UPDATE, 6/8/07:

This was one of a slew of climate change action alerts to grace my inbox today. Rather than post ‘em all separately, here are a few more. Enjoy.

Audubon: Renewable Electricity for a Clean Future

The debate on America’s energy policy is expected to hit the floor of the U.S. Senate in the coming weeks, and we need to make sure that any energy legislation includes a strong nationwide renewable electricity standard (RES). Twenty-three states already have renewable electricity standards, which require utility companies to generate a certain percentage of electricity from clean, renewable sources like wind and solar. Establishing a nationwide renewable electricity standard is one of the biggest steps we can take to reduce global warming pollution; we have the technology to do this right now, but we need Congress to lead the way.

SaveOurEnvironment.org: Tell the Senate: 15% Clean Energy By 2020!

The Senate is about to begin debating a crucial bill that would require at least 15% of our electricity to come from clean, renewable energy sources like wind and solar by 2020. Increasing our use of renewable energy sources will help slow global warming, create jobs, save consumers money, and increase our energy independence.

Don’t wait - NOW is the time to show your support for a cleaner energy future! Your Senators need to know that you want clean, renewable energy without further delays.

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Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Urge Congress to Support Cool Cars and Clean Energy

This summer, as millions of Americans are turning on their air conditioners and hitting the highways, the new leadership in Congress has an opportunity to protect our families’ pocketbooks and begin to curb global warming. A package of energy and climate proposals will come before Congress in the next few weeks that could offer significant savings on the cost of gasoline and electricity, as well as reduce America’s global warming pollution. Now is the time to tell Congress that they must reduce our dependence on oil and other polluting fossil fuels by increasing fuel economy, energy efficiency, and our use of clean, renewable energy. Please contact your legislators and urge them to protect American families, help resolve our energy problems, and reduce global warming pollution today.

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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 congress 110th congress bills vote SaveOurEnvironment.org audubon

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Take the pledge - Don’t transport firewood!

In a few days, Memorial Day weekend will kick off the start of summer. Like thousands of Americans, your summer plans might include a picnic or camping trip in one of the many beautiful state or national parks, national forests, or private campgrounds around the country; or you may be headed for your own cabin.

You probably already know that to protect the beauty of these special places you should remove your trash and put out your campfire before you head home. But did you know that you also should not transport firewood?

America’s forests are threatened by non-native forest pests—highly destructive insects and diseases that threaten our forests and the clean water, recreation, and other resources they provide. Since these forest pests survive inside wood where you can’t see them, they can be transported long distances by accident. You can help protect America’s forests with a simple action—Don’t transport firewood!

This summer, spread the message, not the pest. Take the Firewood Pledge today and then tell your family and friends.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts ucs Union of Concerned Scientists firewood wood forests pests invasive species non-native species

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Keep Antibiotics Working!

An estimated 70 percent of all antibiotics used in the United States are regularly added to the feed of livestock and poultry that are not sick—a practice with serious consequences for our health. Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics develop antibiotic resistance. This means that when humans get sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics prescribed by doctors don’t work.

Please write to your representatives today and ask them to support the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act. With members of Congress who have long supported curbs on antibiotic overuse now heading key congressional committees, the time has never been better to pass this critical legislation.

FYI: While no Tiny Violin alert is necessary for the UCS’s sample letter, please consider including the plight of farm animals in your letter. While the misuse of antibiotics by factory farmers does indeed present a threat to public (human) health, it also allows big agribusiness to grossly mistreat and neglect their “livestock” - and in an economically beneficial manner, to boot. If corporations were prohibited from using antibiotics as a preventative, then they’d be forced to provide for their animals’ basic medical, nutritional, and perhaps even social needs in order to turn a profit.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts UCS Union of Concerned Scientists factory farming agribusiness agriculture antibiotics resistance bacterial resistance livestock poultry bacteria Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act public safety public health

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Urge ExxonMobil to Take the Next Step

For years, ExxonMobil has been undermining science and casting doubt on the facts about global warming—just like the tobacco industry tried to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking.

Earlier this year, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a report documenting how ExxonMobil funneled millions of dollars to climate contrarian groups and worked to delay meaningful action on global warming.

Our report received widespread media coverage, prompted Congress to hold a hearing about ExxonMobil’s actions, and has generated new pressure on the corporation. Faced with public outrage, ExxonMobil launched a campaign aimed at softening its image and recently agreed to stop funding several of the 43 climate contrarian groups highlighted in the UCS report.

But this is not enough! By withholding funding from just a handful of groups and continuing to support the rest, ExxonMobil is simply trying to improve its image while it continues to deceive the public and undermine legislation to reduce global warming pollution.

Send the letter [here] to ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson and VP of Public Affairs Ken Cohen urging them to take real action to address global warming.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts UCS Union of Concerned Scientists global warming climate change energy oil exxon exxonmobile pollution

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Urge Your Senators to Support a National Renewable Energy Standard

Clean sources of renewable energy like wind, solar, geothermal, and energy crops reduce global warming pollution, create jobs, save consumers money, and increase America’s energy independence and security. A bill expected in the Senate would require utilities to have 15 percent of their electricity come from these clean, renewable sources by 2020.

Please urge your senators to support this strong renewable electricity standard.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts UCS Union of Concerned Scientists climate change global warming congress 110th congress energy renewable energy RPS Renewable Portfolio Standard

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Tell General Motors to Produce More Clean Vehicles

Automakers can reduce America’s dependence on oil, help drivers save money at the pump, and reduce global warming pollution by using existing technologies to increase the fuel efficiency of today’s vehicles.

Unfortunately, many automakers have not been incorporating green technologies into their vehicle fleets. General Motors—the maker of Saab, Hummer, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, Saturn, GMC, and Chevrolet vehicles—has failed to show leadership and make a real commitment to innovation and sustainability in the vehicles it sells, threatening both the company and the environment.

Please urge CEO Rick Wagoner to clean up GM’s fleet as he seeks to make his company more competitive in the U.S. market.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts UCS Union of Concerned Scientists global warming climate change GM General Motors clean cars oil pollution fuel efficiency

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Tell the Wall Street Seven to Stop Financing Global Warming!

Across the United States, utilities are proposing the construction of more than 150 coal-fired power plants. Construction of these plants would increase U.S. global warming pollution by 25 percent, making it virtually impossible for the United States to bring emissions down to levels scientists say are needed to avert the grave threats posed by global warming. The Wall Street Seven, a group of banks including JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley, are the major funders for the new plants.

Please send a letter calling on these banks to end their support for proposed coal plants and to help finance clean, renewable energy instead.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts UCS Union of Concerned Scientists global warming climate change power plants coal coal-fired power plants banks JP Morgan Chase Goldman Sachs Lehman Brothers Credit Suisse Merrill Lynch Citigroup Morgan Stanley

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Stop Meat and Milk From Clones!

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is poised to allow the sale of meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring in U.S. stores.

Until now, producers have abided by an FDA request not to sell cloned meat and milk, even though no legal barriers exist to prevent them from doing so. The FDA needs to thoroughly review the safety of food products from clones and their offspring before allowing these products on the market. Furthermore, any cloned meat or milk that is sold should be clearly labeled so that consumers can make informed choices. Write to the FDA immediately and urge the agency to keep unwanted cloned meat and milk out of our food supply!

Similar alerts and additional sample letters available here, here, here, here, here, and here (wheh!).

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts ucs Union of Concerned Scientists FDA Food and Drug Administration clone cloning meat milk cloned meat cloned animals animal cloning food safety

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Urge Congress to Support New Global Warming Bills

In February 2007, a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that global warming is happening and is due primarily to human activity. The report warns that continued warming will bring stronger storms, rising sea levels, and more intense rain and floods. The good news is that by taking action today to dramatically reduce global warming pollution, we can avoid the worst effects of climate change.

In January 2007, Senators Bernard Sanders (I-VT) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced a Senate bill that would gradually reduce global warming emissions by 80 percent, the amount needed to have a good chance of accomplishing this goal. In March 2007, Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) will introduce a similar bill in the House. Please urge your congressional delegation to protect our planet for our children by co-sponsoring these critical science-based global warming bills today.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts ucs Union of Concerned Scientists climate change global warming congress 110th congress legislation Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Bernard Sanders Barbara Boxer Henry Waxman

Via the Union of Concerned Scientists:

Urge Your State to Adopt Clean Car Standards

Reducing smog-forming and global warming pollution from our cars, pickups, and SUVs is one of the key public health and environmental challenges America faces today. In the absence of federal action, 11 states have already sought to address vehicle pollution by adopting California’s landmark clean car standards.

Union of Concerned Scientist engineers have recently created the UCS Vanguard—a clean car model that uses existing vehicle technologies and fuels to reduce pollution without sacrificing safety and performance or substantially increasing vehicle cost. To ensure that all Americans enjoy the benefits of cleaner cars, please contact your state representatives today and urge their leadership in adopting the clean car standards.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts ucs Union of Concerned Scientists car clean car climate change global warming vehicle pollution clean car standards