently Greenpeace is the only non-governmental
organisation to penetrate the cosy relationships
between regulators and the regulated.  When
Monsanto tried to bring GM crops to Europe in the
mid 1990s, Greenpeace was a leader of the
campaign of rejection. But this was far from the
first brush.  Peter Melchett, a former Executive
Director of Greenpeace recalls a tv debate on
genetically modified crops held at the University of
East Anglia in the late 1980s. �What struck me� he
says �was that there was me and then a Swiss man
from Ciba Geigy, someone from the John Innes
plant breeding institute, a representative of ICI and
the regulator from the EU.  And they all knew each
other � it was first name terms and how�s so and
so, one of the children.  They were sure there could
be no problems � that there would be total public
acceptance. I told them that organic farmers would
have none of it � they didn�t believe me.�

These political operations are not separated from
the activism of Greenpeace � they are two sides of
the same coin. Often the lobbyists and the activists
are one and the same people.  Like Gandhi,
Greenpeace believes that  �action expresses
priorities�.   With GM says Mayer �it was the
actions in the mid 1990s that really changed things �
when Greenpeace started blocking soya imports
into Europe. Then people realised it was getting
everywhere � it could get into most of their food�.

They did not like it and  GM crops are banned
throughout much of Europe.  Demand for organic
food is growing rapidly in the US and Europe and
bans on GM crops are spreading worldwide.
Remarkably, and perhaps indicating a swing away
from ever �freer� trade at any cost,  the Cartagena
(Biosafety) Protocol of 2000 allows nations to
prohibit imports of GM products based on the
precautionary principle, if these might carry risks
for health or the environment.

Thirty years is a long time. Recently, David
McTaggart died, not the founder of Greenpeace but
the man who united disparate Greenpeace offices
into an effective international organisation, which
could conduct such global political campaigns.
Opponents have sometimes accused Greenpeace of
being �like the Mafia� because of its international
reach.  It was also said of the Mafia that they were
people who had learnt to �shorten the distance
between saying and doing� � and with its
conversion of political analysis into direct action,
Greenpeace is the same.  Unlike the Mafia however
it remains devoted to non-violence, agreeing again
with Gandhi �I object to violence because when it
appears to do good, the good is only temporary;
the evil it does is permanent�.

McTaggart suffered violence from the French navy
when he sailed into the Pacific in his yacht the
Vega, leading the Greenpeace campaign against
French nuclear testing, which was ultimately
successful. In 1995 President Chirac pledged to
complete his �vital� series of tests but abandoned
half of them after a global Greenpeace campaign.

From this distance it is easy to forget or not to
appreciate just how isolated campaigners were in
the 1970s and early 80s.  �looking back it seems to
me that all the campaigns were dismissed at the
beginning, as was Greenpeace itself� says one long-
standing campaigner.  �I remember being told
categorically in 78 and 79 by the mandarins at
MAFF [the British fisheries Ministry] that we
couldn�t have a ban on commercial whaling (and
they couldn �t support it).  Because there were no substitutes for some whale products used

in the UK � specifically an oil used for softening fine gloves and spermaceti for
lipsticks. �Mad in retrospect � it shows how values have changed �.�

Perhaps that �s what Greenpeace really is.  A vehicle for changing values in order to
protect the environment.  A way for society to conduct a conversation with its
self, to examine its conscience in public, and decide it must do better.

Consumed as it is with a sense of urgency* and an ambition to resolve the
fundamental imbalances in human relations with the natural environment,
Greenpeace has spent much of the past three decades
�ahead of the curve
� on many issues.  As an ex employee and as a long term admirer of Greenpeace I
think its achievements deserve more honest acknowledgement by politicians,
journalists and business leaders.  Many of them walk in its footsteps.  I think
it is bad for democracy if they refuse to admit that Greenpeace and other
non-governmental organisations are political trail blazers and not just
fire-brands.

Chris Rose is a communications consultant.  His free campaign planning website
for NGOs is at   http://www.campaignstartegy.org
www.campaignstrategy.org
  He was Deputy Executive Director of Greenpeace UK and an adviser to
Greenpeace International from 1992
� 2000.  He has also worked for WWF International, Friends
of the Earth and other environmental organisations.

* Hence the toxics campaign banners reading �No
Time To Waste�. My favourite was hung in Russia
during the early years of Greenpeace�s work in that
country but unfortunately something got mixed up
during the translation so when it was unfurled
outside the appropriate office block it read �We
Are Wasting Our Time�.

==============================
Rod Macrae
Communications Director
Greenpeace International
Tel: + 31 20 5236230
Fax: + 31 20 5236212
Mob: + 31 652 091 960
e-mail: rod.macrae@ams.nli.gl3
http://www.greenpeace.org
==============================

America's ocean fish are in crisis with many species
at risk of extinction due to years of overfishing and
mismanagement. Important legislation has been introduced
in the House of Representatives to address this problem.
Please respond to this alert and ask your Representative
to cosponsor the Fisheries Recovery Act of 2001.

You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/save_ocean_fish/wkwxs52y78xb5j

Visit the web address below and tell your friends to
take action on this important campaign!
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/save_ocean_fish/forward/wkwxs52y78xb5j

We encourage you to take action by October 10, 2001

Save America's Ocean Fish

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

Far more fish are caught and killed every year than
our oceans are able to replace. Over 40 percent of
the assessed federally managed fish stocks are overfished,
experiencing overfishing, or both. More than 30 fish
species have been so heavily fished and mismanaged
that they are now considered at risk of extinction.

When ocean fisheries collapse - as many already have
- the impact is devastating on the environment and
everyone who depends on our oceans for food, jobs and
recreation. If fish populations are allowed to go extinct,
ecosystems will be altered forever, with ecological
and economic consequences we cannot yet fully comprehend.
We need to stop using our ocean resources primarily
for extraction. We need to start protecting ocean ecosystems
by putting conservation first. The Fisheries Recovery
Act of 2001 is an important step toward ecosystem management.

Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced HR 2570, The
Fisheries Recovery Act of 2001. This legislation reauthorizes
the law that governs federal marine fish management,
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. The Fisheries Recovery Act will close loopholes
in current law, and make the primary goal of fishing
regulations to conserve ocean ecosystems. HR 2570 will:

-help stop overfishing, the practice of catching more
fish than a healthy ocean can replace on a sustainable
basis;

-reduce by-catch (the killing of non-target fish and
other ocean life) which can also alter and threaten
ocean ecosystems;

-protect fish habitats from damaging fishing practices,
such as dragging heavy dredges over sensitive ocean
bottoms; and,

-require consideration of ecosystem needs when making
management decisions.

For more information on HR 2570 please visit the Marine
Fish Conservation Network's website at www.conservefish.org .

How You Can Help

Please respond to this alert today and let your elected
Representative know that you care about the health
of ocean ecosystems and urge them to cosponsor The
Fisheries Recovery Act. It is the right action to take
if we are to protect, conserve and restore our ocean
ecosystems and fish populations.

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

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/save_ocean_fish/wkwxs52y78xb5j

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 your constituent and am writing to ask you to
cosponsor HR 2570, The Fisheries Recovery Act of 2001,
introduced by Representative Sam Farr. This bill will
reauthorize and strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act. If you are already
a cosponsor please consider this a letter of thanks
and appreciation.

Our country's ocean fish are at serious risk because
of overfishing and mismanagement. Over 40 percent of
the assessed federally managed fish stocks are overfished,
experiencing overfishing, or both and more than 30
fish species are at risk of extinction.

Instead of overexploiting our ocean fish populations,
we need to put conservation of our ocean ecosystems
first. The Fisheries Recovery Act of 2001 will do this
by helping to stop overfishing, reducing the killing
of non-target fish and other ocean life, and protecting
fish habitats from damaging fishing practices. HR 2570
also requires federal managers to consider the overall
health of ocean ecosystems when making management decisions.

Please show your support for healthy and sustainable
oceans by cosponsoring the Fisheries Recovery Act of
2001. If you are already a cosponsor, I thank you.

Please respond to this letter and let me know if you
are a cosponsor, or your position regarding this legislation
vital to the restoration and proper management of our
ocean fish populations and ocean ecosystems.

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

*** A few more days to get your comments in ***

Dear Friend:

Good News! The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public
comment period on Bt crops (pesticide crops) through Monday, September 10,
2001.

If you have already sent comments or an electronic postcard through
www.gefoodalert.org --THANK YOU! If not, we urge you to do so today, it only
takes a few moments and goes a long way towards protecting our food supply.

We also need your help spreading the news to others. Please forward this
alert to your family, friends, and colleagues and urge them to send their
postcards at www.gefoodalert.org.

Thanks again.

Action Alert!
Stop Pesticide Plants!

***Please contact the EPA today and tell the agency to end the registrations
for Bt crops!  Comments due by September 10, 2001***

The EPA is considering whether or not to continue allowing genetically
engineered pesticide plants to be grown.  Known as Bt corn, cotton and
potatoes, these pesticide plants have been spliced with bacterial DNA to
produce proteins that are toxic to some insect pests and butterflies.

Genetically engineered pesticide plants should not be approved because they:

*  May pose serious long term risks to butterflies such as Monarchs and the
endangered Karner Blue.  Lab and field studies show that at least one type
of pesticidal corn kills Monarch butterfly larvae when they consume pollen
that drifts to milkweed, their only source of food.  Long-term studies are
lacking for other varieties of pesticidal corn.  Bt pollen may also threaten
endangered butterflies like the Karner Blue.

*  May cause allergic reactions.  While the EPA no longer permits pesticidal
StarLink corn to be grown due to concerns about its allergenic potential,
the Agency has refused to subject other Bt corn varieties to similar
scrutiny.  This is unacceptable, especially in light of an EPA-sponsored
study which detected antibodies consistent with allergic reactions in
farmworkers exposed to Bt sprays.  Consumers shouldn't be guinea pigs in an
experiment to find out whether genetically engineered corn - in particular
Bt sweet corn - is allergenic.

*  Contaminate organic and conventional crops.  Organic and conventional
corn farmers have lost valuable markets because of contamination with
genetically engineered (GE) corn.  Contamination occurs when GE corn pollen,
often carried for miles by the wind, pollinates regular corn.  The EPA's
analysis has not considered the significant economic impacts of Bt corn on
the organic and non-GE farm sectors.

*  Will inevitably lead to the loss of Bt spray for organic pest control.
Insects develop resistance to Bt pesticidal plants much more quickly than to
Bt sprays, long an invaluable tool used by organic farmers to control
insects.  The EPA's schemes for controlling development of resistance are
fatally flawed because doses of Bt toxin are too low to kill some pests
(which can then become resistant) and growers often don't follow the rules.

***Please contact the EPA today and tell the agency to end the registrations
for Bt crops!  Comments must be in by September 10, 2001***

Send e-mails to opp-docket@epa.gov, with OPP-00678B in the subject line. Or,
you can send a prewritten message to the EPA by visiting
http://www.gefoodalert.org/.  Better yet, send a letter referencing Docket
No. OPP-00678B to:

Ms. Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator
Public Information and Records Integrity Branch
Information Resources and Services Division (7502C)
Office of Pesticide Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460.

Death Downtown

Dear friends,

I was supposed to fly today on the 4:30 PM American Airlines flight from
LAX to JFK. But tonight I find myself stuck in L.A. with an incredible
range of emotions over what has happened on the island where I work and
live in New York City.

My wife and I spent the first hours of the day -- after being awakened by
phone calls from our parents at 6:40am PT -- trying to contact our daughter
at school in New York and our friend JoAnn who works near the World Trade
Center.

I called JoAnn at her office. As someone picked up, the first tower
imploded, and the person answering the phone screamed and ran out, leaving
me no clue as to whether or not she or JoAnn would live.

It was a sick, horrible, frightening day.

On December 27, 1985 I found myself caught in the middle of a terrorist
incident at the Vienna airport -- which left 30 people dead, both there and
at the Rome airport. (The machine-gunning of passengers in each city was
timed to occur at the same moment.)

I do not feel like discussing that event tonight because it still brings up
too much despair and confusion as to how and why I got to live� a fluke, a
mistake, a few feet on the tarmac, and I am still here, there but for the
grace of�

Safe. Secure. I�m an American, living in America. I like my illusions. I
walk through a metal detector, I put my carry-ons through an x-ray machine,
and I know all will be well.

Here�s a short list of my experiences lately with airport security:

* At the Newark Airport, the plane is late at boarding everyone. The
counter can�t find my seat. So I am told to just �go ahead and get on� --
without a ticket!

* At Detroit Metro Airport, I don�t want to put the lunch I just bought at
the deli through the x-ray machine so, as I pass through the metal
detector, I hand the sack to the guard through the space between the
detector and the x-ray machine. I tell him �It�s just a sandwich.� He
believes me and doesn�t bother to check. The sack has gone through neither
security device.

* At LaGuardia in New York, I check a piece of luggage, but decide to catch
a later plane. The first plane leaves without me, but with my bag -- no one
knowing what is in it.

* Back in Detroit, I take my time getting off the commuter plane. By the
time I have come down its stairs, the bus that takes the passengers to the
terminal has left -- without me. I am alone on the tarmac, free to wander
wherever I want. So I do. Eventually, I flag down a pick-up truck and an
airplane mechanic gives me a ride the rest of the way to the terminal.

* I have brought knives, razors; and once, my traveling companion brought a
hammer and chisel. No one stopped us.

Of course, I have gotten away with all of this because the airlines
consider my safety SO important, they pay rent-a-cops $5.75 an hour to make
sure the bad guys don�t get on my plane. That is what my life is worth --
less than the cost of an oil change.

Too harsh, you say? Well, chew on this: a first-year pilot on American
Eagle (the commuter arm of American Airlines) receives around $15,000 a
year in annual pay.

That�s right -- $15,000 for the person who has your life in his hands.
Until recently, Continental Express paid a little over $13,000 a year.
There was one guy, an American Eagle pilot, who had four kids so he went
down to the welfare office and applied for food stamps -- and he was eligible!

Someone on welfare is flying my plane? Is this for real? Yes, it is.

So spare me the talk about all the precautions the airlines and the FAA is
taking. They, like all businesses, are concerned about one thing -- the
bottom line and the profit margin.

Four teams of 3-5 people were all able to penetrate airport security on the
same morning at 3 different airports and pull off this heinous act? My only
response is -- that�s all?

Well, the pundits are in full diarrhea mode, gushing on about the
�terrorist threat� and today�s scariest dude on planet earth -- Osama bin
Laden. Hey, who knows, maybe he did it. But, something just doesn�t add up.

Am I being asked to believe that this guy who sleeps in a tent in a desert
has been training pilots to fly our most modern, sophisticated jumbo jets
with such pinpoint accuracy that they are able to hit these three targets
without anyone wondering why these planes were so far off path?

Or am I being asked to believe that there were four religious/political
fanatics who JUST HAPPENED to be skilled airline pilots who JUST HAPPENED
to want to kill themselves today?

Maybe you can find one jumbo jet pilot willing to die for the cause -- but
FOUR? Ok, maybe you can -- I don�t know.

What I do know is that all day long I have heard everything about this bin
Laden guy except this one fact -- WE created the monster known as Osama bin
Laden!

Where did he go to terrorist school? At the CIA!

Don�t take my word for it -- I saw a piece on MSNBC last year that laid it
all out. When the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan, the CIA trained him
and his buddies in how to commits acts of terrorism against the Soviet
forces. It worked! The Soviets turned and ran. Bin Laden was grateful for
what we taught him and thought it might be fun to use those same techniques
against us.

We abhor terrorism -- unless we�re the ones doing the terrorizing.

We paid and trained and armed a group of terrorists in Nicaragua in the
1980s who killed over 30,000 civilians. That was OUR work. You and me.
Thirty thousand murdered civilians and who the hell even remembers!

We fund a lot of oppressive regimes that have killed a lot of innocent
people, and we never let the human suffering THAT causes to interrupt our
day one single bit.

We have orphaned so many children, tens of thousands around the world, with
our taxpayer-funded terrorism (in Chile, in Vietnam, in Gaza, in Salvador)
that I suppose we shouldn�t be too surprised when those orphans grow up and
are a little whacked in the head from the horror we have helped cause.

Yet, our recent domestic terrorism bombings have not been conducted by a
guy from the desert but rather by our own citizens: a couple of ex-military
guys who hated the federal government.

From the first minutes of today�s events, I never heard that possibility
suggested. Why is that?

Maybe it�s because the A-rabs are much better foils. A key ingredient in
getting Americans whipped into a frenzy against a new enemy is the
all-important race card. It�s much easier to get us to hate when the object
of our hatred doesn�t look like us.

Congressmen and Senators spent the day calling for more money for the
military; one Senator on CNN even said he didn�t want to hear any more talk
about more money for education or health care -- we should have only one
priority: our self-defense.

Will we ever get to the point that we realize we will be more secure when
the rest of the world isn�t living in poverty so we can have nice running
shoes?

In just 8 months, Bush gets the whole world back to hating us again. He
withdraws from the Kyoto agreement, walks us out of the Durban conference
on racism, insists on restarting the arms race -- you name it, and Baby
Bush has blown it all.

The Senators and Congressmen tonight broke out in a spontaneous version of
�God Bless America.� They�re not a bad group of singers!

Yes, God, please do bless us.

Many families have been devastated tonight. This just is not right. They
did not deserve to die. If someone did this to get back at Bush, then they
did so by killing thousands of people who DID NOT VOTE for him! Boston, New
York, DC, and the planes� destination of California -- these were places
that voted AGAINST Bush!

Why kill them? Why kill anyone? Such insanity�

Let�s mourn, let�s grieve, and when it�s appropriate let�s examine our
contribution to the unsafe world we live in.

It doesn�t have to be like this�

Yours,

Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com

EarthNet News
...a project of the Center for Environmental Citizenship

September 13, 2001
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a very different EarthNet than what I thought I would be emailing.  I
wish I were sending the one I had planned in my head while walking to work on
Tuesday.  But I work (and live) in Washington, DC, and what happened in the
interim has made the issues I was going to address inappropriate for current
discussion.

That doesn't mean that in the wake of September 11's tragic events
environmental concerns are no longer consequential.  They are -- vitally so.
With this in mind, EarthNet will continue to provide with you the tools you
need to make a difference in the world with next week's edition.  In the
meantime, my hope is that anger doesn't win the day and instead we use current
sentiment to strive for greater compassion and hope.

--Susie Gorden, EarthNet Editor
mailto:earthnet@envirocitizen.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. What You Can Do in the Aftermath
2. Unity Against -- and Freedom from -- Hatred
3. Quote of the Week

WHAT YOU CAN DO
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/) is at the forefront of the
relief work following Tuesday's attacks and their website offers a variety of
ways you can help from volunteering to offering financial support.  This week
should serve to highlight an ever-persistent need for blood donors -- although
currently flooded with potential donors, countless lives are saved by blood and
organ donors every day, disaster or no.  Additionally, this website
(http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/) has multiple
links and
suggestions for helping victims and their families.

Many universities and colleges are holding vigils, and at times like these,
participating in community activities can provide solace and catharsis.
Contact student services or visit your campus website to determine what is
available.

Friday Night at 7:00 p.m. -- whatever your time zone -- step out your door,
stop your car, or step out of your establishment and light a candle. We will
show the world that Americans are strong and united together against terrorism.
The message: We stand united -- we will not tolerate terrorism.

And finally, speak out.  Give voice to your fears, hopes and concerns by
writing letters to the editor.  You can find your local media outlets at
http://www.envirocitizen.org/cgv/toolkit/media/search.html

UNITY AGAINST -- AND FREEDOM FROM -- HATRED
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't need to repeat that the attacks in New York and Washington D.C. were
horrendous acts of terrorism.  I am outraged and angered.   My thoughts are
with those impacted by these terrible events -- my fears and concerns extend
beyond these particular incidents to the future of our nation.

While some people are buying and flying the American flag in their homes and
businesses, others are attacking our fellow Americans. The acts of racism
against Arab and Muslim-Americans are disgraceful to the freedoms that we are
protecting.

Tuesday's events have been likened to Pearl Harbor.  If we choose to follow
this analogy, let's remember the internment camps where we put innocent
Japanese-Americans behind barbed wire because of fear and hatred.

Hate crimes against fellow Americans are not patriotic and certainly not in the
spirit of unity that will heal this nation -- a nation of immigrants.  We are
home to people from all over the world. We are all Americans.

It is times like this when I am reminded of what is truly important.  I am
reminded of the kind of person I want to be and how I want to treat others.
What is beautiful about this country and our freedom is the right to differ, to
dissent, and to hold different beliefs and follow different religions.  Please
fight advocate for love, unity and peace.  Do not allow the individuals
responsible for this to taint what our freedom fundamentally stands for with
the same kind of hatred that drove them to these acts.
-- Rachel Stewart, Western Field Organizer,
Center for Environmental Citizenship

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It�s a wonder I haven�t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and
impractical.  Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of
everything, that people are truly good at heart."
--Anne Frank

DATE: September 13, 2001
TO:      FAN Activists
FROM: Julie Starr
RE:      Upcoming Conference

NWF's Population & Environment Program is cosponsoring an exciting conference entitled "State of the World and What You Can Do" at Brandeis University on Saturday, October 27, 2001. Following is information regarding the conference including registration information and an agenda. If you have any questions please contact me at jstarr@NWF.org or 802-299-0650.

*****

We invite you join us to learn from researchers from the Worldwatch Institute (www.worldwatch.org) about issues facing our world, to exchange ideas, and to spread enthusiasm to take action locally.

The conference begins at 9:00am with presentations on global issues such as the gap between rich and poor, globalization, women, population and environment, biodiversity, resources, and climate change.

The morning wraps up with a challenge for us to discuss ways that the sectors of government, business, civil society and culture in New England can move us toward sustainability in the afternoon roundtables.  These afternoon roundtables will feature resource people but will encourage everyone to share their expertise and ideas.

Lunch, mid-session breaks and a late afternoon reception will allow participants to browse table-top exhibits, discuss what various organizations are doing, and to meet other interested individuals who may have solar water heaters on their roofs, may be teaching students about population growth, or may drive hybrid cars.  The meeting will adjourn at 4:45 after the reception in time for participants to get home.

Brandeis University is in Waltham, Massachusetts, west of Boston. Please consider biking, walking, taking the bus or commuter rail to Brandeis/Roberts stop and sharing cars. See www.Brandeis.edu, or www.MBTA.com for directions.  Please contact NECSP Coordinator Susan Bryant at susangbryant@yahoo.com or 617-357-9620x107 for more information.

Registration is $35 ($20 for students) and covers lunch. Tabling fees are $50 for organizations with a staff of 3 or fewer and $100 for larger organizations.  This fee includes the registration for one tabler and a 4' table and chair.  Checks may be payable to New England Coalition for Sustainable Population or NECSP, and sent to 251 Forest Ave., Cohasset, MA  02025. Please indicate your first and second choice of afternoon sessions. A $5 surcharge will be added for those registering at the door.

AGENDA

8:00 Registration and continental breakfast

9:00 Opening Remarks

9:10-12:00 THE STATE OF THE WORLD - Global issues presented by Worldwatch Institute interspersed with World Population Film and Video Festival clips
1. "Rich Planet, Poor Planet" - Gary Gardner
2. "Reshaping Globalization at Home and Abroad - Hilary French
3. "Women, Health, and the Environment" - Danielle Nierenberg
4. "Biodiversity and Built Environments" - Molly O'Meara Sheehan
5. "Water and Food" - Brian Halweil
6. "Climate Change and Energy" - William Moomaw
7. "The Anatomy of Change: Shifting to Sustainability" - Gary Gardner

12:00-1:30 Networking Lunch

1:30 - 3:45 PARTICIPATORY ROUNDTABLES ON SHIFTING TO SUSTAINABILITY
1. Wealth and Poverty: Pushing and Pulling Communities
2. Challenging Globalization at Home and Abroad
3. Women, Health and Environment
4. Protecting Habitat, Preventing Sprawl
5. Who will Feed New England? Food and Water Concerns
6. Generating our Energy Future

3:45-4:45 Reception

NECSP is grateful for the support of The Worldwatch Institute, the McBride Foundation, Zero Population Growth, National Wildlife Federation Population and Environment Program, the Weeden Foundation and Brandeis University.

We look forward to seeing you!

A Brief Note From Greenpeace On Recent Events

Our hearts go out to all who suffer, who have lost lives,
or loved ones in the tragic attacks. We of Greenpeace
reaffirm our commitment to non-violence, and to the belief
that violence only begets violence. We look forward to a
day when humanity finds peaceful means to resolve
its disputes.
---------------------------------------------------------

Positive Energy, v1.12
September 10th-16th

Time for the highlight of your week�Greenpeace�s
Clean Energy Now Campaign Weekly Good News
update - "Positive Energy"


>> The Power Shifted To The People!!!

Thanks to the efforts of all the sponsors, endorsers,
speakers, entertainers, and volunteers, the Powershift
festive rally for Clean, Affordable, and Public Power
with Environmental Justice was a huge success!!!

Nearly 1,000 people participated in the day�s events. The
rally ended in a standing ovation for Teatro Campesino and
roaring chant for CLEAN ENERGY NOW! Following up the rally,
Greenpeace, along with 70 environmental activists gathered
outside the Governor�s office on Monday at 9:45AM to deliver
1,000 "suns" to Gov. Davis. After that, the group lobbied
over sixty state lawmakers. Eight of the lawmakers signed on
to Greenpeace�s letter to the California Power Authority
demanding that $2 billion be invested in clean energy.

View a photo gallery from the rally:
http://www.cleanenergynow.org/powershift/

>> Join Greenpeace At The 3rd CPA Meeting To Oppose The
   Purchase Of New Gas Fired Peaker Plants

The California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing
Authority will be meeting for the 3rd time at the California
State Capitol Building in room 4203 on Monday, September 17
at 10AM. The meeting is devoted to hearing proposals for
natural gas-fired peaker plants. Greenpeace along with other
community activists will attend the meeting to oppose the
fossil fuel burning plants.

Greenpeace is pushing for California to adopt a long-term
energy policy that cuts greenhouse gas emissions, the cause
of global warming, and invests in jobs for Californians in
clean technologies industries. Solar, not gas peaker power,
is the answer to California�s energy needs.

Before it is too late and the California Energy Plan becomes
just another Fossil Fool Plan:

1) demand that the Authority has an open planning process
   that includes scheduled statewide public hearings,

2) demand that the Authority invest at least $2 billion
   from the $5 billion bond revenues in clean energy,

3) attend the meeting on Monday, September 17!

Send a fax to the Authority explicitly demanding sunshine
planning and clean energy:
http://www.cleanenergynow.org/takeaction/cpa-hearings.html

>> Greenpeace Clean Energy Now Campaign Soon To
   Launch Solar Yes! Campaign

Starting this week, five Greenpeace activists will be
district walking in San Francisco to gain voter support
for the two world�s largest solar utilities � Propositions H and B.

Join Greenpeace in revolutionizing California�s energy
future and jump starting a new industry that will bring
clean jobs and an improved economy to California.

For more information or to get involved, contact the
Solar Yes! Campaign:
by phone: 415-642-6406
by e-mail: Greenpeace_sf@yahoo.com

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

If you would like to subscribe or unsubscibe to any Greenpeace e-mail list, you can do so at:
http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/sc

9/13/01

Across America Tonight ...

Dear Friends,

I am on the road tonight, the only way to get out of L.A. and back home to
our daughter and our friends in New York City. Oddly enough, I have never
driven across this vast country. My wife and I have now stopped in
Flagstaff for a few hours sleep before moving on.

The sorrow and anger builds across America. Talk radio tonight was filled
with calls for carpet-bombing every Arab country. Many want revenge, blood.
But a surprising number of people have called for us to not add to the
killing of more innocent humans. The rest stops and the convenience stores
along the way were filled with quiet, solemn people, many of whom, like us,
can get home no other way than by this four-day trip.

Our daughter is fine, mostly frightened by my desire to fly home to her
rather than drive. Once again, I was outvoted 2 to 1. This is nothing new.

We have learned of more people we know who have lost their lives. Bill
Weems, who worked as a line producer for us this year, was on the flight
from Boston that crashed into the World Trade Center. He was such a sweet
and decent soul. Such senseless madness.

The children of New York who are orphaned tonight ... what do we say or do?
I will do my part -- anything, something -- as soon as I get to New York.
But it will never be enough.

The firefighters of New York: they are on every other block, every day, and
they are your best neighbors. Sitting out on the sidewalks in front of the
fire stations, a good word and a kind smile to all who pass ... now, 350+
of them gone, having risked their lives to save the victims of a carnage
they soon became part of.

A good friend from Flint is a clerical worker at the Pentagon. I have heard
no word about her condition. I have tried contacting her family to no
avail. Her son, Malcolm, worked on our show. I cannot find him. I keep
getting tears in my eyes. Once she gave me a tour of the Pentagon, took me
everywhere, and got such a kick out of taking me around this building I
used to march on. Will our mutual friends who know Barbara, and know how
she is, please write me? Please.

The man who occupies the White House cried today. Good. Keep crying, Mr.
Bush. The more you cry, the less you will go to that dark side in all
humans where anger rages to a point where we want to blindly kill. Your
dad's and Reagan's old cronies -- Eagleberger, Baker, Schultz -- are all
calling for you to bomb first and ask questions later. You must NOT do
this. If only because you do not want to stoop to these mass murderers'
level. Yes, find out who did it. Yes, see that they NEVER do it again.

But GET A GRIP, man. "Declare war?" War against whom? One guy in the desert
whom we can never seem to find? Are our leaders telling us that the most
powerful country on earth cannot dispose of one sick evil f---wad of a guy?
Because if that is what you are telling us, then we are truly screwed. If
you are unable to take out this lone ZZ Top wannabe, what on earth would
you do for us if we were attacked by a nation of millions? For chrissakes,
call the Israelis and have them do that thing they do when they want to get
their man! We pay them enough billions each year, I am SURE they would be
happy to accommodate your request.

But I beg you, Mr. Bush, stay with the tears. Go today to comfort the
wounded of New York. Tell the mayor, a guy most of us have not liked, that
he is doing an incredible job, keeping the spirits of everyone up as high
as they can be at this moment. Being there for a city I believe he loves,
his own cancer still with him, he goes beyond the call of duty.

But do not declare war and massacre more innocents. After bin Laden's
previous act of terror, our last elected president went and bombed what he
said was "bin Laden's camp" in Afghanistan -- but instead just killed
civilians. Then he bombed a factory in the Sudan, saying it was "making
chemical weapons." It turned out to be making aspirin. Innocent people
murdered by our Air Force.

Back in May, you gave the Taliban in Afghanistan $48 million dollars of our
tax money. No free nation on earth would give them a cent, but you gave
them a gift of $48 million because they said they had "banned all drugs."

Because your drug war was more important than the actual war the Taliban
had inflicted on its own people, you helped to fund the regime who had
given refuge to the very man you now say is responsible for killing my
friend on that plane and for killing the friends of families of thousands
and thousands of people. How dare you talk about more killing now! Shame!
Shame! Shame! Explain your actions in support of the Taliban! Tell us why
your father and his partner Mr. Reagan trained Mr. bin Laden in how to be a
terrorist!

Am I angry? You bet I am. I am an American citizen, and my leaders have
taken my money to fund mass murder. And now my friends have paid the price
with their lives.

Keep crying, Mr. Bush. Keep running to Omaha or wherever it is you go while
others die, just as you ran during Vietnam while claiming to be "on duty"
in the Air National Guard. Nine boys from my high school died in that
miserable war. And now you are asking for "unity" so you can start another
one? Do not insult me or my country like this!

Yes, I, too, will be in church at noon today, on this national day of
mourning. I will pray for you, and us, and the children of New York, and
the children of this sad and ugly world ...

Yours,

Michael Moore
mmlfint@aol.com
www.michaelmoore.com

Greenpeace Activist News Vol. 1, No. 9
14 September 2001

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can change your email address, unsubscribe from this list,
and have a forgotten cybercentre password mailed to you using
the links at the bottom of this message. Please remember to
delete these links before forwarding this message to anyone
else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This issue includes the Deni demarcation project, genetically engineered corn in Mexico, Australian shale oil, Greenpeace's 30th anniversary and a statement on the recent attacks in the US.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DENI DEMARCATION PROJECT BEGINS

On 11 September, the Deni people of the Amazon began marking out the boundaries of their territory, a key step to halting logging and other resource extraction on their land. Helping the Deni are a team of Brazilian experts and 12 Greenpeace volunteers. This is only the second time that an indigenous group has, without government assistance, demarcated their lands in the Amazon.

For an introduction to this extremely important project, see:

http://www.greenpeace.org/amazon/ship/news.html

For regular diary entries, starting with the voyage up the Amazon river, see:

http://www.greenpeace.org/amazon/deni/landwatch.html

Please take a look at the whole site, including Quicktime movies, at:

http://www.greenpeace.org/amazon

One of the Greenpeace volunteers is cyberactivist Polecat aka Steve Danielsson. Steve describes his journey from the Swedish Arctic Rangers to Greenpeace Amazon activist here:

http://act.greenpeace.org/998239977

We encourage you to add your own comments. Steve is also contributing to the regular diary updates.

Please help the Deni demarcation project by sending a letter to the President of Brazil from:

http://act.greenpeace.org/col/get?i=91&sk=std&la=en

and by sending e-cards about this very important project to your friends and colleagues from:

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GREENPEACE MEXICO BATTLES GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CORN

The most important company producing corn flour for tortillas, the transnational corporation Maseca, uses genetically engineered corn imported from the USA to make the products they sell in Mexico, even though they made a pledge not to use it for the products they sell in the US.

Please join with cyberactivists around the world and send a strong message to Maseca. Don't let Maseca treat Mexicans as second class consumers and continue putting at risk one of the most valuable resources of the planet: Corn.

You can send a letter to the CEO of Maseca from:

http://act.greenpeace.org/ams/e?a=maseca&s=s01

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TELL CALTEX TO STOP PLAYING DIRTY

Greenpeace has accused the Australian company Caltex of being a climate hypocrite for buying dirty shale oil despite promising to sell cleaner fuels that cut greenhouse emissions.

Caltex made the promise in a letter to Greenpeace in June, yet today the company has taken delivery of the first Australian shale oil shipment at its Brisbane refinery.

By buying shale oil, the most greenhouse polluting of all fossil fuels, Caltex contributes to climate change and more devastating coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.

Please help the campaign by sending an email to Caltex Managing Director Tony Blevins from:

http://act.greenpeace.org/ams/e?a=au_caltex&s=s01

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GREENPEACE MARKS ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

15 September is Greenpeace's 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion, we have created a multimedia site celebrating Greenpeace's heroes and heroines and our major achievements over the last three decades. To see and hear these stories, please visit:

http://greenpeace.org/30th

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GREENPEACE STATEMENT ON THE US ATTACKS

Our hearts go out to all who are suffering, who have lost lives, or loved ones in the tragic attacks in the United States. We of Greenpeace reaffirm our commitment to non-violence, and to the belief that violence only begets violence. We look forward to a day when humanity finds peaceful means to resolve its disputes.

VISIT THE CYBERCENTRE

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

Somewhere in the Land of Enchantment

9/15/01

Dear Friends,

Our second day on the road back to New York City...

I am awakened by the sounds of the "Star Spangled Banner" coming from the
lobby of the hotel where we have spent the night in Flagstaff. The memorial
service has begun at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, and it is on
the TV in the lobby. I go down to check it out.

A group of older black women are standing there watching it, tears in their
eyes. I am reminded by a sign we saw on the way into town on a Hopi Indian
store: "America Land of the Free Home of the Brave." You probably can't
find two groups more denied the American Dream than these two and yet they
grieve like everyone else over the attack in New York.

Passing through the Indian reservations of Arizona and New Mexico you are
struck by the abject poverty of these places, and reminded of the 500 years
of state-sponsored terrorism against these people, a virtual genocide. How
many millions were killed by the American settlers and soldiers? I can't
remember now. But the living results are brutally evident in the shacks and
trailers along old Route 66.

My wife and I make our way into town and find a Catholic church, San
Francisco de Asis, where a service is being held to honor the dead. The
church itself is remarkable for its matriarchal images, with a large mural
of Mary and her mother and her family above the altar, and then a statue of
her in place of the usual crucified Jesus.

We stand, as there is no room to sit. Minutes go by and the service does
not begin. The priest comes and takes a seat in the 7th row pew as if he
were just another mourner. After a long while, someone gets up from her pew
and reads from the bible -- but the reading is not the one about vengeance
and bloodshed. Rather, it's about beating our swords into plowshares. Oops,
off message!

We leave the church and both of us are filled with an overwhelming despair.
We still have not heard from friends in Manhattan or from our friend
Barbara who works at the Pentagon. We pass by a store -- "Guns and
Groceries," the sign proclaims. On the way out of town, the cell phone
rings. It is Barbara and her husband Sam calling from outside the Pentagon.
She tells me she is OK and that there is a large airplane wheel sticking
out of the side of the building where she works as a clerical. The morning
of the crash she was late for work because she was taking Sam to the
airport. I start to cry again. She says thanks and "Don't worry I'm OK,"
and I hear Sam cracking in the background "That's debatable" and they both
laugh.

I pull off the road in Winslow, Arizona, and tell Kathleen I want to get a
picture of her on a corner. She doesn't know why and, knowing her intense
dislike of The Eagles, I tell her it's a song by Jackson Browne (which is
technically true; he co-wrote it). She obliges, but when she reads this
I'll be in big trouble.

I continue to be amazed at the large number of people -- both on the radio
and those we run into -- who are completely opposed to some half-cocked
military response to what has happened. No matter what the media tells you
or shows you, I am convinced there is a majority of Americans who, though
they want justice and want to be protected from further attacks, do not
want George W. Bush to start sounding like Dr. Strangelove.

Speaking of Strangelove, this past week began with one of the most powerful
pieces on "60 Minutes" in a long time. They laid it all out: How the United
States -- and specifically Henry Kissinger -- plotted to overthrow the
democratically-elected president of Chile in the early 1970s. The plot
succeeded, President Allende was assassinated, and thousands of other
Chileans were brutally tortured and murdered. Today, many within the new
government of Chile would like to put Kissinger on trial for these acts of
terrorism. Do you think the United States will give him up?

Well, that story was forgotten, 48 hours later, as quickly as it had been
forgotten 30 years ago.

A few of you have written me to say, Please, Mike, don't talk about this
stuff, at least not right now. We need to bury the dead.

I agree. And I apologize to any who have taken offense. No one wants to
talk about politics right now -- except our installed leaders in
Washington. Trust me, they are talking politics night and day, and those
discussions involve sending our kids off to fight some invisible enemy and
to indiscriminately bomb Afghans or whoever they think will make us
Americans feel good.

I feel I have a responsibility as one of those Americans who doesn't feel
good right now to speak out and say what needs to be said: That we, the
United States of America, are culpable in committing so many acts of terror
and bloodshed that we had better get a clue about the culture of violence
in which we have been active participants. I know it's a hard thing to hear
right now, but if I and others don't say it, I fear we will soon be in a
war that will do NOTHING to protect us from the next terrorist attack.

I have received more emails this week than ever before -- about a thousand
every four hours. Ninety percent of them are from people who also refuse to
be drawn into some form of senseless bloodletting, and who agree that we
need to find the right way to bring those to justice who committed these acts.

I have been touched by many of your comments and am so sorry I cannot
respond to them while I am on the road. But I am sharing your feelings with
those I meet (and, I have to say again, it is a Godsend to have an
invention like the Internet where I can travel across the country like this
and be connected to so many thousands of other Americans �and to so many
foreigners who grieve for us and fear for what our leaders may do).

We pass over the Continental Divide and Rush Limbaugh babbles on about whom
we must bomb. He signs off, and I am sure he is on his way down to the
nearest recruiting station to sign up -- for surely he would not expect
your son or daughter to risk their lives for freedom while he just sits
back and enjoys his new half-billion dollar contract.

Coming into Albuquerque, Kathleen is leafing through the Frommer's travel
guide for a place to spend the night. She finds what seems like a nice spot
near the White Sands national park, but then reads this passage:
"Occasionally the road to the hotel is closed for nearby missile tests."
Yes, welcome to New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment," just one big testing
ground brought to you by the originators of every single weapon of mass
destruction known to man. We opt for the downtown Hyatt.

The hotel is like a ghost town. "Every convention cancelled," the lady at
the counter tells us. I ask the bellman how many people are actually here
tonight.

"9.9 percent occupancy," he tells me. Hmmm. Why not just say 10%?

I guess that would be asking for too much optimism on a night like this...

I will write again when we get to our next stop, Oklahoma City.

Yours,

Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com
www.michaelmoore.com

PS. Three days ago, I learned from someone at ABC News that ABC had
videotape -- an angle of the second plane crashing into the tower -- that
showed an F-16 fighter jet trailing the plane at a distance.

I have not shared this with you as I had not personally witnessed that tape
myself and did not want to contribute to all the unsubstantiated rumors. It
just came across on the TV that the government admitted they did dispatch
fighter jets when they knew the planes were off course.

From this point, I will pass on any censored information to those of you
in the mainstream media who are being blocked from reporting.

Is it becoming more clear now that the plane that went down in Pennsylvania
was shot down to prevent it from attacking its destination?

The truth is harrowing, unbearable -- but it must be told to us. A free
people cannot make an informed decision if they are kept in the dark. Let's
hear ALL the truth NOW.

EPA Considering Approving Pesticide Laden Frankenplants	Oppose Missile Defense Plan	Farmers' rights threatened by biotech industry

DENlines Issue #46	EarthJustice E-Brief	GlobalizeThis! 9/30 Actions DC & Around the World

Trail Blazers - Greenpeace	Act Now to Save America's Ocean Fish	GE Food Alert 3

Death Downtown	EarthNet News re: September 11	Population & Environment Program - Conference

Greenpeace Positive Energy v1.12, Sept 10th-16th	[Mike's Message] Across America Tonight	Greenpeace Activist News Vol. 1, No. 9

Somewhere in the Land of Enchantment