Via American Rivers:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that nearly 860 billion gallons of sewage spills into our waterways annually. Yuck.

And fortunately, as you may already know, American Rivers is leading the fight for right-to-know legislation that would notify the public of sewage spills. Phew.

But our work isn’t done.

We need your help today to expose “Flushie’s Summer Vacation!” and his “Sewage Happens” message to a larger audience…a MUCH larger audience — like the 70 million daily YouTube viewers.

Help us send Flushie up the YouTube food chain. Our goal is for Flushie to appear on the front page as a featured video, ensuring massive viewing success.

How do we do that? Well, one way we can better position Flushie to be picked up on YouTube’s front page is to ask you to:

1. Go to Flushie’s home on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcpq506XCIg

2. Save Flushie’s Summer Vacation! as one of your “Favorite” videos

3. Rate Flushie’s Summer Vacation! now (be sure to give it a five-star rating too!)

Please, take action today to help us make Flushie’s next vacation spot the YouTube front page. Visit Flushie on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcpq506XCIg and send him on his way!

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers water pollution water pollution sewage epa youtube flushie video

Action Alerts

American Freedom Campaign: Tell your Senators to confirm an attorney general who will defend the Constitution.
Tell Senate: No more Albertos!

American Rivers: RiverAlert: Tell the Army Corps to Close Hurricane Highway
Urge the Corps to properly close the MRGO. Comments are due Tuesday, September 4, so please act today!

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): California: Urge Governor to Sign Pet Protective Order Bill
California Pet Protection Bill Now Before Governator! CA SB 353, a bill that will allow courts to include animals in restraining orders against batterers, has passed both houses of the Legislature.

Audubon: Last Wild Whooping Cranes Threatened
Tell the Army Corps of Engineers to put this development project on hold until proper environmental review can be conducted.

Audubon: Close the ‘Hurricane Highway’ in New Orleans
Let the Army Corps of Engineers know why restoring coastal wetlands is both good environmental policy and good for New Orleans.

(more…)

Action Alerts

International Fund for Horses: Wag a Straw: HR 503 and S 311
Take Action Today Against Horse Slaughter! Wag a Straw at Congress Asking Them to Swiftly Pass The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act

The Wilderness Society: Off-road vehicles threaten largest recommended wilderness in Lower 48
Send the Forest Service your letter today to help protect the Salmon-Challis forest and its wildlands, sensitive ecosystems and wildlife habitat, and quiet recreation opportunities from unmanaged dirt bikes, ATVs, and other off-road vehicles.

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA): Support the Bear Protection Act
End the Illegal Trade in Bear Bile.

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA): Help WSPA end cruel contest in Taiwan
At Taiwan’s “Pigs of God” contest hundreds of pigs that have been force-fed to increase their weight to grotesque proportions are slaughtered while fully conscious as part of this so-called “festival”.

Campaign Updates, Press Releases, etc.

The Petition Site: The Wolf and the Donkey, Update
End their misery - Free this wolf and donkey in Albania

(more…)

Via American Rivers:

Act Now to Protect the Wild and Wonderful Blackwater River

The Blackwater River is threatened by plans to transform the historic and scenic Blackwater Canyon Rail Trail into a wide road for logging trucks. Act now to tell the Forest Service that you want to see this crown jewel protected for people and wildlife.

Comments are due Monday, July 23, so please act today at www.AmericanRivers.org/alert921.

You can learn more at www.saveblackwater.org.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers Blackwater River logging wildlife conservation water Blackwater Canyon Rail Trail road logging road

Via American Rivers:

Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right to Know Act

When it comes to sewage pollution, what you don’t know can hurt you. Every year, more than 850 billion gallons of raw or partially-treated sewage is dumped into the waters where we fish, swim and play. As a result, millions of people become ill each year from unnecessary contact with disease causing pathogens found in sewage.

Astonishingly, there is no nationwide requirement for sewage treatment plants to notify the public when these sewage spills and overflows occur, placing people and their families at risk. Knowledge is a powerful first line of defense, and we all deserve to know when our favorite streams and rivers are unfit for playing and paddling.

You can help fix this problem by asking Congress to pass legislation that requires plant operators to notify the public of sewage spills and overflows. Go to www.AmericanRivers.org/alert919 and urge your Representative to cosponsor the Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right to Know Act today.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers water pollution water pollution sewage sewage spills raw sewage public health capitalism Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right to Know Act

Via American Rivers:

Help the Upper Delaware — one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers

A month ago, we released America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2007 — ten rivers at a crossroads this year. The Upper Delaware River, number four on this list, is now at the tipping point. Take action today to make sure the right decision is made for this river and the communities that depend on it.

The Upper Delaware is threatened by a massive power line. By preliminarily designating the Upper Delaware River Valley as a transmission corridor, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) just made it easier for New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. to build this power line. If built, the power line would scar this scenic gem — one of America’s first Wild and Scenic Rivers — that generates vital economic revenue through tourism and recreation.

Tell the DOE that Wild and Scenic Rivers like the Upper Delaware River should not be used as transmission corridors — it is a use that is completely at odds with the rivers’ protected status and is not in the best interest of the people who depend upon these rivers for revenue, recreation and relaxation.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers Upper Delaware River river conservation power line energy threatened U.S. Department of Energy DOE New York Regional Interconnect, Inc.

Via American Rivers:

Mr. Buffett, tear down those dams

Warren Buffett is a world famous investor, businessman and philanthropist. He now has the opportunity to be known also as a world famous river hero. Help us persuade Mr. Buffett to do the right thing for the Oregon and California communities along the Klamath River by removing his company’s four harmful dams and restoring legendary runs of salmon and steelhead.

Warren Buffett heads the investment firm Berkshire Hathaway. Its subsidiary — PacifiCorp — owns and operates the Klamath dams. On May 5th, Berkshire Hathaway is holding a shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. This is a perfect occasion to send the message that it’s time to remove the Klamath dams, which produce very little power but wreak havoc on the river’s health, its salmon runs and families who rely on fishing for their livelihood.

By removing the dams and investing in green energy sources like wind, solar and other renewables, PacifiCorp can power a brighter future for the entire Klamath basin, one that will allow the river and local communities to thrive.

One man has the power to make this happen. Join us in urging Warren Buffett to make a wise investment by removing the Klamath dams. The Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting is Saturday, May 5th, so please go to www.AmericanRivers.org/alert913 and act today!

Tiny Violin alert: If you use the sample letter provided by American Rivers, be sure to edit out all that junk about how the Klamath dams cause suffering to “families that depend on the salmon for their livelihoods.” Boo. Hoo.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers water dam warren buffett Klamath River salmon steelhead power energy

Via American Rivers:

Save the Clean Water Act!

The fundamental safeguards for clean and healthy water in our streams, rivers and lakes are in jeopardy. A confusing 2006 Supreme Court decision concerning the Clean Water Act has left the fate of 60 percent of the nation’s stream miles in legal limbo. As expected, polluters are now flooding the courts with appeals to raze small streams and wetlands.

Congress can resolve this problem by passing legislation to restore full federal protection for all our waters. Help us ensure that all of our nation’s waters are protected under the Clean Water Act. Got to www.AmericanRivers.org/Alert909 and urge your representative to co-sponsor the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2007 today.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers water pollution clean water act congress 110th congress

Via American Rivers:

Help Save the Upper Yellowstone River!

Last year’s America’s Most Endangered Rivers report detailed how rampant development in the Upper Yellowstone River’s floodplain has resulted in a dramatic increase in bank stabilization and flood control projects. While intended to protect homes and other buildings from flooding and erosion, these projects have actually caused substantial harm to this majestic river, while providing homeowners with a false sense of security.

Thanks in part to public pressure from river lovers all over America, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is finally moving ahead with long-awaited plans to develop a watershed-level management plan for the Upper Yellowstone River. Now we need to keep the heat on to make sure that the Corps’ plan will protect people and the river by curtailing harmful floodplain development. Tell the Corps to protect people and one of Montana’s — and America’s — last, best rivers. Comments are due this Sunday, April 22, 2007, so please act today.

Tiny Violin alert: If you use the sample letter provided by American Rivers, be sure to edit out any references to how development will affect fishermen’s “enjoyment” of the Upper Yellowstone River.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers Upper Yellowstone River rivers yellowstone development wildlife conservation

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: American Rivers - outreach [at] americanrivers.org
Date: Mar 22, 2007 8:00 AM
Subject: RiverNews: Celebrate World Water Day

Today is World Water Day. And in honor of American Rivers’ 34th birthday (March 24), we invite you to join us in celebrating the importance of healthy rivers and clean drinking water in our lives!

Photo via emarquetti

The theme of World Water Day 2007 is “Coping with Scarcity,” an issue that hits particularly close to home. America’s demand for water is outpacing supply across the country — not just in the arid West. Here are some things YOU can do to show appreciation for healthy rivers and to help conserve water:

1. You can’t appreciate what you don’t know. Find out where your community gets its drinking water by visiting cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/map2.cfm.

2. Test your WaterSense. Take an interactive online quiz at www.epa.gov/watersense/quiz/game.html. Help Hydro (the water efficiency hero) avoid water-wasting monsters.

3. Every drop counts. Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day — enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses. By using water more efficiently, you can help preserve water supplies for future generations, save money, and ensure enough water for healthy rivers. Learn ways to conserve water at home by visiting www.AmericanRivers.org/Conserve.

While personal water conservation is part of the solution, communities must also take leadership. With global warming, population growth, urban sprawl, and intensive agricultural use, water scarcity forces creative thinking for river-friendly solutions. In response to these growing challenges, American Rivers recently released a set of Water Supply Principles (www.AmericanRivers.org/watersupplyprinciples) to help guide decisionmakers toward water supply projects that meet community demand and protect river health.

Cheers to healthy rivers, healthy communities!

Sincerely,

Rebecca R. Wodder
President

To contact American Rivers, email us at outreach [at] americanrivers.org.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers water conservation world water day

Via American Rivers:

Show love for the Salmon Trout River

Last year, river activists spoke out to protect the Salmon Trout, one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2006. The fight to save the river is not over yet and you can help. A proposed nickel and copper mine that would be located squarely in the headwaters of the Salmon Trout is now one step closer to becoming a reality.

Go to www.AmericanRivers.org/action867 to tell Michigan decisionmakers that you care about the Salmon Trout and the Great Lakes and want to see them protected from harmful mining activities.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts american rivers river Michigan Kennecott Minerals Company mining sulfide mining conservation Salmon Trout River fish

Via American Rivers:

U.S. to Canada - Stop Mine Threat to Montana’s Flathead River

It’s called the North Fork River by some, but most know it as the Flathead River. Regardless of the name, this Wild and Scenic River is one our country’s natural jewels, blessed with crystal clear water and unparalleled beauty. Not for long, though, if the Cline Mining Corporation convinces Canadian officials to destroy the headwaters of the Flathead in British Columbia. The company’s proposed open-pit mine would gouge two million tons of coal per year from the river’s source for the next 20 years. Not if we (and you) can help it!

There’s more at stake than this one river. The Flathead also serves as the source of Flathead Lake’s crystal clear waters. And its watershed supports a vast array of wildlife in Montana, including more grizzlies per acre than anywhere else in the Rocky Mountains. Touted as America’s “wildest valley,” the area surrounding the river and its namesake lake is protected by Glacier National Park and a Wild and Scenic River designation.

While the mine proposal is being assessed, Canadian authorities have graciously agreed to accept comments from U.S. residents — but only until Thursday, February 1. Please take a moment to let them know that you appreciate the opportunity to provide input, and then tell them you OPPOSE the mine affecting our beloved Flathead River.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action+alerts american+rivers mining North+Fork+River montana Flathead+River conservation

Via American Rivers:

Turn California’s Rivers Wild

Good news! The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has recommended eight rivers in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills for Wild and Scenic designation.

This is an excellent idea, but the BLM wants to hear from you!

The agency is accepting public comments on behalf of the South Fork American River, Cosumnes River, North and Middle Forks Cosumnes River, Mokelumne River and its North Fork, North Fork Tuolumne River, and North Fork Merced River.

Please take action today by sending a letter to the BLM to make sure these rivers get the protection they deserve. Remind the BLM that these eight rivers provide important recreational and cultural values for neighboring communities.

These recommended rivers are also among the few remaining free-flowing rivers in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Wild and Scenic protection would prohibit new dams and ensure that federal public lands along the rivers are managed to protect their outstanding values.

Tell the BLM that you support Wild and Scenic protection for these outstanding rivers. Your action today is a promising step forward to add 40 new rivers to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System by the 40th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2008.

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Tagged: environment environmentalist environmentalism environmental action+alerts american+rivers blm Sierra+Nevada ca california

Via American Rivers:

Speak out against the Corps’ Nationwide Permits

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is poised to expand its nationwide permit program, fast-tracking the agency’s approval of harmful projects. These nationwide permits provide a “streamlined” approval process for projects with so-called “minor” environmental impacts — yet these impacts can harm freshwater resources and damage rivers and wetlands.

Under the new proposal, the Corps would have broad discretion when it comes to permitting mining, bank stabilization, fill, development, and other activities. The problem is that these nationwide permits lack basic Clean Water Act safeguards, such as public notice requirements and a thorough evaluation of less damaging alternatives. These permits also would allow unwise floodplain development and wetland destruction, putting people and communities at risk.

By creating a less stringent permitting process, the Corps would be rubberstamping the destruction of small streams and wetlands across the country. Now is your chance to stop the Corps from allowing the destruction of our nation’s valuable streams, wetlands, and floodplains. Tell the Corps that you oppose its nationwide permitting package. The comment deadline is next week, so please act TODAY!

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Tagged: environment environmentalist environmentalism action+alerts american+rivers Army+Corps+of+Engineers

Via American Rivers:

Don’t Let the Corps Kill the Caloosahatchee: Tell the Corps to Go Back to the Drawing Board!

Just six months after American Rivers listed Florida’s Caloosahatchee River as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers due to releases of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee, the Army Corps of Engineers is set to make the problem even worse.

Already, the Caloosahatchee regularly gets inundated by a so-called “chocolate soup” of toxins from the lake proven to irritate human skin, cause nausea and vomiting, and