UPDATE, 7/10/07:

See also: Urge Your Representative to Support Meaningful Energy Legislation, from The Sierra Club.

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Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Tell The House to Green Up The Energy Bill

The Energy Bill, passed by the Senate last month, made important progress toward addressing America’s oil and environmental security—but it needs to be stronger. While the Senate did increase fuel economy standards for the first time in more than 30 years, they unfortunately included unnecessary loopholes that could undermine the new 35 mile per gallon standard. The bill also lacked a renewable energy standard requiring utilities to produce a percentage of our electricity from clean, renewable sources like the wind and sun. And the increase in biofuels production included in the bill needs stronger safeguards against global warming pollution to protect our air, soil, and water.

Thankfully, we still have a chance to strengthen this critical bill now that action moves to the House. Please let your representative know that you want an Energy Bill that locks in strong fuel economy standards, guarantees more clean energy for consumers, and ensures that biofuels are part of the global warming solution, not part of the problem.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts ucs Union of Concerned Scientists climate change global warming energy clean energy gas oil energy bill fuel fuel efficiency congress the sierra club CAFE

Via The Sierra Club:

Protect Clean Water!

Small streams and wetlands help maintain and protect drinking water supplies, as well as provide critical flood water storage. In addition, they are important for wildlife breeding grounds and habitat. A June 2006 Supreme Court ruling has placed many of these waters in jeopardy of losing Clean Water Act safeguards.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers recently issued “guidance” that further muddies the waters and confuses the issue even more as to which waters are covered under the Clean Water Act.

Ask your Representative help clarify its intent and live up to its responsibility to ensure that all communities have safe and healthy waters by passing The Clean Water Restoration Act!

By the by, you can read this week’s edition of Club Currents here.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts sierra club water pollution clean water epa Environmental Protection Agency US Army Corps of Engineers clean water act

Via The Sierra Club:

Urge your Representative to Support Meaningful Energy Legislation

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on an energy bill in the next few weeks, and we need you to urge your Representative to support increasing fuel economy standards and implementing a national Renewable Energy Standard. Don’t wait!

Get involved and urge your Representative to support meaningful increases in fuel economy standards and a national renewable energy standard!

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts the sierra club energy, renewable energy Renewable Energy Standard climate change global warming congress 110th congress

UPDATE, 7/3/07, via the Wilderness Society:

Thank Your Congressperson for Protecting the Tongass National Forest

Thank you is a word we probably don’t say enough, but now is the time to do just that.

Please write your Congressional Representative today to thank him or her for voting yes on an amendment the House approved for the Interior budget. The Andrews-Chabot Amendment stops wasting taxpayer dollars building new logging roads in the Tongass National Forest, America’s largest intact rainforest.

U.S. Representatives Robert E. Andrews (D-New Jersey, 1st) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio, 1st) lead the bipartisan floor effort and deserve an additional thanks.

To let your representative know how much protecting the ecological integrity of the Tongass and the quality of life for southeast Alaska communities means to you, write your member of Congress [here].

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UPDATE, 6/12/07:

Looks like the Sierra Club wants in on the action too:

Take Action: Save Wild Alaskan Forests!

Known as America’s Rainforest, the Tongass National Forest is our nation’s most significant tract of old-growth forest and provide abundant habitat for a diversity of fish and wildlife species, many of which have declined substantially in the lower 48 states. Now the Forest Service is planning new logging roads and timber sales in this wild roadless forest, despite the fact that the Forest Service typically loses an average of $40 million each year logging this area. It’s time for Congress to take common sense action to eliminate these destructive practices.

Urge your member of Congress to stop subsidies for logging in the Tongass!

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Two more enviro alerts, this time in regards to upcoming Congressional votes that concern funding for federal lands and agencies.

First, from the Natural Resources Defense Council:

Tell your representative to protect the Tongass and other national treasures

The House of Representatives will vote this week on two critical appropriations bills that will determine how much to spend on
our most important environmental programs, including those that protect the Tongass National Forest and other public wildlands.

One important amendment would stop the Forest Service from spending our tax dollars to build logging roads through pristine
forestlands in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. For decades American taxpayers have been forced to subsidize nearly a billion dollars worth of clearcut logging in the Tongass — our country’s largest national forest and the world’s largest intact coastal temperate rainforest. Now the Forest Service has proposed increasing logging to five times current levels — and building thousands of miles of new roads at a cost of tens of millions of dollars every year. The Andrews-Chabot amendment to the Interior appropriations bill would end these harmful subsidies and protect the Tongass.

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Get right with D-O-G!:

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

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UPDATE, 6/12/07:

…and the Sierra Club weighs in….

Take Action: Support Energy Efficiency Standards!

Incandescent Light BulbIn order to achieve energy independence and curb global warming we must increase energy efficiency. We need an energy efficiency standard that will move America toward the 80% reductions in greenhouse gases that scientists say are necessary to avoid the worst consequences of global warming. By making better use of the electricity we already produce, we can not only save 300 million metric tons of global warming causing carbon dioxide by 2020, but consumers can also save a total of $26 billion.

Urge your Senators to support Energy Efficiency Standards!

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I’m running late, so I though I might take a shortcut and consolidate all of today’s climate change/fuel efficiency/general enviro alerts into one big link farm post.

(In fact, climate change is such a “hot” topic* right now that I may even do a link roundup post every day or two.)

So, yeehaw.

(more…)

Rather than posting a Table of Contents for each week’s Sierra Club Currents, methinks I’ll just start excerpting choice action alerts, since that’s all I care about anywho. Plus, some of their recent “news items” have been decidedly speciesist.

So, here they are - two global warming-related alerts from the latest ed. of Club Currents. If you’d like to read this week’s issue, go here.

Take Action: Senate — Call for a Stronger Energy Bill!

In two weeks, the Senate will vote on broad global warming and energy legislation. This is an opportunity to move the country in a new direction — one that curbs global warming, cuts our dependence on oil, and creates a new clean energy economy.

Unfortunately, the proposed legislation fails the test. We need urgent and meaningful action including a national Renewable Energy Standard, guaranteed fuel economy improvements, and strong energy efficiency programs — not business as usual.

Use our Action Center to call your Senators and tell them that America needs a stronger energy policy!

Take Action: House — Make Sure Bills Fight Global Warming!

The House of Representatives will also have the opportunity later this summer to vote on important energy legislation that helps curb global warming and America’s dependence on dirty fossil fuels.

Energy legislation passed by the House must reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electric utilities and vehicles: These steps are crucial to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 — or two percent a year — the level scientists say is necessary to avoid the worst effects of global warming.

Please take the time to ask your Representative to support crucial provisions to boost renewable energy production and raise fuel economy standards–that America needs clean energy that will create jobs, save consumers money, and curb global warming.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts sierra clug global warming climate change energy energy bill Renewable Energy Standard house senate

Here’s the TOC from the 5/29/07 issue of The Sierra Club’s Currents.

You can read the whole newsletter online - just click here!

Sierra Club Currents - North American Fuel Economy Agreement
Volume VI, #66
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

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Quote of Note:

“The work, I think, is going to be bordering on science fiction.”

— Energy Department Assistant Secretary John Mizroch, on DOE’s plan to use termites to wean the nation off its oil addiction.

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Table of Contents

(1) Gas Prices: North American Fuel Economy Agreement

(2) Katrina Recovery: Trash to Treasure

(3) Take Action: Support State’s Rights to Have Clean Cars!

(4) Take Action: Protect Big Cypress National Preserve!

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts the sierra club club currents climate change global warming epa state’s rights Big Cypress National Preserve California Hurricane Katrina Katrina hurricane Gulf Coast trash treasure trash to treasure gas North American Fuel Economy Agreement

Here’s the TOC from the 5/22/07 issue of The Sierra Club’s Currents.

You can read the whole newsletter online - just click here!

Sierra Club Currents - Sierra Club and the National Rifle Association?
Volume VI, #65
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

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Quote of Note:

“This has the potential to be the energy version of Nixon going to China.”

— Dan Schnur, a political science instructor at the University of California-Berkeley, on Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) signing the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative.

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Table of Contents

(1) Air Field: Sierra Club and the National Rifle Association?

In a truly unique partnership, the Sierra Club, the NRA, hunting and fishing groups, the Republican party and a host of other groups in North Carolina have teamed up to protect the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The groups’ efforts were rewarded late last week, when Senators in the North Carolina legislature voted not to allow a proposed Navy landing strip to be built near the refuge.

Find out more about how the Sierra Club and sportsmen are working together to protect our outdoor heritage.

[Bah. I am not impressed. And am totally not linking to the Sierra Club’s “sportsmen” page. Speciesist and sexist, what an accomplishment!]

(2) Victory: Gov. Terminates Terminal

In a huge victory, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal off California’s coast. Thanks to the efforts of the Sierra Club, California Coastal Protection Network, Environmental Defense Center, CAUSE and many other conservation, community and Latino organizations the proposed LNG terminal project has been defeated. Over 2,000 people came out to weigh in against the massive pollution and hazards that would threaten marine life and coastal communities presented.

Learn about other coastal threats and what you can do to help!

(3) Take Action: Yes to Clean Water!

Today critical legislation was introduced to ensure that the Clean Water Act broadly protects all of our nation’s waters, not just those you can float a boat on. With industry actively attempting to hack away at clean water protections and confusion over the scope of those protections, it is imperative for Congress to act now to clarify that the Clean Water Act should protect all of our waters from unregulated pollution and destruction.

Tell your Representative to support the Clean Water Restoration Act!

(4) Take Action: Support a Strong Energy Bill!

In two weeks, the Senate will vote on broad global warming and energy legislation. This is an opportunity to move the country in a new direction- one that curbs global warming, cuts our dependence on oil, and creates a new clean energy economy. Unfortunately, the proposed legislation fails the test. We need urgent and meaningful action including a national Renewable Energy Standard, guaranteed fuel economy improvements, and strong energy efficiency programs- not business as usual.

Tell your Senators that America needs a stronger energy bill!

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts the sierra club club currents global warming climate change energy water clean water Clean Water Act pollution Renewable Energy Standard fuel economy

Here’s the TOC from the 5/15/07 issue of The Sierra Club’s Currents.

You can read the whole newsletter online - just click here!

Sierra Club Currents - President Attempts to Turn Down the Heat
Volume VI, #64
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

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Quote of Note:

“Once species become extinct, no corrective legislation can bring them back-they are gone forever.”

— Allen M. Solomon, Senior research global ecologist, Environmental Protection Agency (retired); and former senior policy analyst, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

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Table of Contents

(1) Global Warming: President Attempts to Turn Down the Heat

Thanks to global warming, our rarest and most precious wildlife have never faced greater odds against survival. It is fitting that the President has chosen to finally show interest in combating global warming just prior to National Endangered Species Day. Yesterday the President called on federal agencies to increase fuel economy standards and the production of alternative fuels in an effort to address our energy and global warming problems by 2008. However, there is no need to wait until 2008. There are actions that we can take right now to start combating global warming.

Learn how global warming is affecting our wildlife and find out how you can be a part of the solution.

(2) Trade: New Deal Protects Wildlife

The tropical Andes is the richest and most diverse region on Earth. Many of the tens of thousands of plant and animal species in the Andes are irreplaceable. Unfortunately, far too many are also threatened with extinction. A new deal announced last week would help protect this special region by adding enforceable environmental standards to the U.S. — Peru trade agreement.

While the deal makes progress, there is still much work to be done to achieve the reforms necessary to form a U.S. trade policy that supports sustainable development and environmental protection.

Learn more about trade policies that protect the environment.

(3) Take Action: Stop Attacks on the Endangered Species Act!

Recently leaked documents reveal that officials at the Interior Department have been rewriting Endangered Species Act regulations, unraveling the federal law that has protected them for the past three decades by making them friendlier to big timber, developers, and industry, and less friendly to the animals they are supposed to protect. Without the Endangered Species Act, many of America’s wildlife would have disappeared over the past 30 years. This law is more important now than ever before.

Tell Congress to stop the Administration from gutting the Endangered Species Act behind closed doors!

(4) Take Action: Protect Appalachia from Destruction!

Mountaintop removal is the nation’s most destructive form of coal mining. Mining companies clear-cut native forests and use explosives to blow off mountain tops to uncover thin seams of coal.

This devastating practice destroys ancient mountains, buries streams and lays waste to wildlife habitat, like that of the cerulean warbler. Because mountaintop removal mining is decimating its habitat, the cerulean warbler population is less than one-fifth of what is was 40 years ago and is continuing to decline faster than any other warbler species in the U.S.

Tell Congress to stop this destruction!

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts the sierra club club currents esa endangered species act endangered species wildlife conservation global warming climate change trade trade policies Appalachia coal mining muntaintop removal

Here’s the TOC from the 5/8/07 issue of The Sierra Club’s Currents.

You can read the whole newsletter online - just click here!

Sierra Club Currents - Upstream Battle
Volume VI, #63
Tuesday, May 8, 2007

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Quote of Note:

“But I will die with my toothless mouth planted firmly around their corporate ankles.”

— Tom Kruzen, a 60 year old activist working to stop Doe Run’s massive contamination of La Oroya, Peru from the company’s lead smelter

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Table of Contents

(1) Salmon: Upstream Battle [Note: as this links informs you, dear readers, “what the Sierra Club is doing to protect our fishing traditions,” I have helpfully omitted it. No need to trouble you with such smut.]

(2) Michigan: Water Sentinel Wins Petoskey Prize

Water Sentinel Lynn Henning has been awarded the 2007 Petoskey Prize for Grassroots Environmental Leadership from the Michigan Environmental Council for her “tenacious, innovative and courageous” commitment to protecting the community from the pollution created by factory farms. Despite intimidation tactics by the factory farmers targeting her and her family, she worked relentlessly for the health and welfare of her neighbors and their environment. As part of the Petoskey Prize, Lynn will receive $5,000 to further her efforts.

Learn more about factory farms and what you can do to help.

(3) Take Action: Protect Our First National Park

Both the EPA and National Park Service have independently confirmed, several times that visitors would enjoy Yellowstone with much less risk to their health, far less impact on park resources, and greater opportunities to enjoy the park’s natural ambiance if snowmobile use is ended and snowcoach access expanded. Yet the new winter use plan proposes almost tripling the number of snowmobiles allowed in the park each day — over 700 snowmobiles. We need to act now to preserve the ambiance of our first national park for our children and grandchildren.

Tell the National Park Service that snowcoaches, not snowmobiles are the way to go!

(4) Take Action: Increase Fuel Economy

The technology exists today to make all new vehicles — from sedans to SUVs to pickup trucks — go farther on a gallon of gas. This is the biggest single step that we can take to saving money at the gas pump, curbing global warming, and cutting America’s oil dependence. Today, a Senate committee moved forward on fuel economy legislation that does not guarantee any oil savings or reduction in global warming emissions since it sets goals, but no standards. Now more than ever, America needs vehicles that go farther on a gallon of gas.

Tell the Senate to require annual improvements in fuel economy.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts the sierra club club currents factory farming pollution fish salmon conservation wildlife water Water Sentinel Lynn Henning EPA National Park Service Yellowstone snowcoaches snowmobiles fuel economy fuel efficiency congress 110th congress