UPDATE, 2/26/07:

Earthjustice just sent out an alert on this issue as well; you can take action here.

Protect America’s Rainforest

The Tongass National Forest in Alaska, America’s largest national forest, is a temperate rainforest, and provides rare old-growth habitat for bald eagles, grizzly bears, salmon, and other wildlife. This awe-inspiring landscape is considered to be the crown jewel of America’s national forest system.

For over 50 years, timber companies have had access to the biggest and best trees in the Tongass, leaving American taxpayers to foot the bill for the unprofitable sales. But as a result of a successful lawsuit brought by Earthjustice in Alaska, the Forest Service is currently revising the forest plan for the Tongass, a move that will have huge implications for the future of this irreplaceable treasure.

Your comments are needed to ensure that the Forest Service moves away from the unsustainable logging practices of the past. Please take action to support protecting the many roadless areas of this magnificent coastal rainforest for generations to come.

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Via The Wilderness Society:

Save America’s Rainforest from the Timber Industry

One of our greatest natural treasures - Alaska’s Tongass National Forest - is targeted for massive clear-cutting. The Forest Service has proposed a plan that caters to the timber industry and would sacrifice much of this treasured forest’s critical wildlife habitat.

But before their plan is finalized, they must accept public comment. You can help us protect this magical place with its towering, ancient trees. Take action today. Don’t miss this window of opportunity! Demand permanent protection now!

More info here.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts the wilderness society logging Alaska Tongass National Forest clear-cutting wildlife conservation

Via Earthjustice:

A Lasting Solution for the Arctic Refuge

Over the past several years there have been countless outrageous attempts in Congress to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to exploitative and destructive oil drilling.

Now, with a new Congress, we have a promising opportunity to protect this pristine wildlife haven once and for all.

Please write to your representative today and urge support for providing the permanent protection that this national treasure deserves.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action+alerts earthjustice oil drilling alaska Arctic+National+Wildlife+Refuge conservation

Via Earthjustice:

America’s Songbirds At-Risk; Help Keep Deadly Towers Out of Their Way

Every year, millions of migratory birds are killed when they collide with one of the thousands of communication towers scattered across the United States. As more and more cell phone, radio, and digital television towers are built, the escalating kills could soon spell disaster for many already at-risk songbirds like the Bell’s Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, and Bachman’s Sparrow.

Thankfully, simple improvements to the structure, location, lighting, and other details of new communication towers can significantly reduce the numbers of birds killed each year. The Federal Communications Commission can require these improvements – but it wants to hear from you first.

Millions of migratory birds need your help: Send a letter urging the FCC to require strong protections against bird kills for new communication towers today.

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Tagged: animals animal+rights animal+welfare action+alerts earthjustice cell+towers fcc birds communication+towers migratory+birds

Via Earthjustice:

A Big Step Forward for Clean Energy In Congress’s First 100 Hours

For decades, wealthy oil companies have been enjoying government subsidies in the form of billions of dollars in tax cuts. But in a far-sighted move for the environment, the new 110th Congress is now drafting a bill (H.R. 6) that would not only repeal these unneeded tax breaks, but would in turn use that money to fund renewable energy research and promote energy efficiency and clean alternative fuels.

This commonsense approach would help realign our national energy priorities away from subsidizing environmentally-destructive companies already enjoying record profits, and toward real steps to combat global warming and build a better, cleaner energy future for America.

Congress is scheduled to vote January 18th, so your representative needs to hear from you now. Please help encourage our leaders to do the right thing: end tax subsidies to Big Oil and use the savings for new investments in clean renewable energy.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action+alerts earthjustice oil big+oil energy climate+change global+warming congress 110th+congress

Via Earthjustice:

Save the Rockies! Say No to the “Drill It All” Policy

The Rocky Mountains are known for their rugged landscape, rushing rivers, and pristine wildlife. But today the health and beauty of the Rockies are being threatened by rampant oil and gas drilling across the region, from Utah’s canyonlands, to Colorado’s Roadless National Forests, to New Mexico’s rare desert grasslands.

In addition to scarring the landscaping with oil and gas rigs, the Bush administration’s rush to drill has needlessly threatened many species of wildlife and harmed air and water quality in the region. This is particularly troubling given that smart and easy solutions for improving energy efficiency and harnessing renewable power exist that would eliminate the need for more harmful drilling.

Take action and tell the Bush administration to stop endangering the Rockies through irresponsible oil and gas drilling!

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Tagged: environment environmentalist environmentalism action+alerts earthjustice oil drilling rockies rocky+mountains

Via Earthjustice:

Tell the Army Corps - Stop Rubberstamping Destruction of Our Waters!

For more than thirty years, the Clean Water Act has provided critical protections for America’s rivers, streams, wetlands, and other waters. These waters serve as important wildlife habitats, provide protections against flooding, and filter pollutants from our drinking water supply.

Key to this law’s success is that careful environmental assessment and public notice are required before a body of water can be polluted, filled, or destroyed. But right now, the Army Corps of Engineers is trying to undermine these protections, by rubberstamping many destructive projects while waiving environmental review.

We need your help: please tell the Army Corps that Americans value the strong protections of the Clean Water Act and don’t want to see these critical safeguards weakened!

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Tagged: environment environmentalism action+alerts earthjustice clean+water

Via Earthjustice:

Save Our National Forests!

This September, Earthjustice scored a huge victory for our roadless national forests when a federal district court ordered the reinstatement of the 2001 Roadless Rule. But today the Bush administration is scrambling to challenge this decision.

Today, we need your help to fight back and safeguard our victory. We need to generate as many letters as possible to Secretary of the USDA, Michael Johanns, demanding that he honor and enforce the Roadless Rule.

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Tagged: environment environmentalism action+alerts earthjustice national+forests roadless+rule conservation

Via Earthjustice:

This Rights-of-Way Bill is All Wrong: Stop the Public Lands Giveaway

Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM) has recently introduced a bill that represents the most dramatic attempt we have seen to give away our public lands. His bill, H.R. 6298, attempts to allow thousands of miles of damaging and unnecessary new roads to be punched through our public lands, opening pristine areas all across the West to development and off-road vehicle use.

In what would be an unprecedented public lands giveaway, H.R. 6298 would undercut the protection of our national parks, wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, and other public lands by granting antiquated “rights-of-way” claims across federal lands.

If passed, this bill would crisscross our public lands with a spider web of roads and development. Please ask your representative to oppose it today.

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Tagged: environment environmentalism action+alerts earthjustice HR6298 public+lands

Via Earthjustice:

Speak Up for Endangered Species and Environmental Protections!

Over the last few months, the Bush administration has been holding a series of “listening sessions” across the country to gather input on cooperative conservation projects. As part of this effort, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne is accepting written comments from the public about national environmental safeguards, especially those protecting wild lands and wildlife.

It is vital for conservation-minded people to answer this challenge. We need to make sure the administration gets the right message: Americans want strong environmental protections, and expect our government to enforce them.

Comments will be accepted only until October 13!

Via Earthjustice:

Stop the “Bad Samaritan” bill: No free ride for toxic polluters

The National Mining Association and other supporters may call it the “Good Samaritan Bill,” but the Cleanup of Inactive Mines and Abandoned Mines Act (S. 1848) has nothing good about it. If passed, this legislation would allow mining companies and others to conduct remediation activities at abandoned and inactive hardrock mining sites without taking basic steps to meet water quality and other environmental standards.

No true “Good Samaritan” would want to let mining companies or anyone else spread pollution that hurts people; and why would a “Good Samaritan” want to bypass critical environmental protections? But that is just what this misleading bill would do. And by waiving environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and Superfund, S. 1848 could allow pollution at these toxic sites to get even worse.

This dangerous bill has already been voted out of the Senate Environment Committee, and may get on a fast track to pass the Senate before the end of this session of Congress. Please ask your senators to oppose S. 1848 today!